Independence Day!
I always have off the week of the fourth. I decided last year that I wanted to spend the week in Pennsylvania with the rest of my family. Unfortunately, Pat's work schedule kept him from joining us. That meant Lily and I would be making our first flight solo. I have a bit of anxiety when it come to flying. Not the actual plane ride, but checking in, security, finding the concourse and getting there on time. I'm always afraid I'm going to miss my flight! So you can imagine how I felt when a toddler was added to the equation. We sat and waited for boarding...and we waited and waiting. Finally, thirty minutes after our projected take off time, we started boarding. When we finally got on the plane it started to rain. We sat on the runway for over an hour! Lily was perfect! We took off from Charlotte at the time we were supposed to land in Rochester, NY but all's well that ends well! (BTW: Our trip home was smooth sailing and the best part is I think my flying anxiety is cured!)
My little (leashed) traveler!
After spending the night in Rochester with Aunt Cherie and Uncle Tom, we were off for Port Allegany! I had big plans for our trip but the weather had a different idea, rain. It wasn't what I expected but any break from the 100 degree temperatures of SC was good for me. The good thing is, weather didn't stop us from spending lots of quality time with family!
We sat in the pasture with the cows, "Moo"!
Ate LOTS of blueberries.
Enjoyed hand dipped ice cream from the same place I did as a child.
Picked flowers.
Ate more ice cream!
Played with cousins.
"Pa!"
I rode in the car with this young man! I can't believe he's driving!!!
Worked in the yard.
Then came the 4th of July!!! Which also meant it was time for goodbye. :(
Virginia Beach!
We finished out the month with the Southern Building Material Suppliers conference in Virginia Beach! (At least I think that's the name, I can never keep it straight) The kids are at the perfect age. They can ran around somewhat independently, and play and they loved the beach!
The pups came too!
Child care is provided for the nightly events so we also had time to spend together without any interruptions.
We took a ferry ride on the way home. We didn't save any time but it was a good pit stop for Lily and the pups without actually stopping.
Babies and Birthdays!
Becky is having a baby! Actually, she already had her but we need to address the shower first. Given that she didn't tell anyone she was pregnant until she was 20 weeks, it's a surprise her friends were able to get together in time to throw her such a nice shower!
Lincoln Grace Johnson arrived 3 weeks early on July 31 at 4:01 pm.
The day after Lincoln entered the world we celebrated Anacapri's 3rd birthday!
Then there is everything else summer stands for: lake days, swimming lessons, sprinklers and family time!
It doesn't matter what time it is, she wants to swim!
My favorite thing about this summer has been Lily! Now I know why everyone says that 18 months is there favorite age. She is saying everything! She's not forming sentences but she can put a few words together and commutation is much easier. Some of my favorite things she says, "Pat" with emphasis on the 't' (she also calls him Daddy but the 'Pat' cracks me up), "Onnnnne, twoooo, five, six", "Come (with) me", "Aww, that's cute!". She is also learning new games at "daycare", hide-and-seek is a big one right now. She is always finding someone, " Insert name, found you!". It's so funny when she gives the dogs commands, "Stay", "Stop!" (barking) and her favorite, "GO!" There is definitely a love/hate relationship between the three of them. Sometimes they are so sweet and other times she doesn't want them to even look at her....siblings!
We have also been potty training! About a month ago she started saying, "Wet" and "Pee". From what I've heard there is a window when it comes to potty training and I figured this was mine. She has done very well. I wish I would have known when this was going to take place so I could have taken a few days off the devote to mastering the potty but we are taking a slower approach and it's working just fine for us. She does great when she is commando, I mean no accidents at all! I don't use pull-ups because they look like a diaper, they feel like a diaper so why wouldn't you use it like a diaper? She does use them during the week and she's down to just 1-2 accidents a day! I don't think it will be much longer before we are all panties, all the time! In the mean time we are loving the extra glimpses of hiney! What is cuter than a nakey hiney?!
Early on, I realized a candy reward wasn't impressing her so we
switched to a video and that did the trick!
Her reward for all day pee pee on the potty, even while running errands! Not one balloon, but two!!!
I hope to stay more up-to-date with my blogging so the process isn't so time consuming. Maybe the slower pace of life after summer will help? We'll see....
