Life as the Baby

Hannah Cate loves, loves, loves Maddie. Maddie loves, loves, loves Hannah Cate. The two of them are most content when they are together. Of course Maddie can't really play with Hannah Cate just yet, but Hannah Cate really thinks that she is playing with Maddie. Sometimes at sweet Maddie's expense. We've learned pretty quickly that we can't turn our backs for very long!

But we have learned the hard way in some cases.......

Hannah Cate has developed an obsession with hats lately, but in most cases, she's obsessed with taking them off. She's been saying to Matt recently "hat off" every time he has a hat on. G-Daddy came to play with us on Monday and he received the same treatment. Maddie on the other hand was given the Hannah Cate stamp of approval to wear the "War Eagey" hat (whether it fit her or not).

Hannah Cate has also developed a great fondness for talking to people on the phone. We like to call Mimi and G-Daddy on the phone since we don't get to see them as often. Hannah Cate likes to make sure Maddie gets to talk to them too!

I'm not even sure how to explain this one, other than to say, this falls in the "don't turn your back" category. We were getting ready to go to the pool and Maddie was waiting patiently already loaded in her car seat while the rest of us were getting our stuff together. Hannah Cate grabbed one of the chargers off the dining room table and proceeded to put it over Maddie's face. The funniest part is that it didn't even phase sweet Moo-Moo - no arms flailing or legs kicking. I guess you get used to just about anything around here!

On Saturday I was home alone with the girls and I was trying to get a few things done around here. Hannah Cate was playing in her room and so I thought I would put Maddie in Hannah Cate's crib ("kib") where she would be safe and sound but could still be in the presence of Hannah Cate (again, they are both happier and more content when they are together). I came back to check on them, only to find every single one of Hannah Cate's toys (books, stuffed animals, baby dolls, puzzle pieces, you name it) in the crib with Maddie. Poor girl was practically buried underneath a mound of toys. Would you believe me that she wasn't even crying or fussing? She was actually smiling when I peered over the crib to find her under the mess. So much for safe and sound in the crib. I don't have a picture of this near catastrophe because my camera battery was dead I was just trying to rescue my baby!

As for the big sister responsible for it all. This is the face I get when I ask her if she thinks maybe she's playing a little rough with sister:

Hmmmmm.....what am I supposed to say to that?

We Call her Maddie Moo-Moo

She turned six months old on Sunday.

All I can think is "ooooooooohhhhhhh" where did the time go?

Half of a year.

In pre-baby days a half of a year was a long time. In post-baby days it goes by in the blink of an eye.

Sweet Sister Maddie Moo-Moo,

You are a true delight. You make our hearts swell with your free-flowing and gracious smiles. I feel better about myself when I'm around you because you are so quick to flash me your toothless (but not for much longer) grin. You have the kindest blue eyes. I can already tell that you are going to have a very gracious spirit. I'm taking in your sweet snuggles as much as I can because I know before long you will be off chasing your big sister and won't have as much time to cuddle. In an instant you stole my heart for the third time. I love you sweet girl and we are so blessed to call you ours.

My love,

Mama

PS- I promise we'll stop calling you Moo-Moo before you start Kindergarten, you have my word!

Beach Trip

A couple of weeks ago we went to the beach with a big group of friends. Five families totaling 10 adults and 9 children - we had them outnumbered this year, but next year they'll have us beat! I think the trip was overall a resounding success. It was a way different beach trip than I am used to, but we made it work. It was really great to just get outside of our normal day-to-day routine. Some of my favorite times were after the kids had gone to bed and we just sat out on the balcony and chatted.

Hannah Cate loved spending time with the boys and I think she has officially developed her first crush. She has been talking about Peyton ("Pake") ever since we left. She really does thrive in social settings and loves being around other kids. Every time we left to go to dinner, etc. she would ask "Home to condo?" It was really hard to explain to her on the last day when we were leaving for good that we were going home-home and that "home to condo" was just a vacation. I think she wouldn't have minded staying forever!

Maddie was a little trooper. Sleeping on the go when needed and overall going with the flow. She's really coming into her own and developing her own sweet personality. I'm so thankful for her happy disposition.

Nothing like a little dinner and napping. I think we made a mistake at dinner this night. We went to a place in Alys Beach called George's. Great food, great atmosphere, but we really paid ($$$) for it!

So glad our girls got his gorgeous blue eyes!

Ethan

Thomas (aka T-bug)

Robert

Peyton, Ethan and Jackson

Hannah Cate attempting to play with Finn - he wasn't so interested!


Hannah Cate has developed a great love for the ocean (osh-ee) this year. She loves to play in the waves and screams over and over "waves get me"!

Sweet Maddie. I love this girl!

Loving on my sweet girls!

I did celebrate a birthday that ends with a "0" while we were at the beach. The girls planned a little cake party after dinner that night and it was a good day. Matt surprised me with an upcoming vacation that we'll get to go on just the two of us - can't wait!

Kids playing amongst the local paparrazi!

This was our second attempt at the beach with Maddie. Attempt one officially failed. We were there for less than 10 minutes and hung it up. Day two we went armed with a plan and it was a much better beach outing! Maddie stayed perched in her bouncy on the beach chair and all was good!

Self portrait!

No oil made for great beach and ocean time.

Shands-man. Probably one of the most self-entertaining, wild-man kiddos I've ever been around!

There's nothing like a good nap on the beach! I wish that could have been me!

We had a great time and can't wait until next year!