Those precious baby toes!

Both babies are really too big for the cradle but it is so much fun to let them nap in their still...

When I went in to check on Tyler all I could see were little baby toes!

Happiest of birthdays Tessa!

We had a super fun day celebrating another year with Tessa!

Just don't mind Tripp's outfit! He tends to like celebrating Christmas in August!

Don't even ask...

The ladies celebrated with the annual birthday dinner at Peninsula Grill!

The day began with a trip to the beach with Trippy and Doh and Tripp boy! 

May this year be the best year yet!!

Soaking up some last days of summer fun

We made some great memories at the beach this past weekend! The Keeley's were in town and we soaked up the rays with the girls. 

Juliette is LOVING her 30 year old boogey board! I can remember getting this board when I was 8 years old for my birthday! she is STILL in perfect condition!

Tripp is having a blast in the ocean now a days especially since his swim lessons have made him so much more comfortable. He will let his Sister recommend just about anything for him to do. He gets so excited just to play with her!

A mermaid for sale? Any takers?

She and the "Merman" beside her are about as cute as they come!

A visit from Cousins

We had such a fun weekend with Suzanne, Will and Madeleine! We played on the water... the kids LOVED the tubing! I could not believe how excited Tripp was and boy did he hang on! The kids loved swimming in the creek...

They worked up quite an appetite. Who doesn't love laughing and giggling with Cousins??

The babies loved to play too!

Come back and play soon!

We're ready for 2nd grade and feeling good!

I love our "T'was the night before the first day of school tradition..." Last night we continued with it as we do each year. Instead of "T'was the night before Kindergarten" we changed it around and Juliette wanted to ready Tessa's book from the 2nd grade. 

We always talk about the excitement of the upcoming year and what she is most excited about.

I interviewed her and it went like this:

Me: "Juliette what are you most excited about tomorrow on your first day of school?"

Juliette: "Seeing my friends"

(Yup - this sounds about right)

Me: What is your favorite color?

Juliette: "Blue"

(Ummm that is the very first I have heard of this)

Me: What is your favorite subject?

Juliette: "Science"

Me: "Juliette, where would you like to go to college?"

Juliette: "Bishop England"

Me: "Bishop England is a high school"

Juliette: pause and thoughts and then in an exhausted question "Do I have to go to college?"

Me: laughing and replying "You may want to someday"

Me: "Well what would you like to be when you grow up?"

Juliette: "A Babysitter"

Well there you have Juliette in summary as she begins the 2nd grade. 

She was ready to do her reading and get some good giggles in...

Juliette was so sweet. Tyler was not ready for bed apparently and fussed in his crib. She went and got him out of the crib and said, "It's okay Mommy Tyler just wants to be part of our party tonight."

She propped him on her pillow and he was as happy as he could be.

This morning she woke up and was ready to get the show started. She needed about 10 minutes to get out of the bed and then we walked downstairs. As we were getting old uniform out she looked at me as she was putting it on and said, "This is horrifying!"

I just started to laugh. The thought of the unfashionable uniform just did not excite her while putting it on. Then when she remembered the navy blue knee socks she was really horrified (ha!)

We left the house and even though we received an email that 2nd graders could just be dropped off in the carpool line, I wanted to walk her in. On the way in she says to me in the car, "Mommy can you please go in with me?"

She was a bit apprehensive and while she still wants me to walk in with her, you bet I am going to. 2nd grade is a big jump in that now the children have to go "up the stairs" to the 2nd grade along with the 3rd and 4th grade.

There were so many of her little friends in her class and she was SO excited about her teacher Ms. Martin. We walked in and even though she was excited to meet the teacher and see her little friends, I could see her little eyes well up with tears. She looked at me and said, "Mommy I am going to miss you! I am sad to leave you after being with you all summer."

Ugh... pull at the heart strings. I gave her a big hug and knew she would be just fine after taking a big deep breath myself!

After a big hug and a big kiss she walked back into the room!

This Mama walked out knowing she is in wonderful hands and is going to have a stellar year!

The first swim for the baby boys

Today the babies had their first swim. They LOVED it! They were all smiles! Tripp was a bit loud - nothing surprising there. He scared Tyler a bit with the noise but once I explained to Tripp how to be quiet - then Tyler was completely at ease. This poor girl float is all I could find online at the end of the summer for Tripp at this age. I usually black and white the pictures but they were so cute of them I did not on these. They won't mind the pink and the flowers when they are grown I am sure :)

Thomas and his two big bottom teeth showing

Tyler and his big smile... you can see his two bottom teeth but you can't see his four big top teeth that are coming in as well. I call them little chicklets.

A happy Mama and her four little ones!

Tripp is already ready to show his little brother the ropes. He is so confident now himself - Mr. Bob has been amazing teaching how to swim and he does not even have his puddle jumper on anymore. He is so proud of himself!

After a good swim they loved warming up with "Abuela." Adi's sweet Mama is here from Colombia. We have loved having her visit too each day!

Oh Summer please stay awhile... pretty please?

Look who got a big boy bed?!!

The day has finally come! The bed delivered luckily while we were out of town. That was great because a new big bed always makes me a little teary. Tripp was 3 1/2 years old just like his Sister when he left the crib. 

He was SO excited when the bed arrived! He could not wait to jump in the boat. 

He just needed a little reassurance that the fish would not bite him. He loves the hammerhead shark and named the shark on his pillow "Herman."

I arrived back in his room 5 minutes after tucking him in. Here is what I found. 

A little boy in a sea of dreams in his nice new boat!

The nursery

It is such a sweet little room for the babies! Their cradles are SO meaningful to me and I hate that they are quickly growing out of them. The small one was in our house growing up that came out of a plantation used in the 1800's. The larger one was given to me by dear friends The Davis family. Mr. Davis actually restored it for me as a surprise. They still use them but more often now are using the cribs because they like to move around more. 

When I was in the hospital with the babies Don and my Mom surprised me by decorating and designing the nursery. When I delivered I had no room prepared for them. It was the best surprise!

A birthday week?

She is working hard on keeping the party going. She is good like that. Her Daddy would say she is just like her Mama! Why yes, I am always looking for reasons to celebrate! We had her favorite dinner that she requested - steak with boursin cheese and a baked potato on the big green egg.

The evening was beautiful to eat outside and Hootie was playing his concert in the background that we could hear. 

It was a perfect evening for yet another celebration!

And they're eight months old today!

Wowsa! 

These little guys are just amazing! There is so much development each day with them. They are both doing awesome on their bellies. Tyler is almost ready to crawl. I think that will be any day. Thomas is not quite there yet but he is not far behind. They just love to amuse each other. More and more I notice when they are holding their bottles and drinking at the same time, one always tries to take the bottle away from the other if one is already done. It is so funny!

They really love to chew on their toys now and look at them and reach for them on the floor. 

Tyler at this point in time has a more easy going temperament. He will entertain himself, play on the floor longer and just hang out. Thomas will as well but he would much rather be held. He can be fussing and you pick him up and he laughs. He is a little squirt! Good thing they both are so cute!

They both still each have two bottom teeth. Tyler has two that are about to pop on the top. They seem to be good teethers and not uncomfortable at all. 

They are amazing sleepers at night! They go down around 7:00 PM and wake up each morning between 6:30 and 7:00. Thomas sleeps in the nursery and Tyler is in the reading room in his crib. I have not put them together yet only because we have had such success this way!

They LOVE to laugh and giggle!

They are so much fun and we love these little guys to pieces!

Thomas Daniel

Tyler James

He could not love her more...

I love those lazy evenings before bed! Juliette wanted to read "Amelia Bedelia and the Baby" to her little brother. He was so smiley just hanging out with her. He actually was so happy he continued to lay on his back which he never does. He always wants to roll onto his stomach. 

Juliette then gave him some lessons on the "upward dog" Both babies are getting so strong and Tyler is almost crawling. He is "tripoding" and moving backwards but not forward yet.