Fun In The Sun: Spring Break 2017

The Greater Your Storm, The Brighter Your Rainbow

Brighton Kevin: 18 Months

Dearest Brighton Kevin,

How are you 18 months already sweet boy? I feel like the last 6 months have flown by with you. You have grown so much...taller, wiser, sweeter. You light up a room and have a way of brightening everyone's day.

After turning one, you went through a spell of night temper tantrums. We were still in the apartment at that time so it was excruciatingly painful for us all. But the doctor was right...we let you cry it out one night and that was the end of it!

You are a walking/running machine. Always trying to keep up with your siblings! You like to do everything that they do...play tennis, put your shoes on, play golf, throw the ball, etc. You cannot stand to be left out and you are always showing them how big you are.

You have some new words: ball, all done, uh oh, sock, shoe, and a whole lot of babbling conversations with yourself! You get so excited when you point to something and I get it right on what you want. You start clapping and smiling!

You love Marshall from Paw Patrol and carry him with you everywhere. You squeal when Moana and Trolls are on the TV. You sing along and dance to the songs. In fact, you will dance to just about anything...I think this comes from watching your sister :)

You love to give hugs and kisses. You squeeze my legs so tight with your little arms to say "I love you." You also love to hug/lay on Beaumont & Giorgio. You are such a lover at heart. 

Son, your smile is contagious and you are so very loved!

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

Adelaide Jane: 4 1/2 Years

Dearest Adelaide,

Four and a half years old! Say it isn't so my sweet baby girl! Sweet is the key word here...the word Mrs. Tipton always uses to describe you each time I talk to her. She says, "Adelaide sugar, she is just the sweetest girl."  I cannot tell you how proud that makes me of you.

You have truly flourished in your new surroundings. The transition here to Kentucky almost seamless. Harvey Browne is your jam and you have been blessed with two amazing teachers who just eat you up. You are enjoying your classmates as well as Mrs. Bailey the principal. You love her so.

You took part in the social club last semester at school where you learned to talk about feelings. Sadness, happiness, disappointment, joy. It has made communicating much better between us and way calmer!

You are excelling in your group swim lessons, your dance classes, and learning so much at tennis. You have come into your own even more these last 6 months and you are budding right before my very eyes.

You were a gorgeous flower girl at Bees & Robbie's wedding. Taking your job very seriously and enjoying all the pampering that came with the job. You loved being one of the "big" girls that day and I hope that you will always cherish those memories.

You did take things into your own hands a few days after the wedding...cutting your own hair! Which resulted in a mohawk-gone-wrong-mullet. So you now have bangs and they are finally starting to grow into the rest of your hair! I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry so I did a bit of both. But at the end of the day, I realized the only thing that was hard about the adjustment was the fact that bangs make you look much older than I am ready for.

We had a minor run in at the ER as you described some neck pains out of the blue one day. After seeing the pediatrician and taking extra precautions, you got a neck X-ray at Kosair's. Thank heavens it ended up being muscular and with a heating pad and some rest, you were back to normal. But for a glimpse of a second, you were my baby again which I secretly loved.

You are such a big helper in so many respects...you wash your dishes, are responsible for getting your backpack into and out of the car each day, carrying your swim/tennis/dance bag, putting your clean clothes away, washing yourself during bath time, and so on. You are such an independent, fierce yet compassionate girl. 

I am truly proud of the person you are becoming. You are kind and empathetic. You are a nurturer. You love your little brothers, your cousins, your family with a strong heart. You have big dreams and a huge imagination that I hope stays with you all of your days. 

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

They Say Its Your Birthday...Cheers to 34!

New Year, New Birthday! And for a girl who loves summer but was born in the dead of winter, having a weekend of 60 degree weather was an amaszing gift in itself!

Friday we headed to the zoo for later afternoon fun. It was the perfect way to stretch our legs and enjoy the sunshine. Saturday I got in a killer workout at BYou Fitness then roamed the aisles of Target silently while sipping my Starbucks. Heaven for this momma! I also hit up the mall just to walk around which I have not done in ages. I indulged in some of my favorite foods & drinks...sushi, shrimp, champagne, steak & peanut butter chocolate deliciousness!

I was showered with love from family & friends in the forms of balloons, cards, & gifts. My favorite being the "Safe in the Arms of an Angel" Precious Moment from my mommy & daddy to remember our sweet angel baby by! What a low key yet special weekend & birthday 34 turned out to be!