Swim Lessons

Emmie just finished up a week of swim lessons with Palmetto Aquatics. I debated a long time about who to do swim lessons with and Palmetto Aquatics ended up working best with our schedule. I was absolutely thrilled with them and I was so impressed with how much she learned in 4 days. What was even more impressive than what she learned was how much her confidence grew! We used to have to talk her into going under the water with her vest on. Now all she wants to do at the pool is go under the water without her vest! Emmie is my child who is a little more reserved and cautious so this is amazing progress! The only disappointment I had with her swim lessons was that this was the last week they are doing them this summer....I really wish we could do another week with Palmetto Aquatics! She started on Monday just going under the water over and over and practicing kicking and today she was kicking across the width of the pool by herself! I was so proud of Emmie. She cried getting in most days but her teacher handled it great and would have her working on her swimming and not crying within a minute. I'm so, so proud of how hard she worked this week and how far she progressed with her swimming!







We went for frozen yogurt afterwards to celebrate a great week of swim lessons!

Ellie's 2nd Birthday Party

(Contrary to her expression she really did love her tutu...I had just rudely awoken her from her nap when I took this picture)

This past Sunday we had Ellie's birthday party at My Gym.

We have done so many parties at My Gym for the girls and it's sooo nice...all I do is throw some cupcakes together, drop off my paper products a few days before, make an adorable birthday outfit, and show up...they do the rest! I don't have to entertain any small children for an hour and a half, clean up afterwards, or even pass out food during the party!

My little girls were so excited to help me make the cupcakes!

How cute are these and so easy to make...thanks pinterest! (By the way the bows are made from fruit by the foot that I cut up and made into bows.)

Ellie's birthday outfit. My friend Jill from work did the shirt and I made the tutu. Ellie looked so cute and fluffy!

 sweet birthday girl

We had a small group of Ellie's friends at the party and it was so much fun. I just love all these sweet children and their parents and I am so thankful for the wonderful friends that God has given my girls. I think everyone had a great time ESPECIALLY the birthday girl! Emmie was so overwhelmed at her second birthday but Ellie embraced every aspect of it and had a ball (I'm sure it helped that Emmie had been talking the birthday thing up for a few weeks!).

Madison was our smallest guest at about 6 weeks old!

Mary Ruth had a great time trying out all the fun My Gym activities!

Will and Griffin came all the way from Greenville for the party. Will has always been so loving to Ellie!

Griffin looking quite handsome.

The big kids had some fun too!

Ellie was sooo excited that Mary Ruth (aka Roo) was at the party!

Can you tell that Ellie liked the big swing?

Mason clearly played hard at the party!

The birthday girl parade!

Best way to eat a cupcake? Face first!

Emmie and Jackson

Ellie LOVED the zipline!

Don't you just love the fluffiness?

After the party we had our family over to our house for dinner, homemade ice cream, and opening presents. We were so glad that all of the grandparents and Emily and Blake were able to be there...plus Uncle Ben got to join in for a few minutes via facetime!

It was a madhouse opening presents! Both girls were so excited and tearing into presents left and right.

talking to Uncle Ben

This is how Franklin felt after everyone left...he was worn out! Sadly, Ellie was not as ready to go to bed as Franklin was...she was up until 1030...apparently the after party was in her crib!

Two years old

 

 

 I am TWO years old!

 

• I weigh 25.8lb (35th percentile) and am 32.5in (24th percentile).  At 2 Emmie weighed 30.4lb and was 35in tall. When Mommy was my age she was 34in and 24lb.
• I wear a size 24mo or 2t, a size 6 or 6.5 shoe, and a size 5 diaper.
• I go to bed at 7:30 and get up between 7 and 8:30 in the morning (generally dependent on when Emmie comes in my room and wakes me up). I usually play or read in my bed before I go to sleep at night. I usually take about a 2-3hr nap after lunch.
• We're working on counting. I can count to 3 and backwards from 3 but don't always remember 2!
• I don't really sing any songs but I am very opinionated about which songs are sung to me.
• I love to eat. I don't eat many fruits and veggies but I do love peaches, raspberries, and strawberries and will also sometimes eat broccoli and asparagus. I am quite the meat eater, especially pork, and I also love spaghetti! I also love cupcakes and we went and got some for my birthday!

 

• I love to do whatever Emmie does. I get to start going to My Gym camp with Emmie and am super excited!

(I also love to get messy!)

 

• I am definitely getting into the terrible twos and am becoming whinier and have very selective hearing. When I get in trouble or am particularly whiney I usually go to my room and cry for a few minutes and then I'm all better.
• I love babies still, especially my Mary Ruth (or Roo as I call her). I am starting to get accustomed to the idea of having a little brother or sister and I love to pat Mommy's tummy.
• I am so sweet and loving and am always willing to give a hug or a kiss.
• This month Uncle Ben came for a visit. I was so glad that he got to come see me although I was a little disappointed that he didn't bring his plane with him! (Emmie and I have gotten it in our heads that he has his own plane and we are always hoping he'll bring it to our house!)

 

• This month I was a flower girl in Emily and Blake's wedding. I was super cute and did GREAT...I was all smiles coming down the aisle! I also had lots of fun dancing and eating at the reception.

 

• This month we went to Greenville for a few days and I decided that a Gran is almost better than a Mommy! I spent the whole time we were there hollering "Fran!!!"

 

• While we were in Greenville we were able to meet up with our friends Will and Griffin at Fall's Park. I had so much fun playing with them!

• This month we celebrated 4th of July by going to the Blowfish baseball game. I had lots of fun at the game and I didn't like how bright the fireworks were but once I put on Daddy's sunglasses I thought they were great. The noise didn't bother me at all (between Emmie and Franklin I'm pretty immune to loud noises)!
• I love to read books, play dress up, play with dolls, and pretend to cook for my dolls. I have also started being interested in puzzles and every now and then will sit down and work on one.

• I say so many words and have quite the large vocabulary. I'm definitely speaking in more sentences every day!
• This month I was able to celebrate Father's Day with all the men in my life! I love my Daddy, Grandaddy, and Papa so much!

 

• This month Abby and Elizabeth came to visit which was fun although I wasn't sure what to think of having another person my size around! We went to the zoo while they were here and this was the first time that I was really comfortable feeding the giraffes. I had so much fun!

 

• I have enjoyed going to the pool this month. I LOVE to lay on my back and can almost float on my back by myself.
• "Myself" has been my favorite word this month. I've become VERY independent. ( I can get into the car and into my carseat all by myself which Mommy finds very helpful!)
• I am a very good helper when Mommy asks me to do something.

 

Emmie at 2 years old and her 2 year old post.





WHY?

Before you start thinking this is going to be a deep conversation let me go ahead and nix that idea. This is more about life with a 3 year old. Some mom's say they get tired of hearing "mom" all day...not me. All I hear all day is "WHY?"

Emmie is FULL of questions...especially when we're in the car.

Em: Mommy, what is that?
Me: It's a stop sign, tree, car, mailbox, etc...the common denominator is that it's something she already knows the name of.
Em: But WHY is it a stop sign, tree, car, mailbox?
Me: uhhhhh...long awkward silence...because it is?

I'm pretty sure 9 times out of 10 my reply comes out sounding like a question.

Every now and then though I ask a question of my own.

WHY?

 

A Visit from Friends

A few weeks ago (yes I'm WAY behind in my posts!) my friend Abby and my sweet Goddaughter Elizabeth came to Columbia for a visit. They came on a Monday and stayed until Thursday morning. We had so much fun...we definitely packed in the activities while they were here. Monday night Abby's friend Dana came over and we all had pizza. I hadn't seen Dana since Abby's shower when she was pregnant with Elizabeth so it was really fun to catch up!

Tuesday we hung around the house in the morning and then took the girls to Chick-fil-A for lunch. After they took naps we went to the waterpark...they all had a blast! Sadly we got hit with a storm and had to leave early. It took us 15 minutes to get to the waterpark and 45 minutes to get back home...the rain was coming down in sheets along with some hail!

 

Wednesday morning we took the girls to the zoo. Elizabeth was really tired so she and Abby left early and came back to the house so Elizabeth could get a good nap. We just hung around the house and let the girls play on Wednesday afternoon.

It was so much fun getting to spend a few days with Abby and Elizabeth...I definitely don't get to see them enough!