My mom, sister, niece, Aunt, Claire and I went to Pensacola beach for a long Mother's Day weekend. The weather and water were perfect (a little cool at times). It was the perfect little get away.
Mom and I rode together. We split the trip down with a night in Jackson. Claire did so well in the car! We flipped her car seat around so that she could watch movies. I brought toys and snacks and we hung out in the backseat. We stopped when we could for her to get out and stretch her legs for a few minutes. We found a McDonald's with an outdoor patio that was perfect for us! She's not a car napper, but 30 minute naps seemed to be sufficient since she wasn't exhausting herself with playing all day. She was wired and crazy in the hotel at Jackson. She didn't want to fall asleep, but ended up going down around 10 and was up at 6:30.
Once we got to the beach on Friday, we unloaded and dressed to go out to the beach for the afternoon. When she first saw the water, she hesitantly walked down to it and said "whoa" the whole time. She was perfectly content sitting on my lap and watching the water. Annie and Michele got there later in the evening to play for a while and then Aunt Mary got there in time for us to enjoy a dinner at Red Fish, Blue Fish. Claire didn't want to sit in the high chair and was crazy at dinner (she was very tired and we were approaching bed time), but we all enjoyed a delicious seafood meal and then headed home for bed.
Saturday was perfect. We all slept well and got up to enjoy a delicious breakfast together. Without rushing, we put on swimsuits and sunscreen and loaded up the beach gear in the wagon. We were on the beach by 9:30 with very few other people. The highs were in the high 70's with a little breeze and calm, clear water. Perfection!
For Claire we brought: beach blanket, small umbrella, sand toys, personal toys, snacks and water. She wore swimsuit, cover up, sun hat, crocs, and sunglasses. She really didn't like the sand to be on her, so she was content staying on the blanket, a chair or a raft. I joked that we could leave her on the blanket, run up to the condo, and she would stay right on that blanket. She loved walking out into the water (carried) even though it was COLD! Claire and Annie played together so well and I got some good time with the women in the fam! The two baby girls and I went in for lunch and nap time for Claire. Michele came in to make lunch for her, mom and aunt Mary to enjoy on the beach. We joined them after a great 2 hour nap by Claire. We joined them back on the beach and stayed out until time to get ready for dinner!
We got dressed and ready for Peg Leg Pete's. We took some mother/daughter pics during our 2 hour wait! This night was a rough because dinner went way past bedtime and Claire was acting up and Annie was so tired. Annie slept with Michele this night, and for good reason because Claire was up a lot crying and coughing and ended up sleeping with me.
Sunday morning, Michele and Annie had to go home. The day on the beach was practically the same as Saturday, just missing Annie and aunt Chele. I went in at lunch to feed Claire and lay her down, and my mom let me go out and enjoy beach time without her while she stayed in during Naptime!!! I napped. Best gift. Again, we stayed out until dinner. We stayed in the condo to eat up extra food so that we had less to take home. We began to pack up. Claire had another coughing fit, but after some Zarbees, she slept well.
We left by 8:30 on Monday morning after one more walk out on the beach. To say that Claire dos well would be an understatement. I don't think she cried once. There was a little whining, but nothing bad. She watched Sesame Street and Mickey. We had toys and snacks. We still stopped every so often to walk around and eat. She messed her diaper 3 times that we had to make special stops for. One place that was great to walk around was the visitors center in Lake Village! So nice and perfect for a busy toddler to roam. We beat all nasty weather and missed any heavy traffic. It was a smooth 12 hour ride. We made it to Russellville around 9. We left to come back the next morning and again, she was great!
I think the greatest thing we ever did was flip that car seat around!!!! (All the praise hands!) I was so proud of how much Claire enjoyed this trip!
• 25 pounds
• size 4 diaper and 5 shoe
• size 2t shirts and dresses, 18m pants
• 12 teeth
• bedtime is 7:30/8 and she's up by 7:30, Naptime is 12:30
- She loves: talking, eating (broccoli and pancakes are current favorites, chips, fruit snacks and pouches, sweets, popcorn, breakfast foods and fruit), her baby, all her bedtime friends (puppy, piggy, pillow and blankie), Sesame Street, books, bubbles, being rough and tough (she falls a lot), tickling and kissing
This phase of life is so fun, but so difficult. She's testing every limit she has. She's getting frustrated with us because we can't always understand what she's saying. We will make it through!
- Said baby, trash ("jush"), shh, "dere (there's) papa", my mama, no, bubba (for Brody), ready-set, ball, mini, weee, she actually says "bye" instead of "Dye", Harlow, night night, Weebles, owl, "wa-wa" for water, oh wow, shoes, Minnie, "ah-ah" is monkey, "tippy tippy" is tickle tickle, chip, holds her hands up like a bible and says "bible" when she want to sing Jesus loves me, "dove" is nose, "ease" for ears, and "ice" for eyes, Says "memememe" for "hold me", bow, "wowie" is flower, "dedede" is Sesame Street (she got the 3 syllables), whoa (while putting her hands out), car, bowl, Annie, "urr" for bird, bean, "pee" is please, cracker, "owwy" after someone sneezes or coughs, Lolly (she's experimenting with the L sound), she says "nonnie" all the time and I have no idea what it means, Amen, "dee" is again, "doddie, doddie" is ring around the Rosie, "wawa" while doing the hand motions is wheels on the bus, "side" for outside
Some 2 word phrases: "my daddy", "papa (or whoever) bye bye", "Sesame Street bubbles", "up/down please", "mama snack", "daddy swing"
- starting to pretend play by herself.
- following more simple commands like: push the button, wipe your belly, bring me "muddypaws" or "chick n' pug", pick the mess up
- Learned to push herself forward with her feet on riding toys.
- Went to Bogg Springs with the whole Curtis fam for Easter and had the best time playing. The Mark Goodsons even stopped by to visit on their way back from camping.
- We went to Russellville to visit Simpson's farm. At first, she was scared of the animals (especially the chickens and goats), but she quickly warmed up and had a great time! She collected a fresh egg, chased the animals, pet the animals, threw food at the chickens and goats and palm fed a mini donkey!
- She stayed at Meme and Poppi's house for a few days.
- I wish I could freeze time with her right now. Her curiosity is contagious. I don't really know how to explain it. She thinks she has really conversations with us (we don't really know what's being said), but she also listens very intently. She is very proud of the words she does know and the things she can do. (17 months)
- New favorite things she does: says "byyyyyyeee" while waving her hand, "no" means yes, and she's now a hugger.
- She has to grab something from her crib or room before we leave the room after she wakes up. It's usually piggy and puppy, but sometimes a book.
- The McClains came for a weekend and she loved playing with Perri and Zoey!
- She's starting to love babies and baby dolls. Especially "shh"-ing them and trying to change them.
- She vacuums while I vacuum.
- Her neck, feet, and inner thighs are super ticklish. She loves when we kiss her neck, she pulls my face down to do it.
- She loves doors and windows.
- Sometimes she will just chant "no no no", and then hit. Several times she's caught herself while trying to hit me and will turn and hit something else (like the couch).
- She asks to go night night now. She will give me a big hug before I lay her down and say "night night".
- Current favorites: "little mouse, red ripe strawberry, and the big hungry bear" and "the little white duck", twinkle twinkle little star, counting, climbing on anything she can climb on.
- Started to cry every time I drop her off at KDO or nursery.
- Likes to hold hands with friends and sing ring around the Rosie.
- We said "see you later" to the Duffields.
- We left her with Lolly and Papa while we went to Chris and Brooke's wedding in Dallas.
- She and I stayed home alone for the first time for a couple of nights. It was terrible. There was a tornado warning.
- One of my current favorite things is when she is waiting for something, she'll sit on her bottom with her legs straight out in front and ankles together with her toes pointed. She'll either hold her hands up for me to hand something to her or rest them in her legs.
- When she looks for something, she says "hmmm?" And puts her hands up
- Got her first skinned knees
- We are currently in a difficult week. She's just testing me and I'm losing my patience very easily!
- Started swimming lessons!
- When in a parking lot, she knows to "touch the car" instead of running around (thanks to Harlow).
- Drove to the beach with meme, splitting the trip with a night in Jackson. She took a 30 minute nap in day one which was all she needed, but was WIRED when trying to lay down in the hotel. She napper closer to an hour in the morning on the second day and was good to go until bed time.
- She loved playing at the beach with toys and Annie, and the water. She HATED the sand.
- She is obsessed with a bubble themed episode of Sesame Street. She says (6873 times a day) "Sesame Street! Bubbles!"
- She's very repetitive.
- loves to pretend to go night night (she snores) or bye bye.
- First haircut by me on 5/11.
- Had her last day of KDO. I
- She had 3 days of successful nap transfers from the car to the crib!!
- She's starting to use hand signals to describe what she wants.
- She got to spend time with Matt and Lyndsy, celebrate Amelia's birthday, and shower Ramsey Willard all in the same weekend!
- She is a kicking and bubble blowing fool in for he water. Still working on moving arms and kicking at the same time.
- When she gets hurt she will get a concerned look on her face and say "owie". She usually wants a kiss.
- She's starting to grab our hands or put things in our hands when she wants us to do something for her.
- She got bronchitis. Turns out she loves the inhaler.
- When I say a color she points to the object repetitively and wants me I sink the color song. She's said "yellow" and "blue" in her own and about the correct color.
- She's starting to match puzzle pieces, but she can't fit them exactly into the hole.
- Lolly and Papa came for a visit, and we made plans to build a swingset.
- Anytime she says "bye" she also blows a kiss.
- 24.6 pounds
- Dr. Swindle said she's "tall", but I don't know measurements.
- size 4 diaper
- size 4/5 shoe
- size 18/24m clothes and a few 2 things
- 12 teeth
She loves: mini pancakes and yogurt, buttons and switches, books ("pop-up peekaboo", "five little pumpkins" and "where is baby's birthday cake"), baths, stuffed animals, being outside (mostly playing with chalk and bubbles), jumping, Mickey Mouse, playing on our bed, and singing songs
She doesn't love: stethoscopes, medicine, vegetables, being put down (when it's "time" to be held)
- We bought her a puddle jumper to swim in, which she loves. She also went under water to swim several times and kept wanting to do it more!
- She is starting to really love being outside. She runs and laughs with excitement. Her favorite thing at home is playing with the chalk, and she loves slides and stairs at parks.
- A couple of times now, after we get on to her saying "Claire! No ma'am!" She looks at us and shouts "dah" while pointing her finger. Almost like she's mimicking or getting on to us.
- She says thank you "da-doo", "uh oh" and I love you as "I-looo". We are working on "up" and "please". And "mama" of course...
- She fell while holding chalk and scraped up her finger really badly. She had to wear her first bandaid and hated it.
- She's getting more confident on a slide.
- She has done a lot more "sleeping" with mommy. Some nights, she just doesn't want to be alone!
- Turns out, she didn't want to sleep because she had an ear infection/pink eye on 2/2. It lasted for a while, even on antibiotics. The ear infection was pushing out of her eye and nose causing a lot of yucky junk.
- Nurse said she weighs 24.6 lbs.
- She's gotten good at nodding her head yes or no in response to questions.
- She babbles all the time. Her new words are "hot", "wow", "tada", "moo" ,"meme" and "mama"!!! (Though, she doesn't say mama directed towards me. She just says it.)
- She can click her tongue.
- She's already able to drive her electronic car from nana.
- She's starting to pretend play a lot more. She pretends to pour and drink tea, to dust and clean and to put soap on her hands and rub it in.
- I found some "first years" insulated straw cups. She drinks strawberry whole milk well from them.
- Some nights she wakes up crying hysterically. It seems that she just wants me in the room standing by her crib, because picking her up makes it worse!
- We switched to 1 nap at 12/12:30 on 2/16.
- I noticed 3 teeth broke through on 2/19. 2 back teeth on top and one of the front teeth on bottom.
- She likes to pretend to fall down, but she's super cautious about it.
- She's so smart. When she sees anyone leaving or if she puts a toy down, she says "bye bye". She loves reading books and does so with inflection. She does so many things on command like sit on her bottom, dance, put things back, going to find certain people. She nods yes or no appropriately. She's starting to actually mimic (or trying to) sounds and words we say. She knows the motions for "Itsy Bitsy spider", "bringing home baby bumble bee" and "happy and you know it" and will do them when she wants to sing.
- We went to help take care of mom after she had her appendix removed.
- She got so sick again on 2/23. She had a horrible cough, runny nose, fever, loss of appetite, and we found out another ear infection. I've never seen her so whiney and lethargic.
- Terrified of stethoscopes and the tool that checks ears.
- Knows a cat says "meow" and says it every time she sees a cat. Pointed to an owl and said "owl".
- We've taught her to put her hands under her chin and say "I'm cute".
- Says "all gone/all done" and holds her hands up.
- She had a very serious "conversation" with me that included a lot of nodding. I have no idea what she said and she got frustrated.
- She loves to apply Chapstick.
- when she wants to sing, she comes to us doing the motions. Her songs are Itsy Bitsy spider, wheels on the bus, bringing home baby bumble bee.
- When she wants to read a book, she will choose a book and walk to someone's lap to sit in and read.
- I found her summer and spring play clothes at Rhea Lana's and got her a mini trampoline and small table and chairs.
- We celebrated Andrew's birthday with his parents.
- She says, "oh wow", "toodles", "nana" (banana), "cheese". She had a certain inflection and says "doo, dō, doo!" When she's pretending to count. "Tubey" is booty.
- She likes to grab puppy, piggy, and blankies before being taken out of her crib.
- Oh, the fits. She kicks and hits and says "dō". (No)
- She loves my bare legs. She'll hug them and rub her face on them.
- 3rd ear infection plus cough/runny nose on 3/14. I'm so done.
- Dr. Swindle called her a maniac (in a nice way).
- Said "Poppi" and "papa". Took something away from Will Carter and said "no no me".
- She can almost always clap or dance to a rhythm.
- When something is "difficult" or "heavy" she grunts while doing it.
- She knows how to do "soft hands".
- She has become OBSESSED with Brody.
My sweet girl, these 2 months have been the best and the worst! You've been so sick. You've handled it incredibly well, only whining a little and cuddling a lot. We are extremely ready for these colds/coughs/ear infections to be gone. Even through all this, you have learned and grown up so much! You've started talking where we can somewhat understand what you're saying. You follow simple instructions (and sometimes purposefully don't follow them). You are my constant companion and so much fun to be around!
