We spent last weekend at the beach house in Ocean Shores with my best girlfriends from college and everyone's kiddos. It was 8 adults and 6 kids under 3! It was the perfect weekend mixed with girl time, kid chaos and lots of laughing.
The big kids played at the beach, ran around the house and managed to not kill each other! The little ones definitely fulfilled their roles as second born and chilled all weekend, except for Thomas who despite being the sweetest ever was a crawling machine and was exploring everything.
We girls took a day away and got to have drinks which was wonderful and fun. It truly is like a weekend long therapy session with friends and it is always so fun and needed.
So here are some wonderful pictures.
Psst, I may have bought the kids matching jammies...so cute!
These two had quite an interest in each other! Little baby Sam and Reese also had some major bonding but I can't believe I have no picture of it :(
This is how you sleep after a great day with friends!
Yoga on the deck with Liana. She is a great teacher and we are so excited she became an instructor.
I am blogging today in order to remind myself how wonderful Henry is. Today my sweet tender hearted little man threw his first knock down drag out tantrum in Costco. Sure he has had little melt downs before in a store but I have always been able to calm him or give him the serious look to get him to stop. He may not be happy but he at least calms down.
Well folks today he screamed so loud and threw such a scene (think kicking, screaming and hitting me) we had to leave our full cart at Costco. I literally dragged him out of the store and across the parking lot to our car. He proceeded to scream as I put him in his seat and drove home. Reese peeked over the side of her car seat and just started at him. We got home and I was shaking and unable to even talk to him. I put him in his bed and shut the door. After some more screaming he finally fell asleep. So while I collect myself and try to process this little episode I am reminding myself of what a great time we had this weekend.
We went to a couple kids concerts and Henry had a blast. He got to play instruments and he loved dancing to all the tunes. He also spent many hours at his favorite fire pole in town and Reese loved watching her big brother slide down the pole. He also is still loving school and thanked me for letting him go the other day!
the concert, Henry playing bells
jamming with Daddy after the concert!
Reese is a sitting machine and has went from laying to sitting all on her own a couple times. She continues to be the zen in our family and makes us all smile at least 10 times each day. She and Henry have been interacting more and more and they really do get a kick out of each other.
hanging out at the fire pole playground
Who called the police? We are headed to the beach tomorrow (why I am so bummed I had to leave a whole cart at Costco!!) with all of my college friends and kids. So excited and I can only hope things get better for Henry form here on out.
Henry's second day of preschool was great! They celebrated his birthday since he is an August baby and he loved it. We brought in cupcakes and they made him a crown with his name on it. He also got some crayons for a present from his teachers, they even wrapped it up! He seemed very happy when I picked him up and the teachers said he had fun. I feel so lucky that he loves school so much. Here he is in his crown.
He is purposely putting it over his eyes while saying "I am so funny Mommy"
Henry has also become quite the mischievous 3 year old. He is constantly testing his limits and is so loud and rough that some days timeouts are his best friend :(. I swear one minute he is yelling no to me and the next minute he is telling me I give the best hugs...my life the roller coaster!
Here is the "oh I didn't know not to put hats on her head look"
Here is the happy victim of playtime
Reese is 6 months today and she is doing just awesome. She is 20lbs 5 oz. and a little shy of 28 inches long. She is growing like a weed and hitting all of her milestones perfectly. She loves the Dr. and kept smilng and sticking out her tongue at him. She loves to move and roll all around and she is into everything she can get her hands on. She babbles and yells constantly and when she is upset she is a force to be reckoned with!
She started eating more food and I have tried out some homemade food on her with mixed reviews. She loved my sweet potatoes but once I added carrots here is what happened:
This made me laugh because I just bought this wonderful but rather expensive baby food making system and I instantly felt guilty after she reacted this way! I will keep cooking though and soon enough I will find the magic combination for her! I just ade a pear and blueberry compote for tomorrows breakfast so I am keeping my fingers crossed!
Since she has been eating we have been able to do dinners with all of us and it is so fun. We have started talking about the favorite parts of our day and Henry loves to share with us! Reese hangs on his every word and quite enjoys being at the table with us all.
All weekend the temperatures were gorgeous and we relaxed outdoors in 80 degree weather! September is always such a beautiful month here! Just did a lot of playing outdoors and running in the sprinklers. Trips to the park and also a trip out to Januik and Red Hook for some wine and dinner with the kids.
Oh and Reese is officially sitting up. She has been doing it a little for a week or so but now she is perfecting her skill. She still topples over but is now working on getting back to sitting up from laying down.
sprinklers in the face!
Bocce ball and beans at the winery which keeps Henry so busy!
Henry had his first day of preschool today and did wonderful. He was up at 5am ready to go and by 8am he was showered and dressed on the couch with his backpack on. I had to convince him to watch a television show to kill some time until 9:15!
out front of the house at 8:30, killing time with a photo opp. He got to bring a bear for support on his first day!
out front of school
We walked in and he went straight to the toys and after a little kiss I left proud with my head held high until I got in the car and my heart sank and I cried. I guess it was a little weird because I have spent 3 years having my job be to know what Henry was doing at all times every day. This was the first time, aside from vacations away from him and an occasional babysitter, that I had taken him somewhere and left. After a call to my Mom and sister I was better and proceeded to give Reese a nap, exercise and shower which was so nice.
Just as I was getting things down I got call from school. My little bug was having a little trouble without Mom but by the time they handed him the phone to say hi he was distracted by a game and that was that. The teacher was great and I was glad she called because I could tell she was just the right person to leave my child with.
Bill and I picked him up together and as we peeked in he was sitting in circle time with his new friends having a great time listening to a story. At one point he even got up and made a happy comment to the teacher which was nice to see. Funny thing is as all the other kids were leaving with their parents Henry was begging to stay! I can understand why because he had made a new buddy who also loves cars and he was covered in paint from a great art project they did.
So a great start to his school experience! He is just so excited to go back and I am excited to. On a side note little Reese missed her brother and wasn't quite sure what to do without her main source of entertainment. Fussiest morning she has ever had!
We have had a wonderful Labor Day weekend! We started on a low note because we were supposed to go tot Portland but at the last minute decided it wasn't the best choice. We have been all over the place for the last month and with Henry starting preschool this Thursday and Reese starting to give us some sleep trouble we decided to stay home and relax and get rested up with some family time!!
I think I have not even mentioned Reese has started solids!!! She seems to like it but is more interested on what is on our plates. I am excited to introduce her to more exciting foods once we get some beginning foods out of the way. We are going to try to not breed a second picky eater this time round, though Henry has recently become quite adventurous and willing to try new things, fingers crossed it continues!!!!
Here she is in action:
not impressed by the peas. banana in a safety feeder!
We began the weekend with trip to the zoo to get ice cream and see animals because Henry chose it as a reward for using the potty. He has been a pro at going #1 but #2 has been a huge struggle in our house with Henry. Out of the blue 2 days ago he just started doing it proudly so we have been rewarding him like crazy. Sad to say he has every darn rescue vehicle from Costco and proudly tells the cashier what he did to earn it!
my monkey
the ice cream
Henry the turtle
Happy girl at the zoo!
Henry has been able to pedal his bike for a week or two now which is so fun! We even took a ride last night around the block! Here he is in the yard with Halle last weekend.
Our little Reese is still happy as can be. She is eating and starting to sit up on her own. She rolls and push herself back so she can get to her brothers new rescue trucks which she loves!!! She laughs a lot and is always wiggling just like her brother did. She is just a joy and even though she has been trying to party at 4:30am she still wakes with a huge smile and washes away our frustration and sleepiness. She will be 6 months next week and I just can't believe it!
sitting on the lawn while Henry runs through the sprinklers (note the awesome spiky red hair!)
playing with Henry's ambulance
Henry and Reese have begun a new chapter in their friendship. Now that Reese can and wants to touch Henry's things, well things have changed. Henry began not paying much attention to her and getting upset when she went for his things. Over the last week and lots of reminding he has really opened up to the idea of playing with her and is learning what a big brother really is! As soon as this improved he has been back to loving his little sis. Each day is a new day as he learns this!!! Here are the pictures to prove it!
Headlock or hug?
Feeding Reese a bottle
sharing and liking it...for now
Thursday is the big day. Henry will be starting preschool and I am just so excited and anxious for him. The school is wonderful and he met his teachers and they were great. Hopefully I will be back with great stories and pictures on Friday!
