Fall / Halloween 2010

Well, here we are, once again delinquent in our Blog posting. Been almost 2 months. I hope that we still have at least a couple people enjoying the pictures and stories of our little nugget's progression.

It's a BEAUTIFUL Saturday here in McLeansville. Crystal is working at the Holiday Market selling sauce. London and I got all of our chores done before lunch, had a couple of sammiches and she's knocked out in deep sleep. We are all so glad the Fall is here! Only 2 more weddings this year, and we are off til the Spring!

We celebrated (officially) her second birthday here last night at the house. We got her a little play kitchen this wedensday for her birthday, and she has been cooking and cleaning non-stop. She constantly makes us coffee, chicken and pizza in her pretend kitchen. It's adorable.

Here are a few pictures (not in the best order, due to blogspot not being image upload friendly) of last night.



London talking to Uncle Ricky who is off playing Army for a few days with the NC National Guard.



"MOM!!! Let me talk to Uncle Ricky!!!"



Running around like a crazy woman in her PJ's and the tutu that Rebecca made her.



I don't now what this face was all about, but somehow I caught it on camera. You see the space heater there because we have no heat in the house except for the wood stove. I tore out the unit 3 weeks ago and have been working every chance I get to get the ductwork in order under the house and the new unit installed. It's a little tough with a munchin following me around all weekend, though. Once C is off of wedding duty, I should be able to break away and get us some HEAT!



Don't ask me what she is doing here...



This is London's cat, Beans. We named her Beans so that we would have Frank...& Beans. Originally we named her "Wimbly" after a Fraggle Rock character, but decided to move that to her middle name instead due to the fact that "Beans" just fit.



Caught in the act trying to mess with Beans eating. She still has her birthday ice cream cake on her face.





Frank severely irritated that he is getting no cake.









Here she is Trick - Or - Treating with Addison (her friend from school Tucker's older sister). Addison wore her out!





L was a ladybug.



Here are our pumpkins. Frank ended up destroying the one with her initials.

Preschool

Earlier this summer Steve and I decided to enroll our little sweetness into a preschool program. Our main reason was so that she could learn to interact and socialize with other children since she is around adults all the time, and doesn't really have any friends other than her beloved Henry and Jack that live in Cary. After researching quite a few different programs, we settled on a church SFYC preschool program that I have heard nothing but great things about. Even though she will be 2 in only a few short months, their classes are divided by age groups based on birthdays, just like the normal school system, so she is the oldest in her class of "one years." Although she is the oldest in a class of seven children, there are about three other children in there that are only a few days or a month behind London. So far, this has been a great experience for her and she seems to really like everyone, especially the teachers. But it's been hard as well. Not only for her, but for me too.

Her class only meets twice a week for 3 hours a day, but it has been something completely different for London, and for myself so we have been struggling with the adjustment. On the first day of school, they only held class for an hour and the mothers were allowed to attend to help the children get acquainted with one another and the teachers. London was very shy that day but eventually warmed up within the last 5 minutes and started playing some with the other children. On the second day, the mommies weren't allowed so we had to drop the kids off for a two hour class. London cried. And I cried. But thankfully, she didn't hesitate to go to the teacher who comforted her as I walked away, barely able to see in front of me because of the tears in my eyes. I can't tell you the pain in my heart to hear my baby yell "mommy, hold you! Peeasse mommy hold you!" and having to turn my back on her and walk away. I know it's for her own good, and I would rather do it now than later, but my heart broke into a million pieces. Thankfully, when I went to pick up London I was able to peek in the window and saw that she was dancing, and singing, and hugging her new friend Ruby. And when she saw me, she lit up like a firefly and said "dere's my mommy!" Each day has been a bit easier, but it's still hard for me to let her go, even though the teacher says she only cries for about 30 seconds and then is completely fine. Maybe I'm having a tougher time because I am seeing my little angel grow up to be this independent, strong willed little girl who is so sensitive and nurturing, and sweet and I'm sad because time is flying by so quickly!

Anyways...so thanks to her wonderful teachers who have posted a private shutterfly page full of pictures they take in class to keep the parents updated on everything, I have a few pictures of London at preschool!

This was taken today...playing on the playground!

During our first day. She loves the baby dolls!!

First day of school :)

Beach 2010

Our little family went to the beach for a few days last week. Kindof a last breather before wedding season kicks up in high gear this weekend. We had a great time, but quickly learned that a trip to the beach with a full throttle toddler is not always a "vacation" per se.

London found a "sand shark" and wanted to pet it.

She found her shadow, and had to stop to say hello. I can't help but think of Peter Pan every time that she does this.

I found a couple of conch shells and taught her how to listen to the ocean. Looks like she wanted to listen in stereo.

Trying to look cool poolside like her Daddy!

Had to get a picture of this, since she was listening to Crystal's IPod, and her hair was out of control in the wind.

In a summer daze. A little bit of juice dripping from the chin.

She loved to carry water from the oceran and dump it out near our chairs.

Her little bow legs are straightening out every day! Still cute in my book.

The hotel had a lazy river. This was her favorite float. She could have spent all day on this thing.

My Little Buddy

London and I went to the McLeansville Lawn Tractor Pull this past Saturday. We both had a GREAT TIME! She was surprisingly interested in the "lawnmowers" and was very fascinated when a little girl was participating in the competition.

We spent the afternoon walking around the paddock looking at the machines and people watching. She may be into her babydolls, but my little buddy has a redneck bone!!!

One Crazy Summer So Far...

It's been a while since I last wrote...no surprise there since I am terrible at keeping this thing updated. It has been my wish ever since starting this blog to update it at least once a week. I'm lucky if I can do it once a month!

Anyways...on to the post. Most of you know that my brother decided to join the National Guard earlier this year and left for basic training in mid March. Thankfully throughout his stay at basic, he decided not to go into the Special Forces and was able to graduate on July 2nd and return home with us from Fort Benning (in Georgia). We were and still are so proud of him for all the he accomplished and endured during basic, and the changes he has made in his life. Right now he is living with us (mainly because we took his house while he was gone...long story) while he finishes saving some money to build his house. It's amazing how much you can save when you are gone for five months and only spend $100 here and there to buy necessities at basic training. He'll probably be with us for a while, but he is excited about getting everything back in order for his house...which he had most of it done before he left. Below are a few of my favorite pictures from his graduation. I was amazed that I didn't boohoo like a baby upon first seeing him since I hadn't seen him since March. And luckily, London remembered him so she had no problem going to him, except for when he had his hat on...she didn't like it!

After our return from Georgia, we celebrated the 4th at the farm with just our family. It was a welcome home and holiday party all in one. We ate hamburger, hotdogs, corn on the cob, and all kinds of delicious food. We also threw the baseball (London too since she has her own glove now) and then pulled out some blankets when it got dark and watched the fireworks go off in the distance. It couldn't have been a more perfect day!

Since then we've had visitors in town (Jon, Russ and the Folsom’s), I've been to Atlanta for a week, I turned 28, and we've been to Raleigh to visit the Folsom's. And now we've got two upcoming 30th birthdays to celebrate (Steve on the 12th, Ricky on the 14th), we are going to the beach, and then our little nugget starts preschool! I signed her up yesterday and we are so excited for her, but at the same time I can't believe my baby will be going to school!

Today exactly, she is 21 months! We can't believe how much she has grown up. People are constantly stopping me to tell me how cute, how adorable, and how verbal she is. Even the teacher at the preschool yesterday mentioned she had quite the vocabulary. Although, her favorite two words are "huh" and "what's that?" And somehow she has learned a new word that I heard clear as day yesterday for the first time when I was sitting at lunch with her and Ricky and Ricky said "London, say envelope." And she yelled "penis!" I couldn't help but die laughing because it took me by surprise which prompted her to say it again and again but thankfully by the end of the conversation, I had her saying pennies instead! The last thing I need is for my child to start preschool going around saying penis. I still have no idea where she learned that word because I don't ever say it!

Well, I will end on that note because I feel like I've written a novel. Enjoy our pics :)

4th of July

She has a cannon so Steve

was protecting himself...but she

decided to hand him the ball instead

Her classic "crazy face"

First time eating corn on the cob

Ricky's Turning Blue Ceremony & Graduation

Turning Blue ceremony

Waiting for dad to attach the

blue infantry cord to his uniform

My favorite men!

His platoon

After his graduation...she was

obsessed with going to Uncle Ricky

Watching graduation

Listening to the canons and gun fire at graduation