5

This sweet and spunky girl just celebrated her 5th birthday.

Somehow 5 sounds so much older than 4.  And, she's already asking about when she'll turn 6!  She also wonders how old Little Bud will be when she turns 18.  If the last 5 years are any indication, she'll be turning 18 before we know it.  Thankfully, she's decided to buy our next door neighbors house when she's grown up, so that she'll be close by and I can help with her babies.  We've shaken hands on that plan, so even if she decides she doesn't like me in her teenage years, she can't change her mind ; )  She actually told me the other day to not be sad about her growing up; someday she'll have babies, and I can hold them.  For some reason, that didn't help me feel any better about her growing up so quickly!

Big Sister's little mind constantly amazes me.  Her brain is a sponge, and she's absorbing so much information!  We've had a lot of fun this school year learning together.  Arts and crafts are still her favorite, so she's colored scores of coloring sheets ranging from steam engines to woodwind instruments to Russian leaders to South American countries.  This year, coloring has been her gateway to learning new information : )  We recently reviewed some of the things she learned early in the school year, and I was surprised by how much she remembered.

She loves to spend time with her friends.  At the park, library, zoo, playground or in our backyard, her face lights up like a Christmas tree whenever I tell her we have a play date scheduled!  Big Sister also loves spending time with family; she thinks of both sets of grandparents as her best friends : )

One of Big Sister's greatest qualities is her kind and giving heart.  Her generosity often amazes me.  She is equally excited about other people's birthdays/celebrations as she is her own!  She loves choosing and wrapping gifts for friends and family members.  Making someone a birthday card is one of the highlights of her life!  Over a year ago, she started a little tradition of giving an ivy leaf (or 20) to anyone who comes over to visit.  As they leave, she runs out to the front yard to pick them a parting gift.  It's kind of a funny little tradition, but it reminds me that "gifts" is one of her love languages, and we try to make sure we love and nurture her in that way.  Simple gifts like a flower or a card or even making her bed for her, mean the world to Big Sister.

It has been one of the greatest joys of my life to watch Big Sister become the 5 year old that she is today!  She's taught me so much, and even though I really don't want her to grow up, I'm looking forward to our future adventures together.

Little Bud is 2!?!

I'm not exactly sure how the last 2 years went by so quickly!  Little Bud is 2.  He is growing and learning so much every day!  And, it seems that teething is a thing of the past.  Hallelujah!  Little Bud's molars finished coming in just before his birthday, so he's back to his normal, happy self!!

He is still quite independent, and likes to be wild and free, but in general he is a much happier little guy.  He has been super affectionate lately, and my heart melts a little each time he decides to give me a hug or kiss.  He is talking more (we were worried a few months ago about his lack of vocabulary), and his personality is starting to show.  He speaks about 30 words, but also uses about 15 sounds in place of words (he says, "moo" instead of "cow" when he sees a cow, or sings the little "ah ah ahhh" song when he sees Big Sister's Ariel doll).  His vocabulary seems to be growing daily though, and he's willing to give new words a try if we ask him to.  We just went for his 2 year check up, and the doctor said his vocabulary is definitely in the normal range.  And, while he's still small, he's firmly on the growth chart, so we're happy about that.

These are his stats from his 2 year check up:
Head Circumference: 48 cm
Height: 33 1/3 inches (10th percentile)
Weight: 22 pounds, 4 ounces (5th percentile)

He's a happy, healthy boy!!

He's wearing size 5 diapers, and is wearing 2T shirts, but still wears 18 month pants (his little waist is so skinny!).  He loves shoes (I think it's because he knows he has to have shoes on to go outside!), and he likes to pick out what shirt he's going to wear each day (he likes anything with dinosaurs, trucks, cars, fire engines, trains or planes!).  He LOVES the Llama Llama books and has taken over Big Sister's Llama Llama stuffed animal (he sleeps with it every night!).  He enjoys picking out books for us to read to him, and will even sit with us sometimes when we're working on Big Sister's school work.

He still occasionally bites or pulls hair, but he's beginning to understand that it's not nice.

He loves to play outside!  Thankfully we've had some nice days here and there.  If it's nice outside, he wants to spend every waking moment in the backyard.

We love our Little Bud!  He brings so much joy to our family :)

Beach Birthday Celebration

John has been busy at work lately, so we decided it sounded like a good idea to plan a little beach getaway for Little Bud's birthday.  John was able to take off Thursday and Friday, and we decided to drive down Wednesday after John came home from work, so that we would have 3 and 1/2 days to spend in the sand and sun.  Thursday and Friday were a bit cold, but the weather was amazing on Saturday and Sunday.  Big Sister even braved the ocean waters on Sunday morning!

We took Little Bud out for breakfast on his birthday.  We went to a little restaurant in Rosemary Beach, and we were the only customers!  We had planned to ride the bikes down to breakfast, but it was too cold, so we drove instead.  After he filled up on waffles, we drove over the outlets since it was still a little bit too cool to be out on the beach.  The outlets in Destin have a fun playground, so after we did a bit of shopping (new shoes for Big Sister and Easter outfits for both kids!), Little Bud and Big Sister had a blast playing, climbing and jumping before we headed back to the townhouse.  We ate an early dinner at Pickles in Seaside before we went back to sing Happy Birthday to Little Bud!

The rest of the weekend was very low key.  It was by far the best beach trip we've had since Big Sister joined our family.  Going to the beach with kids is no easy task.  I think a combination of things made it better this time; the kids are becoming more independent, we are more used to the chaos that goes along with a kids beach trip, and the fact that we pretty much had the entire beach to ourselves (so the kids could run and play without us worrying too much).

John took the kids out on the paddle board and the kayak, and they enjoyed both!  Big Sister didn't want to go on the paddle board at first, because she was worried about getting wet (the water was FREEZING), but by Sunday afternoon, she jumped in!  That girl loves the water!!

Little Bud opening a few of his presents

(Big Sister wrapped all of the presents from us)

He was excited about his Sesame Street card from Grandpa!

new shoes!

Big Sister bought Little Bud this light up bouncy ball

with her own money.  She was so excited to give it to him :)

Thank you hugs!

Daddy showing Little Bud that he's 2

playground fun at the outlets!

walking on the beach

The sand was so cold that Big Sister and I went back up, our feet were

FREEZING, but Daddy and Little Bud toughed it out and 

had a fun time exploring together

I made strawberry cupcakes for Little Bud

He loves strawberries!  We tried to counteract the pink from the

strawberries with dinosaur candles :)  

Fun new trucks from Great Aunt Meg

Big Sister turned his new pajamas into a stylish scarf!

Aunt Jamie will be so proud!!

Yay for new birthday books!

Small World

Big Sister is still loving her new room!  It's so bright and cheery.  Little Bud especially likes her Small World dolls, he points to them and says, "girl" when he wants to play with a particular one!  We have yet to finish the painting over her bed (John has been crazy busy with work lately, and there is no way I can draw well enough to finish it out on my own!), but we're hoping to get that done soon.  I love that there are so many sentimental pieces in both of the kids rooms.  Big Sister's bed was given to her by John's Aunt Tammy (who also gave Big Sister her giraffe neck pillow for Christmas, which she cuddles with EVERY single night!), her dresser was John's mom's from when she was growing up.  John and his dad made the little book shelf that's under the window together when John was a kid.  Her kitchen set was her Aunt Jamie's (her GeoSafari globe belonged to Aunt Jamie as well!).  Papa Jack made her table and chair set for her several Christmases ago.  Her Small World dolls were Christmas gifts from grandparents and great grandparents!  And Grammie made her chair cover and pillows for her little reading nook.  Big Sister is one blessed and loved little girl!   

John and his dad made the little book shelf below the window together

when John was a kid.  Big Sister loves that Daddy gave her something that was his!

Somehow I didn't take a picture of this wall when I took the rest of the photos in the post,

so this is a picture I snapped Christmas morning (which is why things are a bit messy!).

 

"Small World" inspired sun

Big Sister's cousin sent her the painting that's hanging below her shelves.  So sweet :)

The little music box that's to the right of the Japanese doll was a gift from Papa and Grams.

It's a beautiful music/jewelry box that they got for her in Sorrento. 

This mirror is currently in hiding, after Little Bud pulled it off the wall 3 times!

Hopefully we'll be able to rehang it again soon.

2 Times in 2 Weeks

Somehow it snowed again in the Birmingham metro area, less than 2 weeks after the eventful "snowpocalypse".  We only received a true dusting this time (although several places just north of us got 2 inches plus), but it was enough to make Big Sister very excited!  John went out with both kids to play for a bit before he headed to work.  They even made a cute little miniature snowman, who now lives in our freezer!

After "snowpocalypse" no one was taking any chances, so they actually cancelled school for 3 days, even though in the end, the roads were only icy for a few hours overnight Wednesday into early Thursday morning.  Thankfully the Governor declared a "state of emergency" during both events (the weather was much worse this go around over parts of north Alabama), so the school days missed will be forgiven.  Aunt Jamie was getting kind of nervous that they would have to  make the days up over spring break...that would be no fun at all!!

My cousin lives in Chattanooga and they got almost 7 inches of snow!!  When I saw how much snow was forecast in east Tennessee, I wanted to load the kids up and head to the River House, but unfortunately the roads were bad between here and there.  There are some great sledding hills around there; hopefully we'll catch some snow up there one day!

"Engine Room"

When we first started working on Little Bud's new room, we decided to go with a car and truck theme.  Over the last few months it slowly evolved into a looser theme: anything with an engine.  Little Bud likes to play with trucks, tractors, trains, fire engines, planes and cars of all kinds.  Several of the fun things in his room were Christmas gifts from various family members, and recently John's brother James gave Little Bud some tractors and trains that were his when he was little.  We are so happy with how his room turned out, and Little Bud enjoys waking up to all of his fun toys and decorations every morning (after he wakes up he usually spends a few minutes jibber jabbering and making truck and train noises).

Most of the furniture (and lots of the decorations) in Little Bud's room are extra special.  John and his dad made the display cabinet and little bb gun shelf (that's above the window - it's only displaying little planes for now!) when John was a kid.  His little rocking chair was actually John's dad's from when he was a baby!  John built the corner shelf for Big Sister's nursery a few months before she was born (we're planning to paint the trim on it blue, we just haven't had a chance to yet).  John's grandmother painted the train that's below the "J" for John's brother James when he was little. 

 

Little Bud sleeps with his monkey, Llama Llama and Rebecca Rabbit every night

(at the moment he loves his Llama Llama books and 

pulls them off his shelf for us to read multiple times each day)

(Grammie made his crib sheet out of the cutest fabric I found on Etsy.)

 

John's dad built this shelf for Little Bud for Christmas

 

Gigi and Papa Dean gave Little Bud the clock that's above his shelves for Christmas.

The tractors (and little train decoration under the shelves) came from Uncle James.

The red train was given to the kids by my Grandpa.  It was a toy from when my mom 

and my uncle and aunts were growing up.

Little Bud came into the room as I was finishing up taking the photos, 

and I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures of my sweet little love.

"It's Valentine's Day"

Big Sister said that sentence 4 times to herself as soon as she woke up last Friday morning!  I guess she was  excited!  When she got out of bed, she ran into our room, and said the same thing to us again!  She's been working on crafts at home and at Grammie's for a few weeks, so the gift giving anticipation has been building :) 

She and Little Bud were both excited to open their little Valentine gifts.  We realized that Little Bud has grown and changed a lot since Christmas.  He was way more into his gifts than he was at Christmas; squealing and showing everything to us with a big, happy smile.  It was so fun to see the excitement on their faces.  I love these kids more than words can say!!

love her excitement!

Little Bud needed his own brush, since he usually has to borrow

Big Sister's princess brush!