patriotic picnic

Nothing like celebrating America's independence with a loud patriotic "bang". On Saturday, we kicked off the holiday at the Zimmerman's pool for some pre-fourth of July fun.

We love a pool party. Miller's newly found confidence in the water is refreshing. All because he can touch in the 3 ft.! Eliza Kate's puddle jumper floaty has made pool trips a lot easier for this momma. Add an extra set of daddy's hands and we're made in the shade. Little dare devil has no fear and loves to walk right into the water..no hesitation...a blessing & a curse. Not exactly at the "sitbesidethepoolwithagoodbook" stage of life yet...but I can hold a decent conversation with friends without being overly anxious with these two this summer. Celebrating a little more mommy independence for sure.

It's nice to have such hands on daddies in our lives. Secretly, I think Landon feels left out of our weekly pool adventures while he's working hard at the office. I joke that our playdates are a work day for me, only I don't get a lunch break:) We do take advantage of family weekends and love when daddy joins us to swim.

These two claimed the mini pool that was just their size. Nothing like patriotic swim trunks to feel festive. These two stuck together form the American flag. Looks like Miller is trying to talk Jack into taking the plunge over the ledge. What is it about boys staking their territory and loving every minute of water guns? I wasn't even safe from the line of water soaking fun! Boys.

What's a cookout without juicy watermelon dripping from your hands and face? She's loving this summer treat! The kids dined poolside at the kiddy table. I love how prim and ladylike Sophia looks next to bare chested Jack and Miller.

These two bathing beauties sunned themselves on the swimming ledge..oh so perfect for babies.

EK looks up to Maggie, five months her senior. She watches Miss Mags to see what big girls are into. Do you see the popsicle envy in her eyes? EK was intent on stealing a lick from Maggie's treat. Fortunately for EK, Kristen treated everyone to their own pop. Popsicles are a new discovery this summer.

Popsicle bribery works well to get a group shot!

.

Big brothers hanging out above their little sisters
...oh-so-cute!

Sticky popsicle faces
and drips are less stressful around a pool...

I have a feeling EK's found her favorite summertime treat.

And to think, more fourth fun awaits!

Father's Day Workshop

Miller the builder and his handyman dad attended their first Home Depot kids workshop in honor of Father's Day. Can't think of a better activity for a daddy/son date. The workshop coached them on how to build a mini wooden toolbox. Miller got suited up in his official orange apron and got to use a real "daddy hammer" for the first time.

That was the highlight of the workshop for him...using real tools instead of plastic toy tools. Although, getting one on one special attention from your dad ranks pretty high up there too!
They definitely worked as a good construction team..Miller took directions beautifully and Landon was super patient with his apprentice:)

Hitting the nail on the head takes intense concentration. Miller wanted to get it just right. Just like his dad, he wants things perfect the first time around.
Decoration time with stickers took a lot of thought and planning too.

With an official pin for his new work apron and a certificate of completion, this handyboy was ready to test out the riding lawn mowers. Happy Father's Day to our playful dad who is the best man & father for our family. You mean the world to us!

june happenings

We've settled into our summer routine. I must admit, I get nervous whenever our schedule changes up a bit. Sleeping later and getting out of a fixed preschool routine has been refreshing. That's what summer is all about...some much needed downtime sprinkled with lots of fun! Of course Miller's been thrilled with our morning mommy and me tutor time. Just because school is out of session doesn't mean he gets a complete break from learning. Oh the joy of having a mommy for a teacher;)

We've been able to meet up with friends and be more intentional about making plans. Between Miller's weekly swim lessons and music classes with Eliza Kate, we settled nicely into our new routine. It's so nice to spend our late evenings playing together in the backyard. Neighborhood playdates, lazy pool fun, playing at the park in the early morning, catching lightning bugs (poor Miller squashed his) and long after dinner walks have made for a fun start to summer.

Speaking of walking....
We've been perfecting Eliza Kate's walking this month. At first she didn't want her precious toes to touch anything but carpet. Grass and sand were not acceptable for our little diva's feet.
I must add that EK is obsessed with these play accessory beads. Once she figured out how to put them on, she's been quite fancy around the house.

The Cibula's hosted a fun backyard picnic the first week of June. It was a great time of play and catching up. Eliza Kate stayed close to the pirate water table to cool off. On hot June days, there is really no other place to be. Big brother got lost in Jack's playscape.


We met some of our friends at Champion Kids gym to run around in the cool air conditioning. With two jumpys, a foam pit, and gym equipment the kiddos were more than entertained. I love their toddler area. Somehow, I'm taking more pictures of EK these days. I remind myself that Miller was the sole obsession of my lens for 3 whole years. It's EK's turn for the limelight.

Ahh, there's my special guy. Besides perfecting his golden brown tan, he's been enjoying our weekly summer field trips. He asks me each morning with anticipation, "What are we going to do today mommy?" Once he knows what to expect, he's much more relaxed. The Thrasher fam joined us at the East Roswell Park splash park. What a joy to watch Miller splash and play in all the sprinklers. He was having a BIG time.


It didn't take our girly too long to warm up to the idea of sprinklers. In no time, she was waddling her way through the fountains with her elbows out bracing for a fall. Her happy squeals were over the top.



She marched up and down and through the various mushrooms and faucets.
Time stand still...this was a thrill for me to watch.

The park was not as populated as the Riverside fountains, so the kids were able to have more freedom to roam. I could easily spot them as we picked a great day with fewer crowds. I don't think the word has gotten out about this second Roswell park yet.

Acting like a true toddler now. She has firm opinions on where she wants to go! Miss Independent for sure.

The whole gang drying off before our picnic. Newborn sister Reese was chilling in the shade & under her hat. Mandy is a super star mom for coming along with a newborn in tow.Three cheers for summer. Looking forward to more fun outings together before our fall routine!

walking missy

Woo Hoo! Eliza Kate is upwardly mobile and weeble wobbling her way through life these days. The whole process of first steps the week before our beach trip to walking in between Landon and I...evolved to full on walking at 13 months . What an absolute joy to experience. Her delayed crawling stage made me mentally prepare for a possible late walker. Little missy threw us all for a loop when she made up her mind that she was going to walk. It really proves to me that each child is on their own development time table. You depend on your first child as your developmental guide and appropriate timeline. But, you can't always use their path to carve the way for the second. Learning this lesson early!

In the early stages on the game, she wanted to grasp onto our pointer finger to steady her unbalanced frame. Poppy loved parading the little miss up and down the hallway. She surely worked the runway with her high stepping model swag. The marching steps of a first time walker and just too precious to watch. Each step is intentional, thought out and takes intense concentration.

In just two short weeks, Eliza Kate was stepping out and walking on her own. Grandmama likes it when EK walks up to her with arms open wide to be picked up. Now that she's upwardly mobile she's really exercising her independence. She thinks she can do all things by herself.

The squeaker shoes were a huge hit in motivating our girl to step on out. It encouraged her to put weight on her heels as she tends to lean forward when walking. Learning pivots and quick turn arounds has kept big brother on his toes. She can now make a fast exit after stealing one of his prized possessions. Fully confident, we're squeaking our way through June.

spaghetti night

Eliza Kate's new food favorite is spaghetti. On these nights I strip her down to her diaper & bow to enjoy her pasta meal. Oh the mess! Sauce, noodles and a scattering of lima beans make for a fun smearing mess on her tray. Sauce and noodles made their way unto her belly, in between fingers, in the nose... even her diaper. These are the nights that I give her a quick shake off in her chair and it's straight to the bath for my marinara stained cutey. The floor clean up shift happens after they're both in bed. I can only handle the drama of spaghetti night every so often.

Let's not forget an equally messy big brother. Miller's a big fan of spaghetti. He goes shirtless on spaghetti night. At least he's learned to keep the pasta contained on his plate and not the floor. He goes straight to wash his hands and face after dinner. He's learned to walk to the bathroom with his hands in fists as to not accidentally touch the couch on the way. Gotta love that! We've got him trained around here.

the sunshine state

Hello, summer! The sunshine state was calling our names after a hectic May. We all needed a little R&R away from the comforts of home. As much R&R as you can get vacationing with kiddos in tow. An end of the year celebration get-away was in order for the little man.

The gulf has always been a family favorite of ours. As a little girl, our family always vacationed in Panama City long before it became overdone and a shirt shack heaven. We learned to vacation just a little south in Sandestin to avoid all the riff raff and spring break crew. Even now Sandestin has become so much more developed. We notice the changes each time we make the trip. There's nothing like the sugar sand and gorgeous aqua water...paradise! It's fun to now bring my kiddos here and continue the tradition.

A big perk of our accommodations was the 6 inch baby pool. Miller hopped between this pool and the large one. He was proud to show off his new swimming techniques from our May classes. What a difference a year makes! As the days went on, other friends joined us poolside. Our condo was teaming with other preschooler age children as the big kids were mostly still in school. We picked a great week to vacation! Short wait times at the restaurants.

The hot spot on our first night was driving into Destin and exploring HarborWalk village on the bay. There was so much to do for the kids. We loved dining water front and watched all the boats come in showing off their catches of the day. After dinner, Poppy and Miller enjoyed touring the shops on the train.

While they were away, little sister perfected her crab crawl. Our crawling cutey refuses to use her traditional crawl on hardwoods or pavement. She only will let her knees touch the soft, plush carpet. Yes, she is the princess.

Is there anything cuter than a diaper padded bubble bottom swooshing high in the air? One sweet cheek hanging out? I think not.

Eliza Kate was still a big fan of the sand and surf. She collected sandy grains in every fat crevice on her body. Her favorite spot was sitting on the shore letting the waves touch her toes. Our beach babe waved her hands wildly with excitement.
Big Brother was highly entertaining hopping wild waves. Eliza Kate laughed at all his jumping moves in the water.

Love this shot as Miller stands bare chested beholding the splendor of the ocean with hands spread wide and little sister sticks out her bottom lip in a pout. These two surely keep us entertained.

There was sand all over little man too! We hosed him down outside every afternoon. We're still finding sand in those trunks. Poppy was generous to watch the little miss during nap time so we could soak in the afternoon on the beach. Miller napped too. The beach is exhausting! Landon and I enjoyed our alone time. It.was.so.needed.
Our only must this vacation was dining at the Red Bar restaurant on 30A. It is our all time fave in Grayton beach. I think we've finally perfected their amazing house salad dressing at home. We hunted down the copycat recipe online.

We journeyed to Seaside afterwards for a theatrical kid's play in the town center and ice cream. Miller blew off some steam running with other kids in the grass.
Sunset was approaching...aka..the magic hour and we ventured to the pavilion on the beach... which turned into an impromptu mini-photo shoot:)

Miss Seaside 2011;)

So, grandmama told Miller he could just dip his big toe in the water while I was snapping away. Well, we all know what that means in the preschooler brain...just go ahead and take the liberty to dive right in. And, that's exactly what our thrill seeker did. No worries about swim trunks or a towel in tow. Nope. He just hopped right in. And, we secretly love him for it!

He's still talking about it. That's what vacations are all about. Making memories and letting your kids have fun.
He sure had fun in the moment, but the chilly car ride home in his underoos was also memorable (smile:)

Daddy's girl...her whole face lights up with a wrinkled nose grin when she spots him in a crowd. Mine does too, minus the wrinkled nose.

Grandmama with her salt water soaked boy.We all agreed to do sunsets on vacation more often. We're usually too busy with after dinner activities. This sunset was magical!

Back at it again the next day with her swim bow. She's our water baby loving the ocean.

Oh the many faces of EK. She can go from a threatening scowl to a silly grin. I wonder where she learned how to lay out like that?
Perfectly poised on her beach chair.

TuTu much to handle.

Baytowne Warf was another fun after dinner spot. Lots of fun activities for kids. We captured our traditional Adirondack family picture.

Miller surprised us all by wanting to get in the hamster balls on the water. We watched another girl his age first which gave him the confidence boost that he needed. They blow up the ball with a blower device while you are inside the plastic. Miller's face was priceless as he was mentally talking himself into all the fun. We weren't sure if he was going to bail out on us. Can we say boy in the bubble? Once Miller got the hang of it, he was squealing and running around just like a cute hamster inside the ball.

Goodbye beach paradise. It was a wonderfully, memorable vacation with family. A great jump start to our summer. Thankful for our getaway!

12 months old

Sweet Eliza Kate...you are now 12 months old. Lots has changed in your little life since my last development post.
So, here is what's going on in your little one year old life...

When I greet you after a nap or in the morning you say "Hi"! with the cutest voice inflection. You've added "doggy" this week to your reperoire. You try to say ducky when you pick it up in the bath, but it sounds just like doggy. My favorite new word you've mastered is "baby"-it's long and drawn out and sound like baaaay-be. It's really just too precious for words. Baby Stella has captured your heart and you love to put her magnetic paci on her mouth. If we tell you to go get your baby, you crawl to Stella and bring her to us. With the words "uh-oh" "mama" , "daddy", "t-t" which has finally evolved to kitty & "bu-bye" that you already were babbling, you're really starting to verbalize little honey. You surely know how to shake your head back and forth and tell us no. At 12 months, the switch flipped and you've become a lot more vocal if you dislike something. Just like brother at this age, you have an ear piercing shrill that you can sound at any time to warm up your vocal chords. It's precious to hear you say "ni ni" when you are tired.

Peek a boo while you say "peet a boo" with your chubby hands covering your eyes. "SO big" with your hands behind your head and elbows out. You love to hold your pointer finger up and say "wan" which translated means "one". You love to wave with your palm facing yourself to passing neighbor's cars on our walks. Grandmama noticed that while you move big brother's cars, you make the pbbbbb, shhhhh noises that he makes when he's cruising his cars around. Sure enough, I observed your car noises the next day!

You still love to dance and sway to music. Your musical puppy dog Violet is your new favorite toy. Pink lovey is your favorite comfort blanky in the crib. You snuggle it close and suck your thumb. Yes, your thumb is your very favorite.

Stats:

Height 31"-95%

Weight 24 lbs. 90%

Head 18 3/4 95%

You've made the transition to whole milk in your Nuby sippy cup. We're down to your morning bottle, naptime and bedtime bottle only. It's not that you're protesting the sippy cup, but this is mommy's last sign of your babyhood..sniff sniff! You've taken to whole milk beautifully. Your new food favorites are noodles with marinara sauce, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter bread, and veggie burgers.

You are hanging out on your knees a lot and standing up in the middle of the room on your own with your hands braced for a fall. With a large grin you bend your knees up and down and then fall on your tushy. You love to walk with your V-tech musical table on wheels. Each step is thought out and calculated. Squeaker shoes have given you incentive to take each step!

Pearly poppers are a poppin'! You are constantly gumming your hands and the late afternoons can be somewhat fussy as you are uncomfortable. You have four teeth on top and three on the bottom. Some molars have erupted through and your back gums are so swollen. Poor baby!

You are napping in the morning for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. 9:30- 11:00. On some mornings I wake you up from your nap early just so we can finally start our day. That's been our challenge with big brother chomping at the bit to go...nap jail is no fun! Your afternoon nap is from 1:30- 3:30. You go down to sleep so very easily. We never hear a peep! Thanks to sleep training from the beginning, you follow the rules down pat. I usually have to crack your door to peek in on you as we never hear when you're awake. You happily play in your crib. You have been a dream baby in the sleep department.

Holding on to every ounce of baby we've got left in you. This stage is flying by sweet love! Pause please.