Tuesday, August 16, 2011

First trip to the dentist!

The munchkin enjoyed her first trip to the dentist to get her teeth cleaned last week. I think her dentist is super hot, don't you?


Very suspicious about what's about to occur...

The child didn't make peep throughout the entire procedure,
from brushing to flossing.


Seriously, she just sat this still and let him do whatever. So weird. Where was my real child?

Please tell me you're almost finished.

Getting ready for pictures...this dentist like to document everything. Imagine that. Let me know if you want to see the close ups.

All clean!

God Bless,
Katie

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Summer Vacation

Riding in style with "gasses."

We headed to Jacksonville, Fla., to see Parrish's cousins for a few days, and then up to St. Simon's, Ga., to see our good friends from college, the Kelleys. Parrish took a whole three days off and we took advantage of it. We loaded up Tuesday night and made it to Jax by 2 am their time...the munchkin did ok with the drive I suppose, but she's done much better in the past. We arrived at the Myers new, beautiful house just a mere four hours before Doug had to head to work and Durell to an exercise class (I totally would've skipped, but you already knew that). We played at the park with all the cousins, had lunch and attempted naps (a no-go for both little ones at our house, but that was to be expected, since we booted Maylin out of her bed and Sylvie was much too excited to do something as mundane as sleep).

She finally conked out, exhausted and hot!

We decided to get a babysitter that night and the grownups headed out for a little sushi and hookah lounge action. Let's just say we're not as young as we used to be and we made it a relatively early night. But it was great to go out without babies and enjoy our friends! The next morning we headed to the Jax Zoo for Sylvie's first zoo experience. I think she had fun, but it's hard to really tell. I know she loved the elephants the best, and the monkeys were still asleep. She also got to feed a giraffe, but I think that confused her, although I asked her yesterday what she fed the giraffe and she said, "Lettuce." Correct.


Thursday afternoon we joined Maylin at her music class, which was super fun. Made me wistful for those types of activities that Andalusia is sorely lacking in, so I got a brochure and may just start up my own toddler class. Sylvie really liked it. She likes to sing ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle, Jesus Loves Me, This is the Day, Open Shut Them, Its y Bitsy and Patty Cake. Hilarious. She really concentrates when she sings, like she's trying to get it right. A perfect mix of Parrish and me...I love to sing whatever whenever and Parrish, who can't carry a tune, has to do it accurately. Maybe that means she'll be an awesome singer and pay for my nursing home bills.

After a night of swimming and grilling out, we packed up and headed north to St. Simon's to spend the weekend with the Kelleys. Drew has a job on the island for about 18 months so they are enjoying a sabbatical in paradise until they'll move back home when he's done. They live close to beach and pool access, and St. Simon's has great shopping and restaurants, so needless to say we had a GREAT time. Sylvie played so well with their four-year-old, Annabeth, but kept her distance from little Katie...we need to work on our sharing skills a little more (when did she learn to say "mine"?). We ate at a great cafe for lunch, napped and then headed to the beach. So different from Destin and I just love it. Big old oak trees with Spanish moss...so pretty and historic. We ate dinner Friday night at Crabdaddy's and it was SO good. I had the best pasta I've ever had and the ranch dressing was killer. I ate myself silly and was happy about it.

We went back to the beach and pool Saturday morning, had another great lunch, shopped at the Bailey Boys store (Sylvie is set for her birthday...cannot wait to give her the tutu and pink feather boa...a dream come true for me, I mean her). After naps, we headed to have ice cream. I love that Shelley is a mom that condones ice cream as a snack...great minds think alike. We also got to walk out on the pier and visit this guy.

Sylvie's hat just like Daddy's!

After grilling out, we took the girls fishing. Not much to say about this, since the girls wouldn't fish and the daddies failed to land anything bigger than a minnow. Better luck next time. They did manage to go crabbing that night and got a mess of blue crabs which Sylvie loved to look at. Cabs!
Forrest Gump moment.

Sittin' on the dock of the bay.

Losing interest in fishing=taking goofy pictures on Mommy's iphone.

Silly Annabeth, Sylvie's favorite.

We attempted church the next day, but Sylvie had other plans, having a panic attack in the nursery and then sleeping it off in a rocking chair on my chest. At least there was a TV with the service on so it wasn't a total bust. Such a great church...and they were teaching Biblical parenting, something I really needed to hear!

We drove home all day Sunday, it felt like, bless Sylvie's heart. She did remarkably well for being tied to a chair for seven hours. We are so glad we went, but it is good to get back into our routine. Not that it will be any less crazy...with Mother's Day Out, Little Friends, swim lessons, dance class, MOPS and football season, we'll stay busy all year!

Hope you're all having a good summer, even though it's apparently over since school starts next week. When did this happen? I thought August was a summer month and you didn't have to even think about school until September rolled around! Government ruins everything.

Some funny things Sylvie is saying these days: ballerina, Cinderella, pucker up, shuttle-eat (for shuttle launch...I think she thinks we're saying "lunch"), she told me Nanie colored in the baby Bible she has (it was me, I confess, when I was her age), when she happens to catch sight of any private part, she giggles.

God Bless,
Katie

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Developmental milestone: move to toddler bed...check!

She did it, gracefully with ease. Next comes getting rid of the pacifier and then potty training. If God is merciful, those will be equally as easy as the move from crib to big girl bed. Yeah right.

My 30th Birthday and Other Nonsense...

I couldn't resist posting a couple choice shots from the shuttle launch escapade. My suggestion was to put a chair under her legs and one under her body, but this didn't cross the mind of either highly educated doctor who chaperoned the munchkin on the crazy excursion. Sheesh. At least they scooted her down when her head flopped off.


Anyway...I finally reached the milestone I've been dreading...30 years on this earth. I really didn't think it'd be a big deal, but man, did I feel it last week. Mostly an intense feeling of impending doom. Is this normal? Am I now doomed? Sure feels like it.To get my mind off of this new tragedy in my life, Parrish took me on a relaxing (and rainy) getaway to Destin sans baby. Rain=shopping and eating, so we did. We stayed at the Henderson Park Inn, an adults-only B&B. Very nice, save for the gutter atop our roof that stayed filled (and gushing) all weekend. Sounded like someone was draining a tub, ALL. NIGHT. LONG. We had dinner at Marina Cafe, slept in until 9:45 am (gasp!), shopped a lot for Sylvie's upcoming birthday (and a few things for the birthday girl herself), watched the last Harry Potter in IMAX 3D (this added to my sadness...I've been either reading a new HP book or watching a new HP movie every summer since the first book came out in 1998. I'm devastated that it's over). We ate again at Tommy Bahamas (so good) and then shopped some more. I tried a couple of red wines that I really liked...getting adventurous! We tried the beach on Sunday morning, but getting sprinkled on while watching a huge storm move ashore isn't much fun. We took zero pictures...maybe subconsciously I don't want to remember it? I really missed the baby, who enjoyed asuper fun vacation at Nana and Papa's house. Again, she wasn't thrilled to see us as she was too enthralled with the ipad.


The only photo I took...off our balcony that overlooked the state park...so quiet and private...good choice, P King.

Sylvie and I packed up again after the weekend and headed to the lake to see JJ and Ferg. Another couple of days napping, eating and letting other people entertain my child...my kind of birthday! This, of course, I captured on film, as I do everything the munchkin does. She enjoyed the lavish attention she received, complete with swimming, a train ride and a new playhouse.

Watching "tee" in the lawnmower box playhouse, aka, the best toy ever. You totally have my permission to steal this idea, especially good on a rainy day.

She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes...

Choo choo tain!

We are so excited to travel to see family and friends next week in Jacksonville and St. Simon's. Then it's six weeks of infant swimming lessons, followed by the start of Mother's Day Out, ballet lessons and possibly the two-year-old program at Little Friends preschool. Not to mention someone's second birthday...I planned it this weekend. Can't believe we're already there. The end of summer looms...not that I mind since I've decided I HATE the heat that summer in Alabama bestows on us each year. Not a great attitude to have since I'll live here for the rest of my life and will then be buried under the hot sun for eternity.

I'll leave you with a few cute pictures from this summer, since we all know you only read this blog to see the baby.


Boy's Elmo pjs picked out by Daddy...of course she LOVES them and wants her Elmo pants all the time.


Cheese face.

Push me, Daddy!

God Bless,
Katie

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Look who made history...

Parrish took Sylvie and Papa to see the last shuttle launch EVER. Thanks, Barack, for such a great contribution to space travel (in case you missed it, that was a joke. Obama canceled our shuttle program. Such a winner, that one). Anyway...

After multiple panic attacks and zero sleep on my part, the three musketeers (or shuttleers?) made it to and from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to see Atlantis depart Earth for the last time. Here is the video evidence...it will probably be a long download but totally worth it to see their adventure. If it doesn't work, just call Parrish and he'll give you a thorough, detailed account of the event, from an astronaut's perspective, since that's what he aspires to be in his other life.

So glad they made it back safely and now have this memory to share...honestly, all joking aside, could I ask for a better daddy for my munchkin? He is so good.


(Don't give up on the video...hit "pause" and let it sit for awhile, then hit "play" again. It has to catch up to itself).

God bless,
Katie

Monday, July 11, 2011

Happy July 4th!!

We traveled to the family beach house in Destin for the 4th.We had a great time, eating and visiting with most of the King side of the family. The munchkin thoroughly enjoyed the constant attention she received for three days in a row (now back to reality, kiddo). Thanks to Aunt Beth for the great pictures...I took not a single one!

Jackie O at Destin Harbor...wow!

You're getting veerrry sleeeeppy...

Captain Sylvie, as usual. Who wouldn't want Uncle Frank as a second mate?

Happy Independence Day!

What a cute festive frock from Aunt Kathy!


Three siblings.

Best of the bad family photos...patting Mommy's cheek is much more fun than posing nicely.


Nanie with the grandkids and great-grandkid.


A magic pelican.

Nanie perhaps explaining why the pelican is magic...
I'll need to get the scoop one of these days.

Enjoying the sunset on the bayou.

New best friend, Millie, a teacup Maltipoo. Uh-oh, Daddy, we might have to get one!



Matching dresses with Millie.


Love that Millie is "chasing" Sylvie rather than the other way around for once!


Sylvie reveals her true feelings about Aunt Beth...she's crazy!


I really think this photo needs no explanation...I fulfilled my fishing duties for the year. I'd rather be in the kitchen cookin' this thing than doing the dirty work.

I caught a grouper and a triggerfish on the same line...both too small to keep!

God Bless the USA,
Katie