Part 1 Week 18 Year 1

Hello my sweet 16 month old,

It has been the most amazing week! We have experienced so much! I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

First I want to let you know about all of the new things you're doing. You have started saying things twice; like dog dog, duck duck, cat cat. I think it came from us saying "kitty cat" and now everything is a double name! You love to dance! You know several songs; "If You're Happy & You Know It", "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Head Shoulders, Knees & Toes" & "Patty Cake"! It is beyond adorable watching you sing them. You sing all kinds of songs, all of the time but I have no idea what you're singing! You talk all of the time too; again I have no idea what you're saying most of the time. Surprisingly though I do understand quite a bit of your gibberish! You know the sign for more! You know many animal sounds too! You do the elephant the best! You also do a really cute monkey. You're pretty good at cat and cow and your dog is silent, you just move your head. It's like you think you're making the sound but nothing comes out!You are very attached to your pacifier and I'm sorry! We're going to let you have it a few more months while you're teething and then we'll say goodbye. It's probably the only thing that I really don't like. I wish I could say that you only use it at night but you've been using it constantly and we let you. It calms you and that can be very helpful at times for us! We have had many "special moments" but one I'd like to remember is our flying game. I hold you up like you're flying and you giggle and cover your mouth and then when I put you down you say "down"! It's hard to explain but I can assure you very special to us!

So we finally had our big family vacation! It was incredible! I mean seriously, it could not have gone any better! It was really a slice of heaven and surprisingly relaxing! It was a very go with the flow type trip. No stress.

Let's start from the beginning! We had to get up extremely early to make our flight at 5:50am! You did not want to get up at all! So I just packed you up in the car in your pajamas and we headed out! You were ready to go once we got on the plane! We had three seats to ourselves and that rarely happens. It's a good thing too because you we're a little wiggle worm and loving the extra space!

 

This is what you do when you sing "and your face will surely show it"!

 Hello Miami

I tried to take a picture of the clock that said "June 20th 9:23am"! Exactly 16 months old!

We had a few hours before your Mimi, Mindy & Aubrey would arrive so we decided to make a quick trip to Zoo Miami! What a great zoo! It was hot but so worth the trip. 

Then we headed back to the airport to pick up the ladies and drive to Duck Key! It was about a 3 hour drive and you slept most of the way and watched Frozen with Aubrey the rest of the time.

We stayed at a lovely resort called Hawk's Cay! We were immediately greeted by the family. Everyone was so excited to see you! For the next two days we swam, slept, ate and celebrated Jenny & Gary! 

Day 1

 

 

 

Day 2

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

 

Then it was time for the Big Day! Now let's be honest. You're one and a one year old isn't really expected to handle walking down an aisle by themselves or even with their favorite cousin. We were all fully prepared for you to back out at the last minute and either I would have to walk you or your dad or you wouldn't make it down the aisle at all. Plus we had 2 hours before the ceremony of pictures and hanging out and you got a little restless. So I thought for sure it was going to be a lost cause. Well when it came time for the big moment, you and I were waiting at the top of the isle watching the bridesmaids walk down, first Libby tried to hold your hand and you pulled away, then Aubrey tried to hold your hand and walk with you and at first you were okay with it but backed out, then Jenny (the stunning bride) offered you her hand and you took it! The two of you walked together until it was time for her to walk with her mom and you stood at the bottom of the for a moment taking it all in as usual, then the wedding planner guided you to daddy and I joined you at our seat! Total success! Most impressive! You looked beautiful! I was so very proud of you baby! Everyone was!

 

You then proceeded to tear up the dance floor for the rest of the night, as well as the buffet! You had bacon wrapped shrimp, cerviche,empanadas and lots of rice!

 

We got up early the next morning and headed back to Miami to drop off our wonderful family and headed to our magical Disney adventure!

More on that tomorrow!

I love you kitten,

Mommy

Week 17 Year 1

Réme Lynn,

I try not to focus on the "future" in these letters. I try to talk about the past week, but I can't help myself! We leave for Florida tomorrow and we are so excited!! Ok, that's it!

The weekend started with Stella's birthday celebration! She turned 3! We took her to  her favorite place, Petco and let her pick our some treats! 

Saturday morning we went to a fun birthday party for our friend Hanna! She turned 2! She had a bouncy house, a water/sand table and yummy strawberries! 

Later that afternoon we tried the splash pad again and this time with great success! You had a blast! 

Then we surprised daddy with dinner for Father's Day at a fancy steak house in downtown Nashville! When people walk into a place like that with a one year old, there is a lot of eye rolling and cringing going on and to be honest it's not unjustified. Little ones can be little terrors! But not our girl! Not you! You had that place wrapped around your little finger in no time! The wait staff, the other diners, they were all so impressed! We had a wonderful dinner! You tried crab and lobster and loved them! 

Afterwards we took a walk downtown and rode a horse drawn carriage! You didn't seem too impressed but hung in there even way after your bedtime! 

Sunday (the official day of the Father) your daddy wanted brunch and to go to the zoo, so that's exactly what we did!

 

He's the best daddy for you and I hope (I'm sure he does) he knows how much we love him!

You had your last day at Una Baptist Daycare! You'll be starting Bambini Montessori when we get back! I think you will really thrive there! It was sad to say goodbye but excited for the new adventure! We just want the best for you babe and we think Bambini will challenge, stimulate and embrace your mind! 

Now let's get this vacation started!!

I love you,

Mommy

Week 16 Year 1

Réme Lynn,

You have a new obsession! Your new play kitchen! It was Averie's and she had decided that she had outgrown it (tear) and gave it to us (yay)! You LOVE it! It's the first thing you want to do when you wake up and come home from school and just about the entire time we're home! It's so sweet to watch and fun to play! 

You are also obsessed with taking a bath!! I know, go figure right?! But you don't want to get out of the tub and you can't wait to get it!! Hilarious! it's crazy really, one day you like watermelon the next day you won't touch it! The same goes for pizza, chicken, pasta, bread, all of the things I thought were your favorites! Oh and you won't go near anything green! How does that happen? 

We took you to see Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and you seemed to enjoy it! The singing & dancing parts for sure! And the oompaloompas! 

 

We also had a fun playdate with Mollie & Jaimie! We swam, ate snacks and played! You two had your fair share of "mine" moments but one in particular caught both Jamie & I by surprise! You were playing with a big bouncy blue ball and Mollie decided she wanted it and you were not having it! You practically pile drived her to the ground and proceeded to try your hardest to bite her! Luckily you didnt but you looked like a ravenous dog trying to! It was funny but not funny and thankfully quickly ended! The weird thing was that the two of you were over it seconds later but Jaime & I talked about it the rest of the afternoon. It was kind of scary for me to see you get so vicious. I have no idea where that comes from or why! All part of phases I guess! We'll see!

We had another one of those special moments that I don't want to forget! It happened after your bath while putting on your diaper. We kiss and you grab my neck and pull me close to you! It's an unspoken moment of pure love! 

I love you so much,

Mommy

Week 15 Year 1

Hello Baby,

We're back in the bath business! I've been slowly easing you back into it! Some days we'd just play in the bathroom, then in the tub empty, then just standing in water and then one day you sat down! We were playing with bubbles and you needed to concentrate on blowing! So yay! 

We spent some time with the new Coram 4 and it was so nice! You and HT played on the deck, in the water and with the chickens! You guys are really cute! One thing is for sure, you both love to eat! I was glad to get some Atticus snuggles too! 

Saturday was a fun family day! We went it the splash pad, got some plants (planted them) and then your daddy treated us to a lovely dinner followed by some yummy ice cream! It was a wonderful day!

You look so tall to me in this photo! You weren't thrilled with the surprise splashing but you found a "safe" spot and played there happily! 

You have developed a taste for ice cream!! A girl after my own heart!

You're teething like crazy and it's so hard to watch you have to deal with that! You're almost there baby! 11 down and only 9 to go! Those molars are tough!! You are being quite the trooper! 

We are getting so excited about our Florida trip coming up!! You are going to be a flower girl along with Aubrey in Jenny & Gary's wedding and then...WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!! Ahh!! We figured since we were going all that way we might as well! Our Magic Bands have arrived and we have two magical days planned out!! 

 

When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true! 

Mine did when I had you! I love you sweet girl!

Mommy