I (Heart) Summer

In the middle of the big activities I've blogged about this summer, there have been lots of nice little moments. These are what I enjoy the most. The pace of summer is so nice...a break from everyone's activities and lots of family time at home. Although it is just about time to go back to school, there is still quite a bit of summer left to enjoy. It will just be at a different pace.

Emma Katherine is cruising around everything. She will outstretch her arms as much as possible to maneuver between furniture.Caleb loves his sunglasses and wears them on his head like Daddy.

He really does try to help take care of Emma like feeding her puffs. He is fond of them too and can often be found quiet in his bed enjoying a can himself.

His expressions are like a box of chocolates...you never know which sweet one you're going to get!

Here is a fun one from a fun Saturday with Daddy to watch Imagination Movers at the WAC.We are starting to see a little more hair on top of her sweet head. Many have commented on the strawberry tint. If anything like Caleb at this age, it will be a while until much hair is there to really tell.Emma Katherine uses her index finger to point or just put in her mouth.

Emma Katherine at 13 months

 Emma Katherine is such a hoot! She has got so much personality she doesn't know what to do with it all. This little girl stops traffic one way or another. If you don't notice her staring you down or grinning ear to ear, she'll squeal at an unmistakable decibel level. Here she is Sunday morning before church.The hat didn't last long and neither did the matching shoes, but too cute as usual.

 She pulls up and walks around everything but still not ready to walk on her own. Or maybe she has no need to walk away from the center of attention. She will stand and dance, clap her hands and give you her best bright-eyed 'Ooooooo!' This socialite says Mama, Da-DEEE, Bye Bye and Hi drawn out in her best southern style. For some extra cuteness points, she'll repeat a precious 'love you' to go along with a big open-mouthed kiss. She has really discovered food and will self-feed herself just about anything now.We made a breakthrough in sleeping this past week. After a routine of waking up twice in the night, we let her fuss for about an hour in her second attempt. Not only did she go back to sleep but has ever since. She will wake around midnight but not again until around 6 am. I sure am thankful as it is just in time to get myself back into a good sleep routine for school.

 At her doctor's appointment, she weighed 17 lbs 12.5oz (3rd percentile), measured 28.35 inches (10th percentile) and head was 17.72 in circumference. She's a dainty little thing but comparable to Caleb's growth at this age.

 We enjoyed a swing Sunday afternoon before heading to church for an ice cream social. Match on purpose? What do you think? Of course!

 These two can be so sweet to one anther. I love watching them grow each and every day.

Special Visitors

 Gigi and Dottee picked up Gracie in Cabot and spent the evening with us. It sure was fun to have everyone here.

 Dottee read a new train book to Caleb and helped me put new surprises around the house while Matt grilled salmon for a wonderful dinner.

Projects

After returning home from the beach and realizing the summer was on the brink of coming to an end, I started checking off a few projects I've been wanting to do.

My first project was giving our swing a facelift. It was in dyer need of new cushions and if you've checked the prices, you know that you might as well buy a whole new swing. I think I bought this swing a few more years of life!

The poor swing started like this. Even turning the cushions over wasn't cutting it anymore.For the seats I used a fabric shower curtain and table cloth for the pillows both from Target. A plus is that there is already a hem so if you fold the fabric like a present just right the hem is what shows. Yes, I hand stitched. Remember my patience is for children not inanimate objects like sewing machines.

 My favorite projects were souvenir picture frames. I used the shells we gathered on the beach to cover a picture frame that looked so cute that I ended up doing another. Now I just need to add my favorite beach picture so it won't just my Facebook profile pic but proudly displayed to see and remember our trip. I started with a wooden 4x6 frame and sanded with a nail file. Yes, my husband has sand paper but I was too anxious to get this project started to wait. I did this while boiling and bleaching the shells. I sparingly smeared a little cream paint for a little more distressed look. I started with the largest shell in the middle and then the four corners. On the second frame I completely covered in white shells not showing any of the frame. A couple hot glue burns but well worth it!

I saw a super cute picture frame with fabric and cork used as a jewelry organizer so the bulletin boards that once hung in the office at our old house got a new purpose. I had already added the ribbon with coins we've collected from our travels. Since they are hanging on my closet wall, I couldn't justify buying a picture frame, cork, and fabric but clear thumb tacks were enough to get my tangled mess looking good. Colossians 3:14 is typed and at the top to remind me what to put on above all...love.

Here are my new shutters that I found looking like the picture below. I added cream paint and a thin glaze of the wall color to antique them.

Matthew's Birthday

Matt, Kathryn and Abby joined us for Matthew's birthday. We enjoyed a Mexican dinner complete with cake and sombrero.

Swim Ranch

The Friday we left for the beach was actually our last day of swimming lessons. This was Caleb's third year. I am so impressed how much he has improved and how much difference a week can make. His good friend Kaylee Beth was there to enjoy the fun too.

This year his buoy was deflated to force him to do more of the work. In addition to correctly getting in and out of the water, he swam some on his own and did the kick board really well. He jumped off the side going under and floated on his back perfectly...for the teacher and not his mother. They were both quite proud of the diplomas they got at the end of the week. I'm glad we got a picture of them because they were well 'loved' in all of the excitement.We took turns swimming with Caleb throughout the week.Until next year, I'll keep swimming!