Couldn't put it down!

If you are looking for some new reading material, I highly recommend Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. I started reading it Saturday, and 500+ pages and less than 48 hours later I'm finished and wishing it wasn't over. It's a story that follows two best friends through more than three decades of their lives, and is definitely one of the best books I've read in awhile. Now go read it and let me know what you think! :)

Skipping Hippos

Some of you have asked about Emma Claire's poncho, so I wanted to share a favorite website of mine. Emma Claire's was actually made by a lady in our town who makes cute baby/toddler clothes, but for the past two years I've ordered ponchos almost identical to hers (minus the monogram) from Skipping Hippos. There is a huge selection of colors to choose from, and both of the ones Emma Claire had were so precious. Go check them out! :)

Beach weekend

We spent this past weekend at my parents' beach house with some of our favorite friends, the O's and the F's, and their kiddos. Six adults and seven children age 5 and under made for a wild and crazy weekend! It was wonderful to spend time away and with good friends, and the children had a blast as well. :) The pictures don't show it, but Whitt was there, too!

Grayson, EC, Delainey, Jacqueline, Sam, and Michael

Napping Emma Claire--nothing beats a sleeping baby! :)

Laura and Jac Jac making dessert

Michael and Sammy

Delainey taking EC for a ride

watching a movie after bathtime

Posing for pictures on the front porch before walking to the beach...



We are so blessed to have such awesome friends, and children the same age who love playing together! :)

Already eventful!

Well, 2010 has already been an eventful year for Whitt! The past eight days have already included three milestones for him---sleeping through the night for the first time (and every night since---woo hoooooo!!!), turning 6 months old, and getting his first tooth!!! His bottom right middle tooth broke through today, and the one next to it is days away from coming through as well. Looks like breast feeding is about to get more interesting! Ha ha!! :)

2009--a review

So I totally stole this idea from Christie, who stole it from Darby, but I thought it would be fun to do a review of the wonderful year we just had. :)

2009

January: We rang in the new year with our friends Gretchen and Ben and their kiddos, Henry and Ruby. Took a boat ride with Christie's family on a beautiful January day. Emma Claire started going to school three mornings a week. Found out we were having another boy!

February: The kiddos took turns being sick a lot this month so we didn't do much. Ben and I went on an amazing trip to NYC. Emma Claire started sleeping in a big girl bed.

March: I drove Grayson and Emma Claire, while I was 25 weeks pregnant, 10 hours to see my friend Gretchen and her kiddos while her husband was deployed. Emma Claire got sick. Drove home while she screamed for 8 of the 10 hours we were in the car. I turned 30.

April: Did three Easter egg hunts. Went to Gee Gee and Pop Pop's house for spring break and did all kinds of fun things together. Started getting ready for Whitt's arrival. Ben turned 31.

May: Our sweet baby niece, Taylor, was born! Spent some time at Nannie and Granddaddy's new beach house. Played outside constantly. Had a visit from my friend Andrea and her little girl, Savannah. Spent a relaxing weekend at the beach with my Clemson girlfriends.

June: Emma Claire turned 2! Had a water slide party in the backyard on the hottest day EVER. Spent as much time as possible at the beach or in the pool. Grayson really improved with his swimming.

July: Whitt was born!!! This was obviously the highlight of our year and he couldn't be a more perfect addition to our family! My mom and mother-in-law were here a good portion of the month helping out and I'm eternally grateful! Had lots of company stay with us and meet baby Whitt.

August: Had more visits from friends--Jeni and Jackson, Laura, Steve and girls, Anna, Jeff, and Dylan. Grayson and Emma Claire started back to school. Grayson turned 4! We had a water slide party for him and made the mistake of getting one of the biggest slides that was available---every child except for two were too afraid to go down it. :)

September: Emma Claire got her hair cut. We spent a fun long weekend at the beach with my family. Grayson started playing soccer. Went to Taylor Swift concert.

October: The new baby fog started to occasionally lift. Went to the pumpkin patch. We had the hottest Halloween we've ever had and Whitt the Lion had a wardrobe change to a less-stifling tiger costume.

November: Went to our first and only Clemson game of the year and got together with a group of my college girlfriends. Whitt got baptised. Spent Thanksgiving in the NC mountains.

December: Had a busy month full of celebrations with family and friends. Went on an awesome girls' weekend trip with Christie and Gretchen. We hosted Christmas at our house and I made a big Christmas dinner. Ate too much and had loads of fun this month! Celebrated the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 with several of our closest friends.


Hoping that 2010 is as happy and blessed as 2009 was! :)

Christmas, in pictures

We went to a great little party a few days before Christmas on the island where my parents have a house. Got some cute pictures of the kiddos...

and then Miss Grumpy Pants broke out the frown. :)

Santa even paid a visit! Grayson was in awe...

and EC was THRILLED.

We went to church on Christmas Eve and had a birthday party for Jesus afterward. I think Grayson and Emma Claire blew out the candle five or six times...I kept having to re-light it so they could do it again.

Then we threw reindeer food on the front walk so Santa and his reindeer would surely pay us a visit.

P.S. Don't throw reindeer food on walkways--throw it in the grass. The reindeer food is still on the ground, even after days of rain!

Next, we put out some cookies for Santa...

and went to bed. We woke up in the morning to find that the reindeer food and cookies had worked! Santa came!!

We had a wonderful day spent with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, neice Taylor and Uncle Al and Ginger. Taylor couldn't keep her hands off of her little cousin, Whitt.

Whitt wasn't much of a fan of having his hair pulled. :)

Life is slowly getting back to normal! Grayson returned to school yesterday and Emma Claire has been home with strep throat. I hope everybody is having a happy 2010 so far!