The Good and the Bad

Our first full day at St. Simons could not have been more PERFECT! We started the morning with breakfast at the 4th of May. Tuttle and Maggie devoured some chocolate chip pancakes! We spent the rest of the morning strolling around the square. 

The babies especially enjoyed checking out the fishermen on the pier.

After lunch and naps, we headed for more ice cream and to check out the public pool.

Tuttle and Maggie both had a blast at the pool. We spent most of the time at the children's area with the mini waterpark. Tuttle was completely independent, and Maggie convinced Gram to help her slide a million times!

After the pool, I convinced Tuttle to climb up into one of the big, beautiful trees. When I initially placed him in the branches, he was TERRIFIED. We pulled him down, and I climbed up. Once he saw that I was not scared, he wanted to try it again. He was very brave and loved it the second time. :)

Gram and I picked up matching tshirts for the babies, and I attempted once again to get a sibling picture. Fail.

Gram and I are convinced we used up our good luck with our perfect day Monday because today everything seemed to mess up.

We decided to rent bikes this morning, and I suggested we ride to The Bailey Boys outlet store which I thought was about a mile away.

Despite getting a lot of exercise, we never found the store. Our round trip adventure was about 5-6 miles pulling two babies behind us. I literally almost dropped from pure exhaustion. 

We went back to the beach house for showers and lunch and decided to drive to the store. We found some really cute stuff for Maggie! Next I thought we could skip naps and drive to Jekyll Island to explore the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Several of my mom's friends had insisted we check it out for Tuttle.

We arrived ten minutes before it closed for the day. Apparently they close at 2pm on Mondays. Bummer! Tuttle cried all the way back to the beach house.

We tried to turn the day around with more ice cream. Doesn't ice cream fix anything? :)

Maggie and Tuttle enjoyed the playground overlooking the ocean, too.

On a side note, Maggie has finally found her appetite. It only found a full year! She is eating like crazy and will try anything we put in front of her. :)

Even though the day had some downs, we are stilling having such a great time at the beach with Gram. Happy Vacation!

Our New House

The kids and I were able to get away with Gram for a beach trip to St. Simons Island, Georgia. My mom had stayed at this beach house previously and knew immediately that she wanted to bring the kids and me to visit, as well. We left yesterday morning and arrived late afternoon after stops for food, several big rain storms, and a fussy one year old who was completely over being in the car.

When I opened the door of the beach house, I was in HEAVEN! It is so welcoming and comfy. I am already planning a return trip. The extra space to roam and explore inside has already allowed me to relax, and I rarely feel like a "vacation" is relaxing with two babies!

Tuttle's absolute favorite part of the beach house is the kids room complete with toys! Every time we have left the house to eat or explore, he is constantly asking to return to the beach house. :)

Gram and I have already braved a restaurant for dinner and breakfast this morning. I think Gram has a real understanding for how I lost the baby weight. With Maggie, you have to eat FAST and usually cannot finish your entire meal, especially when Maggie fills up on bread before the meal even arrives. :) 

I am sure ice cream will be a daily stop during our beach stay. 

I cannot wait to see what adventures we will get into during our stay at St. Simons. We are already having such a memorable vacation.

Oh, The Things Kids Will Say

Tuttle is getting funnier by the day, so I want to make sure we can remember all the clever things he is saying and doing. My blog is the perfect place to record them! :)

• Whenever anyone asks Tuttle, "Why?" He responds, "Just why...." I think he interprets "just why" as "because." I giggle every time and ask him "why" intentionally.

• Tuttle removes his shoes and pants THE MOMENT we arrive home. Without fail.

•  He now requests "one more minute" with several activities, such as when he is playing before naptime or mealtime or when he is woken up from sleeping in the morning or after naptime.

•  When Tuttle does not want to answer your questions or talk to you, he will hide and tell you that he is shy. If you know Tuttle, he is the least shy three year old alive.

•  Tuttle frequently wants me to save leftover lunch or snack for him and ALWAYS reminds me not to "eat it all."

•  He is honest to a fault and will tell me when he created his artwork at school or when his teachers actually made the creation. :)

• Tuttle is currently obsessed with police men and bad guys. Luckily when he pretends, the bad guys are only committing petty crimes, such as driving too fast.

• When he wants to get out of bed in the morning or has failed to fall asleep during naptime, he will shout from his room, "The sun come out! It's a new day!"

•  Tuttle still drags his Shookie (blanket) behind him when he leaves his bed and will search for "him" whenever he needs a snuggle. I love that he still holds onto something from his baby days.

 

 We love this little boy so very much!!

Happy One Year, Maggie Ruth!

Margaret Ruth Thorne has been a part of our family for one year now.

At one year, Maggie

• weighs (check on 8/2)
• length (check on 8/2)
• eats food about four times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack) and drinks three bottles (naptime, bedtime, and early morning)
• has expanded her taste preferences a little bit. Maggie enjoys cheese, yogurt, bananas, grapes, blueberries, green beans, broccoli, hotdogs, ground turkey, eggs, chicken nuggets, most carbs (waffles, bread, pasta, cereal), and whole milk mixed with formula.
• wears 12m clothing and size 3 diapers
• goes to bed between 7:00-7:30pm
• is a confident WALKER but she falls if she tries to change direction too quickly
• still takes a quick on-the-go nap in the morning and a 1.5-2 hour nap in the afternoon
• has four teeth with two more poking through on the top
• has curly hair, especially when outside in the humidity
• is a fiesty playmate with Tuttle and DOES NOT back down when there is an argument over a toy
• wants to be held all the time by Mommy
• climbs up on anything any chance she gets (baby stroller, kids picnic table, bed, couch)
• loves to clap, wave bye-bye, kiss her baby doll, and point to what she wants to get into
• is starting to mimic sounds when we ask her to (da-da, for example)
• has discovered her bows in her hair and always wants to yank them out :(
• loves throwing a ball
• still captures everyone's heart with her cuteness and smile

Happy Birthday, Maggie Moo Bear!

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Yesterday we celebrated Maggie's birthday all day.

We started to day with an early breakfast trip to Dunkin Donuts before dropping Tuttle off at camp.

Maggie caught a quick stroller nap before heading for her beauty treatment.

I made an appointment for Maggie to get her first pedicure! I have a strong feeling that Maggie is going to be a tomboy, so I am going to enjoy all the girlie memories I can before she will not participate! :)

I was prepared for the pedicure to be a disaster, but Maggie was surprisingly very still while she had her toenails painted pink.

Maggie checked out her new pink toes! :)

We picked up Tuttle, napped, and visited Ellie to round out our afternoon. Tuttle and Maggie had fun playing with Ellie at her house. The three picked up right where they left off.

Maggie's birthday dinner consisted of tacos and blueberries. She ate so well!

We hope you enjoyed your birthday, Sweet Girl! We love you!

Love,

Mommy, Daddy, and Tuttle

Week With My Girl

Last week I received a call that my sweet friend of mine generously gave Tuttle her son's week at camp because she had family coming in town. Tuttle was thrilled to learn he could attend space camp at his school! This week he is in camp from 9am-1pm, so I have the mornings with my little girl. :)

We have enjoyed long walks (where Maggie snoozed), Ashford Park playtime, a morning at the airplane park with friends, and playing ball and baby dolls. I love this one-on-one time with Maggie.

Tuttle has refused to have his picture taken with his treasures from space camp, but he has come home with a rocket and a planet painting. He is having the best time with his buddies and teachers at school. (I promise to bribe him for a picture at some point this week. I am hoping to snap a shot when he creates his astronaut helmet!)

Tomorrow Maggie officially turns one. Can time PLEASE slow down? :(

Maggie's First Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Maggie's first birthday party with family and friends at our house. I loved getting everything together for my little girl's celebration- the pinker, the better! :)

We kept the guest list to only close family and friends which was much different than the 50+ people at Tuttle's party. Both parties were perfect for each baby. Our family is so lucky to have such loving family and friends in our lives to celebrate.

Cute Baby Bumps!

Jay and I put together a slide show of pictures from the past year of Maggie, and we shared it with all the guests before lunch. Although I had watched it over and over while preparing it, I got choked up watching it at the party. The last year has flown by way too quickly. :(

After lunch, it was time for the traditional smash cake. Maggie did not know what to think of it initially, but she eventually got the hang of it!

Maggie got a quick bath and an outfit change. Next it was time to open presents. All the kids helped rip open the packages, and Maggie was so excited to play with all her new toys, especially her new baby doll.

I guess everyone was excited that Maggie is a walker because she received FIVE pairs of new shoes! Several of the pairs are squeaky shoes, and Maggie has been walking all over the house and even the grocery store strutting her stuff and squeaking! A girl can never have too many shoes!

 

Maggie's first birthday party was a huge success! We loved celebrating our little girl.

 

Happy Birthday, Maggie Ruth! We love you!