Joining Team......

 

Blue!  We are excited that he is healthy and active...he'll need to be to keep up with his big sisters!  CJ was upset when we told her, but she has since embraced having a baby brother come into our lives and is already asking about what kind of things he likes.  G'ma Ryan asked her about names, and CJ has named the little one, Grandpa Jim.  can you imagine?  "Will the parents of Grandpa Jim please come to the front of the store?"  Eric's comment was, "we're going to get peed on" and I said, "yes you will :)"

In other news, Eric passed his check ride, had a solo and started on nav flights...down to 6 flights if I counted right.  He is also on alert for hurricane evac...so if the storm turns this way, he'll be going to New Mexico to ride it out.  CJ met her teachers today for the Mom's day out program she starts on Tuesday.  She is calling it preschool and is very excited about it!

Hope you all have a good Labor day weekend.  We hope to get out of town and do something, but we'll see what the weather does. 

Doctor appointments

Today Laurelei had her 18 month well baby check up.  Got cleared on the MRSA issue we have been working on for a month, that was very welcomed news.  She weighed in at 22 1/2 lbs, which puts her in the 25% and was 33.25 inches long the 90%...tall and skinny, taking after her daddy.  We did get a speech referral, or more specifically a number to start the process.  Although she is very communicative, she still doesn't say Dada or other words.  The one that comes through LOUD and clear is MOM and she uses that for CJ, Daddy, Panther and myself.  She has a couple of other words she is working on, and she uses signs, but we're just going to make sure to keep her on track and not get as far behind as CJ did, hopefully.  Both girls got a shot today as well. Laurelei did well, CJ did pretty much as expected --cried before we got there, cried when Laurelei got her shot and put up a good fight when it was her turn.  An Ariel sticker seemed to take care of all the tears though.

Yesterday, I had my ultrasound.  Everything is looking good, the baby was very active and had a good heartbeat of 160.  We did get one quick, but very confirming shot of the sex, so if you want to know you'll have to let me know.  It is always so fun to finally see the little one that is kicking and jabbing you all day.  I have been wearing a maternity support belt, and that has taken away most of my hip pain and all of my lower back pain.  It has pushed the baby up into my rib a bit, but both girls gave me that issue so no surprise there.  Being able to walk is so nice.

She did it!

After weeks of determination and practice, she did it. That's right, today CJ passed her swim test! I'm not sure on the actual width of the pool but it is about 25-30 feet wide. Here is a short clip from yesterday when she was about 3-4ft short of completing the test. Today, I was in the baby pool with Laurelei when she did it.



Which of course meant....slide time.........






Okay, that was Eric. After completing her test she told me she would wait a year or two until she was older and bigger to go down the slide. Aaahhh music to mommy's ears. But, this has been her dream since we moved here in March and she first saw the slide. So it didn't take long for her to decide today was a good day to go down the slide. She went up, she sat, she decided the water was too loud and she walked down the steps. 10 mins later, she wanted to try again, but she said she needed a push...so I went up and gave her a push and she loved every moment of the ride! I was holding onto Laurelei who thought she should get a turn and Eric was in the water waiting for her, so no video of her doing the slide.

Outta the mouths of preschoolers

While shopping at a maternity store, I was looking at a cute shirt that had a tag stating, from Maternity through Nursing.  The price tag at 40% off was still rather high I noticed as well.  The shop owner said that the shirt next to it was also maternity through nursing and you really do get alot of use out of it.  Without missing a beat, CJ pipes up,

"We just had lunch, thanks".

The timing couldn't have been more impectable. The store erupted in laughter.  I ended up buying the shirt...I'll get to wear it for the next year and a half at least.  I also did mention that I'm not actually still nursing my 3.5yr old.

Handing down the bike

In the past couple of weeks I noticed that CJ was looking a bit like a clown riding a teeny tiny bike. I also noticed that her friends had graduated onto a bigger bike as well. The time came for her to give Laurelei her bike and for CJ to move onto a bigger one. But, she had some specifications. It had to have streamers, and she wanted a "brake". When she said brake, she meant a kick stand. Bikes for her size come with training wheels and no kick stand. She picked it out and is off riding every chance she gets. Laurelei is getting the hang of climbing on and off, but hasn't picked up on peddling yet.

Both the girls are getting so big!  Laurelei has discovered buckles, and now gets VERY upset if you try and buckle her into her car seat or chair or anything, since she wants to do it herself.  CJ has just mastered her own car seat, so let the battles begin with the little one.

Summer fun

This week has been busy and HOT!  This morning at 9AM the heat index was already at 102.  We have been swimming, visited the fire station, and played with friends this week.  Here are a couple of group shots, we got to explore the fire trucks and even sit in a mocked up boarded up house during a hurricane.  My kids wanted nothing to do with the big inflatable fire fighter.  Chloe swimming.  And watched Tropical Storm Eduardo try and blow in, but nothing came of it --didn't even cool it off for us.

Regatta

The base hosted a regatta this weekend.  CJ and I took the water taxi to tour around the boats.  We didn't see the sail boats come in, but we did get to watch the homemade boats race.

The girls reading together

CJ getting the backpack full of supplies


I did have an OB appt. yesterday.  EVERYONE went along.  It was Eric's chance to meet my OB and CJ really wants to be a part of the process.  My OB let her use the doppler to find the heartbeat.  And with everyone there, I forgot to ask what the heart rate was.  She recommend that I get a maternity belly support to take pressure off my hip and hopefully allow me to walk again.  Ordered it this morning.

Eric is preparing for a cross country trip.  We're not sure where to or when yet, but he is excited to take the plane some distance, and see different scenery.  After today, he has a week of classes (not sure when) and only 16 flights left, and at least 5 will be taken care of on his cross country.  He will be done in no time!