Growth.......

We are home.... we decided to come home on Friday... one day early... not b/c we were not having a wonderful time but b/c reality was knocking on the door. When we left, it was raining and it had rained for almost a full week before vacation... when you plant seed in the "fall" the grass must be cut. LOL Among other things. We had an amazing time while away... we were able to witness my MIL and FIL renew their wedding vows for their 50th Wedding Anniversary! The ceremony was preformed in a little white Church that was built in the 40's. It was wonderful to be able to share in their very special day! :)

This was also a fantastic opportunity for our family. We were put to the test and so was Lillian. Ken and I had a lot of anxiety about being away from our comfort zone, and our home, and Lily's crib. I know it sounds a little absurd. Lily did wonderfully. The first night was a bit stressful but she adjusted and slept perfectly in her pack and play. She LOVED every minute of the beach going in the ocean and collecting sea shells. She grew enormously over the week. Actually, I have seen HUGE changes in her this month! Her speech is growing by leaps and bounds. She picks up new words daily. She is climbing onto and over everything.

My best friends has been kidding with me for the last couple of months b/c I was still nursing Lily. Usually before bed.... I had talked to her pediatrician about it at her 18 month check up and she said that usually around 16-18 months "babies" tend to loose interest and sort of wean themselves. When Lily began walking at 15.5 months she began nursing more! So, I thought I had missed that little window... until this week. She is not interested at all.. and has not nursed in a full week. So, I am saying that she is finally weaned. She is now 21.5 months.... Maybe since she didn't walk until 15.5 months it pushed that little window back???  Just a thought.

While on vacation....

the cleaning still must be done! :)

Finally Made it.........

On our way, we stopped at a Rest Stop....

Took a ride on the ferry... where it was VERY windy and quite cool......

and took a trip to the beach... Lily's VERY first beach trip.... even though we live about 30 minutes from the beach...

She LOVED it and we LOVED being able to share it with her!  Thank you for the Birthday Wishes! 

Happy Birthday tooooooooooo

Me! :) Wow.... hard to believe that I turn ....... gulp....... 38 today! :) I am so grateful to be blessed with my wonderful family.......... vacation is still delayed. We find out later today if the ferry will run.

That little snooker-wooker!

Lillian has been a little "pistol" lately! Today, she climbed up onto the dining room chair and then ONTO the table! TWICE!!! Yesterday, she threw a tantrum so bad that I had to pick her up and place her in her crib to ensure her safety. She insisted on vacuuming several rooms in the house and it took about 45 minutes. EVERY TIME I tried to help her by adjusting the vacuum she'd throw herself to the floor and begin to scream and cry. That is why she vacuumed for 45 minutes. At one point, she had crawled under the dining room table and was sitting on the ledge moving the vacuum back and forth. Whew..... I think that she is going through a "growth spurt or developmental change" again. She tends to get irritable and cranky.

We are to leave for vacation Sunday for one week. We are headed to Ocracoke Island, NC. We learned today that the ferry that we would be taking to get to the Island is not running. We had some severe weather yesterday and there is too much sand in the channel and it needs to be dredged before they are able to run the ferry. This is our first family vacation since Lillian's birth. She is not and has never been the type of child that fall asleep in the car. EVER! I can count on one hand the amount of times she has slept in the car... yes, even when she was weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee little. There is an alternate route however the ferry ride alone is close to 3 hours. So, we are going to hang tight  and wait it out.... the weather is supposed to be poor through Wednesday anyway....