Busy Summer!

We have a busy summer! Last week we got back from visiting my parents in Island Heights. We ALL had a great time and enjoyed lovely weather, family time, and the POOL! The kids loved it and Colston really found his sea legs. He was so brave in the water that it made me really aware of how careful we all need to be. He loves the water now, so glad! Laine has loved it all along.

We leave for Emerald Isle on Wednesday. The Linebergers are coming with us so it'll be so fun for L and C to have two friends to play in the sand with. I can't wait to see them all together. Beverly will get there on Saturday. Sadly, we have to leave on Monday because Colston starts camp on Tuesday at Sharon Baptist.
Here are some pictures of Laine's first birthday! I can't believe she is one! We had a small gathering to celebrate, didn't do anything big for this one, but next year we'll have family come. We didn't this year because we were just in Turks and Caicos and the Grandies spent plenty of time with them then as they (all three sets) traded off and kept them safe and happy.
 I will add pics of our NJ trip soon. 

In August we're going with Er, Josh, and Libby to Wild Dunes for a long weekend. Looking forward to that!

Growing So Fast

The babies are growing so fast... Colston will be 2 1/2 in May and Laine will be 10 months in a few days. Goodness! My little Lainey still isn't crawling, but boy does she want to. One of these days she will just take off like it's no big thing. Colston is talking up a storm. He will repeat something over and over until you acknowledge him. He calls Laine "Baby." He'll say, "Look Baby." "Don't cry Baby." It's so funny. When I ask him what his name is he says, "You." He hears me say, What are you doing? I love you, etc. so he thinks his name is you. I asked him today and he gave me his version of Colston so we're making progress. He's a sweet lil guy and definitely going through a mommy phase. He wants to be held, cuddled, loved on and I LOVE every second of it.

Yesterday we had an Easter egg hunt at Jennifer's house. What a wonderful play date for all the little ones. They loved it! Colston enjoyed running after the older kids. Ive learned that I need to grow a thicker skin when it comes to my kids. Mama Bear tends to come out when someone is mean to Colston. I can't intervene each time, I need to let him handle it sometimes. My eyes just well up with tears though, I just love him so much and want everyone to be nice to him because he's just so nice. I'm sure I'm going through what every Mommy goes through.

Sunday is Easter. It's just us this year and Erin, Josh, and Libby. My mom wants to come for an Easter egg hunt one year so maybe next year she and Dad will come. We are going to church then brunch and then to Erin's house for the egg hunt. It will be the last event at their house because they move next weekend. A chapter is closing.

New Year 2012

We celebrated the new year with a trip to the mountains in Boone. Er, Josh, Lib, Kyle, Colston, Laine, and I. We had a relaxing and wonderful time. We ate a ton and drank a ton (when the babies were asleep of course.)

When we returned it was diet time! Kyle is doing P90X and looking fantastic... almost a month into it. I've been going to my wonderful Pilates classes at the Y. I LOVE going to my close to home Y.... best place for me to be, besides me home of course. :-)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Laine had her first Christmas! It was a wonderful several days that began with a visit from Kyle's Dad and stepmom and many of her family members. They brought the yummy food and we enjoyed a nice day. Sydney and Jason were in from California, the reason why Anne had her family here.

My parents came the following day and they watched the babies while Kyle and I went to a Panther's game. So much fun! The next day was Laine's first Christmas and C's 3rd Christmas! It was wonderful! We walked Colston and Laine down the stairs as my parents watched their expressions of awe. Colston was in shock at first. He was so sweet. He just looked at it all and didn't touch a thing at first. He's so polite without even knowing it. He got a 4 wheeler that really goes (outside) when he presses his foot on the peddle. He hasn't quite learned how to make it go, but I'm sure it'll just be a matter of days before it clicks. He got a kitchen (from Nana and Poppy), Sesame Street rain boots, a big dog pillow, books, a large dump truck, etc. Laine got her first baby doll from Nana and Poppy. She loves her so much already!

Beverly and Robert came the day they left for Savannah, (they are coming back through Charlotte tomorrow before heading back to NJ.) They brought a slew of gifts including a Big Wheels and another riding toy for outside. He was totally and completely spoiled with gifts by all his grandparents (and by us.) I think next year we will try and tame down the gift giving a little bit.... if we keep going at this pace we really won't have any room for anything else. They truly don't need lots and lots of toys, just a few nice things that they will get plenty of use out of. We are very appreciative though of everyone's generosity.

Where Does the Time Go?

Gosh! Last time I wrote a blog entry Laine was only 6 weeks old. Now she's almost 5 months old and changing, growing, and surprising us every day! She is SUCH a good baby! She's been sleeping through the night since she was 8 weeks old. Now we put her down around 8:30 and she sleeps until around 7:30 or 8:30am. Not a peep throughout the night. She doesn't cry unless she is sleepy or hungry. She is such a pleasant and happy baby. Colston doesn't have to do much to make her hysterically laugh at him. He enjoys dancing for her and loves even more seeing her giddy response. She loves him SO much and the feeling is mutual. He just adores his little sister. He's a boy and sometimes needs to be reminded to be gentle still, but that's ok. He'll get it.

Colston will be TWO YEARS OLD next month! My goodness! He was Cookie Monster for Halloween and Laine was his cookie. We went to a trunk of treating in Elizabeth, along with friends of ours and had so much fun. Lots of young families having a good old time. I will try and post some pictures from our evening.

So Blessed!

Colston and Laine are growing so fast! He is 20 months already and she is 6 weeks! We are enjoying them so much. Colston loves her and is so gentle with her. We barely had to teach him to be gentle-- he just knew. She changes every day, literally. He is talking up a storm and has his own little language. Most of the time I understand what he is trying to tell me, the other times I just pretend. :-)

Couldn't Be Happier!

Kyle and I are so truly blessed! Our babies are so healthy and growing so fast! Laine is 6 weeks already and changing literally every day. Colston is 20 months and just enjoying life. He is so much fun and so enjoyable. He's talking so much and definitely has his own little language. It's so cute!