We are non stop around here! The kids are getting SO BIG! Just a few photos...first, Jack wearing my grandmother's cameo. He's been all about jewelry lately. It's super cute. He wants to wear Justin's rings, my bracelets, necklaces, and even hair bows. It's short lived when he puts it on but makes us laugh.
Then there's this girl...This big, messy, I-can-feed-myself girl! I could squeeze her every time I see her! She is getting so good at getting from a sitting position to all fours but no crawling yet. She loves to eat! I am ashamed to say, that I have fed Ella anything and everything for the last month. She totally skipped the pureed food, no baby food, straight to the good stuff. I'm starting to think that the entire baby food market is a scam. I don't understand the difference between a pureed carrot and one that I squish with a fork and let her eat. In fact, it seems that a baby would be able to swallow it better and less would run out of her mouth, because she's able to feel and manipulate thicker foods? I don't know...either way, she LOVES to eat! Her favorites are spaghetti, peaches, and yogurt. Her least favorite is bananas (odd) and green beans, she still eats them though!
I can't believe how big my girl is getting. Her hair is so long, that she always needs a bow to keep it out of her eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes. Such a doll baby. A happy girl. I think she's quiet a good bit since Jack is always so busy, but she can definitely command attention when necessary. She's a demanding little thing. Justin says he thinks she's in charge. She's a fidgety girl, likes to be independent, and not as much of a snuggler as her older brother. So when she is in the mood to cuddle, it makes the cuddling that much sweeter.
Jack is climbing into and onto everything these days! The ottoman, the Einstein baby jumper...he can even climb UP the slide!?! He makes it up the stairs no problem. Better keep an eye on him.
Fall is setting in around Charleston. The weather has been amazing these last few weeks! Low humidity, cooler temperatures. It's so nice! We've been doing a little Halloween decorating...okay, a LOT of decorating. Jack loves our skeleton out front. We put him out first. We were one of the first people in the neighborhood to have Halloween decorations. Jack also loves pumpkins. We take walks in the evening, and he points out any pumpkin he sees. He said, "PUM!" He says the first syllable of words and we know what he means. I don't know that other people do besides us but he's getting so verbal. I can't believe it! When did that happen, how quickly this whole parenthood thing flies by!
It was a great surprise the other night to get Booed by a neighbor. I have no idea who did but there are only a few people who have the sign on their door, so it could only be one of three people. I think it may have been the Wilson's. We'll have to see! The basket was so sweet. Ella had a little toy cell phone and Jack got a dinosaur! He loves dinosaurs now. We have been playing and it's become quite a habit, that he fashions some perilous situation for his trains...Thomas falls off the ottoman or crashes into Percy...and it's up to the dinosaurs to save the day. "UH-OH!!!!" He exclaims, then Frank, Tony, or Rex will come to the rescue. Frank and Tony are John's older dinosaurs, we just named them and for whatever reason, they've gained a Long Island accent as the characters have developed. Justin says it's painful to listen to but he can't help but enjoy listening to me butcher a long island accent. I think I'll have to make Rex a real low country dinosaur.
Below are Tony, Rex, and Frank(ie)...
I got these great pumpkins from Michaels with Ella and Jack's names personalized as the mouth. How cute right??
Below...Justin meets pintrest! It's about time! I saw a few pins a while back on how to make a Thomas the train costume. Once I suggested the idea and showed him the cool tutorials from other dad's, he ran with it...it's painted and awaiting decals. Thomas is really coming together and Jack gets excited anytime he sees it. Justin has even gone so far as to plan a way to have Thomas the Train music playing while we trick or treat. It's fun! Ella is going as a giraffe. I really wanted to them to match somehow and threw around all sorts of ideas (Wizard of Oz characters, Little Red riding hood, etc) and I decided that Jack really loves trains this year and I think it would be more fun to dress them up in something cool like WOOZ or LLRH later, when they can remember. So this year, Ella is going to be the giraffe in the circus car that pulls behind Jack. Her outfit is cute too!
I can't get over these precious babes!
Justin and I have been meeting for "lunch dates." We are really on to something with these. Instead of stressing ourselves out trying to find a sitter, and schedule an evening away (both of which are difficult to do and seem to be more stress than they're worth, especially since it takes away from time with the kids!), we decided to take time away from work, while the kids are with the nanny, and try out all these great restaurants in Charleston, most of which are cheaper at lunch anyway...it's like a win-win-win-win! So good! We have different lists that we mark off. I recently found a list of the 10 best cheapest places to eat in Charleston. We went to Xiao Bao Biscuit (a vietnamese restaurant) and it was amazing! After we cross off that entire list, we're moving on to the best mac-n-cheese in Charleston, then I want to find the best she crab soup! It's so fun! Not to mention...look at my hot date!
Then, last, but certainly not least, is our new nanny! Libbye or "BB!" as Jack calls her. I have probably already talked about her before but I feel she deserves a little extra attention. She is amazing. She is an answer to prayers. She is the absolute best person I could image to help raise (which is essentially what nannies, daycares, teachers, etc are doing) are children. I adore her and my heart is more joyful and peaceful when she's around. She's just a happy, burst of sunshine anytime she's around...I mean, have I sold you yet? Need I say more...haha. Well, most importantly Jack and Ella adore her as much if not more than I do. Jack runs to the door in the mornings and walks her out, talking to her, still wanting to play every evening. And every day it's something new...park, new library, trains, museum, etc. And I get lots of pictures!!!
I know what you're thinking...you wish she could be your nanny too! I would have loved for her to by my nanny, haha. I can honestly say that motherhood is what I do best, or at least what I try my hardest at. And I think that Libbye is such a blessing and makes my job as a working mom so much easier. I am so grateful that Kim was able to help us find her and made the whole situation come together! I have so much more to say...but that will have to wait for another post! Happy Fall Y'all!
