Love Him!

June news

June has come and gone, and boy was it a quick month! I will try to capture it in pictures, because otherwise I can't remember what we did! My mom came for a visit once the school year ended (thanks to the extra week tacked on due to SNOW days). We were all anxious for her to come, and it wasn't nearly long enough since she had to get back home so she could jet off to Finland with my aunt and my godmother.

We had a great visit with my mom, and one of the favorite things we did was go to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. It was a first for all of us, but not the last- my mom bought me a membership so we can go all year long. It is a gorgeous place, they have a newly opened butterfly exhibit but the best thing by far is in the children's World of Wonder..... a "splash pad" which is pretty much a playground full of sprinklers. I am excited to go back because it is something I can do on hot days with both kids while Clayton is working.

Speaking of water, we have become regular faces at our complex pool. It is a nice small pool that rarely has more than 3 people in it. Elliot went for his first swim and loved it, no crying at all. Gabrielle is a regular fish in the water, and even "swims by herself" (really she uses two noodles and kicks all around the pool, but all on her own with one of us close by). Clayton and Gabby have been going together when it opens in the mid-morning (on days he works a late shift) and even have a new friend they play with there, a girl named Virginia who is 5.

Making it easier for Clay to get to work and the kids and I to be out at the same time, is the addition of a second car! I call it Clay's car, since I only get to drive it if he is here and I run to the store (no car seats in it). We got a 2003 Mazda 6. It is much nicer than I would expect for that 'old' of a car and it only has 46K miles on it- plus power everything.

Elliot had his two month check up. He weighed in at 13.4 lbs and 23.4 inches long. He is a big boy! He is a pretty happy boy, and loves to smile and even almost giggles! Except when I eat something like dairy, beans, onions, etc. then he has gas (but he has gas all the time).

One reason I haven't blogged is due to an injury. I had an accident with hot wax and spilled it all over my left hand and a few splatters on the right. After going to urgent care, I was left with a total of 5 fingers and the top of my left hand bandaged. 8 days later I still have my hand wrapped up but all the fingers are free!

Gabrielle is a big girl these days! She is pretty much potty trained! We are all very thrilled and excited about it, she loves to poop in the toilet now too! She wears a pull up to bed, but gets up between 1-6 times before falling asleep to go pee (sometimes I think it is a ploy to not go to sleep). She is however developing a little bit of an attitude, evidenced by this quote "Don't say those mean words. It makes me upset. I don't want you to tell me to put my shoes away!" I am trying to be strict, and not let her get away with it because I do not want it to become permanent. She is becoming a great artist though, and draws pictures of our "big face, big legs and toes."

picture catch up!

Bub

Bub is the nickname I have affectionately given Elliot. It has its variations, such as Bubsy, Buberonie, Bubby. Gabby even calls him Bub sometimes. Mr Bub sure is growing, he seems big to me these past few days. His neck is getting very strong and he smiles too (although not that I have been able to capture it on camera).

In other news, we just went ahead and did it.... we have been (well me mostly) talking about getting a fancy camera. I know nothing about them and didn't know how to pick one but we bought one that seemed pretty good. Clayton is so generous and supportive, he said that I wouldn't learn how to use one if I didn't have one and that is why they give you a manual! We bought a Canon Rebel, T1i. I have figured out how to take a picture and charge the battery.. the battery stinks (which is what reviews said was the downfall) and doesn't last long. I am excited to start to figure out how it works, what all the different settings do and eventually down the road buy another lens to play with! I also don't know how the new software works... so lets hope I can get it to work! This may mean that you all get more pictures posted here! oh and tonight when I took Gabby to the store she insisted she needed to buy a donut, even though she has had one a total of once in her life! of course she wanted the powdered one!

sweet morning

This was my morning.

Beach Life

  Another great day at the beach, well evening.  We didn't even get to Sandbridge  till after 7pm but that was due mostly to Clay being at work (we tried to go to his softball game but the other team didn't show up) dinner, and the temperature was 96* most of the day!  It was a "cool" 84* while we played in the sand.  The guys fished, Stan caught a skate (picture is on Clay's camera though). Rose and I traded off on Elliot duty and sandcastle building with Gabrielle.  When we first got there I sat in the sand and nursed Elliot, watched Gabrielle use her spade (what she calls her shovel with a long handle), the sun was starting to set, I looked out at the ocean and surfers.... what a rough life!  I did think my eyes were playing tricks on me and that the sand kept moving- no it was crabs with REALLY good camouflage! We got such a late start there that some little girl didn't go to sleep till 10pm! She was happy and singing (kumbaya one of her new favorites),  hoping she isn't too tired tomorrow!

water and milk

This week has been filled with many things, but the day at the water was my favorite.  The day started out with us parking at the end of Atlantic Ave and walking the boardwalk, it was a hot day and Friday afternoon so it was busy.  There was some big concert planned for the weekend plus lots of booths getting set up.  We walked and showed the visiting grandparents what vacation in VA Beach is about.  We stopped in a museum about birds, went out on the pier, put our feet in the Atlantic Ocean (first time for Stan and Rose).  Our walk concluded with lunch at the Waterman Grill, the same place we had my delicious birthday dinner!  That evening we got the idea of having a picnic dinner.... one stop at KFC and a drive through First Landing State Park looking for a good spot (we didn't really want to eat in the woods, even if the park was pretty) we found ourselves back on Atlantic Ave, the residential end.  We took a little path over the dunes and were on a GORGEOUS beach that was mostly empty! The sand proved too much of a temptation for Gabby, she didn't eat. Then her and Clayton went to check out the water.  It was a progression from just putting their feet in to a stark naked G running and splashing in the waves!  It was an absolute wonderful evening, warm but not hot and relaxing.

Milk seems to be my enemy this week!  I have tried to give it up, and I guess it is going okay.  Elliot seems to be having a little less gas and tummy pains.  I miss it, I just want a glass of it some  days.   My milk is giving me issues too!  I went to bed last night feeling a little sore. I woke up today after Clay left for work and had a major case of the chills!  I snuggled under the blanket (which hasn't even been on the bed really for 2 months) and was still cold.  The thermometer said 100.7 and I had a major body ache and more tenderness in the milk producers.  Right away I knew what it was. I called the Dr and got an appointment.  The grandparents came over and watched Gabby while I went to my appointment.  Diagnosis: mastitis. So now I have a 10 day supply of antibiotics and feel like I have the flu.  Ugh!  Ibuprofen is the only thing allowing me to function!  And now to leave you with a picture of Elliot, how we see him some days-  crying!