Becca turns 4

I'm not sure why, but having a 4 year old makes everything seem different.  I guess at 4 you're no longer a toddler.  You're officially a kid.  Becca has brought so much to our lives.  She is an incredible little girl, and we have enjoyed watching her grow up.  Here's a look back at her year!

 

She found out she'd be a big sister!

 

Still sweet & innocent...

 

and sassy as ever!

She went to cheer camp...

and dance camp with all of her friends!

We went to the beach.

She was so excited to help open all of Walker's gifts!

 

This was the morning as we left for the hospital.  I'll never forget how excited she was!

 

This moment absolutely took my breath away.  Never has there been a little girl so excited to become a big sister.

 

She got to be in  a parade for the first time - the Okra Strut parade with Dance Dept.

She went deer hunting with Daddy for the first time!

She was Sleeping Beauty for Halloween.

 

At our church's Trunk or Treat, our family dressed up as members of the Duck Dynasty.  Hayes was Turtle Man.  And yes, they are still planning on getting married!

She began taking tap & ballet.

She actually 'got' Christmas!

Hayes and Becca had their 1st planned sleepover at our house.

We got to spend Christmas with my extended family in NC.

It snowed...a lot (for SC)

She gave lots of kisses & hugs to Bubby!

She had a mermaid themed 4th birthday party.  We got a bounce house, and all of her friends from Nat's, dance, church, and other places came over.  We had a great time.  Instead of getting presents for herself, she asked all of her friends to bring donations for Pets Inc.  We want to teach her that she doesn't 'need' everything she sees on tv.  We also want her to appreciate what she does have.  She really enjoyed seeing what all everyone brought for the dogs, and she really enjoyed taking the donations (minus the fact that she got bit by a dog while we were there).  I know I'll probably spend the rest of my life saying this, but I cannot believe how fast she's growing up.  I truly wish I had a pause button!  I try to soak in every sassy minute I spend with her.  I know it won't be like this forever.
In an attempt to help me capture who she is at 4, I decided to do an interview with her.  Here's what she had to say (verbatim and without any prompting!)
And to start you off, as I was explaining to Becca that I was going to ask her questions so I could type them on my blog, she asked what kind.  I told her it would be about things she liked.  She said, "Oh, like my favorite color and animal?  Anything I say you'll put on there?'
I told her yes, and she quickly followed it up with, "Except no bad words.  You won't type dumb on there because that's bad."

What's your favorite color?  PINK, BLUE, & GREEN
What's your favorite toy?  BARBIE DOLL, RACE CAR, AND A TRAIN
What's your favorite food?  CHEESE
What's your favorite thing to wear?  DRESSES & SKIRTS
What's your favorite animal?  A GIRAFFE
What's your favorite song?  SPEAK LIGHT (Speak Life by Toby Mac)
What's your favorite book?  Big Sister
Who's your best friend?  MARIANNE, HANNA, & HAYES
What's your favorite thing to do outside?  RIDE ON MY RED BIKE
What's your favorite stuffed animal?  CAMO
What do you want to be when you grow up?  A CHEERLEADER

7 months old

weight:  19 lbs 9 oz
height:  ??
diapers:  size 3
clothes:  12-18 months tops & 9-12 months pants
food:  he's eating all fruits & vegetables now.  He's not a big fan of green veggies, but we're working on that!  He's still only getting breastmilk, but he is no longer nursing.  He got to the point where he didn't like to nurse - I think mainly because he couldn't watch what was going on around him and because it took more effort.  I just recently stopped pumping as well since my milk supply decreased once he stopped nursing, but we've got a lot of frozen milk, so we'll see how long that lasts.
milestone:  he can totally sit up by himself!
word:  Mama!!!!  I was his 1st word!!!  He's also said Dada a few times.
sleeping:  ALL night.  He is ready for bed around 7 pm, and he sleeps until 6 or 7.  He still takes 2 naps a day, but those vary depending on our schedule.  He's pretty flexible.
And here's a look at what he's been up to:

At Sissy's 4th birthday party.

 

Getting lots of crazy hair

 

I finally got him a shopping cart cover.  He loves being able to see everything!

 

swinging at the new park in Irmo

 

Sissy even helped him go down the slide!

 

I cannot begin to explain the love I have for this little boy.  He fits in our family perfectly!  I love my family of 4!

6 months old

Here are some 6 months stats on our little big man!

weight:  18 lbs 13 oz (70th percentile)
height:  I can't remember, but I do know he was off the charts!  Dr. Geurkink's response was, "He obviously doesn't get that from mom or dad!"
clothes:  9-12 months (mostly)
diapers:  size 3
eye color:  hazel
hair:  getting a lot more, and it's still blonde with a little red
food:  breastmilk (5 oz. bottles) and we started some baby food.  He doesn't care much about it.  I was shocked - I thought he would love it, but he could care less.  At this point, we've only tried vegetables.
personality:  He is still the happiest baby in the world.  People comment on it all the time, and it makes me smile.  He lights up when he sees Daddy or me, but he really lights up when he sees Sissy:)  She's his favorite person.
milestone:  he can sit up by himself for a few seconds
Here are a few pictures from the month:

 

Using his bath seat FINALLY!

They LOVE taking baths together:)

First night in Bible Class!  Mrs. Monica was his teacher.

Evie didn't know what to think with him in there!

Showing off his big boy skills!

My Vickie…

I’ve sat down to write this so many times, but could never bring myself to do it.  I don’t know why – maybe because that would make it final, make it real.  Maybe because I would just get so overwhelmed, so sad.  But tonight I want to share this with everyone.  I don’t want anyone to ever forget her, but most importantly, I want everyone to know how much she meant to me.

Vickie and I were what most would call the unlikeliest of friends.  Now for those of you who don’t know our past, Vickie and JP dated for several years.  Things obviously didn’t work out for them, but I’m glad they dated.  Now I realize most wives don’t feel that way about their husband’s ex, but had they not dated, our paths may never have crossed. 

I’ll never forget the first time I met Vickie.  We were at a Super Bowl party in 2004.  JP and I had only been dating a few months.  She was upset when she got to the party because the food she had brought had spilled all over her car.  And true to Vickie, she wasn’t upset about the spill in her car, she was upset that she no longer had any food to contribute.  You see, that’s how Vickie was.  It was never about her – it was always about others.

Vickie and I didn’t become best friends over night, but over the years, we grew close.  We were at each other’s weddings, we spent most weekends together, and we helped throw each other’s parties and showers.

Speaking of parties and showers, Vickie had a talent in party planning like no other.  She did everything from designing invitations to planning and making the food.  She always gave 110%, and everything she was a part of was magnificent.  She just had a knack.  There’s definitely been a void in this area.  I can’t tell you how many times this past year Lauren and I have said (while trying to plan something), “We need Vickie.”

But it’s the simple things that I miss the most.

The New Year’s Eve parties…

The ski trips…

where we all learned how to ‘squash the bug’…

The dinners out…

The girls’ Christmas parties…

The new friendships that were created through her…

As hard as losing her has been, I am comforted by the last memory I have of her.  It was at church, the Sunday before she passed away.  I will always carry this with me - I will always find peace in this.

I don’t know that you ever ‘get over’ the loss of someone so special, I think you just learn a new normal, and we’ve all definitely had to find a new normal.  I still find myself picking up the phone to call her – to ask her something, to invite her to something, or just to tell her something that’s going on.  I haven’t been able to take her number out of my phone.  I don’t know that I ever will. 

To my Vickie -

I miss you more than you can imagine.  This world is not the same without you.  I know many hearts were broken the day we lost you, but my prayer is that through your loss, people have realized how short life is – how we are never guaranteed tomorrow.  I had the privilege of watching your relationship with God grow so much, and that is what gives me comfort in all of this.  I have prayed a lot for your family the past year.  I cannot imagine the hurt they are still dealing with.  You ARE definitely loved by so many.  So, goodbye for now.  My prayer is that we’ll meet again someday. 

 

I love you my sweet friend.

2013: A Year in Review

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

2013 was definitely a great year for us.  We had so much fun watching Becca grow, and then we welcomed our sweet boy into our family. 

Walker–4 months

How is this even possible?  I really feel like I just found out I was pregnant – but that was a year ago New Year’s Eve.  Here’s the latest on our sweet boy:

weight:  16 pounds 1 ounce (75th%)

length:  26.5 inches (93rd%)

clothes:  size 6-9 months

diapers:  size 2 & 3 (He can still wear 2’s, but I went ahead and bought 3’s so he wouldn’t outgrow them.)

personality:  THE happiest baby.  He smiles all of the time.  He’s even started laughing out loud.  He definitely recognizes us, but his favorite person is Becca.  He lights up every time he sees her.

food:  breastmilk – He’s taking 5 ounce bottles when he doesn’t nurse. 

eye color:  gray

hair color:  dirty blonde with a hint of red

sleep:  ALL night!  I was definitely blessed with good sleepers.  He usually goes down about 8:00 and gets up between 5:30 & 6:00.

naps:  He isn’t on a schedule with naps yet.  He just cat naps throughout the day.  I’m sure Nat will have him on a schedule in no time.

talking:  He ‘talks’ all of the time.  He just babbles and coos.  I love to listen to him.

Favorites:

This is his new favorite thing.  He’s teething, and he loves to chew on this.  I’m hoping he cuts some teeth soon because poor thing stays soaking wet from all of the drool.

He loves his paci (just like Becca).  We use the Soothies by Avant.  It definitely calms him down when he’s upset, but he doesn’t have to have it when he sleeps (which I love so I’m not up all night putting it back in his mouth).

He also loves his Cloud B giraffe that hangs on his car seat.  It is a sound machine, so when we’re out somewhere and he wants to nap, I just turn it on and he goes right to sleep.

And last but not least, the Exersaucer.  He loves being able to sit up and look around.  He hasn’t figured out the toys yet, but every now and then he’ll accidentally hit a toy and it will make noise.

Bath time is one of his favorites.  He kicks and splashes the whole time.

We love having our family of 4.  It hasn’t been as hard of an adjustment as I thought it would be (at least not yet, anyways).  He just fits with us perfectly. 

3 months old–3 weeks late

So my baby turned 3 months old on December 6th.  I know I say this all the time, but I can’t believe how fast time goes by.  I feel like I just had him, yet here he is, 3 months old.

I’m not sure of his weight, but I’m guessing around 14 pounds.  He is also extremely long/tall.  Not sure where that comes from.  Ha!  Here are some facts about Walker:

* wears size 2 diapers

* wears 3-6 months clothes

* sleeps all night in his crib – between 10 & 12 hours

* naps a lot during the day still

* is so happy – he smiles all of the time

*  still only breastfeeding

* when he’s not with me, he takes 4 ounce bottles

* I went back to work on Dec. 2nd, so he’s not with me all day anymore.  He stayed with GG and Grandmomma though, so he got lots of loving.

* He talks – A LOT!  Just like sissy!

* Speaking of Sissy, she’s still completely in love with him.  She hugs and kisses him every chance she gets.  He loves her too!

* He’s still a Mama’s boy and I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts!

 

He’s doing a lot of slobbering and chewing on his fingers, so I think he may be getting ready to cut teeth soon!