a boy. his sister.: July 2009

Friday, July 31, 2009

As promised...

Pictures from our "Cinco de Moon"

And here's a glimpse of what the kids did with Grandma & Grandpa all week...

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Hello from Ocean Isle! Todd and I are celebrating our 5-year wedding anniversary a couple weeks late. After the wedding festivities ended (see below) and after the kids first dentist visit (another adventure all on its own), we took off on Monday afternoon and headed south to Ocean Isle. I'm too lazy to get off the couch to get the SD card out of my camera, so you'll just have to wait for pictures. Sorry.

We're staying at the Winds Resort, in a little room that is very seriously only meant for two people, at the most, but it's perfect for just us. It's been a relaxing week filled with sun, sand, waves, walks on beach, a bike ride, some serious shuffleboard, LOTS of shopping (with minimal complaining) and a wonderful hour-long couples massage.

Actually, relaxing doesn't even come close to describing it. We've had full nights of sleep, hot meals (at the same time as one another), no fighting to get a certain toddler to eat her meal, no shrieks (aside from the screamer at the restaurant the first night), hot breakfast every day, the flexibility to do whatever we want, whenever we want, without have to plan ahead, time to read an entire 400 page book in 2 sittings, and the list goes on. But, I think I can speak for both of us when I say that we can't wait to see our kiddos on Saturday.

It sounds like they've had an action-packed week with grandma & grandpa - playing in the house, playing outside, going out to lunch, going to the park, going to watch airplanes, including AIR FORCE ONE! How cool is that?! Brett was really excited about the "BIG PLANE and BIG ENGINES" (all spoken in a big deep voice to emphasize the BIG!)

Alright, back to vacationing! Have a great weekend everyone!

Mr. & Mrs. Liles!

Last weekend we celebrated Erin & Jeff's wedding! Here's a re-cap of the festivities in pictures... more to come, I'm sure ;)

Rehearsal on Friday night - Brett was "Ring Security"

Rehearsal dinner at NC State University Club

3 Crovitz Girls

Great picture of Meredith, courtesy of our muy-talented cousin, Taylor

Todd & I at dinner

Half of the cousins, minus spouses and kids (16 cousins total, plus 8 spouses or soon-to-be spouses, plus 10 kids... )

Up-do's at 9am, sharp!

Flowers!

So pretty!

Isn't my milkshaker handsome in his tux?!

Wedding party

Erin, Jeff, and the vows... very humorous, actually, thanks to the priest's weird phrasing!

And finally, Mr. & Mrs. Liles!

Family

Reception... Brett loved the name things... they were cannisters filled with M&Ms. He expected everyone to share with him.

Daddy & the kids

Cousins dancing (only the beginning!)

Auntie Erin dancing with her "chunkalunka"

More cousins dancing... it continued to Lucky B's after they cut the DJ!

Brett wanted to learn the Cupid Shuffle... he did pretty good for a 3 year old!

Kate and (officially) Uncle Jeff

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Well check!

Today was Kate's 2 year well check! As has been the case for the past 9 months or so, our biggest concern was her weight and her eating (or lack thereof). About a month ago, we decided to just stop her Pediasure supplements that she was getting every day at lunchtime. We quickly noticed that she was actually eating real food better because she wasn't getting those "easy calories" from the Pediasure. In the last month she's become a good breakfast and dinner eater, but still a terrible lunch eater. Just ask Memere... she can testify! Basically, you spend 45 minutes feeding her, only for her to gag on the next to last bite and throw up EVERYTHING she's already eaten. Kate knows what's going on too... just yesterday she started coughing a little bit and said insistently "SINK!" I rushed her to the sink where she puked up everything! This is at least a weekly ritual in our house. The good news is that we've learned to read her cues better and we don't have to clean up the puke nearly as often since we usually get her to the sink in time! So, where does this leave us? Basically, we're still trying to introduce all of the textures to her, but in her own time, just like we've been working on. The good news is that she actually maintained her weight (though did not gain) since her last weigh-in! As long as she continues on this path, we'll just re-check her weight in about 4-6 months. Then, if she's still struggling, they'll refer her to the Carolina Dysphagia Clinic where they'll evaluate her and basically teach us to teach her how to chew. Sounds delightful, huh? Let's hope this munchkin outgrows this nonsense! For our sake as well as her own! It can't be fun to hurl your entire stomach contents a couple times a week.

On to less disgusting topics... she is growing like a tall skinny weed! She is 34 inches tall (55th percentile) and 24 pounds (15th percentile). She did not even flinch with they pricked her finger for blood, but screamed like all heck when they gave her Hib#4 (we're playing catch up with that one since it was unavailable for awhile... we're not those neurotic parents who delay all of the vaccines... no offense to those who are those neurotic parents). She is developmentally way ahead of where she is expected to be, probably because she's keeping up with Brett as much as she possibly can. She runs, tries to jump, frog-hops, talks, sings (loudly), plays (hard) and is all girl and a lot of tomboy. She loves to color and do artsy things - can't imagine where she gets that!! She is a TV junkie, which I'm not proud of, but at least I know what she watches. Her new favorite phrase is "Oh, Ma-an!" That's right - "Man" is two syllables. She is truly my little southern girl! Lots of other one-syllable words are two syllables too... like milk, and down, and lots of others. It drives Todd nuts! She gives lots of hugs and lots of "big kisses" and lots of "I love you!"s. When she is happy, she is the sweetest, most loving little girl I've ever met, but when she is mad, you'd better watch out (for flying objects, flying limbs, etc.)

Oh, another GREAT thing - her ears were actually CLEAR! Woohoo... no fluid noted or anything. Sweet!

Overall, she is VERY healthy, just on the small side, which I'll take any day with all of the childhood obesity out there!

Playtime!

A few more quick pictures of the kids playing nicely at home... and relaxing with Daddy :)

Shhhh, we're working!

Just a little glimpse of our house this morning... Kate was running around like a crazy girl and the guys were "working," some harder than others!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Kate turns TWO!!!

I cannot believe that we're already celebrating Kate's SECOND birthday! Seriously, where has two years gone?? It's gone faster than I ever imagined, even if I don't always think that way at 3am when I'm rocking a crying toddler. She has become her own little person with a strong personality. She makes me laugh about a zillion times a day with her funny little smile and her "I love yous" just because. Here's a quick recap on 2 years, all in pictures!