Beach Week 2011

I’ve recently been reminded by a dear friend that it has been way too long since I updated this blog so this one’s for you Lynda!  I have plenty of pictures from the past few months but we’ll take care of the most recent first.

Each June tons of Randy’s family members converge on Tybee Island.  It all started a few years ago when we gathered to celebrate Jama ‘s (his grandmother) 90th birthday.  Since then it has become a tradition and everyone is invited!  People come from Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana, California,  and New York and, in years past, there have been up to 50 of us enjoying the beach together.  Jama rented four different beach houses on the same block and we all convened to share dinner together in the evenings.  It was her way of giving all those she loved a great excuse to get together!  It is a little chaotic but always fun.  By now, Jama has nine great-grandchildren so you can just imagine.  Much to our sadness, Jama left us to be with Jesus on May 1.  We still enjoyed our time together but she was very missed. 

As usual, Halley was very uncooperative when it comes to taking pictures.  At some point, you’d think the odds would be with us that we could get one…just one…with her looking at the camera.  (And I did but it really is only one!)  When we first got out of the car after arriving at Tybee, Halley, who was in my arms, pointed at the ocean, and with eyes wide, said “Whhooooaaaaaa”.  It was so cute.  She loved all the birds, the Coast Guard helicopters flying overhead, and the space to run as far as she wanted while screaming as loud as she wanted. 

We were only able to stay a few days (darn that j-o-b) but here are some pics.

       

Saying bye to Daddy (he came down the next day)           

  

It’s hard to read in the car with shades.

(I love that she doesn’t take them off, just pushes them up.)

Playing with cousin Emmie on the beach

This girl LOVED the water.  She might need swim lessons to put my mind at ease.

Notice you haven’t seen her eyes yet?

HJ has a weird fetish with wearing big shoes.

Some of the gang

I love this picture with Aunt Meg. 

Remember how I said I got one?  This is it.

Chasing cousin Hudson—guess who’s faster?

Don’t worry, this isn’t in the running for our Christmas card.

Playing with (second) cousins Savannah & Cole

“Why do you people take so many pictures of me?”

(I guess this makes two.)

This one isn’t from Tybee but she’s so stinkin’ cute.

And just for reference, this is HJ & Emmie last year at Tybee.

Just starting to crawl and no teeth—what a great year it’s been!

Thanks for checking in!  Now that I know people, besides my mom & sister, (not that I don’t love you!) are reading, I’ll try to be better about updating.    Happy Saturday. 

Trendsetter…the latest fashions from Marietta

 

Just in…these sunglasses are the hottest thing in town. 

 

From photo shoots…

 

to dancing before you go camping…

 

to cleaning the house…

or just petting the dog…

 

These are sure to keep the sun out of your eyes and the perfect pair for any situation

(particularly if you need to wear pajamas)!

Find them at a Target near you.

Easter Egg Hunt

 

Spring is here!  There really is no spring in Colorado (unless you consider inches of snow & blizzards “spring”) so I have been thrilled to experience this season again.  There are flowers blooming everywhere—azaleas and dogwoods of all colors!  I wish I had taken a picture of our backyard so you could appreciate my view while washing dishes. 

Last weekend some friends of ours from church hosted an Easter Egg hunt at their house.  I had a wedding shower to attend for my cousin’s sweet fiancée so HJ went huntin’ with her daddy.  Take a look at our big girl!

O how I could just eat her up.  Words are just not enough.  Thanks for checking in!

Catch Up

 

Hello old friends!  I have gotten several polite (and not-so-polite!) inquiries about the blog as of late so here we are.  The screen on our laptop went out a few weeks ago so it was nearly impossible to see anything.  We were really lamenting the possibility of having to purchase a new one but thankfully it was still under warranty!  (We did not mention that HJ had been practicing her tap dancing skills on the computer.)  They sent a technician to our house on Monday and now we are back in business. 

On to the important stuff…Halley.  Our little munchkin is not little anymore!  Yesterday she turned 17 months old.  From now on, I should probably just refer to her in halves & years…Randy doesn’t like doing the math.   Unfortunately with this ‘birthday’ came double ear infections.  (She weighed in at 22 lbs 8oz last week and, for the first time, I can actually say she is getting heavy.)  She is still a mostly happy baby but man, there are moments when I ask her to bring her old self back.  On top of that she has 2 teeth on top and 2 molars on the bottom coming in.  It’s just been a little rough.  But as my friend Carrie has recently re-named Halley to Miss L.M.—low maintenance!--- I have to remember what a joy she is…even when a little under the weather.  The flip side of having a sick baby is that she’s cuddlier than usual which I love. 

And now pictures…

     First bubble bath…Can you tell she’s a little confused?

       

Our happy girl

 

             

Playing with our little buddy Eli—Can you tell she’s holding his hand?  So cute. 

     (And, NO, HJ is not preparing herself to be a big sister)  

                                      

       Lorrie (Eli’s mom) made us some home made guacamole while she was in town visiting.  You can’t tell by her expression but Halley dove right in and loved it!  (Sorry about the formatting—it is not cooperating.)

      

 

We’ve been playing outside a lot lately now that the warm weather is here.  HJ has also just learned to say “ball” (“Bah”—no Ls) so they are a favorite toy!  She also said Eee-Cooh (Chico) for the first time yesterday. 

I know the picture quality isn’t great but I love that she’s laughing & holding her hand over her mouth.

 

On a side note, holy consignment sales!  Apparently all the Methodist churches host mega sales in the spring & fall each year so Lorrie and I hit ‘em up while she was in town.  You can’t really tell from the picture but some of these dresses were brand new (with tag) from The Children’s Place!  My most expensive item was $6.  Lorrie & I have a new tradition…Can’t wait til September!    

 

Our big girl

Halley has started staying in church nursery/daycare the whole day on Tuesdays and Thursdays so of course she needed a lunchbox.  The handle is perfect & HJ loves to carry it around.  She is a true bag lady at heart. 

This girl loves some Post-It notes and an organizer!  It’s all she plays with at the office.

Miss Blue Eyes

Ok, that’s all I’ve got!  It’s Wednesday which means we have a long night of church activities ahead of us.  I just put HJ down for a nap and she’s laying in there having an animated conversation with herself.  Sweet sounds. 

Is there any need for commentary?!?

 

 

 

Like Father, Like Daughter

Randy has this Camelback water bottle that he uses all the time and HJ loves it too!  (So much that Randy rarely gets to use it when she’s around.)  So Randy bought her a present:

 

(I promise my child does not always look this disheveled.  Today was a rainy stay-at-home kinda day.)

  He even got the cute girly one and not the one covered in dinosaurs.

High five for cool water bottles!

 

And this is just funny.

One year ago…

….this was my cute munchkin. 

                                     

 

This week we went to see a new doctor in Marietta for HJ’s fifteen month appointment.  How can that be?!?!

Here are her stats:

Weight:  20 lbs---15%  (She’s never made it above 10% before.  The whole milk must be doing its job!)

Height:  30 1/4 inches—50%

Teeth:  two on top, three on bottom and one more coming in

The doctor recommended dropping bottles right away so that’s what we did.  It made me a a little sad but I’m trying to face each new stage with excitement and not the wishful my-baby-is-getting-so-big sadness.  I know lots of people that wish they could celebrate new milestone with their children that simply never get to.  We are thankful EACH day for a healthy, happy baby. 

Funny things HJ does:

--walks around with her hands behind her back like she’s your maitre’d

--waits for us to finish saying the blessing & then laughs while giving us a huge toothy smile

--has a newfound love for her tongue…loves to stick it out at you!

--smacks her lips & says “ahhhh”

Current obsessions:  holding keys, setting off our car alarms, BOOKS (she must have one in her hands at any given moment…like she pitches a fit if she can’t hold a book while she is eating, having her diaper changed, seriously.)

These aren’t the greatest (I had the camera on the wrong setting) but it’s all I’ve got from this week.