Hilton Head

Two weekends ago I got to go on a little girls trip to Hilton Head with two dear friends, Shaina and Caroline.  We hit the road early Friday morning and got home last Sunday night.

Our trip was not the most relaxing time.  We had a little mishap with our reservation, including us moving to a new resort on Saturday, my car got a flat tire (included in this story: a few kind men who helped us, a not so kind mechanic who tried to up-charge me on a new tire, and Caroline nearly losing her fingertips during the tire-changing experience), two phones fell in the water (only one survived), and the ocean had an unusually high number of jellyfish.  Oh, and baby sharks.

But so many funny things too.  Some I can't even speak of.  And, if ever asked, you should just act like you know nothing.

I am so thankful for friendships that stand the test of time.  And for a weekend of no cooking, cleaning, or changing diapers!

Happy 5 month birthday, Charlotte!

Charlotte,

Today you are 5 months old!

You are doing so many fun things!  You are babbling non-stop.  You roll all around the floor, back to front and front to back.  You scoot around and really try to get your knees up under you.  You start on one side of the room and in a minute or two you are clear across the floor.  Please, don't crawl any time soon!  Everyone who sees you says they think you'll crawl anytime...yikes!

I know I say it all the time, but you really are the easiest baby.  Your big sisters got pretty consistent schedules when they were babies.  But you?  I often say you probably don't know when you will eat or sleep but you know it will come at some point.  You spend a lot of time in the car and you eat many meals outside of home.  But you are so easy about it and just take it when it comes!  At the same time, when we are home, you fall right back into our routine.

You eat four times a day.  We tried you on rice and oatmeal cereal around four months old and you were not happy about it so we just put it off.  We probably should try again and we may go straight to veggies this time.  You are growing just fine so I don't feel a strong urge to start baby food.

You take a morning nap (often in the car or stroller) and an afternoon nap (almost always at home) and you usually need a cat nap around dinner time.  You sleep twelve hours at night.

I love watching you grab toys and fiddle with things in front of you.  Everything goes in your mouth right now!  You play with your feet a lot and can take your paci out and put it back in.

You love your big sisters and you give them the biggest belly laughs.  You are the sweetest baby and we love you so much.  You bring so much joy to our family and we love you!  Happy Birthday!

Twas the night before Kindergarten

Tomorrow is Emma Grace’s first day of Kindergarten.  Holy cow.  That was fast.

A little back story: We had a few options for her schooling and, in the end, it looked like she was going to be at our neighborhood school.  We had a good peace about it, bought her school supplies, and were all set.  That is, until two weeks ago when we found out that another option that we had all but written off was now available.  That pretty much sent me into a tailspin of uniforms and paperwork and a new school supply list that was nothing like the first (are you kidding me?!?).  Oh, and a start date one week earlier than she was originally supposed to start at the other school (which, when you're clinging to the last few days of summer before your firstborn starts school, is like...nuts).  Everything between getting the call two weeks ago and meeting her teacher a few days ago?  It's been crazy.  I stood in the kitchen one day crying to Jereme as we wrestled with what to do before I realized what a "first world problem" we had...trying to pick a school for our daughter.  Oh, to be so blessed!  We are excited about where she will be attending.  We know several families from our church who have children there.  I have a new peace.

But...

I don’t mean to be all dramatic, but let me be dramatic for a moment.  I just had her.  Like, it was all just yesterday.  And tomorrow starts this whole routine of her leaving me for seven hours every single day.  What’s up with that?  Why are you doing this to me?  Why do you need to learn?  Why am I not homeschooling?  Ok, I know the answer to that last one, but still.

We’ve done all we could do to get ready.  She has her school supplies, including TWENTY-FOUR STICKS OF GLUE SO PLEASE BRING HOME SOMETHING GLUED EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THIS YEAR OR IT’S ALL FOR NAUGHT.  Her pink and green bag is monogrammed, lest she forget it’s hers, and is waiting for her to grab it in the morning.  Her uniforms are embroidered, ironed (read: fluffed in the dryer), and ready to wear.  I’ve looked up her teacher on Facebook (all looks ok there).  I’ve prayed for her.  We’ve talked and talked about strangers and being a good friend and washing hands.  I hope she remembers it all. 

She is going to LOVE school.  I’m not worried for one second that she will thrive.  But this is all very new and sort of seems like the beginning to the rest of her life.  This is her first, first day.  And she’ll keep on having these first days until she has her last, first day.  And then she’ll move out and go to college (except she cries when I tell her that one day she will move out and I love how sweetly she assures me that she will never, ever leave us) and likely never live at home again.  And, yes, that’s years away.  But, gracious, five years went by in a flash. 

My borrowed time is up, so it’s time to let her be on her way.  Just for kicks, before she gets out of the car, I’m going to remind her just one more time:

God loves you, way more than Mommy and Daddy.  He has a plan for your life that is perfect.

You are a treasure.  You are smart.  You are perfectly sensitive.  Your excitement is infectious.  I can’t wait to see what you do this year, how you grow, and who you become.

Be a good friend.

For the love, wash your hands.

I will come pick you up every single day at 3:00.  If I’m late, I’m on my way.  Never go home with anyone except Mommy or Daddy unless I tell you beforehand.

I will try really hard not to make you late for school.  This new level of school where they keep up with that sort of thing is kind of stressing me out.  So we will get up at an ungodly time to make sure you are on time.  Your sisters will have to eat breakfast in the car.  That will teach them flexibility.

Perhaps you could use some discretion in what you share with your classmates and teachers.  I’d like to be able to walk the halls of your school without my head held down in shame.

Tell me if someone is mean to you.  It’s good that we talk about it so I can tell you that we need to forgive people who might do the wrong thing sometimes.  And, also, so I can give that kid a mean glare when I visit your class.

Keep your dress pulled down.  No one needs to see your panties.  (This one goes far beyond Kindergarten)

Don’t let your struggle for perfection keep you from trying.

Tell us if anything happens that hurts you, makes you sad, or just doesn’t seem right.

Invite a friend to church.

If you forget to wash your hands, use the hand sanitizer I put in the small pocket of your book bag.  Seriously.    

Remember where you live in case of an emergency.

Use your manners with all of your teachers.  Every time.

Check your lunchbox for the note I wrote you.

You are going to rock at this whole Kindergarten thing.  I can’t wait to hear you tell me it was your “best day ever!”  I love you.  We’ll have cookies when you get home.

Summer recap

Well, summer has all but come and gone.  Three months sounded like a long time when we started but it flew by and now school is starting.  I can't say that we did everything on our summer bucket list, but we sure put a dent in it.  Our list included everything from baking cookies and painting nails to visiting the zoo and going to the beach.  Here are a few of our summer days in pictures.

We spent a lot of time at the pool.  There were several times Jereme called and I said things like "I can't hear you.  I'm too close to the water feature."  And if rolling eyes made a sound, I could have heard him.  (Truthfully, he's happy we go to the pool.  But sometimes I feel weird telling him how hard my day was when I spent half of it with my feet in the water.)

Charlotte was pure sugar.  Every single day.  Confession: this kid smells like a mix of spit-up, poop, and traces of Aveeno baby wash at any given moment.  And I smell her constantly.  I just get my nose into her cheeks and neck and take hits all day.  That's how you know it's real love.  When sour milk is like lavender.

Emma Grace went to two different vacation bible schools because we like all manner of free, Christian fun.

Caroline was spoiled by several people after she broke her leg.  Our cousin, Meredith, sent a goodie bag as a "get well" to Caroline.  Emma Grace was an equal beneficiary.

The big girls got to do several fun Daddy-Daughter dates, one being a Greensboro Grasshoppers game.

EG went to a Frozen dance camp one week, otherwise known as the best week of her life.

Our cousin, Gage, came for a visit!

This is a post in itself, but the big girls went from sharing a room to not sharing a room.  So we cleared out our guest room and moved Emma Grace.  It was the best decision.  Everyone is sleeping much better!

We went shopping for school supplies (twice for the same kid...more on that later).  Emma Grace picked out the biggest and most expensive option for everything.  No, you are not getting the 152 Ultimate Crayon Collection.  Grab a pack of 18 and keep it moving.

This one.  She makes me work for it most days.  I love her like crazy.

We went to the park several times and even had the occasional picnic.

Caroline gave Emma Grace a black eye.  I can't even.

Charlotte became my only baby to enjoy tummy time!

We met the Feltons and Shipmans for lunch, shopping, and playing at Southpoint!

 Stop it.  I mean, that's awfully helpful of you, but no.  Just stop.

We spent many days having playdates with our friends.  The girls loved going to the pool with Parker and Mrs. Andrea, who was always so good to take them in the big pool while I sat with Charlotte.

 We participated in lots of free activities, which is my favorite.  This was at National Night Out.

I had a moment of bravery when I took all three girls to $1 day at the movie theater.  I told them it was all for one and one for all.  If one person started acting a fool, we all had to leave.  Turned out great and we got to stay for the whole movie!

OBX 2014

A couple of weeks ago, the girls and I loaded up and hit the road for the Outer Banks for a long weekend with my mom and grandmother.

We left bright and early Thursday morning and made a pit stop in Raleigh for the Kids Exchange.  Dee Dee kept the girls at my cousin's house while Mom and I shopped, mainly for Emma Grace (which is kinda like shopping for all of them).

We got back on the road and made it to Nags Head Thursday evening.  We went out for pizza that night and then took the girls down to the beach so they could dip their toes in the water.

Friday morning we spent most of the day at the beach.  Charlotte came out for a little while but ended up back at the house with Dee Dee.  The big girls loved it.  Emma Grace loved playing in the water and building sand castles.  Caroline sort of played in the sand but really wanted Cee Cee out in the water with her the whole time.  The beauty of traveling with family is that the girls don't really care too much about me, so I had a mini-vacation up on the sand while Mom really worked hard for her title as grandmother.

We went to dinner at Basnight's that evening, which is one of our favorites.  Then we went back down to the water...I love a post-dinner walk on the beach!

Saturday brought another morning at the beach.  Are you sensing a theme here?

This is the perfect time to add that it's good to be a Stout girl, especially when grandparents are around.  Thirsty?  Here, have a swig of my Coke.

That evening we drove to Colington for some fresh seafood to do a little shrimp boil for dinner.  We spent another morning at the water on Sunday and the water was pretty calm so I took the girls out in the ocean.  You never wish your husband was with you more than when you are taking kids in the water.

Our last night there, we had dinner at Tortugas' Lie, and then hit the road back to Greensboro Monday morning.

We really had a great time.  Four generations on a girls trip is a pretty cool thing.  I'm thinking next year will be the most fun year yet with three girls running around on the sand!