My Sweet Caroline!

Sandwiched between our new baby and my new first grader is our sweet "middle child" Caroline! I feel like there has been alot going on in our house over the last few months, but most of it was not "about" her. I, too, was the middle child growing up, so I can relate to her feelings for sure! I thought I should post a little of what is going on in her life!

*She is one month away from being four and can't wait!

*She is still all about her baby dolls....dressing, feeding, etc.

*She LOVES playing anything that involves her big sister! Sometimes she (and I!) forget that she is not six!

*She knows all of her letters and sounds and has an amazing memory!

*She can write her name and is starting to write many more words.

*She loves dance class....tap, ballet, and tumbling. She is constantly singing and dancing!

*She loves to stay at home....something she did not get from me!

*One of her favorite things to do is go to the park...the girl could swing all day long!

*She is my little cleaner. She can clean her room WAY better than her older sister. She likes things neat and orderly.

*She will not let anyone wear shoes into her room. (and will let you know this if you try!)

*She still sleeps with her "pink silky" blanket that her Memaw made her.

*She is a little hot rod on her bicycle! I really think her training wheels will be coming off at some point over the next year!

*Her favorite game right now is Disney Bingo....which has also taught many lessons on being a good sport. :)

*She operates on the "ask for forgiveness and not permission" policy....something very different from her rule following sister.

*She is very strong willed and has a mind of her own.

*She brings so much joy to our family! She keeps us laughing all the time.

I love you my sweet Caroline!

First day of many firsts...

I just dropped off Savannah at her first day of first grade! This is a new school for her as she went to a small private kindergarten for only three days a week last year....a decision I am so thankful for even more today! She was SO excited this morning! I was just about to go wake her up and she ran into my room fully dressed with eyes not even adjusted to the light yet!

My parents came and got Caroline yesterday afternoon so we could do some special things with Savannah and get ready for the first day. She chose to eat Italian food where she ordered cheese ravioli with no sauce. We then went to her favorite icecream place where there are endless free sprinkles for the kids! After that we took her to her school playground where she explored where she will be for recess. She kept saying, "this is awesome!" We then sat on a park bench and all took turns praying for her school year. I made it through about three words before I started crying. :) After that we came home to get ready for this morning. She wanted the same lunch I packed her last year on the first day, so that is what I did. She had a heart shaped turkey & cheese sandwich with mustard, apple berry fruit salsa (which she helped us make) with cinnamon pita chips, a gogurt, flips crackers and a flavored water pouch. She wanted to make sure she still got her notes on her napkin....put a smile on this mamas face to know that she still wanted that!!

She confidently walked into her classroom all smiles this morning! We are so proud of her and just pray that she has a great year!

Walker is 3 months old!

Time flies when you are having fun....and BOY are we having fun! I can't believe it has been three months since this precious little one was born! We have enjoyed every minute of him. Here are some highlights:

*Watching him interact with his sisters....he ADORES them and always has a big smile while they are talking to him in their little high pitched voices.

*He is rolling over on his sides, but has not made it all the way from his back to front just yet.

*While on his tummy this week he did roll onto his back....although it was not intentional

*Walker is getting so much stronger everyday! He manages to scoot across his play mat like a little inch worm.

*He is cooing, "singing", and starting to laugh some.

*He still loves his swing, bouncy seat, and play mat the best.

*He is still nursing every 2 and a half to 3 hours during the day if he is awake. He usually naps several times a day with one long 3 to 4 hour nap if we are home. He sleeps about twelve hours at night.

*He still loves to be swaddled to go to bed, but gets his arms out during the night and sucks on his hand.

*His Dr. said that the right side of his head is becoming flattened and we need to work on getting him to sleep more on the left. This has proven to be a challenge!

* His eyes are still blue, but we are starting to see some streaks of a darker color near the centers. My guess is still that they will turn brown like Caroline's.

*His sweet little hair is still a strawberry blond color! Some days it looks very red and others it looks more brown. We will see!

*right now we think he looks like Caroline in the eyes and has Savannah's mouth and chin. He definitly has his own little look!

*Everyone told me to wait and see how much a little boy can tug on a mommy's heart.....I get it now! I love this sweet little boy!

Way to GO!

Savannah has been asking us to take her training wheels off of her bike for some time now. We were just not sure she was really ready (or steady enough!) to balance all on her own. She convinced us it was time, so off the training wheels came! Brandon held on to the back of her seat for a few runs and then she was off! We were amazed at how quickly she just got it. She had her mind made up and she did it! This is one of "those" moments that makes us realize how quickly she is growing up! We are so proud of our sweet girl!

Here is video of the second time Brandon let go....she even had our neighbors cheering!

It's a.....

BOY!!!! Yes, we are still in shock!

We were thrilled to have a sonogram today and find out that this precious little one is indeed a little boy! We realize there will need to be a few additions to our toy and clothing choices around here and we will soon start working on that. :) I don't think we even own a gown without something pink on it! Most importantly, baby boy looked healthy and active. We could not have asked for a better Christmas gift for our family! Thank you all for being such wonderful friends and family and celebrating this great news with us. We are truly blessed!

Now for the blog dilemma. Obviously "The Princess Diaries" will no longer be an appropriate blog name. I would love some ideas on a new one. It does not have to keep the "Princess" in the title. I have been wanting to do one of those fun blog makeovers, and now is the perfect time! So, if you have any ideas please let me know!

Our October

I am so behind on posts, but thought I would share what has been going on with us.

We have had a fun early fall filled with all kinds of activities. We had a fun time at a pumpkin farm with all of the young families at our church. We enjoyed a hayride, corn maze, and feeding the animals.

Last Sunday night we hosted our small group from church (over 50 people) for a fun halloween party complete with pizza, yummy desserts, bounce house, apple bobbing, candy walk and pinata! It was a blast and the weather was perfect. All the kids wore their costumes and it was so cute to see them running around dressed up.

Both girls had fun festivities at school. Caroline got to dress up in costume and they had a class party at the end of the day. Savannah's school did not allow costumes, but they had a fun fall festival that I was able to go and help with. It started with a chick-fil-a lunch which Savannah was so excited for me to come and eat with her. They then went outside for cookie decorating, a pumpkin craft, necklace making, and a donut bob (donuts tied to string and hanging from a pole). They had alot of fun! I forgot my camera that day, so I don't have any pictures.

Our Halloween night started with a yummy pumpkin shaped pizza that is always a huge hit! We then hit the neighborhood for some fun trick or treating! This was so much fun and the girls were really into it! We then loaded up and went trick or treating to some of our family. It was a fun night! The girls were most thrilled about their costume #2.....Fancy Nancy. They both wanted to be this in the first place, but I did not have time to get this together before the small group party. So, I told them they could dress up as Fancy Nancy for trick or treating. If you don't know who Fancy Nancy is, she is a character out of a story book series about a little girl whose life revolves around dressing up, using fancy words, and getting into mischief. This is a favorite in our house! Anyways, here are our two Fancy Nancy's!

Last, but certainly not least, WE ARE EXPECTING LITTLE PUMPKIN #3 at the end of May! The girls are SO excited! They both think it is another girl, but we will have to wait and see. I have not felt the best....ok that is an understatement, but am slowly coming out of it for a portion of the day long enough to join life again. We are all thrilled and can't wait to see what this little baby is going to be! Please pray for a healthy pregnancy and baby!

I hope everyone is having a happy fall!

School Days

We are in full swing with school around here! Savannah started Kindergarten a few weeks ago and Caroline just started preschool! We have been so blessed with great teachers for both girls.



Savannah is LOVING Kindergarten! She is making some sweet new friends and having alot of fun. I am amazed at how much she is already learning! She goes to school 3 full days a week, so we still get to have her at home two days unless she has a field trip. She has had two field trips already this year. There is a little girl in her class whose dad is in Iraq. They all went to Build a Bear and made him a cat wearing camo attire. They mailed it to him and will correspond via email to keep up with what he is doing. He will also send pictures of him and the cat at various places. I thought it was such a cute idea! On Friday they went to an apple orchard where they got to hear all about different insects, how to pick cotton and make thread, how apples grow, how to pick apples, wash apples and how to make apple juice. Of course, the trip ended with everyone eating cold apples with a little honey from the local hives. It was a great presentation and the kids had a BLAST! We all went to a park for a picnic afterwards. These are some highlights of Savannah's favorites so far in Kindergarten.



*The Treasure Hunt the first week of school


*Making homemade playdough and then making their name with it


*Creative Movement (kind of like an active music class)...especially "going on a bear hunt".


*Art Center - where she has LOVED making her own books.


*Drinking out of the water fountain (which her teacher asked me if it was ok b/c Savannah told her I don't let her....which is true!:)


*Recess....of course!





Caroline has started preschool like a champ! Her teacher told me after the first week of school that she is so big and such a good helper. Right now she just calls them both my thier last name, so we are working on adding the Mrs. :) She loves it and tells me every detail of her day. She is obsessed with her lunchbox and eating lunch at school. I think she thinks she is SO big. They already had grandparents day at school which she also loved having Mimi come and visit. Here are some of Caroline's favorite things so far about school.


*her lunchbox

*singing the R-E-D song

*painting her apples and bumblebees

*new friends....one who we cannot figure out who it is yet because she calls them "carrot".

We are so proud of both of these girls and so thankful they are loving school!