Kaka trying to walk

The next Olympic runner....HA, and her assistant, Maeve Evelyn.

The simple things

Some days I still wonder if I made the right decision to drop down to one day a week at work. This week was a week that made me so happy about my decision. We went to Frying Pan Park to visit the animals. Maeve decided for the first time to name the animals (up until now, whenever we asked "what's your baby's/teddy bear's/doggie's name?", her response was "baby/teddy bear/doggie). Today, all by herself while we were looking at the mama pig, Maeve looks up at me and said, "His name is Feet!" She thought she was hilarious. Then later, while visiting the goats, I asked her, "What's his name?" She responded "White" (even though the goat was all black except for a small patch of white). While this is not quite as creative as her cousin Madelyn's first baby doll's name "Finga", it shows her imagination is continuing to grow. So this is why I celebrate the fact that I can be home day to day to see and enjoy these simple and small changes as she grows up.

Kaleigh's 11 months old

She's actually almost 12 months, which is crazy. She has changed so much the past few months. She is becoming her own person and showing us all the things she knows and understands. She surprises me all the time. Some of her current accomplishments......
-crawling everywhere
-wanting so bad to walk but so far from it. All she wants is for us to hold her hands so she can walk around
-squatting like a sumo wrestler
-cruising along the couch
-signing eat and all done
-saying mama, "o" (for uh oh")
-imitating other words like "done", dada, up
-shakes her head no and yes
-love putting toys in and out
-carry on "conversations" (I am convinced she thinks she is saying really important things)
-eating everything....some of your favorites are broccoli, black beans, mac and cheese, blueberries
-drinking from a sippy cup (that's what you prefer...you are ready to be weaned)
-dancing to any music you hear

Another month of summer gone by

Does anyone else wonder where the days go by? It has been such a busy fun summer. After finishing July with trips to the pool and meeting up with friends, we headed to Wrightsville beach on the first day of August (my birthday, which who wouldn't want a week at the beach with familiy for a present!). Maeve and Kaleigh had so much fun playing in the waves and mastering the pool (Maeve's able to swim on her own with wings and her favorite qoute is "move back boys" to clear the pool so she can jump in). Once home, Lolo and Papa came to visit. It was a busy weekend with trip to Totally Trucks, Frying Pan Park and a early birthday celebration for Kaleigh! (I CANT believe she is almost one!)

Frying Pan Park visit with Papa and Lolo

Lolo and Maeve at Totally Trucks Papa and the girls

The crab feast!

Uncle Dan's awesome sandcastle

Pooltime with the family

Gpa the best beach friend around!

A great week at Wrightsville beach

.)

A month of fun

We have had a busy month with a trip to Canada, a visit from Grandma and a wedding with lots of friends in town. It's been fun creating more memories with friends and family we love.



Kaleigh eating yummies at Lauroil Plaza I'll take a mojito

Let's go for a ride with Brennan and Ryder!

The boys at the wedding!

The beautiful bride and her entourage.

Maeve's favorite summer activity....she now jumps in and has no problem getting her face wet.

Kaleigh loves the water too!

On of our favorite hang outs....Frying Pan Park

Saying hello to the horses

The whole gang in Moosecall Canada

Happy 4th of July...Maeve was a little scared of the sparklers!

Our transportation to Moosecall....the girls loved the airplane ride, Finn....not so much!

Mealtime with the gang....go Oma for cooking!

After a cold bath in the lake

Kaleigh actually liked the cold water!

Hanging out at the boathouse

Maeve's first boat ride....she loved it!

Frying Pan Park

About a week ago, my parents came to visit and we went to a great local park that has a farm on it. Maeve loved seeing all the animals and even got to pet a goat and cow. Afterwards when asked about it, her two comments were "horse.....poop! and "peacock". Isn't it always interesting to know what makes a lasting impression?

Maeveisms

The funny things a toddler can say with all seriousness........

the phrase that made my year today......."mommy you beautiful"

the discipline phrase: "you get a TIME out"...."go on the naughty step", "not listening", "cooperate", "try again", "that's better"......said over and over and over again to her doll (do I really say that all the time????)

"daddy no swiping" (does she like Dora or what!)

"I be soft" (every time she sees the cat and then proceeds to pick Chili up by the neck and carry her around)

"I love mommy, I love daddy, I love Kaleigh, I love _(fill in for anyone else that is present)___, I love maevey!" (a typical statement said around the dinner table)

"I maevey Calkins"

"Stop it" "I don't like it"

"Why did you DO that?" (after daddy took her bunny blanket)

"I NEED my paci"


"daddy juice" (anytime she sees a beer related item)

Now for the mommyisms..... as stated above along with the rest of them, I feel like I say them at least 100 times a day
"be soft, be gentle, play nice, gentle hands, cooperate, try again, It's not ok, sit down, stop screaming, stop whining, say it in your regular voice, I can't understand you with your paci in, You don't need your paci,"

what are some of your favorite phrases?