Lawson's First Sleepover

At the end of the month my Lawson will turn 7 years old. Holy cow! Okay, I am not going to get all emotional in this post...that will come later. In preparation for her birthday Lawson has asked for a few things for her birthdays....

1. Ears pierced - we said not yet
2. A cat- we said no
3. A Barbie Dream house- she has a camper and a house there is not enough room for a 3 story dream house- we said no
4. A sleepover- we can accommodate that!

Lawson got to choose one friend to have over and that was her friend, Alicia. They have been best friends since they were 6 months old. It was perfectly fitting they had their first sleepover together.


The girls watched a movie, had root beer floats, cupcakes, I taught them how to make friendship bracelets. They had so much fun


and they stayed up very very late!


I made them a "princess castle" in the living room for them to sleep in, although they didn't make it down stairs the whole night.


It was a successful first sleepover and I have a feeling we are now in the season of our life where we will be having more of them. My little baby is growing up!

If you are wondering how Wesley handled Lawson having a sleepover. He was jealous and wanted a friend over too. Since that is not going to happen he settled with just sleeping on the floor that evening.

Location:Lawson, Wesley

Progress Update on Cailyn–15 months

Wow, what a difference a few weeks make.  We are meeting and/or exceeding our weekly goals at PT!  Yippee! On Sunday May 6th, Cailyn pulled up for the first time on her feet.   Then on Thursday May 10th our PT said lets make the goal for Cailyn to start cruising furniture.  She gave us some exercises and the child has taken off!!  Friday May 11th she started taking steps along the furniture!! She cruises our furniture, sometimes letting go or just leaning slightly on the furniture.  She is now leaning forward to pick stuff up while standing.  All big milestones being reached!!

Look how strong she looks standing?? 

With this new freedom she has also discovered she can climb.  My life will never be the same again!!

However, it is fun!!  Cailyn has discovered she can now play on the playground rather then just be an observer.  She loves exploring.

Miss Cailyn, I am so very very proud of you!! You are working so hard and we can tell those doctors there is no need for a neurological exam because you are actually just smarter then the rest of us…you have captured at a young age life happens way to fast and you are enjoying the ride rather then zooming through it!! 

 

Other stuff… at her 15mo appointment she was 20lbs 14 oz and I think 30” long.  We did have to have her left ear flushed because it was so waxy and we found she had another ear infection with zero signs.  Lovely.  We are on an antibiotic (although I don’t thing she needed one). 

That is our 15 month status report.  We are doing great!! Thank you to those that wrote such encouraging and sweet words about Cailyn.  They really meant the world to me. 

Cailyn's Great Strides

Can you believe Cailyn is 15mo old? It seems hard for me to fathom too. She is doing great and truly is one talkative little girl. She is also my little social butterfly. She does not know a stranger.
I believe in the past I have hinted around that there were some concerns about her gross motor skills. At our 12 month appt. Cailyn was referred to the Early Prevention Program with NC. They only allow you in the program if you have significant delays. After getting our assessment we were advised that Cailyn does have significant gross motor delays and would be recommended for PT. As disheartening as it was to hear this news we were told C was advanced in her fine motor skills and problem solving skills and right on track with her language. Good news.
After a month in a half of looking for a PT we found one and 2 weeks ago we started PT.
Week 1: the PT told me she was pleased with Cailyn's movements and felt she had low muscle tone which attributed to her not wanting to put weight on her legs. We were given exercises (playtime activities) and we worked.
Week 2: The PT came and we saw increased mobility and willingness to stand! We were given other instructions and we worked.

Today: a day before our next PT I put Cailyn on the kids train and she stayed on there all by herself! This is huge. Think use of of tummy muscles for balance! One of our other activities is to climb the stairs and today she climbed the whole stairwell! I was so proud I could burst! I now look forward to tomorrows PT session to show her progress!

Lawson’s First Crush

It is official Lawson has her first crush.  How do I know?…I just read the writing on the wall (literally)

When I saw this I asked Lawson “What is this?” She said “What? you said we can love our friends!” Heavy sigh from mommy after this comment…what do you say??

Then Lawson and I had the best conversation at dinner one night about her boy friend, Jack.  It was one of those conversations that I just wanted to laugh but I did not want to deter her from talking to me.  Our conversation started like this…

L: Mom, Jack said a whole entire sentence to me. (As she floated back into her chair and her eyes staring into space looking all dreamy)

M: Really, a whole sentence? What does he normally say to you?

L: STOP! STOP! STOP!

M: Why does he say stop?

L: Because we are chasing him and he wants us to stop!

M: Why are you chasing him?

L: Because if you like someone, you chase them!

DUH!!!

No, idea what Jack looks like but I know for sure he is my daughter’s first crush!

Sigh, my little girl is growing up! 

We have a soccer player!

April 14 was Wesley’s first official soccer game.  We woke up early had a power breakfast and were in the car by 8AM.  8:20AM he had soccer pictures (it was kind a comical to me because he had never actually played a game yet we were having soccer pictures made) and then it was time to play.

While they waited for the other team to take their pictures the kids warmed up. Here Wesley is warming up with one of his buddies, Holden.

Now we know Wesley does not stop running or moving at home, we had some expectation that he would keep up with the herd of kids running around the field.  What we didn’t expect is for when the game started for Wesley to march down the field and attempt a goal. His first attempt he missed.  We were proud of his efforts and cheered for the team.

 

The very next time the blue team (his team) got possession he kicked the ball down the field and scored!  Go Wesley, go Wesley!  Collins and I just turned to each other in surprise! This is Wesley scoring although you can not see more then his foot behind the coach.

Then…the next time down the field what does Wesley do…he scores again!!   WOW!! That was my only thought.  The boy had no game time experience and there he goes like he is an old pro!

We were brought back down to earth when Wesley did score for the other team. So he didn’t quite have a perfect game but I honestly  couldn’t describe how proud I was of his efforts.

The thing I love most about Upward soccer is it really isn’t about who wins or loses and who does well and who needs their mom to hold their hand out on the field so they will play.  It is about having fun! Let’s keep it real…they are only 4!

 

This is a Christian league and the kids had a blast!  I was super proud of everyone! 

What was Wesley most thrilled about?…getting another sticker from the coach.  He has really no clue that the grey sticker means he scored in a game, not sure what the gold sticker means, but the green is for showing up for soccer practices.

Great job, Wesley.  We have another soccer game this weekend.  We really have no expectations of what he will do.  As long as he has fun that is all that matters!!

Easter 2012

Let’s see do we believe in the Easter bunny?…hmmm…not sure. We never really talked about it but let it be known he did come to our home and the kids were thrilled!

Although, the idea of the Easter bunny is a little hazy.  I was proud to hear that both Lawson and Wesley were telling me stories of how Jesus died on the cross and Wesley asking me “Mommy, is it okay that I love God more then you?”

After the Easter bunny and getting a sugar high.  It was time to get ready for church.  The REAL reason we celebrate Easter.

We tried to get pictures before church…ummmm…not working.

Cailyn to distracted by the fact she is wearing shoes to look at the camera…

We waited until afterwards!  The lighting was perfect to highlight my beautiful kiddos!

Cailyn loves being thrown in the air! I really like this picture so I played around with the effects…

The Fitts’ and the grand kids

The Fitts’ Family

Our Family

One with the kiddos…yep, a picture with these three is not going to happen!

Then it was Easter egg hunt….sponsored by Grammy and Pops (literally). Cailyn was napping (& does she walk) so she did not participate this year- next year!

The kids found a treasure better then candy in their eggs - money!When Lawson found out what was in her eggs she said “That is what I am talking about!” Haha!

Then after the kids had a hunt for eggs, the adults got a chance! I am happy to say, I was the golden egg winner!! Woot, woot!

It was a great Easter filled with lots of fun memories (especially me winning) but above that we celebrated resurrection of our Lord and Savior!

Uncle Taylor was here!! We love our Tay-tay!

Meeting Haywood “Wood”

Our first weekend of Spring break we went to VA to see my parents, brother and my sister and her new baby, Wood. He is a perfect little boy!! It is amazing how I can love this little boy so much and I did not even birth him.  It is the same way I feel about McKenna, my sister’s kids are truly just an extension of my family!

Here is the little angel at 2 weeks old! Isn’t he handsome??

Cailyn came over to check him out.  It was hilarious to see her reaction to this new baby.  She is no longer the baby of the family.  She checked him out and then really had nothing else to do with him.

We did find her playing dolls with his bouncy seat once he was out.  They learn so fast!!

Of course, we can not forget out McKenna!  Lawson and McKenna were the BEST playmates. Wow! They just went off in the house and played beautifully together. 

The Kenna Grand Girls!!

Wesley did come over and check out Wood for minute and then he was off playing with McKenna’s toys.  He was too busy to even notice there was a new baby!  Ha! Here are the Kenna Grand Boys…

I love these guys so much!! They are having so much fun and I couldn’t be prouder of Will and Lauren!!

I don’t want to steal Lauren’s thunder but here is another picture of Wood because I feel she isn’t posting enough of him these days.  I mean, it is like she is too busy to post or something. I don’t understand.  (kidding)

A Special Day Visit from Family

Last Friday, my grandmother, Mama II, and my Aunt Aprille, some call her “Aunt Perfect,” came to my house for a 4 hour visit.  I was beyond thrilled to see my family especially when you know how much effort went into them getting here.  Aprille lives in GA and Mama II lives in SC.  Aprille traveled to SC Thursday evening.  Then they left the house at 6AM on Friday to get to our home by 10AM.  Then they left our house around 2PM for another 4 hours drive. Aprille then returned to GA Sunday. What a whirlwind of a trip but from our end it was AWESOME. 

Aprille had only met Lawson when she was 18 months old. So many years have past and our family has grown by 2 since then!!  It was wonderful for part of my extended family to finally meet my family! 

It was a special treat for us because Mama II got to see Lawson perform in the 1st grads presentation of the Wax Museum, Lawson was Juliette Gordon Low (Girl Scouts Founder).

**I want you to know I did not doctor this picture AT ALL!! Doesn’t my grandma look AWESOME???

While we went up to the school, I left Wesley and Cailyn (sleeping) with Aprille.  Wesley was at first very shy with Aprille but that wore off quickly.  When Aprille left for home Wesley said “why does she have to go?  I want her to stay and play!!” Yep, Aunt Aprille is still as fun as I remember!!

Aprille was so overjoyed to see the kiddos she played with all 3 outside and Mama II and I were able to have a nice quiet lunch together.  We enjoyed ham, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese (Mama II brought the meal too)  Geez, do I sound worthless or what?  She drives all this way and brings food!!

Here is one more picture of the kiddos with their Great Aunt Aprille!  I would have to agree she is great!!

Thank you Aprille and Mama II for coming up all this way to see me and the kids.  It meant the world to me!!  We love you !

Wesley’s First Game- Cancelled

I am up and ready to watch my Wesley play in his first soccer game but Mother Nature had other ideas and his first game is cancelled. Since I will not have pictures of him playing (running around the field in a cluster of kids chasing a ball) I thought I would post some pictures I took of Wesley before his first soccer practice.

I was trying to get a picture of him standing with the ball.  No dice.  This child is too busy.  Like most other pictures these will be action pictures.

We got a soccer net to practice at home and here he is when he made a goal! Happy boy!

We will be ready for his next game and his best cheerleaders will be there to cheer him on!!!

Go, Wesley, go!!