Beautiful Bella at 4 months old

I thought time went fast while Landon was a baby but have two children and care for another really makes time fly. We were visiting family when she turned 4 months.

Arabella is growing so fast.  She is such a sweet happy baby!

 She is rolling all over.  She will roll to get where a toy is now. She can almost army crawl. She can already move an inch or two. She smiles all the time. She recognizes her name. It seems like she is always studying people.  She ADORES her brother- no matter what is the matter if he looks at her and smiles she stops crying and puts on a HUGE smile.    She plays with her hands and feet.  She can grasp toys now and bring them to her mouth- which she does ALL the time.  (Landon was never one for putting things in his mouth but she puts everything in her mouth!) She "talks" to Landon more than anyone else. Landon loved his Daddy but seem to cling to me a bit more but this little lady loves being with Daddy.  I love it!

Typical day:
Naps: 3- two 30-45 mins at 10am and 11:45am and a 1-2 hour one at 1:30-2:30ish
Feeding: about every 2-3 hours in the day time.  Night time varies to 1-2 feedings
Night time: Arabella isn't picky about lots of things but when it comes to bedtime she is.  She wants to be nursing by 7:45- 8pm and is asleep by  8-8:30pm.  She goes through many nights with a dry diaper.  She wakes up at 7:30-8am normally.  She has slept the whole time about 2-3 times. Typically she wakes up between 2-4am to nurse though.

Road trip

Landon, Arabella and I had our first road trip together. We went to visit the grandparents and friends in the panhandle. The kids and I headed out after attending the Newberry high school graduation. I think we hit the road right around 9 pm. Arabella slept pretty much the whole time. Landon stayed up and we talked for the first 45 mins or so. I love that we can have conversations now. We drove to Tallahassee where my brother lives. We stayed the night there. My brother and I stayed up until about 2:15 am talking. In the morning Adam went to McDonald's and got us all breakfast. Josh was working in Tallahassee for the weekend. We stopped by to see him before heading out.
I was counting on Arabella sleeping all or most of the time since in the mornings she typically takes two 45 min naps. I also thought Landon has been doing so well in the car entertaining himself with coloring and looking at books and I brought the iTouch as a back up he would do fine. Boy was I wrong. Landon got bored of the books and colors quickly. I gave him the iTouch only to realize 10 mons later I forget to charge it at my brother house. Landon was a little cranky. Arabella decided not to sleep more than 20 mins and pretty much cried the rest of the way. Did I also mention my AC was on the fritz!? 
We arrived at my parents' house at lunch. We enjoyed a relaxing day with them.

Saturday we met up with Sabrina, one of my closest friends from high school. We spent the late morning and afternoon at the beach. Jamiie and Jeremiah met us there with lunch. Landon and Arabella had a blast! We took them both out in the waves. Arabella was such a trooper. I was so proud of my cute beach baby! Water, sand and friends meant Landon was in heaven. We spent the rest of the day at the Williams. Some how Landon never took a nap even though he laid down in a semi dark room for an hour! We had dinner and then after watch a movie put the kids to bed. Josh's dad and Jamiie babysat my sleeping angels so I could go out. I picked up Mark, friend and old roommate, and met Sabrina and her friends. Dan, another high school friend met us there too. It was really nice! My only regret was Josh wasn't there. :(.

Beach Day Fun (double click all picture to enlarge)

Sunday we visited everyone at Niceville Christian church for Sunday services. It was great to see our friends who I hadn't seen in a while. Lunch was at our favorite Chinese, New Hong Kong. Sunday afternoon was filled with naps and Jamiie, Arabella and I running a couple of errands.  Sunday evening with had dinner and Bible study at the Williams.  It was nice to see some friends I hadn't seen in a little while and everyone was excited to meet Arabella.


 Monday morning I headed back to my parents house.  We hung out around the house.  That evening was the Billy Bowleg's parade.  I went several times as a child.  It was fun taking Landon.  Arabella was a trooper and hung out with Mommy and then Grandpa where she fell asleep.  Landon got a couple pieces of candy and a lot of necklace.  He also got a glow in the dark tomahawk.  He was happy with is loot. ;)



 The rest of the week we swam, went our to eat, played and relaxed with Grandpa and Grandma Gorman.




Friday I went back over to the Williams.  Jamiie took us out to visit her horse.  It was SO hot but I loved it.  I haven't ridden a horse in a long time.  I use to ride every week.  I wasn't sure if I would remember how but it was like riding a bike- it all came back as soon as I got on.  I was a little different than what I was use to.  Although I know how to ride English I typically rode Western and Australian.  Well I don't know how I looked riding but I felt like I was doing everything right and I didn't fall off!



 Saturday I hung out with my parents, packed up, and went out to lunch.  I left at nap time and prayed that both kids would sleep most of the way and be happy if they woke up.  My prayers were answered.  Arabella and Landon slept the whole 2 hour drive to Adam in Tallahassee!  They only woke up because I stopped the car in his drive way.  We went out to dinner at a yummy Asian place that has authentic food from all of the different Asian countries.   We played outside for a little bit in a nice grasses area near the restaurant and then Adam treated us for ice cream.   We left for Gainesville after dropping Adam off.  The kids slept the whole way and I got in around 12:45am..We had a terrific trip!

Landon, swimming, and balance

The last few weeks we have been trying to go to the pool at least once a week. We have been bring dinner at the pool and then swimming for an hour or two. Arabella and Landon love it! Landon is getting great at swimming and going under water. He can hold his breath, swim on his back and float. He like swimming with his floaties the best I think because of the independence it gives him. He also loves jumping in the water. The last 2-3 times we have been at the pool Landon has been saying something and we weren't quite sure what it is because he says it so fast and jumps as he is saying it. Last night we figured it out and tonight we confirmed it. We have no idea where he got this from.
He gets up on the side of the pool, "Mommy, Daddy, Arabella watch me! Wait so I can do my balance."
I have no idea why he says that but it cracks us up. We asked him what he thought "balance" was and he said it is in is tummy for him to jump. Whatever it means we have reinforced him saying it because of us laughing.

Silly boy!

Movie star

Our little lady

Mary and Jesus

You may not know this but I have a very sweet honest resource that told me this is how "Mary took Jesus to Nazareth"

You can make the choice to believe it or not. ;)

Makes my heart melt

The other day I wasn't feeling well because of a migraine. Landon was asking me to play with him and I told him as long as he was quiet I would because my head hurt.

L: Mommy, you not feel good?
M:Yes my head hurts.
L:I give it a kiss and hug, so it feel better. (He kissed my forehead and gave me a big hug)
M:Thank you that will make it feel better.
L:God made me for you so you will always feel better.  So I can make you happy, and Daddy and Arabella happy
M:I love you Landon and you are made for me! (That made me feel even better than the sweet kiss to my forehead!)

So true!

Happy Mother's Day

Landon made me a card, picture and little flower pot in during his church classes.  I love that he his old enough to make something and kind of get why he is making it.  He was so proud to give them to me.  Brandi and Bryan were his teachers during church hour.  The is where he drew the picture and made the card for me.  Although my picture may look like may other mom's pictures from their 2 year old Landon's had a cute story with it so Brandi was sweet enough to write down what he was was saying he was drawing.  "Landon's Mommy. Mommy is a helicopter.  She has wings and a red lights so she can see down.  She has yellow hair.  She is an angel."  I love my little creative boy.

After church services we had a yummy lunch with the Strode's at BJ's.


I had more of a Mother's day week with little surprises through out the week. A few of the surprises were... ...Josh had a day off but didn't tell me so he let me sleep in and let me have a morning to myself
...Another day that week, when Josh came home from work he told me to sit on the couch and relax.  He then came out with a little tub filled with warm water and soaking salts (I had been dealing with aching feet most of the week).


It was a wonderful Mother's day (week) and I thank my God everyday that I get to be a mother and wife to a wonderful family!

My Sweet Baby Boy, Landon

My Sweet Baby Girl, Arabella

The Commedia Tales of King Arthur

Awesome play just a little too hot to be perfect.

We went to the Commedia Tales of King Arthur. The group does a free play for children every year and it is held outdoors at the Thomas Center.   They did a great job and we were all entertained.  There was shade but we got there just a little too late to find a good shady spot. So if you ever go, get there at least 15 min early on Saturday. :)

We are looking forward to going to their play next year. 

Arabella is 3 months!

My little lady is 3 months old a week and a half ago on Saturday.  Boy, has time flown!   Boy do we love Arabella!  She is such a sweet content little girl.  I am so thankful for a easy little baby girl.  She sleeps and eats well and only really cries when she has gas bubbles in her tummy.  It is a very different experience compared to when Landon was a little guy.  He needed lots of mommy time!

Arabella loves to watch Landon and Zach play.  She doesn't really care for being on her back, which is why I think she has learned roll over both ways.  If Landon is playing in front of her she will roll to her belly (or fuss until I put her on her tummy) and then grabs at cars.  Landon has been good at making sure he only gives her the big soft cars instead of the Hot Wheel cars with the tiny wheels.  Arabella gets really excited when I sit down with her and let her help play with the toys.  She will some times hold the Little People that Landon gives her. 

She is nursing about every 2-3 hours during the day.  She is starting to have more consistent nap times.   Her best napping time is in the afternoon and this past week it has been at the same time has Landon's nap.  She typically goes down at night about 8:30-9 and wakes up at about 8-8:30.  She wakes up once or twice at night.  She doesn't like her diaper being changed at night most of the time. I guess it is good that she does wet much at night.  If it is the day time, she LOVES her diaper being changed.  She smiles during it most of the time.

It is a challenge and a true joy to be a mother of two wonderful children!

  

Beach day!

This past weekend we had planned on joining to visit our families in the panhandle but Arabella and I came down with a cold. So we decided to stay at home. Even though my energy level was shot and I was glad Josh and I decided to stay home I was bummed out. Josh suggested if I felt better we should do something fun on Sunday. Although us girls were still a little under the weather I decided we should go to the beach. So we packed up and headed to Crescent Beach.
Arabella didn't enjoy her first beach trip as much as we would have liked.  It is always super windy when we have gone to Crescent Beach and both Arabella and I were still a little stuffy from our colds.  Landon had lots of fun in the waves with Daddy and building in the sand with Mommy.
It was a good substitute to not going to visit family for the weekend.