Fall Festivities

I love when fall finally comes to Savannah and I get to wear pants again. I usually stop wearing pants late March, early April and don't wear them again until October. It's fun to pull out the "cooler weather wardrobe". Though it was 80' one day last week and Wednesday's high is 77'.

We've sung many rounds of Autumn Day as I taught it to the primary children and even brought "apples red, and apples yellow" for them. I love hearing the pop and crunch of acorns under my feet. Azure grabs handfuls every time we are outside. I will miss Savannah and all the oaks, the Spanish moss, the acorns, and the chirping squirrels. Yes, they chirp.

We went to a family owned farm where they had hayrides, pig races, a corn maze, a petting zoo, duck races, a cow train and bouncy houses. We went with Azure's 2 best friends and she loved every second of it.

BFFs on the hayride- Azure, (Isa)Bella, and Tyla

Do you see her absolute joy?

Look at his cute little tongue! He loves playing with my hair.

My fave shot of the day- Daddy and Vince in the corn maze.

Our ward also had it's annual Low Country Boil which sadly wasn't as good as the year before or even the year before that. But, always still a good time to hang out with friends when free food is involved.

Breakfast

I found a recipe for oatmeal pancakes. I like the simplicity of making a large mix and having it on hand.

Since Vince has pretty much outgrown eating in the Bumbo seat, he's taken over "Azure's chair". So, that means Azure now sits in a regular chair at the table. She is growing up!

9 months in, 9 months out

Though technically with Vince being 10 days "late" maybe he has been in longer than he's been out...

• My boy is growing like a weed. About a month ago I put a 9 mo outfit on him and it was a little tight. A week later I put it on and it fit fine. So, I wondered if he was finally reaching a plateau. Yesterday he had his 9 mo checkup and he is only 18 lbs 12 oz so I guess it's true. He's growing longer and proportioning out a bit. He's gained about a pound in 2 months.The little chunk just awaking from a cat nap
  
• Still only has 2 teeth

• LOVES taking baths with Azure! He splashes with his wide eyes and flailing arms. Azure did the same thing when she got excited so that is just what I'm used to. A few weeks ago a friend of mine laughed out loud when she saw Vince do this face when I pulled out his puffs to eat. She said she never saw a baby got so excited like that. I love my expressive children :)
  
  Look at his little teeth!
  

• We've started teaching him signs and he just laughs and laughs. Apparently I look pretty ridiculous when I teach signs.

• He rolls and squirms and grunts and whines when I lay him on the changing table for diaper changes. Sheesh! It's such an ordeal lately. I usually enlist Azure's help to keep him from rolling all around. She's such a great helper.

• He's getting a little more temperamental and fussy in general (I think b/c he still hasn't figured out how to crawl yet). I think his easy baby stage may be drawing to a close. Heaven help me!

• His sleep schedule has been a little out of whack for the past 4 wks now. It started when we had to wake him up at 6am to drop Charles off in Baxley. Ever since then he thinks he has to wake up early *sigh*. He usually falls asleep around 7pm and wakes up between 6:30-7am. I know, 12 hrs straight is still great. I just REALLY liked 13 hrs better.

He still smells like a baby to me and I can't help but inhale him and kiss his little head repeatedly multiple times a day. I'm somewhat glad that he isn't crawling yet as it prolongs his babyness a little more. We love our little "Vincey boy" (Azure's nickname for him). I've already forgotten what it was like to be a mother of just one.

The Haps around here

Charles is currently doing his 2nd rotation in Baxley, GA which is 2 hrs away. Instead of a daily 4 hr commute for him, I've been dropping him off on Monday mornings and picking him up Thursday afternoons. His preceptor and his wife have so graciously taken him into their home and have fed him some amazing southern eats. And he's given him Fridays off.

We're glad we get him for a 3 day weekend, but it has been somewhat of an adjustment not having him here Mon-Wed. I have nothing to complain about compared to military wives. Since there is a base here in Savannah, we have many friends who are in the military and I don't know how they do it when their husbands deploy.

The first week Daddy was gone Azure and I made Halloween sugar cookies. (Thanks Grandma Jo for the cookie cutters.) It was quite the ordeal making these cookies. Even though they were yummy I think we'll only be making sugar cookies 1-2x a year for my own sanity :) I really need to work on having patience in the kitchen with children who want to "help". Hopefully by the time I'm a grandmother I will be more patient and willing to always bake cookies with my grandchildren.

We definitely had fun licking the beaters together though. I can NOT look at these pictures without laughing hysterically. She is so funny!



I love these pics of Azure feeding Vince. She is so pleased with herself :)

Holy Mangoes!

Our ward had our Primary Presentation on Sun. Oct. 24. All in all it was a wonderful experience. As soon as the kids got up on the stage, tears filled my eyes. Didn't help that the Primary President who is also a crier started off the program, choking back tears. The children were reverent and sang beautifully. They did sing very quiet, but, the spirit was strong nonetheless.

Azure sang in the program even though she is still in the nursery. We planned for all the kids moving up to Primary to sing in it too. Azure and one of her best friends, Bella were the only ones from nursery that sang. Azure knew all the words to almost every song since she had been practicing with me at home and in the car. She even did crescendos! One of our friends said she was the star performer since she was being so dramatic. I love that she is so expressive. I am so proud of her! Here are my 2 cuties after church:

He looks like such a little man in his plaid button up shirt!
Big Sister, Little Brother matching shirts

As our time is drawing to a close here in Savannah, we've been having dinners with people we've always wanted to but, haven't had a chance to until now. I love having dinner with friends. But, I admit that when I am the hostess I get incredibly stressed out about it. Another thing to work on: savoring the moments of dinner/party prep.

I am a mother who knows...

One of my goals in life is to be articulate in what I feel passionate about. That has been difficult for me but, the Lord has helped me little by little.

Oftentimes we need to be bold. Bold but, not overbearing. Showing compassion for the sinner (me & you), but never being apologetic for the doctrine of Christ. I have learned a lot over the last few wks and am grateful for opportunities to grow.

I mentioned Sis. Beck's talk in the previous post. I haven't read it since she gave it back in 2007. It is phenomenal. Go back and read it and rekindle your motivation to be a mother who knows!

When you are bold oftentimes you will offend someone. I am learning how to deal with this.

Mothers who know...

• Mothers Who Know Bear Children

• Mothers Who Know Honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants

• Mothers Who Know Are Nurturers

• Mothers Who Know Are Leaders

• Mothers Who Know Are Teachers

• Mothers Who Know Do Less

• Mothers Who Know Stand Strong and Immovable

"Who will prepare this righteous generation of sons and daughters? Latter-day Saint women will do this—women who know and love the Lord and bear testimony of Him, women who are strong and immovable and who do not give up during difficult and discouraging times. We are led by an inspired prophet of God who has called upon the women of the Church to "stand strong and immovable for that which is correct and proper under the plan of the Lord."⁶ He has asked us to "begin in [our] own homes"⁷ to teach children the ways of truth." Julie B. Beck

Soccer girl

Pep talk from Daddy :)

We won a free 6 wk soccer session for Azure. She loves it! She talks about playing "soccer ball" and her coach, Coach Matt all the time.

She learned how to play Duck, Duck, Goose and insists on playing it with me. Kind of a hard game to play with 2 people :)
They also play red light, green light and now Azure pushes Vince in his activity center for green light and abruptly stops him for red light. Sometimes he keeps going and she says somewhat annoyed, "Vince I said red light!" Ha!



I really like sports. Charles and I always joke around that I have so much passion and intensity yet, no skill :) Seriously, I was not blessed to be a skilled athlete but, I really enjoy sports so I hope that our children can learn some skills and feel confident and won't be picked last for teams.

Having said that though, we don't want to over schedule our family. It's easy to say that now while our kids are young. Things tend to be so easy in theory, yet quite difficult in practice. But, it remains a goal nonetheless. At this point we're not sure exactly what we'll do or won't do. But, we do know that we want to limit the number of activities that constantly keep us away from home and away from each other as a family.

Sis. Beck, the Relief Society General President said in a talk entitled Mothers Who Know:

"Mothers who know do less...They allow...less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home."

I read this post last month and it blew my mind! So inspiring. This is what we envision for our family. Though, I don't think we'll go about it in the exact same way. I just love this philosophy:

"We want to make family life interesting enough that nobody feels compelled to look elsewhere for a good time."

Isn't that key to raising the rising generation? As parents it will take all of our efforts. But, the reward is one of joy for eternity.

8 months

Today Vince is 8 months and 1 week.


Around 7.5 months he conquered the art of sitting on his own without face planting and/or constantly leaning on his hands.

You talkin' to me?

This is as close as he's getting to crawling. It's just too hard to move when you're carrying this much weight around :)

First bath together

He and Azure entertain each other. It is so nice. And so endearing to watch. They love each other greatly. I hope this stage lasts a long time. Once he can walk and take her toys from her, the amicable relationship may wane a bit.

This is Azure pretending that she's a "tiny baby", laying on her back and kicking her legs. She does an amazing job impersonating Vince!
About a month ago he started eating yogurt and meat. He loves it all! There is no food that he dislikes.

Last Sunday (the exact day he turned 8 months and exactly 1 week after getting his first tooth) his 2nd tooth poked through, the bottom left.

His motor skills have improved over the last month and he's able to feed himself somewhat.
But, here's proof that there is further improvement in the motor skills department :)
2 wks ago we decided to put the swing and playgym away because he was outgrowing them. My eyes filled with tears b/c we won't see them again until baby #3 comes. I am so my mother's daughter and cry at just about anything :)

He loves his jumper, which makes me happy b/c Azure did not.

Look at those chunky legs and his cute tongue sticking out. I am smitten!

I have a deep abiding love for this child. I hope he'll always love his mama and when he's grown up and has a family of his own, I hope he'll call me often and give me hugs. What a journey it will be raising this boy. Lovin' it right now.