Tybee Trip 2014

We started our first week of Summer vacation at Tybee Beach with Nona and Papa Ray. We stayed in a three bedroom condo right on the beach. It was SO nice!!!!

Most of our days went like this:
wake up… eat breakfast… Nona, Caycen, Gracie June, and I would go down to the beach… GJ would get tired about 30 to 45 minutes later… Nona would take GJ up for a nap while Caycen and I stayed and played on the beach… a few hours later we would go up so that Caycen could take a nap… GJ would be waking up… Nona would go down to the beach for a little relaxation while I would stay with GJ and play for a little bit… Nona would come up and watch GJ while I would go down for a little bit by myself… Caycen would wake up and GJ would be ready for another little nap… GJ would wake up and we would play at the condo, get ready for dinner, play some more… we would go to bed.

Now some days looked a little different because Papa Ray was able to enjoy the day with us or Chance got home from work and was able to go to the beach for a little while. That first Monday they both had off and we had a blast! The whole trip was so much fun and I can't wait for our next one!

I didn't take too many pictures and I'm so mad at myself for that! I just hate taking my camera out to the beach… so I used my phone.

Caycen's 3 Year Stats

Caycen Edward Darley is now 3 years old!!! I can't believe how big he has gotten and how smart this little boy is!!! I love him more than words could ever say.

Here are his stats from his 3 year check-up:
Height: 39 inches (83%)
Weight: 37 lbs 13 oz (93%)
BMI: 17.5 (87%)

This little boy will always have my heart!

11 Month Letter to GJ

Dear 11 Month Old Gracie June,
How in the world are you already 11 months??? The time seems to be flying by faster and faster each month. I can't believe in only 1 more month, you will be a YEAR old! Wow!

This past month has been so much fun with you! I have been able to be home with you and Caycen for summer vacation and I have loved every minute!!! Your little, actually BIG, personality just keeps getting bigger every month. You are the cutest 11 month old ever! You laugh at everything and you are just so laid back. I can't get enough of those chunky cheeks and your sweet kisses.

This month's firsts:

You had your first beach trip and first time being on the beach ever this month. We stayed a whole week at Tybee with Nona and Papa Ray. You had a blast!

You started eating a lot more table foods this months. You are loving spaghetti and grilled cheese!

You started taking a sippy cup for all of your meals during the day. You still take a bottle at night, most nights, but I don't think you would even care if we just gave you a sippy cup instead.

You had your first sip of cows milk from Daddy's cereal this month. I can't wait for you to only drink Cows milk instead of formula!

You had your first trip to Savannah Children's Museum. You loved watching the big kids play and playing with the water on the chalkboard table.

You started trying to climb the stairs this month, so we had to put the baby gate up at the bottom of the stairs.

You had your first visit downtown while Pop and Nanny Cheryl came down this past week. You loved people watching :)

You got to celebrate Caycen's birthday this month.

Things you're loving:
You love eating, babbling, laughing, mocking whatever we say in your own words, pulling up on the baby gate, dancing to any music or anything that could sound like music, smiling, giving kisses, playing with Caycen's cars, being outside, playing in the pool, bathtime, pulling out your bows, Mickey Mouse, snuggling, crawling around the house as fast as you can.

You started a new feeding schedule now that Mommy's home with you during the summer:
between 7:00-8:00 you wake up and play in your crib
8:00 - I get you up and give you your first sippy cup with 6 oz of formula
between 8:30-9:30 (whenever we eat breakfast) you have a jar of fruit mixed with rice cereal or oatmeal
12:00 - 6 oz formula in a sippy cup
12:30-1:30 - jar of fruit or cut up fruit and bites of whatever I'm eating (usually pieces of bread)
4:00 - 6 oz formula in a sippy cup
6:00 - a jar of baby food or whatever we are eating
8:00-8:30 - bath and a 6 oz bottle of formula, then bed

You are such a sweet girl and you have mine and your Daddy's hearts! I just love being your mommy!!!

Love you sweet girl,
Mommy
xoxo

Caycen's 3 Year Letter

Dear Caycen,
How are you already 3 years old??? It doesn't seem like that much time has gone by since I first held you in my arms. As I'm writing this letter to you, I'm sitting on the back porch of the condo Nona and Papa Ray rented, and I'm watching you run around on the beach with Papa Ray. You are laughing, jumping the waves, making your goofy grin and wobbling back and forth. I hope I can remember this time forever, because it seems like time is just flying by. You are the silliest, happiest little boy. You are definitely hitting your "even worse than terrible twos, terrible threes" stage, though. You try to test us all the time.  But no matter what kind of trouble you get into, we still love you more than anything in this world!

This past year has brought on some changes and more firsts for you.

The first major change was that you got a little sister, Gracie June. This was a huge adjustment for you, because you were used to being the center of our attention. But you have been the BEST big brother in the world. You are so protective of your little sister. You can't stand for her to be away from you. You do like to tease her and hit her every now and then, but you love her so much.

 

You started going to daycare this year and started out the year in Ms. Brandy's class. You loved all of your friends in that class so much. Then around New Year's you were moved to Ms. Alicia's class, who  was a perfect fit for you! She taught you so much and really got your personality. One of your favorite things that you learned about in her class was life cycles of a bird, turtle, and frog.  You came home telling us all kinds of new things that you learned. You are such a little sponge. Ms. Alicia said you are one of the smartest little boys that she's ever met.

You were in your first wedding (Aunt Sissy's wedding).

This year you went on your first trip to Disney World. We had an absolute blast!!!! We are already planning to take you again when you are 4.

You went to Cabin Ridge with Papa Ray and Nona and caught your first fish, held a snake, and played in the country. You also went to Cordele with them during that trip, which was your first time going on a trip without us. You had so much fun with them and got to play with all of your cousins.

You had your first beach trip (which is where we are right now as I'm writing this). We stayed on Tybee for a week. We got to go to the beach every single day and you have loved every minute!

Things you're loving and doing right now:
Your favorite color is still orange, favorite movie is Frozen (you can pretty much recite that movie and the moves that Elsa does during the song "Let it Go" haha), your favorite outside activities are swimming, hitting baseballs, hitting golfballs, pretty much anything to do with playing with balls outside. You love to paint (especially if you get to do your handprint or footprint), you love to read, watch t.v., snuggle (especially in the morning).  Your favorite foods are chicken nuggets, Cheetos, fruit roll-ups (Ella Kate introduced these to you at Disney World), Chex Mix, skittles, chocolate skittles (M&Ms haha), and cheese.  You like to say "dagnabit" when you can't do something. You love to pretend cook or pretend hunt. Your best friend is still Ella Kate. You like to throw things down the stairs CONSTANTLY. You love to color. You love to make a big mess, but SOMETIMES you help us clean it up. You love to give kisses and hugs. You love being outdoors.

As you can see, this past year was packed with fun and exciting times for our family. I can't imagine what my life would be like without you buddy boy! Thank you for making me a Mama, and thank you for always being the sweetest kid in the world! I pray that God will protect you and that you will grow up knowing how much Mommy and Daddy love you!

I can't wait to see what this next year brings for you sweet boy! HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY!!!

I love you!

Mommy
xoxo