It's going to be a long summer...

And hot too.  Here are a list of some things I hope to do with my children during the summer months.  Hopefully I can find something to do each day so that we're not bored to tears!

*Run through the sprinkler
*Go to Marbles, the zoo, Greensboro Children's Museum, Museum of Life and Science, Fascinate-U, Kidzu Children's museum, Aloha Safari zoo, Pullen Park, the beach, the aquarium, Children's Museum of Wilmington, Discovery Place, every single playground around town.
*1$ movies on Tuesday and Thursdays
*Swimming lessons
*Catch fireflies
*Watch fireworks
*The library
*First Fridays
*Summerfest
*Draw on the sidewalk
*Go out for fro yo (I plan on doing this a lot, actually)
*Picnic
*Weymouth's little museum
*Garden
*Finally go to Seagrove
*Feed the geese at Reservoir Park
*Take a picture next the "Nick's Creek" sign
*Make popsicles
*Drive to West End for peaches
*Great Wolf Lodge?
*Farmers Market
*Pet Parade in Pinehurst
*Candor Peach Festival
*Nature scavenger hunt
*Bake cookies
*Go to South Point for an all day excursion when it's really hot!
*Explore downtown Southern Pines, Pinehurst and Aberdeen
*House in the Horseshoe (Revolution reenactment first week in August)
*Outdoor concerts
*Puzzles
*Water balloon fights
*Sandhills Horticultural Gardens
*Watch paratroopers jump
*Play dates
*Fun Gym
*Dance studio free play

First and Last

Here are pictures of Natalie on her first and last day of "school".  It's amazing to me how much she's changed in such a short time.  She went from wearing 24 mo clothes to 3T/4T, he hair is twice as long, she's a big sister, her vocabulary and speech is comparable to a 4 or 5-year-old and she's so much more capable and independent.  She can ever get in her car seat and buckle up by herself!!  She brushes her teeth, washes her hands, helps me clean and is just happy all of the time.  It's been a great year and she's loved going to school but I'm sure she won't mind staying home with Mommy and Nick all summer!

Happy Half Birthday, Nick!

Happy 6 Months, Nick!  A few days late, but better late than never.  

Nick is absolutely AMAZING.  He's such a good natured, well rounded and happy little boy.  He giggles and squeals all day.  He rarely cries and when he does it's usually not that bad.  He's sitting up by himself now and can get to a seated position pretty much from any way we place him.  He can get in the bear crawl position and walk his hands all the way to his toes, he did it yesterday and I was convinced he was going to just stand right up!  Yesterday Nick crawled for the very first time.  He can only take 2-3 steps before flopping down on his belly and scooting the rest of the way but each time he tries I see him getting stronger and stronger.  He also pulled up to standing all on his own yesterday, but that was only once and I'm pretty sure just a fluke.  His physical achievements are so amazing to me, he's so much more advanced than Natalie was at this age (she was barely rolling by now) and in so many ways he's still such a baby.  Natalie was sleeping 12+ hours with zero interruptions, napping well and in a steady routine.  Nick, however, naps horribly, wakes 1-2 times a night and can't seem to settle into any sort of routine.  

We've started solids and he's doing very well.  He loves carrots and apples and will lean toward the spoon with a big gaping open mouth.  Milk is still his favorite, though!  He's still only got two teeth, but he's working on some more, they're just taking their sweet time showing up.  He loves taking a bath with his sissy and their bed time routine of songs and story time together.  Pretty much, Nick loves everything.  

He's going for his check up tomorrow morning so I'll update his stats then.

Sibling Love

This morning while we were getting ready to run to Walmart, Natalie had a little accident.  She came tearing through the house wearing her Crocs without the strap on properly.  Of course she tripped, landing on her poor little face... hard.  She began screaming instantly, I could tell it hurt because her screams quickly turned into the silent cry... any mother knows and dreads the silent cry.  Anyway, all this took place directly in front of Nick who was sitting on the floor playing with his toys.  As soon as Natalie fell he put his hands over his face and began to sob.  It wasn't that high pitched baby cry, it was sobbing.  Once I got Natalie calmed down she turned her attentions to him, walked over and bent down to hug him.  He threw his arms around her and held her (and she him) tightly for about a minute.  They rocked together silently and both their breathing began to regulate.  I told Mom that I'm not emotionally stable enough for such extreme tenderness... once their hug ended I was the one sobbing.  I pray they love, protect and comfort each other as fiercely as they did today forever and ever.

Later, Natalie felt like showing off her boo boo.

Two in the bed...

And the little one said...

The Ladies Man

I had to take Nick to work with me last night, I think he likes the ladies. And I think they like him back!

More Nick Laughing

I just think his little laugh is infectious.