Amelia Island

Amelia Island, Florida...Our first vacation with just the 4 of us. Spending a week together with just the four of us was better than I could have imagined. Spending a week in Florida at a family friends house, just off the beach, in upper 70 degree weather... well that is just perfection. It even made up for the through the night drives down there and back home.
  To Florida, we thank you for: all 4 of us sleeping in the king size bed, spending literally all day on the beach, ice cream cones every evening in the adorable ice cream shop downtown, putting the girls (and Jameson) down for naps by taking walks on the beach, seeing Lucy pickup seashells and Vada in a bathing suit (holy baby rolls!), "Pain Killers" every night, breakfast at Ms. Carolyns, catching up with family, endless discussions about why we don't live near the beach, the memories.

   We made most meals at the house, did very little shopping, no sight seeing, and basically just relaxed. In everything we do we try to teach the girls to live simply. This vacation was perfect for that. I can already see that this family will be spending a lot more time on the sand by the sea as our girls grow. Lucy has asked dozens of time to go to the beach since we have been home. And Vada still has the sun kissed glow on her chubby cheeks. I can already hear the call of the waves...

Vada at 8 (and a half) Months!

Our little beauty is now eight and a half months old! I typically try to get these things written closer to the month markers but here I am two weeks later. I am somewhat glad I waited, though, because just today Vada popped both of her bottom two teeth up! After the the last three days I was waiting for some achievement in some area so needless to say, I was thrilled when I felt those two little ridges on her bottom gum line. Vada had certainly not been her usual, joyful self and could not seem to be comfortable or comforted by anything. I am wondering if her high needs also are a sign she is about to take off with crawling. She has it down but only will make two moves on the floor before sitting back down. She has been trying to pull up on the coffee table and the toy box. I am in NO hurry to get her moving, however. I am perfectly happy knowing exactly where she is at all times right now. I thought she had finally found her taste for food but now we are back to the tight lipped, hand smacking, stubborn little woman who refuses anything but mama. Jameson and I are planning on just skipping the purees from now on and moving right to over cooked finger foods since it seems she is happy picking up smashed pees and green beans. Vada has become a much better sleeper lately and will easily go from 8 to 1:30 or 2am most nights. She likes her own space because after nursing she is restless in our bed until I move her back to her crib. With the arrival of this beautiful weather, Vada has found a new favorite past time in swinging and playing outside on a blanket. Mainly pulling up grass and eating leaves. Hey, I guess she does like to eat something!  She continues to be the happiest baby you ever did see, before the hour of 6pm. She is already a morning person and I look forward to the days she and her Daddy can get up and hang out while Lucy and I sleep in :) She has started waving bye bye and even attempts to say it at times. The fake coughing continues to get people laughing so she likes to pull that out when she is feeling under noticed. She has become the master water splasher in the tub and starts kicking and flailing her arms as soon as I turn the water on.

Vada, your family is so in love with you. Seeing your smile can brighten any and every day. Lucy loves to take care of you and now asks to play with Vada Belle which melts my heart. I know you two will get to be closer and closer the older you get Belle. Right now you are a mama's girl which I would not change for the world. Keep smiling Vada Belle!

Easter

We did a really bad job of getting enough pictures on Easter this year. Wish we had... family photo, sister photo, egg hunt photos, some documentation of the mountain of chocolate that Lucy consumed on this day, an audio recording of her telling me her belly hurt so maybe she will listen to herself in the future if not me. Missed all that but I refuse not to capture them in their new bathing suits :)