Oh, heavens...one more month until my baby turns 1!

     This has been a busy month- Seth has been out of town a lot and all of the year end and birthday parties have kept us on the go! We went to Spartanburg to celebrate my friend Laura's daughter's (Janie) 3rd birthday. This was a nice get-away, as Seth had been out of town 3 weekends in a row. Janie's party was at a really neat park and pizza restaurant. Mel kept all the kids (after they went to sleep) and Laura and I got a girls' night out that involved dinner and dancing- so fun! Adelyn was a hot mess for several mornings- just crying and whining for no/any reason. It was strange. I have started a "no whining/crying" behavior chart for her and have seen a difference. If she stops the nonsense, she gets a smiley face. Ten smiley faces gets a reward. They keep you on your toes, right? 

     James is still the biggest sweetie. He sleeps well (still two 2-hour naps and sleeps at night from about 7:30 pm-7 am), eats well, and has a happy demeanor. He's really cruising, and now he can walk with the walker (or anything with wheels that he can hold on to). We had a friend over a few weeks back and she called him a 4-wheeler because he will literally find a way to crawl over anything. He can even climb up a slide! He is finally doing the sign for "more" and we're close to doing "all done". But, he still does not really clap! James is starting to like books. He'll sit in my lap, listening and pointing....love it! Poor little guy...still fighting sickness. We're currently on our fourth round of antibiotics for an ear infection and he just had a 24 hour bug (that involved puking once for a sitter and a high fever). He is into EVERYTHING. I am constantly trying to get his hand out of the dog food and toilet. Wait...didn't I just say he keeps getting sick? Hmmmm. I wash his hands frequently, but he is exposed to more than Adelyn was at this age. When there's an older sibling, there's no staying home a lot and I'm sure Adelyn brings home germs. Maybe the summer will help him stay well.


     Adelyn is crazy as ever. She's SO into all the princess stuff. I really want to get her into some athletic activities. If she chooses what to do, it's dress up and pretend play. She likes to play Memory and I really encourage this because my memory is terrible. She has really improved riding her tricycle.

     They both love to play outside. My mom got Adelyn a kitchen to keep in her playhouse. James really enjoys splashing in the water table. They'll play in the backyard forever if you let them!

James's first taste of strawberry

Brody, Adelyn, and James at Warbington Farms

We went again with Seth a few weeks later. These strawberries are amazing!

James at Janie's birthday party

This park was so cool. Here is Adelyn in Noah's Ark with one of Janie's friends

4 Generations

Visiting my grandmother in Hickory (May 5th)

Mother's Day 2012

Open a cabinet and let James play while you cook....he'll be entertained for hours! 

Alex and Adelyn at their Gymnastics Jubilee 

Adelyn on the bars...she usually monkeys her legs up the slide to get her legs up

"Ta Da!!" for the audience

Posing afterwards with her medal

Adelyn's 2 year old preschool year end ceremony

Adelyn and James sat with Grandma while watching Thomas's class perform

End of School party- saying the blessing

Mrs. Cindy gave her a bug collection kit

Adelyn and Mrs. Lisa

James napping during the party

Adelyn's water hopscotch

Having a ball with the water table! He loves to throw the balls out over and over again!

Happy 3rd birthday, Adelyn!

Adelyn's 3rd birthday was May 11th. However, we celebrated her birthday several times over the course of 10 days! Lucky girl!

It started with her school birthday party on May 9th. Since it was the end of the year and a short month, they had to combine hers and another friend's. She was excited to share the day with Creighton- and was even MORE excited to see who all came to her party! They had chips, cupcakes, and juice. 

Adelyn before her school birthday party

James got a little cupcake action

What a treat! Louise came to her party! Louise is the Rotary foreign exchange student from Denmark. We have spent great time with her this year. This was one of her final days in Cumming before returning home. Adelyn loves "Caweeze"!

Grandpa, James, Daddy, Adelyn, and Mommy at the school party

On her actual birthday, she awoke to balloons strung from her bathroom door in her room. She thought that was pretty cool. Then she got blueberry pancakes with a candle and got to open a few gifts before heading to school

Friday, May 11th was Muffins with Mom at school. Can I just say how SWEET this little Mother's day celebration was?? The kids sang a couple songs, Mrs. Cindy read a cute book, and then they gave us their presents. It was a cute bag with Adelyn's footprint on it (decorated like flip flops). Inside was a binder with art work from each month of the school year. Most of the art was made out of their hand or foot print so you can see how they've grown. Maybe it was because it was her 3rd birthday (and that seems to me like the end of the toddler/baby era), but I was holding back the tears. 

After nap, Adelyn got her first manicure and pedicure. She chose red for her fingernails and pink for her toes. All of this was covered in sparkling gold. She sat still for 30 minutes while it dried (AKA...I got my toes done).  She was SO excited!

And then we went to Kani House for hibachi grill dinner with Grandma and the Durands. Fun!

To top off the day, she got to spend the night with Grandma! Perfection in a 3 year old's eyes! The only "bad" thing about her day was Seth was out of town. He had a race in New Jersey. HOWEVER, Seth finished 2nd! Woo hoo!! 

The following weekend, my parents came in town for her birthday party. Friday night, we hung out on the deck and she opened her gifts from them. 

Adelyn and Nana (she's wearing her new leotard from Uncle Joe)

Her birthday party was Saturday (5/19) at Babyland General...where the Cabbage Patch Kids are "born". I have always wanted to go here because I loved CPK when I was little. I think this party was really for me. :)

James and Adelyn on the cabbage couch

Mae with the babies. The leaves moved and lights indicated when a baby is read to be born. 

Hunter, Jackie, and Griffin

Emily brought her CPK from home (see her Visitor tag)

Janie, Adelyn, and Mae on the doll display school bus

Laura and James

We witnessed a baby being born. You really just have to go and see how they do this. Let's just say the staff really gets into their roles. Adelyn got to name this baby- Sarah Adelyn

Heather, Charlie, Mike, and Sophie

Brenda, Martha, Lynn, and Melissa

She originally chose a Star Wars cake, but changed her mind last week to Princess. Seth was highly disappointed. 

Adelyn and Sarah (Have I mentioned she talks about this Sarah character ALL. THE. TIME? Her imaginary friend finally has a face). This was who she brought home. And of course, she had to have another outfit to change her into and it's a princess dress.

Mae and her doll

Aw, that's the CUTEST Cabbage Patch Doll in the store! Oh wait, that's James!

Love this age...they'll do the silliest poses

Emily named the next baby that was born...James Mahlon

Mel took this picture of us...it's a framer for sure

Nana and Grandeddy with the kids

Sweet girls with their new babies