Wednesday, June 24, 2009

All the Sartin's...under ONE roof!

I have come to realize the importance of family. When you have your own kids you start to really realize how special a family bond is. We traveled north to visit all our Sartin cousins. So, we packed up and loaded up with MeMe and Pops and went for a visit. It was fun, tiring, and very eventful! It is a long trip but my kids did so great. The miles and tiredness were worth it. We are creating these memories for our kids as well as for us. I hope they grow up to be close and can lean on each other. Family is so important!



All of the grandkids...Lander, Henley, Whit, Kennedy and Paisley

KNOXVILLE!! GO VOLS!


Pops and Whit looking at the trains


All the kids...can you tell Whit is never still? Paisley just got finished screaming and then Kennedy started crying because Paisley was sitting on her dress! Oh dear! Poor things...



We visited a Children's Museum. I wish we had things like this here. They have a life size doll house the kids can play in. I think this picture is hillarious because Henley looks like a giant. She was fixing everyone lunch. Whit is helping...can you see him?





Whit..working hard to help in the kitchen!




The doll house



Paisley and Kennedy





Henley and Whit



Just my size cousins...Paisley and Kennedy...I wonder what they are talking about. :)





The "big" kids



We also went to a sprinkler park. K had so much fun!!



Whit..enjoying being dry!

Oh, and did I mention that it only took 7 1/2 hours to get home. ONE STOP!!! Two kids, a MeMe and a Pops and we only stopped once. It was a long stop but how great is that?

UPDATES!! THESE KIDS ARE BUSY!!

We'll start with K: Can we say potty trained? :) Oh, yeah...well, I would not actually say we are at 100%. I would go with more like 87.5% potty trained. One week from starting and she really only has about an accident a day. I won't publicly discuss her problem with the accidents. I am SO proud of my little girl! She even did so good on the road trip. We didn't have one single accident in the car. WOO HOO!!! All I really had to do was actually stick to the training and throw in a little bribery....love it!

Whit: Well let's see. He went for a dr visit before vacation and was 18lbs 12 ounces. I don't know if I documented that already. I also have officially stopped ALL baby food!! YAY!!! I love, love, love that!! He is such a good eater. I started him on meat last week and he is a happy camper. We are transitioning from breastmilk to real food. This is easy so far! He is much happier than Kennedy was to stop a few feedings. So, no more yucky jars of food. I just feed him dinner with us and he loves it! Yay for my grocery bill as well!! :) Stopping nursing is another whole story...this is a fun but sad process for me. I don't even want to think about it. So I'll stop talking about it now.

Way to go my sweet kiddos!

My little fish

I was hoping swimming lessons would teach her to swim. She can semi-swim already I just need her to be safe in the water. It only made her braver. Seriously, now she jumps with a smile to me. Her legs are up in the air, her arms up high, and she flies into the water. I don't have to catch her. She just bounces back up and swims a little to me. We went to MeMa's tonight for a little evening swim. I love to do that in the summer. She jumped and jumped and swam and swam until she couldn't anymore. And that little brother of hers is not so bad himself. He loves the water. He'll even fall into you from the side. My little fish....I love it! Here are some pics of her from swimming lessons last week.
That's her with her head in the water swimming across the deep end!!

Practicing that kick!
So sweet!




Wednesday, June 17, 2009

11 Whole Months!!!

I can't believe he has been around that long! The entire time we were on vacation this year I kept thinking about how pregnant I was last year. Now we have him here, on the outside where I like him, and the Olliff family is forever changed. We didn't know what we were missing. I wish I could put into words how special this little boy is to my family. I'll try, but it won't do it justice. I often think we need to have three children. Greg has a different opinion of that. Then there are times were I think two is just enough. Then there are the times I laugh at myself for even thinking I have any choice in the matter. We are the couple that has the doctor diagnosis of not being able to EVER get pregnant on our own. Those are the moments when I remember I am the proud "owner" of two genuine miracles. I know all children are miracles, but I am thankful for my extra special miracles that were given to me. We walked a long walk for this. I won't ever take my gifts for granted. Not even when I am covered in throw up while riding on I75 through downtown Atlanta. I might not feel as grateful, but I won't take it for granted. So, if God ever does grace us with another miracle, I'll take it. Until then, I am going to enjoy these precious children I was given.

I think Whit knows his place here. He has a job around here and takes it very seriously. He is our happy place. Are you sad? He'll give you the sweetest smile you've ever seen. Are you tired? He'll get you to get up and chase him, and chase him, and chase him. Are you needed someone to snuggle? Oh, he's not your man on that one. This boy only likes to go, go, go!

He likes to be right in the middle of the action. :)

Sometimes he finds himself in a place he is not so approving of. Shortly after this picture she shoved him into the concrete. Lovely.

He might question being a part of this family sometimes. I can see that.

But, in the end I think he enjoys it. His big sister is his world. This morning I put them at the table for the first time. Look at my big boy!!


What a big boy!! He ate and ENTIRE biscuit!!
At 11 months
*You can pull up like crazy!
*You can cruise now! You pull up and that is not enough for you. Now you can make it around the table.
*You can stand for maybe a second by yourself. Today, you stood up all by yourself. I screamed and you fell over. Sorry. I will try to let you accomplish things without interfering next time.
*You love to eat. You are not so interested in nursing anymore and that is harder on me than you. You eat all kinds of foods. I haven't found much you won't eat.
*You love trucks and anything with wheels. Your favorite toy is Kennedy's popper. When Drew gets it out you try your hardest to get it from him.
*You have a total of 3 1/2 teeth. The half is the top left that is taking forever to come in.
* You can say a few words. Bye bye, MaMa, Dog. There are a few more but they can't be determined right now. I'll get back to you on that one.
I want with all my heart to keep you a baby. I know that you are going to turn into a toddler before my eyes all too soon. My mom says you'll always be my baby, so I guess that will have to do. I love you with every ounce of my soul, my precious baby. Don't get mad at me when you are 18 and I am still calling you my baby. I am sorry in advance for that. Love, Mom

Sunday, June 14, 2009

The Beach!!!

Here are some of the MANY pictures!! :) Enjoy!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Beach Vacation 2009: The Preview

The Prosser/Olliff beach vacation is over!! SAD!!! We did have a wonderful time. Made some great memories with our precious babies. It was not quite as easy and relaxing as it used to be but that is how our lives are these days! :) The weather was beautiful the ENTIRE time! Yay!! We came back tan and happy. Gotta love that! Here are a few of my favorites. I took so many it was hard to choose. I am planning on making a slideshow. Kennedy and Drew loved to watch the ones from last year. Enjoy a bit of our vacation...Happy SUMMER!!!

My boys
You have no idea what it took to get her to sit next to him...his face is priceless! I love this!

My Whit

Sweet Girl


Whit and his Daddy


Drew and K...finally BOTH at the beach! I had to get out the camera fast! Soon we hear, "I wanna go to the pool!"



A late afternoon at the beach



The best of friends



Just beautiful


Lorelei and Whit
The next generation of best friends...they are going to LOVE each other!!


I like this one because Greg is so smokin hot in it! :) He..he...


Court, Greg and Whit...K was refusing pictures (no surprise there)





My beautiful family! I am so very, very blessed! I am also so glad Whit was on the outside this year! Yay!!!!



"Let's swim Drew!!! " says K

Her very first REAL pig tails! LOVE IT!



Beach baby



She loved the ocean!!



Ok, that's it for now!! :)