8/23-25/10--The Beach and Lauren's Announcement

This week marks 14 months for Lauren!

Sometimes after Dada gets off of work, we'll go out to the beach to play in the sand and surf.  On this day, we saw Duane!  He was out surfing with some friends.  He even showed me how to surf.  Or at least "try" to surf. It was fun though and I'd definitely try again.

Lauren LOVES the beach.  Salt water and silty sand that sticks to you? No problem for LEB!

Sunset from the back porch of Schooner's.

Eric and I had a morning date together at the golf course while Lauren stayed with Miss Heather.  Miss Heather is Lauren's new Nanny.  She started working with us last week (when I moved KK in to her dorm room) and we are taking it slow and trying to get to know her.  So far, I LOVE what I'm seeing.  Heather has a very sweet personality and came with rave reviews from her past Nanny Families.  And most importantly, Lauren seems comfortable with her and appears to be her same happy self.  Why would a SAHM need a Nanny, you may be asking?   Well, I've decided to look for a part-time job and get back to work but still be able to see and play with my Lauren for the majority of the week.  Kinda the best of both worlds.  Heather will come to the house 2-3 days/week while I interview and search for jobs and then continue part time after I start a position.

These are pictures from this week of Lauren's first play date with Bailey and Duncan and their nannies.  All 3 toddlers are within 4 months of each other in age and it looked like they had a fun time.  The plan is for all three to rotate houses and to start Library time and Kindermusik together.

"Hi, Bailey!" 16 months

Duncan, 18 months

Heather reported that Lauren's favorite toy was the play kitchen and grill.  So cute!

TV time-out

"Hugs before we go.  See you at Library time, Bailey!"

1st Library time.  I tagged along to enjoy watching the kids and was so pleased with how nice and organized the 20 minute program was!  Lots of singing with hand motions and interactions with adults, story time and then more singing and dancing.  Lauren loved it!!!  There were probably 20 kids there and they all sat down next to their mom or nanny...except Lauren.  She was not interested in sitting beside me or Miss Heather but rather wanted to walk around and check on all the other kids.  She never touched anybody else, but would just walk up to them and either smile, nod her head or clap.  Busy body, for sure!  Her favorite part was dancing and singing.  She even checked out 4 library books to take home.  Bailey and Duncan were there and I'm so glad Lauren is going to be doing this once a week.

Later that week, Grandaddy came for a visit.  Lauren didn't really want to let him go when we told her to "tell Grandaddy bye-bye".  She just kept laying her head on this shoulder and patting his arm.  So, so, so sweet.  My heart melts...again.

Lauren: self portrait

We'll see you next week when we return from our trip to Birmingham for Evan Ticola's 3rd birthday party!

Scalloping at Cape San Blas and Aunt Kay's BID Day

Guess where I'm going today?  I'm going with my mommy, dada, Grandma, Pa, Uncle Gabe, Aunt Stacie, Austin, Isaac, Ethan, Lucas and PaPaw Shockley to Cape San Blas!  We are going to stay there for 2 nights and go out on Dada's boat to look for scallops!  My mommy says that it's so pretty there...like Old Florida, whatever that means.  But I'm 

excited!

Having a fun time hanging out with Ethan and Daddy

Ethan, 4 years

Isaac, after a dozen chocolate chip cookies and his first missing tooth!

"How old is Lauren?"

"Oh, wow.  What are these things?  They're so neat!"

Lucas, 2 years, with is Mommy

Daddy is a master scallop-finder!  

On Saturday afternoon, Mommy left Lauren and Dada to drive to Tallahassee to meet Gigi and Aunt Kay.  We've had a hotel reservation for months in preparation for BID day and the day before classes start.  That night we met up with Gigi's college roommate and her son and daughter (both students at FSU).  Kendall, Kathy's daughter, is also a freshman and going through Rush with Kaitlin.  Crazy timing for these 1970's KD sisters.

BID day...eating Mexican comfort food and waiting for the afternoon.   We dropped Kaitlin off at Freshman Convocation and went shopping.  Our plan was to go shopping and then back to campus to watch all the "reveals" and were confident that we wouldn't be the only parents present.  Or at least we were hopeful not to embarrass Kaitlin! We almost didn't make it back in time...the whole thing was running ahead of schedule!  Kaitlin was waiting her turn and texting us "where are you?"  We were trying to find a parking space...you can imagine how crowded the center of campus was on the day before the 1st day of class!  We got out of the car, hear all of these squeals coming from different girls in all directions and start looking for Kaitlin.  She sees us right after she finds out that she got her 1st choice: Kappa Delta!  She yells "Mama!" and runs up to us in her green and white KD t-shirt!

I barely had time to get my camera ready for the big moment!  I think it was a huge relief that Rush Week was officially over and a decision had been made followed by the perfect reveal...

GGR & KHP...the mama-daughter twin duo are now sisters!  :-)

Kaitlin (front row center) and her PC '10

(and just a note: we were definitely NOT the only parents present and blended in nicely!  The only problem was that some people thought I was Kaitlin's mom and Gigi was my mom...ha!  We know better.  We're both her moms!  ha.  jk...)