More Beach Pics

Litchfield 2013

We had a great time at our annual Griswald beach trip. The boys were great in the car and slept most of the way.

Jackson was a little nervous when he saw the beach for the first time in a year. He warmed up quickly though. He loved getting to run in the wide open space.he also loved looking for diggers. He filled up a bucket with sand and took his diggers everywhere. He also liked jumping waves and standing in the water. He didn't hate the sand, but he didn't play in it like I thought he would. He really liked sitting under the umbrella eating cookies and drinking Capri Suns. In fact as soon as we would get on the beach, he had to have his cookies.

Brooks loved the beach and slept for hours under the umbrella. He liked the water too.

We got to see lots of animals on this trip. Lots of sea turtles were laying nests while we were there. Tim, Jackson, and I got to watch them inventory a nest. Mickey and the boys caught a couple of sharks and a huge stingray. They had some big ones that broke the lines too. they were spinner sharks and jumped out of the water. we also saw a 3-4 foot shark swim right up to the sand where the girls were sitting. Jackson and I went on a walk with Noni, TuTu, and the girls to check out a new turtle nest. We walked almost to the point. Jackson did good walking and loved playing in the tide pools.  We saw tons of dolphins swimming along the coast. i have never seen so many at one time.We also got to see crabs, a horseshoe crab, and starfish.

Jackson and Brooks loved spending a week with a house full of people to hold them and play with them. Brooks loved being held by Berkley and Tayler. Jackson loved playing cars with anyone who would play with him. The boys were really sweet to him. He and Brynlee played really well together. Their favorite was hiding cars in soft drink boxes. They also liked playing on the porch and watching the birds and golf carts.

Thanks to Tu Tu and Berkley, Jackson discovered the ice cream truck. He could hear the music, and of course it comes by 5 times a day! Jackson also liked watching the trash truck (just like at home). Mickey even had the guys beep the horn at him.

We enjoyed lots of good seafood- fish, shrimp, stingray, crabs, etc.  Jackson had lots of Chick-fil-A.  The weather was perfect with lots of overcast days. There was always a nice breeze, and it never got too hot.

We tried to do lots of photo shoots with the help of the girls and M&Ms. Jackson did pretty good holding Brooks. Then he would get tired and try to push him head first into the sand. Thankfully there were lots of people to rescue him. We attempted to get a picture of Brooks, Jackson, and Parker. Both of my boys were not in the best moods. Brooks had been asleep, and Jackson just wanted to bully Brooks. Jackson never touched Parker.

We had a great time in Litchfield. It wasn't very crowded, and it was nice to have all of the extra hands to take care of the boys. I have wonderful memories of our annual family beach trip. I am so thankful we are passing these same traditions and memories to the boys.

Brooks is 3 months!

Wow! My baby is growing so fast! I can't believe he is 3 months or 13 weeks. ( I know I missed 11 weeks and 12 weeks.) we are so blessed to have such a sweet, calm, and happy baby.

 Wears 3 month clothes (some are getting tight!)
Wears size 2 diapers ( just in last week)
Eats 5oz every 3 hours with cereal at night
Sleeps all night!!! ( I didn't want to jinx it, but he has been doing for the past 2-3 weeks.) he usually gets his last bottle between 10 and11. He will sleep until 5:30-6:30.  I feel like a new person!
Stays awake 1-2 hours before taking a nap
Brown eyes and brown hair
Smiles, coos, and laughs
Has survived being hit with cars
Loves Jackson and smiles/laughs at him all the time
Loves to nap in his swing
Now likes his play mat and bouncer.
Has started playing with some toys- purple elephant, bee, links
Loves to take a bath
Loves to be outside and state at the sky
Has started drooling a lot!
Uses his giraffe Wubbie and loves his leopard love
Loves to be held ( I love it too!)
Has been to the beach Children's Museum, Greenville , zoo

We are so blessed to have Brooks in our family. We love watching him change and grow.

Soaking it in...

I have not blogged lately because I have been spending as much time with the boys as possible. Brooks is currently curled up on the couch with me.  I am trying to soak up every last minute of summer. Right now time is just passing too quickly. I officially start back to work a week from today.  I am dreading it. When Jackson was a baby, I cried for weeks leading up to school starting. Last summer wasn't as hard, but I have really become aware of all that I am missing while I am at work.  I have even had extra time off this year, but I am not ready to go back.

I feel like we finally have a good routine, and I love being with the boys.  Jackson is at a really fun age. He talks all of the time and says the funniest and sweetest things. He is currently obsesses with Cars. He has to take his toy cars to bed with him. He puts them on the dresser also known as "the parking lot."  When he woke up this morning, I went in to get him. He was in the sweetest mood. He said, "Good morning cars ( caaarrrs). Did you sleep good?" That is what I usually say to him when he wakes up. While Brooks was napping in his swing, Jackson and I went outside to swing and play on the porch ( I can see Brooks in his swing from the porch.) we played in the water table. Jackson said, " Mommy, let's go fishing!" He used a bubble wand to pretend to fish. " I caught a shark ( shaaarrk). It's a stingray! Mommy, you do it." When I did it, he told me I just caught a fish. Ha! When we were lying down for a nap, he said, "Sweet dreams, Mommy." It just melted my heart.  It is just the little things like that I will miss every day. Jackson is saying some other cute things. "I'll see you later ( latte err)." "Mommy (replace with any other word-Daddy, Blankie, Mater, etc.), where are you ( youuuuuuu)." He draws out the last word in both of them. I also love when says, " Mommy, hold you?" when he wants me to hold him. " Mommy, take." He wants me to take him wherever I am going, usually downstairs. These are some other favorite phrases: " I sorry. Jackson did it. I know it.  I funny. That's fun. Play cars? Hot dog! Yummy tummy!"

Brooks is such a sweet and cuddly baby. He is starting to stay awake more. He likes to play with some toys. He loves this purple elephant. I just love to sit and hold him. I can't believe how big he is getting.

We went to Clemson tonight to walk around campus. Jackson rode in the stroller for awhile and then wanted out to run. He ran and ran. " Mommy, run!" I had fun chasing him. We were both sweating by the time we reached the car. We ended the night with Dairy Queen. I couldn't resist climbing into the back with the boys when Jackson asked me.

They grow up so fast, and I just feel like I am missing out on precious little moments. I don't get to take Jackson to school or pick him up. I don't get to fix him lunch or try to get him to take a nap. I don't get to cuddle with Brooks and see his precious smile and sweet laugh.  My mind knows that I have to work, but I just can't convince my heart that it is the right thing. I want the boys to have lots of opportunities and have zoo memberships and museum memberships. I want to be able to travel with them in the future ( as in not any time soon). I know I have to work to make that possible. I just hate what I have to give up. The next few weeks are going to be really hard and stressful. I am sure there will be tears, late nights, and early mornings.  This has been the best summer of my life, and I hate to see it end.