This Unfamiliar Road

Our Junebug is a big 3 year-old! I just cannot believe it because it feels like just yesterday that I was waking Ben up to tell him it was time to go to the hospital to have our first baby.

Peyton is an incredibly sweet but sassy little girl! She continues to be very social and prefers to have company while playing, eating, going potty, washing her hands...you get the picture :)
We have been working on her gaining a little more independence!

I thought this would be a great year to begin the tradition of a "Birthday Interview"!


Ben took off work for her actual birthday and we planned a fun Friday outing for our big girl. First, we went for a donut at DD. Little did we know, it was National Donut Day so most of our breakfast was free! Can we please arrange this every year? Of course, Peyton chose the pink donut with sprinkles!



Next, we went to Build-A-Bear to create a special 'Sassy Bear'-Peyton put her best friend Sassy inside so it will always be with her!


Since we go to the mall maybe twice a year, Peyton found it a real treat to ride up and down the escalator...again and again. Who can say no to the birthday girl? Definitely not her Daddy, who also got to ride the train with her.



For dinner, we wound up at Tmac (because, really... all Peyton wanted was a cupcake) where we enjoyed dining on the patio and singing Happy Birthday to our Junebug.


Our Sweet P,
It is so hard to believe that 3 years have passed since you came into our world, forever changing it. You are kind and gentle but oh so strong willed. You are quite a challenge to Mommy and Daddy every single day, but we know without a doubt that you were meant to be a leader. We do everything we can not to break your will as we guide you along this great path. You are an amazing big sister and you adore Eliza. You show great concern for her, and people in general. You love being out and about (really since Day 1!) and we can't go anywhere without you making a friend. You mean the world to us!
Love, Mommy & Daddy

Our little Bean has really started to show her true personality...sweet most of the time, but can be pretty sassy when she's not getting her way. Oh what a fun age!


 Eating: This chick LOVES to eat! She nurses about 5 times a day and has really started to enjoy a variety of finger foods- blueberries, pears, bananas, peas, carrots, broccoli, green beans, black beans, pasta noodles, waffles, butternut squash...and of course puffs and Mum Mums! There has not been a food she has turned away...yet!

Sleeping: Awesome! I am so happy to report that we completed sleep training a few weeks ago. Eliza was a lot more stubborn about it than Peyton was-it took almost 2 weeks! She will still occasionally fuss when I put her down if she is wide awake, and sometimes wakes at night and needs a pat on the back, but WOW what an improvement. Our schedule (yay!) looks something like this: Wake around 7:00a/Nap 8:30a-10:30a/Nap 1:00p-2:30p/Variable nap 4:30-5:00p/Bed at 7:30p
I am feeling much more rested :)


Skills: Crawling like a pro, and can easily go from belly to sitting again! E is trying to pull up to stand, and really loves it when she gets that extra help :)
She can feed herself easily and loves clapping, especially when I sing Pat a Cake!

Teeth: Two on the bottom, and I don't see any more at this point.

Happy Times: Exploring the house, discovering all the 'no-no' toys: water dish, electrical cords, entertainment center...etc. She is loving the pool, too so I hope we will have an awesome summer. And seriously, nobody can make this kid belly laugh like her big sister.

Unhappy Times: Still in that clingy phase, so if Momma puts her down and walks away, get ready for a tantrum. She has also started to protest when something is taken away from her.


Stats: No appointment this month, but she's wearing 12 and 18 month clothes. Something has to fit over those fat rolls.


Sweet Liza,
We are so happy to be settling in to a routine with you, and it's clear that you feel better, too, when you know what to expect of your day. Your sassy attitude is starting to show, but you are just cuter than ever when you wrinkle up your nose and grunt. It's so fun to watch you explore your world!
Momma and Daddy

The most important thing I will ever do is be a Mommy to my children. They keep me on my toes and in a constant state of busy but they are absolute blessings and I feel honored to be Mommy to them.

This year for Mother's Day, we enjoyed our annual tradition of brunch at Olde Blind Dog. The food was delicious and coma-inducing, as usual. I love that we have made this our yearly spot to celebrate our special day!





Check out 2013 and 2014- I love watching my little family grow :)

It was definitely time for some more landscaping, and what better way to spend gorgeous spring days than digging in the dirt?! OK, I'll admit-I'm not really a fan of gardening, but Ben and I recently spent two FULL days completing a major overhaul of our front flower beds. I am very pleased with the way they turned out, and I'm looking forward to being able to add seasonal color every few months now that the base features are in.


In the right flower bed, we relocated 3 Indian Hawthorne bushes and a Gardenia; Planted a Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry tree, a group of Daylillies, and a Monkey Grass border.


In the left bed, we relocated 3 Azalea bushes; Planted another group of Daylillies, Petunias, and even more monkey grass. That's 120 monkey grass plants, y'all. But they do make such a pretty border!



Nothing like teaching kiddos how to care for something and watch it grow :)
Happy Spring!

This is what our beds looked like when we first moved in!

Here's what is going on with our little Bean this month!


Eating: Eliza still nurses about every 3 1/2 hours during the day. Her new foods this month include pumpkin, teething biscuits, and yogurt melts. If you can't tell by the fat rolls, girl likes to eat :)

Sleeping: Awful! I could tell that it was time to start our self-soothing program because little E was starting to wake up more at night (for social visits). And then she got a cold, and things got even worse! As soon as she is feeling better, we will begin sleep training. Hopefully by next month's update, I will have wonderful news in this category :)


Skills: Bean has started scooting around quite a bit-like an inchworm! She also gets herself on all fours and bounces a bit. She is perfecting that pincer grasp, too!

Teeth: Another tooth has started to poke through, so we have a total of TWO now!

Happy Times: Most of her day, Eliza is still super happy! She is content hanging out on the floor with her toys, scooting around the house, walks in the stroller, and her jumperoo. She loves the water, too!

Unhappy Times: At night, when we are struggling with sleep. She has clingy moments, especially with Mommy!


Stats: No appointment this month, but our little Liza is beginning to outgrow some 9 month clothes! Yikes!



Oh Eliza,
This month has been a bit frustrating, to be honest. I am trying so hard to remain patient with you because I'm sure you are feeling incredibly insecure right now. This is a big and scary world, and as you start to explore it, you often turn to Mommy for some reassurance. I hope you know we will always be here to reassure you as you explore more and more of this world!
Lots of love!

Yup...I realize Easter was 3 weeks ago, but y'all things have just been so busy lately. I can't even say specifically what it is, but I know we've been on the go constantly.

I had to work Easter weekend, but one of the benefits of working nights is that I was still able to spend a little time with the family pre and post nap :)


After a nap, I was able to join the family and watch the kiddos hunt for eggs. They were completely adorable, of course.




I knew I would not have the energy to cook a huge meal, so I made Pioneer Woman's Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Casserole. That Ree. I just love her.

As the sun was setting, we headed over to Ella's house for a nighttime Easter egg hunt! Glow Sticks+Easter eggs= so much fun for little ones!


I love this time of year...renewal, resurrection, and warmer weather! ;)

Whaaaat?! How is our little Liza already half a year old? Slow it down, time!


Eating: Little miss nurses about every 3 1/2 hours during the day. We started solids this month and E enjoys pureed sweet potatoes, apples with oatmeal cereal, and bananas. She also likes avocado chunks and peas!

Sleeping: I am loving that we finally have a consistent routine down. Typically, Eliza wakes at 6:30am, naps 3 times daily (8:30am, 1:00pm, and 4:30pm) and goes to bed at 8:00pm. She still wakes up at times during the night, but we are about to work on self soothing.


Skills: Our boo boo is a full time sitter, and I think she's going to start crawling in the next month. Her fine motor skills are impressive, and she babbles all the time! I definitely hear "Mama" a lot :)

Teeth: One little tooth poking through on the bottom!
Happy Times: Sitting on her mat playing with toys, going on walks in the stroller, taking a bath, and playing with kitty cat. Any time big sister is around, Eliza is all smiles!

Unhappy Times: Welllll separation anxiety has set in. Little Bean is a Mama's girl for sure. I know it's a phase so when she needs me to hold her, I do it. Because one day she will be too busy for me.


Stats: Our big girl weighs 17 lbs 1 oz (70%) and is 26.7 inches long (80%). She has definitely outgrown 6 month clothes and wears mostly 9 month. I have also tried on some 12 month outfits for summer...and they fit!


Miss Eliza Cate,
I just cannot get enough of you! Your sweet smile is contagious and you remain my quietly curious babe. You definitely have a shy side and bury your face when someone new is talking to you. I hope you are happy always :) We love you!