Beach Babies

09.13-17.09

Each year we take a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC with Papaw and Neena. We always go in September but I realized a couple of weeks ago that next year will be our last September beach trip as Andrew will be in school after that. I can't believe it!

We did a little more "tourist-type" activities this year, mainly because last year Andrew didn't care at all for the water and we needed to have something other than water activities to do so Andrew could have a little fun too. So, we went to the Dixie Stampede so he could see the animals and to the aquarium so he could see the fish. One of Andrew's favorite things we did was go to Family Kingdom, an amusement park. We also went to one of the many, many seafood buffets - but that wasn't for Andrew, that was for William.



But much to our surprise, Andrew LOVED the water this year. So much in fact, it was physically straining to get him out of the water at times. He climbed in and out of the pools by himself, didn't need or want any help getting from end to end of the pool, and even enjoyed some time in the ocean. He also loved being buried in the sand and having a little Daddy-and-me time building a little sand fort.



Megan loved the water too - even though she never actually knew she was in it. We had a little inflatable boat that we made a little bed for her out of and sent her afloat on the water. Lots of people stopped to take her picture and tell us how great that little float was. I was so happy I remembered we had it and took it along!



The kids were really good. Megan slept through the night and Andrew was a real sweetheart the entire trip. We couldn't have asked for anything more!

Here are a few miscellaneous pictures too - I know there are a lot of pictures on this post. Just be thankful I didn't post them all! :)

Happy Birthday Avery!

09.12.2009

Little Avery Thrush celebrated her 3rd birthday at Chuck E. Cheese last Saturday and we were lucky enough to be able to take the kids. It was Megan's first birthday party, and she slept through most of it; but Andrew had a great time! He loved the games and is a big fan of skee ball. He doesn't quite get he's supposed to roll the ball underhand and instead slams the ball as hard and as fast as possible as he pitches it overhand. It's a little dangerous to play skee ball with Andrew...

We joke a lot that one day - a long time from now - Andrew and Avery will grow up and get married. Don't you think they make a cute couple?

How about these two? This is Megan's boyfriend, Ledger.

And here's a picture of Megan in her party dress.

Thank you, Sarah and Tim, for including us - and happy birthday Avery!

Two Months Old!

09.10.2009

I dreaded today's doctor appointment for days and am so happy to say it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I expected. Megan weighed 10 pounds, 9.5 ounces and measured 21.75 inches. She's in the 25th percentile for weight and near the 50th percentile for height. Everything else checked out great and the doctor was surprised at how strong Megan is - at how high she kicks her feet up and how well she holds her head up.

Megan was given 3 shots and one oral vaccination. She cried for just a few seconds, and I believe it's more because they woke her up than the actual pain of it. She's a brave little girl!

At 2 months, Megan can:

• quiet herself by sucking on her fingers or a pacifier
• holds her head up for longer periods of times
• still hates being on her tummy
• smiles a lot
• loves to be talked to
• stays awake for longer stretches during the day and sleeps in longer stretches at night
• kicks her feet and swings her arms a lot
• loves to sit in the upright position
• still isn't crazy about her car seat
• loves her big brother
• drinks 4 ounces of milk every 3 hours
• loves to be naked
• enjoys bath time
• is a real sweetheart!

We go back for Megan's 4-month wellness check in November. She'll be given 2 shots and one oral vaccination at that visit.

Apple Festival

09.07.2009

We took the kids to the Apple Festival in Hendersonville yesterday. I had never been to the festival, but it was pretty much what I expected - lots of people and lots of apples. We had a good time and really enjoyed watching Andrew play. I had told him there was going to be a train for him to ride (due to something I had read in a brochure). He was so excited and went to bed talking about it. And as luck would have it, the train turned out to be a caterpillar. But, Andrew didn't complain. He rode it twice.

Then it was on to the inflatables where we found a train! He loved it. He climbed through it, jumped over obstacles, and was pleasantly surprised by a couple of slides. He loves to slide. So much, in fact, that he all but insisted - in that pleasant way 3-year olds insist on things - to go down the HUGE slide he could see in the distance. I really didn't think he'd climb as far as he had to before he made it to the top, but he did. He reached the top, whirled around, announced "ready, set, go" and plunged what I imagine was at least 25 feet. What a daredevil I have...

Megan relaxed in the stroller, only waking to be fed. And then she slept all night! I guess the heat and noise wore her out. Now let's see what tonight brings.

Perhaps the funnest party of my day was watching Andrew flirt with an adorable little girl we were standing behind for a very long time, waiting our turn on the awful strawberry tilt-a-world-type ride. Andrew was so tired of standing, he sat down on the curb. The little girl in front of us decided to do the same thing. (I'm guessing she was close to 4 years in age.) Well, Andrew very quickly scooted to her side and blew her a kiss. She moved over a few feet, thus did Andrew. Then another little girl came over and sat down on the other side of the first girl. Andrew then went to the second girl, grabbed her by the legs, and tried to move her elsewhere. That was his territory. The little girl was not interested in Andrew, so he learned his first lesson of rejection, all while Mommy and Daddy watched and laughed.

Here are a couple of pictures from the day. My camera battery died after the first ride. I was so disappointed.