Babyland General Hospital

I thought this place would be perfect to take Addie Kate for her 4th birthday. She's already been to American Girl (although the one in Atlanta, once you've been to the one in NY, leaves much to be desired), and this place was close to home, plus I knew the novelty of it would wear off soon. She really didn't know where we were going or what would be there, but once we got there, she was in love. 

We checked in, with the "nurses," and they gave Addie Kate a special birthday sticker.

Poor Drew, I know he'll be drug to many a girly thing with no say-so. As will Addie to his boy things!

Addie in front of the babies in the nursery. She saw this for real at our hospital at her big sister class, but she never saw Drew in there because our hospital keeps the blinds shut on the windows (except for the class).

Naturally, she loved the babies. And the fact that she was able to hold and play with them.

There were some, many, as big as she was, or bigger!

Checking out "Mother Cabbage" and how the babies grow and are born.

You can barely see that they have Clemson dolls (and other teams), but they were almost $400!

Addie Kate liked this one because Drew had this baby gown!

Baby brother, such a good sport!

They made an announcement that Mother Cabbage was about to deliver.

It was very hard for me to contain my laughter at these "doctors." Obviously country boys from the local high school.

After it was over, Tommy was paying, and we were enjoy the beautiful fall day, gorgeous house, and pretty mountain views. Addie Kate did not want me to take her picture.

Here she is with her baby.

All in all, it was a fun day. It was a little cheesy and most of it was one big store, but she had fun, was able to play, and left with a baby doll, so that's all that matters! She still talks about it (almost a month later) so I guess it was just right for her!

Happy 4th Birthday Addie Kate!

Well, it's happened. My little girl, my baby, my toddler, has officially turned into a big girl. A four year old. One year from being five, which is one year from 5K - real school. I knew they'd fly by. I knew those days would get here. I knew to relish in every fleeting moment. And I did. I loved every one. I loved through tears, I cried through laughs, I did it all. And they still flew by. As much as I know not to "cry because it's over, but smile because it happened," and I do, I'm still so very sad as I long for those days past. I long to rock her and snuggle her, although she does still let me pretty regularly, it's just not the same. 

She is so much fun now. She is learning by leaps and bounds. She is a helper, a pleaser, a do-er, a challenger. She is loving, caring, generous, giving, thoughtful. She is demanding, attention-seeking, funny, silly, dramatic. She is girlie. And she is ours. All ours. We get to enjoy every one of these traits daily. 

The things she loves - princesses, singing, dancing, gymnastics, dressing up, playing with babies, play dough, her little brother, watching movies and cartoons, coloring, writing, drawing, reading, playing outside, going to friend's houses, friends coming to our house, swimming.

She can add anything on her fingers. It's a skill she learned in about three minutes and has continued with it and loves it. We are working on writing lower case letters and numbers. She is about to die to learn how to read, and I have no doubt she can do it, it just needs to become a priority. (As in, life just needs to give me a weekend. Please.)

We had her 3K conference a week ago. She was in the above average column for everything, just as I knew she'd be. She loves a challenge and craves knowledge and learning. And I love it. Her teachers spoke to me about how much she can do and how much they'd love to teach her, but their curriculum coordinator advises against too much. And being a teacher myself, I agree. I strive to find a balance between appropriate and challenge. 

To my sweet baby girl: You have given me the most challenges so far in life! From keeping you happy and polite, to just trying to get you into this world, yet I love you more than life itself. Please, my precious girl, continue to be the beautiful girl that you are, both inside and out. Continue to think of others as you do, and continue your love for family, God, and learning. Thank you for making me one of the happiest people on Earth. I love you with all my heart, to the moon and back again. 

XOXO, 

Mommy 

[The above picture is of Addie Kate's birthday breakfast. She had candles in her pancakes (her favorite) and princess decorations. Uncle Paul and Aunt Sue were there, so life was good for her!]

Drew's First Haircut

My sweet 5-month old baby boy had his first haircut!  As you can see (below) ...

it was necessary. I was in complete denial. I mean, 5 months old is a bit early for a haircut, no? My mom and Tommy had been prodding me to get it done for some time.  And when we walked into the salon that day, people came to see us and would say, "Look at that hair!" When Misti saw it, she just looked at me and said, "Yeah, Erica, we need to do something." Pitiful!

He cleared out the salon. Everyone (see below) stopped getting their hair done to come see him get his cut. What can I say? My kids make an entrance, and are complete entertainment at all times.

(Check out sister's chin here. Nice. Family pictures were the next day.)

Drew did great! He was perfect the entire time!

And once I saw the final result, I finally conceded that yes, it needed to be done, and it looked much better. (And yes he's there in jammies. He had just had a major blow out at lunch right before, and this sleeper was what was in the diaper bag for a change of clothes. It was too cute not to wear anyway! And let me say here that this was his 2nd blowout at the salon. I don't know what it is about this place!)

That grin... it could melt a heart of steel.

Boo in the Zoo

Addie Kate's precious friend K invited us to join them at Boo in the Zoo. We've done it every year, and I'm less than impressed. But the kiddies love it, so we go.

My little girl wanted to be Rapunzel. Much to my dismay, and not short of my pleading her to be something else. She won. It is Halloween after all.

I still hadn't decided on a costume for baby boy, so he went just in a Halloween outfit. But it was freezing. So cold. So he stayed wrapped in a blanket anyway.

There were a ton of people there. Addie was so happy when we found K. (Ariel, whose baby sister was dressed as Sebastian.)

I swear, all night long K's Mommy and I kept yelling for them to wait, or stop running, or something! Everyone in that zoo knew our children!

Love this smile! It was all I could do to get her to stand still for half a second for a picture!

Checking out some of her loot!