We spend much of our spring and fall days at the zoo, but haven't been much this summer. Today, on a whim, I finally decided to brave a trip to the zoo with you three by myself. The thought of packing snack bags, diaper bags, loading up carseats, all before we even get to the zoo seemed just to overwhelming. But today, I was feeling brave. So off we went! The biggest stress was to push a double stroller and wear you, Char or push you and have you boys walk the zoo. I decided to go with the latter, praying you boys would listen and stick by my side.
It was a great day and a good confidence booster for me as mommy to three. We all stuck together, you guys listened great, and we had a blast! (By the end of the day, you were both plopping down in the middle of the sidewalks though, too pooped to keep walking!)
You boys have made it over three and a half years without ever experiencing a sleepover. This weekend, that changed! Bags packed (and a little hesitantly), we headed over to Zsu Zsu and Paka's to drop you off for a sleepover. After slightly tearful kisses goodbye, you were distracted by the pool as we headed out. An evening of swimming, cookouts, a visit to Uncle Kye and Aunt Yaya's, ice cream, movies, and more! You boys had a blast!! (And Mommy and Daddy enjoyed a quiet evening with just Charleigh too)
You are growing like a weed, Squish! You now weigh 15 pounds and 5 ounces and are 25.5 inches long. You snugly fit 3 month sized clothing, but are more comfortably in 6 month sizes already.
The four month sleep regression hit about a week before officially turning four months...and yet you are still a dream when it comes to sleep (regression included!). Instead of sleeping through the night, you've been waking once or twice around 3 AM and 5 AM. You are more active during the day and the amount of naps you're taking are lessening. Your best nap is still that first nap of the day, with another hour to two hour nap in the mid-morning and again in the afternoon. Our daily schedule is a little more active during the summer than school months, but you are flexible and catch catnaps wherever and whenever you can.
You are officially a roly-poly and rolled back to belly for the first time last night! You were so proud and grinning ear-to-ear....we were lucky to catch it on video! Once you got over that first roll, anytime we have laid you on your back since, you flip right over to your tummy.
You love playing with your toys now. You reach for them, hold them, and even bring them to your mouth for some teething relief. Your favorite toys are the ones that make the crinkly sound. The (crinkly) Very Hungry Caterpillar book is your favorite right now.
You continue to teethe and drool like crazy. We still see those two white spots where it seems like teeth will be popping through any day now, but still no teeth (and I am okay with that! Slow down, little one!).
You are a babbling, cooing machine. We are loving the new sounds coming out of you - and you seem to be proud of them too!
We just can't believe how quickly you are growing and that it's already been four months. We just adore you, sweet Charleigh Jo!
Today was the last (and maybe most gorgeous) day of our vacation. Our
day started bright and early at 5:30 with some cuddles and patio
relaxing. After a quick, small breakfast, we headed down to the beach
for one more time to play. Ry, you did not want anything to do with the
beach today and kept asking, "We go to our 'tucky house now?" Wiley, all
you wanted to do was boogie board! Unfortunately the waves were nearly
nonexistent today and Daddy was a little spooked when he saw a pretty
big fish glide by, so there wasn't much boogie boarding to be had.
An hour or so later, we were back at the house to load up the car and
enjoy a second, big breakfast with the rest of the family. But we couldn't leave
without one more swim either. So the five us headed to the pool for one
final swim. Ry, you jumped off ledge to me without any life jacket!
Then you swam from me to the ladder about five feet. You even stopped,
picked your head out of the water to get a breath, all while treading
water on your own, and then finished swimming to the ladder!! We were so impressed.
Once in the car, all three of you gave us a two and a half hour nap.
Unfortunately, it was all down hill from there. Once we'd finally get
Charleigh to stop crying, someone would have to stop to go to the
bathroom. We couldn't seem to catch a break! But, nearly 12 hours later,
our "nine and a half" hour drive was complete and we were safely home.
Another fabulous family vacation is in the books!
This morning we all woke up slow; and being that we never do that, it
was lovely. After a 5 AM wakeup call, it seemed like our day would be
starting very early. But you boys climbed back into our bed, snuggled up, and
slept another two hours. Once awake, we stayed in bed hanging out for
another hour or so - I don't know that you boys have ever let us do
that! It was fabulous!
Once out of bed and out of our room, we found out Nenny, Papa Donnie,
and Boo were needing to head home early. They had already been down a
week before the whole family had joined them and it was time for them to
get home. So, we sadly said goodbye, offered a quiet prayer for safe travels and comfort, and headed downstairs to make tie dye shirts. Outside, it
was another stormy day, while inside it was another rowdy day of 6 boys
running around, meltdowns peeking for all kiddos.
By noon, it was still raining, so we attempted naptime. Of course the
sun came out at this exact time. We scratched the naps and raced to the
pool for an hour and half or so, before yet another thunderstorm rolled
in.
Our five headed out around four for an early dinner and some family
time. Once dinner was over, we walked around and you boys both kept
proclaiming, "I wanna play somethin', mom! Can we play somethin'?"
Across the street from us was a pirate putt putt course. So, on a whim,
we took you to play putt putt for your first time! You were both
ecstatic and LOVED it! Ry, you continue to take after me. You want to
win at whatever cost it takes, including cheating, and then loudly
celebrating each time the ball hit the hole like you really earned it.
Wiley, like your daddy, you quietly and skillfully got the ball in the
hole with a simple little celebration. Charleigh, you enjoyed yourself
too, but got a little lazy on us towards the end and fell asleep.
After our game, we headed back to the Beach Castle for our final night
here. It has been such a nice week for our family, but I think we are
all anxious to get back home now.
Today started with a fun surprise...last night, a turtle had laid her eggs right near our tents. She laid them fairly close to the rising shoreline and they were going to need moving. So, bright and early, the Turtle Patrol group was out in the sand, digging up and moving the eggs back about 20 yards. We got to watch as all 88 eggs were carefully lifted out and placed in a bucket. Then the hole was carefully measured and exactly replicated to where the eggs were being moved.
Once the turtles were moved, we quickly headed home to finish breakfast and get ready for the beach. The sun was out and we wanted to soak it up! Today, we all had a little fun boogie boarding. Wiley, you've been a little more timid this year compared to last, but that was gone today and your daredevil self was back! At one point, you rode one wave that was probably a little too big for you and it flipped you feet over head, over the front of your boogie board. A little shaken up, but you hopped right up and were ready to keep going. Ry, you've decided the beach is okay and you don't mind playing in the sand, but you'd rather be swimming in the pool.
After naps, it was almost time for Daddy and I to get ready for date night, but we had promised the pool after naps. Ryan and Wiley, you and I headed down and had the pool nearly to ourselves. The bravery in the pool continued and you spent most of the time without life jackets on. Daddy and Charleigh joined us for a little while too.
Daddy and I were thankful for a night out together to celebrate eight years of marriage. Charleigh, you tagged along while your brothers stayed to play with cousins. We realized as we were driving to dinner, that it was on this date last year that your Daddy and I played the what if / name game..."But what if we get pregnant...and what if it's a girl...what are some names we like?" There we were, wishing, hoping, and brainstorming names for an impossible pregnancy, not even knowing we were already two weeks pregnant with you, Squish! And now, here you are, one year later on that same anniversary date with us; God is so awesome!
After a nice dinner, we came home just in time to stroll to the beach with all the cousins to release a crab, have some ice cream, and play a quick game of Twister. Our week is just flying by - today was another great day of vacation and more memories made!
