Picnic & Playdate at the Park

Today we packed a lunch and headed to the Archer Lodge Park with some friends. It was supposed to be a "cooler" day (in the 80's) but it still turned out to be too hot!! But the kids had fun nonetheless. 

Scott is out of town until Thursday night. He left last night and stayed in a hotel by the airport because his flight left so early. He flew to Texas early this morning for a district managers meeting. So it's just me and the kiddos until Friday. We sure will miss daddy while he is gone. 

Taylor turns THREE!!!!

Taylor turned 3 on August 19, 2011! She had a wonderful birthday... my parents were in town from GA (they stayed through the weekend so they could be here for her party!) and Scott took her birthday off so we could all spend the day together. We gave her several options that she could do on her birthday... and she chose to get a manicure / pedicure and to have lunch at Moe's :) So that morning we gave her our gift from us (a new Barbie Jeep), went to the nail salon to get her mani/pedi, had lunch at her favorite restaurant-MOE'S! And then that night we grilled hamburgers & hotdogs and had Scott's parents come over as well. They also had Carlie with them (Tay's cousin) so her and Taylor enjoyed driving the Jeep all evening :)

It is so hard to believe that she is already 3 years old!!! It seems like just yesterday that I was in the hospital having her. She starts preschool next week.... and her 3 yr check-up is next week as well!!!!~ :)

Her birthday present from Mommy & Daddy!! ~ a Barbie Jeep! (:

Just waking up and finding her birthday present!

Reading her bday card and discovering her stickers!

Skylar wanted to try out the Jeep too ;)

Chilling in the Jeep with her favorite Baby Doll

In her "Birthday Girl" shirt & hairbow Mommy made Her and Carlie driving the Jeep!

Birthday Pedicure

Getting her Mani / Pedi!!

Blowing out the candles on her "pink cake" Mommy made for her :)

Rolly Polly Skylar :-)

Yesterday was an exciting day for miss Skylar!! She started napping in her crib (instead of her swing!) and learned to fall asleep all on her own :) Plus she started rolling from her tummy to her back!!!! And then she swang on the swingset when we went outside to play last night. She LOVED the swing.... she was so relaxed... I think she would have fallen asleep in it :)

Here are some pics from her momentous day (:

BTW, the transition from swing to crib was SO EASY with her..... she falls asleep after about 5 minutes of crying and gives me NO problems!!! I am so pleased with how EASY it was! I was so worried about making her "cry it out" but it really was easy! Thank goodness!!!!

Ready, Set......

ROLL!!!!

Swinging on the swingset for the first time!!

Bedtime & Naptime Battles. OH WHAT FUN!!!

I have to admit....up until now things have been pretty easy for me as a Mommy. As a baby, Taylor began sleeping 12+ hours straight through at night at only 6 weeks old and never woke in the night unless she was really sick. We've never had any problems with her sleeping until just recently. She has begun waking at all hours of the night crying & screaming for no apparent reason. And she will NOT go back to sleep until we finally let her sleep with us. (which until now we have not done at ALL except for when we are traveling) We have tried EVERYTHING imaginable to stop the night wakings and nothing is helping. I am really hoping it is "just a phase" and that this phase passes quickly. Skylar still wakes one time a night to eat and then goes right back to sleep until 7 or 8. So that isn't too bad. But the main problem I am having with her is the fact that she fights sleep SO bad that it is nearly impossible to get her to sleep. Up until now she has taken most of her naps in her swing b/c she falls asleep easily in that and if she wakes up after a short nap the swing lulls her back to sleep. But the beloved swing stopped working the other day so ever since then my days have been quite hectic trying to get her to sleep for naps!! She also seems so much more ALERT these days like she's just so interested in her surroundings to be bothered with naps ;) So, since the swing stopped working I guess it is time to start teaching her how to fall asleep on her own. This is going to be incredibly hard for ME b/c i just hate to hear babies cry. But I know this is a very important lesson for them to learn and the earlier they learn it the better it will be. I tried to make her "cry it out" last night but only lasted about 7 minutes before I gave in and rocked her to sleep. Usually she won't really even fall asleep with you rocking her but she was so exhausted from not napping well that she went to sleep with no problems as I rocked her. Then this morning I decided to let her "cry it out" again..... After several attempts she FINALLY went to sleep ON HER OWN and in her crib for the very first time. :) :) Hopefully I can do this for all of her naps and then at night as well. Now..... if I could only figure out how to fix Taylor's night-time troubles maybe I could be back on the path of being well-rested!!! This mommy is so TIRED of the sleepless nights!!! :)

Birthday Planning~ :)

I've been so busy planning & getting ready for Taylor's birthday that I haven't posted in awhile! Her 3rd birthday is this Friday (August 19th) and we are having her party on Sunday. I asked her what she wanted to do on her birthday and gave her some choices (which included things like: going to the Disney store, Chuck-E-Cheese, etc..) but she chose to get a pedicure. LOL!! I don't know many 3 year olds that would choose to get her nails done over those other choices ;) But that is typical Taylor.... always girly!!! So we are planning on taking her to get a pedi, going to Moes for lunch since that is her FAV! Then having some fam over to grill out that night and have cake & ice cream. She also requested a "pink cake" and "pink ice cream" LOL!

For her party, it is going to be a cowgirl theme! We are renting a pony, bunny, and baby chicks, and it is a pink western theme! I am hoping and praying that it does not rain that day b/c then our plans will be ruined for sure!!! I cant believe she is going to be 3 already!!!!

Myrte Beach Trip (7.26.11 - 7.31.11)

Our latest trip to Myrtle Beach, SC was July 26-31. We had a lot of fun and it was nice to be able to stay longer than just the weekend like our last trip! The beginning of the week we stayed in a condo at a Golf Resort.... it was really nice, 2 bedroom/2 bath, and over-looked the golf course (which Scott LOVED!) The first day it rained so we took Taylor to 'Wee Jump', an indoor inflatable jump center. Then that evening went to the mall. The next day we went to the pool, Scott played golf, and then went to the beach that evening after eating dinner at a restaurant on the beach. We checked out of that place on Friday, spent the day at the mall, and then checked into a hotel on the beach, Cabana Shores, where some friends of our's were staying with us at! Our neighbors (Amanda & Jeff) have a daughter that is 6 weeks younger than Taylor and a son that is 6 weeks younger than Skylar. Scott & Jeff played golf while Amanda and I hung out on the beach with the kids :) We ended the weekend at Broadway at the Beach before heading home on Sunday. It was a fun trip and we were glad to be able to enjoy it with some friends!! :)

Skylar's 4 Month Appt!

Skylar had her 4 month well-check on July 27th. Her appt went great and she is growing right on track!

Weight: 14.5 lbs (70%)

Length: 24.25 in (50%)

And her head circumference was 50% as well.

She had 3 immunizations, and she did really well... only cried for about 2 seconds :)

I cannot believe she is already 4 months old!!! She is growing way too fast!

I also started her on baby oatmeal a few days ago.... she still isn't too sure what to think about it!! Hopefully she will get the hang of eating off of the spoon soon! I plan on starting her on veggies & fruits when she is 5 months old :)