"You Can't Stop the Motion of the Ocean"

AHHHH!! Brian and I had a few nights away...just the two of us...on a boat...on the Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas ship...which sailed us to...the Bahamas...but we didn't care because we were...together...alone...for the first time since becoming parents.  It was alright. ;) ;)

My parents told us in November that they would like to make a trip late Jan/early Feb.  Once they settled on the dates we approached them and essentially said, "hey...so glad you're coming...we'd love to stay...but...we gots to go!" ;)  They graciously agreed and said it would be fun to stay with the kids for 72 hours while we were off pretending to be in our twenties again (oh wait...we still are).  I have been pregnant or nursing for nearly 4 years so really this was our first opportunity to get away and actually be a part from our kids for a night.  This was my first time ever away from Carly...except to have Luke.  I sort of started to get emotional when we jumped in the car but I was overcome with excitement as we approached Port Canaveral just an hour later.

The trip went so smoothly...traveling with Brian is always, always easy and very organized!  He rarely gets stressed out.  We boarded after not waiting in line for our shuttle, to get our pass ports approved or to go through the luggage check (so easy!) and got right to eating.  We counted 13 meals & snacks in 3 days. HA!  So much for all that weight loss. ;)  I managed to only gain 3 pounds in 3 days. ;)

The weekend included us spending every minute by each other's side (except that one time when Brian went up to get us coffee and cookies at 10pm), enjoying activities that we don't get to enjoy with kiddos at our feet or in our arms.  Those activities included:

• Rock climbing

• Eating a meal and staying seated the entire time

• Sleeping through the night
• A morning run around the ship while watching the sunrise

• Lifting weights together & at the same time
• Sun bathing

• Jump Trampoline 

• Walking around the Bahamas

• Going to shows & comedians

• Having coffee in bed...or any time we wanted to stop and have a drink
• Holding hands
• Sitting in the piano bar
• Going to an art auction 
• The hot tub

• Late night strolls around the boat

• Taking naps (we took 2 naps one day....)
• Playing many games of Shuffle Board
• Playing a few games of Ping Pong 
• Wearing nice clothes

• Sitting when we felt like it

• Closing our eyes when we wanted to because no one was going to run away
• Having conversations

It was awesome. Three days was perfect!  I was a little bit nervous after such a vacation that I wouldn't want to return to being Mom; but turns out I missed my littles just a bit and was really ready for some Carly & Luke snuggles.  We arrived home to two very excited-to-see-us children who had clearly been well cared for.  Thanks M&D for giving Brian & I the opportunity to have some time as a couple!! So...can we book you for next year...same time, same place? ;)

"In The Big Blue World"

It was so fun to {have my parents and husband home all day while I ran around like a mad woman in order to} throw Carly & Luke a joint birthday party this year!  I chose an Under the Sea theme because they both really love fish! Carly's favorite Disney ride is Finding Nemo and both kids always find value in seeing the aquarium in EPCOT.

I had this plan to make a super cute birthday banner with their names...but they got this instead...

And at first I thought I should do soup because it's winter and soup kind of goes with the theme...you know...like a seafood stew (lol)....but since we live in Florida we decided we should just grill. ;) ;) ;p  So the menu included: burgers, hot dogs, chips, goldfish, carrots, grapes, blue punch, Swedish fish & marble cupcakes.  It turned out pretty nice.

I also had this great cake idea and was going to spend hours laboring over a cake that would get smashed...but my hours for the day ran out and they got these instead. ;) I was actually still piping frosting when the party began to arrive.

The house was sheer madness...it was so great! I could see that Carly was so happy...and it made throwing her a birthday party totally worth it. I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of the bounce house! They enjoyed the jungle gym, too. ;)

Luke's special Whale outift

Carly with punch on her lips

The littles of the party

Can you believe I got all the kids to sit and pose for a photo? I told them afterwards it would be time for cake ;)

Luke hated his smash cake...again...

And Carly loved hers. ;)

It was too chaotic to do a an organized present opening event...but there were some who enjoyed watching.  Carly was SO happy with her presents.  I think on two occasions she hugged them. ;)

I have two favorite moments from the day: the first was when Carly woke up from her nap.  I had put up the decor while she was sleeping and when she saw it she said: "Oh mama! Ganks you! Ganks you for putting those up!"  The second was how much she loved handing out the party favors.  She was an excellent little hostess! :)

A special thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate our little fishies and to my parents for serving our family all week long.  We are so grateful!

"The King I See Inside" {Luke 1 Year}

We are so excited to celebrate Luke turning ONE! He is now officially a toddler who possesses so many of the traits that come along with that special title.  As I think about how to encompass who he is at 12 months old, the first thing that comes to mind is the challenge we have before us in shaping this little lad's world view; and shepherding his sweet heart.  He's sweet and loyal and naughty and funny and seeks thrill.  He's strong willed and demands his wants be met with all of his heart.  He has a determined little heart and loves his mama more than anything else in the world.  He has the best sense of humor I've ever met in a little one and I'm certain he will be the charmer of the party for most of his life.  He's so stinkin' stubborn (I thought Carly was bad until I met Luke!) and not at all sensitive.  We love Luke.  I cant think of a more perfect addition to our family and a more compatible brother for Carly.

What else can I say...

• He demands to be in my arms any time I am in sight and refuses to be held by anyone else!  He follows me around the house crying most of the time until I pick him up and let him hang out on my hip while I do whatever chore I am attempting.  I am ready, and I mean ready, for him to begin walking.  He's so close.  Loves to stand all day long but doesn't want to take a step.  Listen folks; Luke is like his Bapa: he is going to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it and not a minute before.
• He is so snuggly...so so snuggly!  Truthfully his sweet snuggles makes up for the annoyance of him crying at my ankles all day.  Some mornings he will lay in bed with me for an hour dozing in and out.  He loves hugs and kisses and tight squeezes and loves them most from me. :)
• He will put up with any physical touch from Carly except when she tackles him and lays on top of him for too long.  Her picking him up by the neck doesn't phase him at all. ;)
• He loves all things dangerous--all things.
• He is still really into balls
• He adores being outside and seeks to find water! This summer at the pool will be fun...and dangerous/stressful.
• Enjoys a nice ride in the car or the stroller
• Is so stubborn about getting is diaper changed.  It's SO hard to change him.
• Can't sit still through a book
• Enjoys taking things off a of shelves, out of drawers and cupboards and opening and closing doors.
• LOVES playing the piano
• Claps his hands like its nobody's business
• Has the cutest nose crinkle!
• Can go up and down the stairs in a hurry and has NEVER wiped out.
• Finds the washer machine fascinating 
• Loves toys that light up
• Can stand up and reach the handle on the back door...if we leave it unlocked its SEE YA LATER!
• Enjoys climbing up slides
• Is a social butterfly and is so so happy when friends are around.

Favorites:
Food: Milk. He will drink a bottle of milk over food at any time.  He does really seem to be into black beans & broccoli right now as well. He also prefers beef over any other meat.
Activity: It's a tie between digging in dirt and taking a bath
Toy: Whatever Carly is playing with or whatever he has been told he cannot play with
Friend: Kwannet.  He loves Kwannet & her daughter Sinclair.  They are the only people he will go to when I am around.
Words: Ut Oh & Dada

Luke is a champ at falling asleep but still struggles with staying asleep a few times/week.  He began consistently sleeping through the night (like 4 out of 7 nights a week) at 11 1/2 months (right when we finished weaning) and his parents feel much more rested because of it!  He takes two naps usually totaling 3 hours but it's always a bit uncertain what the duration of the individual naps will be.

He weighs 23 pounds (50 percentile) and is 31 inches tall (75 percentile) and wears 18 months clothing in most cases.

I called my Mom the other day to tell her about an experience I had with Luke this week.  Every time we go into the back yard he goes straight for the concrete stairs that lead up to the apartment; throwing his head over the shoulder with that smirk on his face.  I think last week he was put in time out three times in a row before choosing to make a good decision.  The point of the story is: I came into the house to prepare lunch and allowed the kids to stay outside.  I saw him head over to the steps and stood watching to see what he would do.  He did not know I could see him and when he arrived at the stairs he looked up at them and...crawled away! He didn't care to climb them because the joke wasn't fun without the enforcer standing by!  This is the epitome of Luke right now.  He desires all things dangerous and off limits and finds it thrilling to disobey.  Brian and I were talking that we need some parenting courses for this kid because we know he's the type that's going to end up spending most of elementary school in the principals office!! Boy, oh, boy! ;)

Happy Birthday to our Big Boy!  We are so grateful God chose US as your parents and we are so thrilled to walk through life with you! Praying a blessing of safety & health as you head into your second year of life and seeking the Lord's guidance in shepherding your little heart & mind.