Ella girl is getting so big. She sits completely unassisted and reaches for everything. She does these full body lunges, throwing herself towards anything that peaks her interests.
She plays pretty well by herself, a few minutes at least. Of course, that is, until she sees mama. She has become such mama's girl. Just like Jack did at this age. I can't say I don't love it. :)
Jack plays very well with Ella. Very well. I will continue to soak it in as long as it lasts. The only thing is that he has a whole new appreciation for a toy once Ella is holding it. He may have passed over it all together, thrown it aside, until little sister shows an interest. Then, all of a sudden, it's, "Wait, hey, didn't I have that? I was just sitting it there for a second. I was really going to play with it." :) He's learning to be a good sharer.
This little girl is such a beauty. Her little bald spot is filling in nicely. As are my bald spots from pregnancy. I got my hair done Friday, it was so nice to have a few hours to myself. Justin was wonderful to watch them for me.
We still go to the mall constantly. I'm glad we have a great place so close by with rides, food, the train, and a play yard. It's great!
Jack loves to include Ella in everything. His little partner in crime!
We went to the furniture store and there was a sign on this horse that specifically said, "Do NOT let children climb or ride this horse." Apparently the rules don't apply to Jack b/c the store salesman told us to let him ride it after like the fifth time of him walking by it to wave hello to the horse. It was adorable.
We had dinner with the neighbors not too long ago. Poor Ella couldn't stay awake for her play date. I put her down on the chair to make my plate, and when I come back, I found her like this. Poor Emma had to play by herself :)
Jack is such a big boy! He sits in booster seats when we go to restaurants now. This is the first time he sat in a booster seat. It was at Wild Wings last month. He did great!
Look at this princess. She still hates her car seat. I love that she has all this hair to put bows in. People stop me all the time to comment on how much hair she has and how sweet her little face is. "She looks like a doll!" they say. "I've never seen a baby with so much hair!" She's a beautiful princess!
Jack got my camera and was taking pictures of Justin :)
Sometimes one lollipop just won't do. He gets a lollipop with every train ride. In this pictures, he had his and dads :)
Ella looks so much like Jack in these pictures. She's such a happy girl!
We finally made it up to Moorsville, NC for a visit. Justin's grandpa, Pawpaw, turned 85! There was a fabulous party! Sherry Stunk and Sherry Archie worked so hard getting everything planned. It was at the Lake Norman clubhouse, such a nice venue overlooking the lake. They had outside games, including redneck golf and cornhole. Below Jack is practicing.
Ella was watching him but more interested in taking selfies. :)
We love staying on the back porch and Granna and Papa's house when we visit. Jack played out there probably more than he played inside!
I have to say, the kids did great in the car! So much better than I expected them to.
The day before the party, we went to Jojo and Pawpaw's for a pool party. We were able to spend some quality time with them.
Afterwards, we went back to Granna and Papa's for pizza and playtime with cousins!
Here is when Ella first met Jojo and Pawpaw. It was love at first site!
And we got to spend precious time with this gorgeous girl!
Things have been wonderful around here lately. The days are getting shorter and once in a while, you get a low humidity day. We have really enjoyed the house this summer and the park across the street. It's been fun to see the neighborhood grow as each new house is built. We are always meeting new friends!
I'm very fortunate and still have Friday's off. Sometimes I think I have my hands full :)
But, then, they take a nap and we get reenergized. So sweet when they sleep :)
Jack loves to be near his sister. I hope this lasts a long time.
Ella has started eating table food. She is such a great eater. I haven't been as strict with her diet as with Jacks. I let her try anything I'm eating, practically. So far, she's had apple sauce, peaches, banana, beans, pears, avocado, tomato, potato, cheese, you name it. She gums it up and pretty much swallows every bit. Below, we're having some apple sauce :)
Jack does this hilarious new thing. Justin and I about died laughing the first time he did it. He's much too busy and independent to ride in the wagon or his car anymore when we take our evening walks. He insists on helping Justin walk Kramer and he just giggles and giggles. He waves to cars that pass by and they smile and wave back. Everyone enjoys watching him walk Kramer and seeing him so proud of himself. It melts my heart. He'll even reach up to try and get a doggie bag and pretends to pick up stuff from the ground to mimic his daddy cleaning up after the dogs. So cute. The new thing though, is in the last week, he's become very interested in seeing the dogs relieve themselves, number 2, that is. So he's started pretending that he's pooping too. He'll walk into the grass or the mulch, back himself into a bush or near a lamp post, squat down, and bear down, his little face turning red, grunting, and pretending to poop. It is maybe the funniest thing I've ever seen. And there is NO way to mistake what he's doing. He'll even point to his rear end and then the grass. We have to verbalize what he's doing and he'll agree, "Yes buddy, you have to poop? Okay, go ahead. Good job." Too funny! Below he's signaling...
He also loves to climb trees. I'll hold his hands while he steps up on stumps. It's exhilarating to him!
Ella, along for the ride. "Mom, Jack is pooping in the woods again. Please make him stop."
Afternoon naps are truly one of the highlights of mommyhood.
Coke did the name-on-the-can marketing ploy. I am such a sucker for marketing schemes. I will go out of my way to dig through the coolers to find someones name. I bought a diet coke the other day with Justin's name on it even though we have an entire case in the fridge. You got be Coca-Cola, you got me good.
She isn't a thumb sucker, but she gets it in there once in a while.
The first Clemson game was last weekend. Jack got in the spirit. We lost...typical.
Over labor day weekend, Britt and Tara made it down to see Ella and to visit. We never seem to have enough time together but I am so thankful to have these two wonderful ladies and mommies in my life. 13 years of friendship...it's such a blessing.
We had so much fun eating, drinking, and shopping...what we do best!
Britt sent me this picture when she got back home. Isn't Evie getting so big?!?! Such a mini me :) Beautiful girls!
Jack continues to love putting things in his hair. I think this may be why the nanny is leaving us ;) Just kidding. Her husband got a great job offer and a few other family issues were solved with the move. I'm very excited for Kim, but so sad to see her go. As a final, last perfect-nanny act, she found a replacement! The preachers wife! She's so amazing.
I told you this was a long entry :)
More of my precious babies...
We've had lots of visits...mom and Katie came into town this weekend so Justin and I could go to a wedding and enjoy a little alone time. After the wedding, we had drinks on the rooftop bar of Grill 225. We'd never been there before and couldn't believe we've been missing out. We had prosecco and the BEST blue cheese stuffed olive martini! Where have you been my whole life?? The kids really enjoyed getting spoiled by Mima and Aunt Katie. Katie brought her birthday balloons down. Big hit.
And Mima brought so many toys! She carried them all in her "Spoiled Rotten Brat" Bag :) Such a good Mima! The toys and snacks were endless!
One morning, without warning, Jack laid a big smooch on mom. It was so cute, I happened to catch it on camera.
A lap full of love..
We went to lunch at Sesame...so good. Jack and Justin were goofing around while we watched the game.
It was an intense moment. :) Go tigers! We won this time.
Jack fell asleep holding his foot on the way to church this morning. It was cute.
After church, we went to the outlets to shop. The kids had other plans so it didn't last long, but Ella did get to drive. It was about the only thing she enjoyed the whole two hours we were there. :)
Her driving reminded me of someone else who loved to drive the car...
Can't deny they are siblings!
About the only thing Jack enjoyed was riding the rides. :) I took about a thousand of these b/c it was the first time he stopped whining since we got there. Haha, not like him at all but he was due for a nap. We got back home and he slept for over two hours!
Justin and Jack rock, read books, and say prayers every night before bed. His favorite books (he has SO many) are Goodnight Gorilla, he laughs when the woman wakes up and finds the gorilla in her bed, Miss Mary Mack, because it has an elephant, and one of his train books. I can't think of the name of it but he likes it b/c it has a little boy and his dad driving the train into the city. He said "JA!" and "Dada!" pointing to the picture. We say, "Yep, that's you and daddy." He smiles. And on one page of the book, the little boy is holding up "big muscles" which Jack loves b/c he likes showing off his big muscles too.
Well, that's the catch up from this last month. Hope it won't be so long before my next post!
XOXO from the Archies!
