24 Months

Keeping with tradition I'm doing a three month "check-up" post on our Georgia Grace to showcase what a sweet little girl we have! I was looking back at my 1 3/4 post and we have seen LOTS of changes over the past three months. The most monumental being switching from building a house to buying. When I wrote the last check-up post we already knew baby #2 was on the way so we prayed about it and decided buying a home would be the best option for us. And then the house we bought kind of just fell in our laps and we saw God's hand in the process.

 

Besides the house, we have seen our toddler baby change in lots of ways too. Here are some of the highlights from the past three months:

 

Georgia, you are now 24 months old making you a big 2 year old and officially ending the need to give your age in months :) This all happened way faster than your Mommy or Daddy cared for but nonetheless we have a healthy, happy daughter so no complaints here.

 



• At your two year check-up on Monday you weighed in at a whopping 22 pounds (5th percentile) and are 34 inches in stature (50th percentile). If it's true that your adult height is double your height as a 2 year old you will be 5'8 which is pretty tall for a girl! As far as your weight your pediatrician said he would be happy if you had gained more but he wasn't unhappy. You are a skinny mini and probably always will be. One day you will enjoy your metabolism, right now it's just worrisome for your momma ha!
• You wear 18-24 month clothing comfortably, some size 2's will fit you also. You wear a size 6/7 shoe and size 2T panties.
• You are potty trained and have been since you were about 20 months! You still wear a diaper to bed because we haven't perfected night training but the rest of the time you do a good job. We are proud of you for this!

 

•  You have always been a great nighttime sleeper (9-10pm to 7am is your normal) but naptime has been hard for you. You don't require as much sleep as some kids so the routine of napping isn't your favorite thing. But just this week you have really turned into a good napper and value your extra sleep.
• You continue to be a big talker. You have a strong gene pull for that so we never doubted you :) Your exposure to preschoolers at AKK has really helped you to meet milestones early and develop a big vocabulary. Your favorite things to say right now are to call my mom's cat Peanut a "cotton-headed ninny muggins" (Elf is right behind Frozen in popularity for you right now), give your order at restaurants and to boss Owen.
• You love to sing. You can sing your ABC's, Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and a few nursery rhymes. You know them by word!
   

 

• Your obsession with Frozen continues but you have broadened your interests. You like to watch Charlie Brown in the car so this week we changed from It's the Great Pumpkin to the Thanksgiving special. You also like Mickey and Minnie, baby dolls and Peppa the Pig.
• Your favorite color is orange.
• For Christmas you have asked for "orange baby dolls".
• You love to write. We have to remind you often that we just write on paper!
• You aren't a picky eater but it doesn't take very much to fill you up. Two or three bites and you're on to the next thing unless we lasso you in your chair. Your favorite things right now are milk, apple juice, cheese and crackers, string cheese, and ice cream/popsicles. What a variety!

 

(Veteran's Day 2014)

• You are officially a preschool in AKK's preschool program! You love going and some mornings that's the only thing that will motivate you to get up and go is to "go see friends". You take a show and tell everyday to show the group and you participate in all the activities that they do. For instance the other day everyone had to say their full name before they could go down stairs and you proudly said, "Georgia Gwace Hairson" :) And my favorite show and tell to date was from last week. You grabbed Aunt Shannie's phone, scrolled through the pictures and said "Kids, this is Uncle Jake's deer" and then you scrolled to another picture and said "it's bleeding kids" HA!
• You still aren't a big TV watcher. You are just too busy for that.
• You aren't a fan of mornings and you hate to brush your teeth. It's a battle we fight everyday. You will thank me for making you brush them one day :)



I love you so much Georgia Grace!

 

Love,
Mommy

Rosemary Beach 2014

Last week we took a trip to the beach for our friends James and Ashley's wedding. The wedding was at beautiful Rosemary Beach, Florida. This was our first time to this beach so we were excited about exploring a new area and enjoying the wedding festivities.

 

We flew from Nashville on Halloween because the rehearsal dinner was that night. I should note that at this point we were suspicious we might have a sick girl on our hands but couldn't confirm it. This was the best picture I could get of our Princess Anna at the airport so that should tell you something. She was actually originally wearing Halloween pajamas but threw up on the way to the airport so we made a costume change into our Halloween attire. The cape served as a blanket so it worked well.

This girl missed getting a free plane ticket by 24 hours! She turned two on Thursday and we flew on Friday. We did have frequent flyer miles that paid for our tickets so that made it easier to swallow. Plus the extra seat for space was nice to have.

When we arrived we unloaded everything into our house and headed down to the beach for a few hours. She wasn't feeling great but I think the sun and sand perked her up a bit.

And then the next day it was wedding day! My beautiful little flower girl. I thought she looked like a little princess. And her wool cardigan was the perfect accessory until we walked down the aisle :) She enterained us while we all got ready.

 

And the beautiful bride!!! She was absolutely radiant. I've never seen her look so beautiful.

 

It was so cold on Saturday for the wedding. Like my body was completely numb by the end of the ceremony! So we had moments like this...

 

And moments like this :) She was a trooper though, I was proud of her!

 

I love this picture of her lining up with Pastor Gregg, James and the groomsmen. At this point I was hopeful she was going to walk down the aisle with the other flower girl Lola.

 

But plans changed at the last minute and she walked down the aisle with mommy :) That's a big job for a barely two year old and I know Ashley was proud of her regardless of how she got down the aisle. She did walk most of the way once we got in the sand. I just love this picture my boss's wife Gina snapped!

 

But then she spotted Gammy, Daddy, Mamaw and Gran Stan and she was done. This was her last appearance in the wedding ceremony ha!

 

 Despite the cold it was an absolutely beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky.

 

Now pronouncing Mr. & Mrs. James Runion!

 

Ash was one of my very first friends so to be able to share this day with her means so so much. I have prayed for her husband often over the past several years and the good Lord provided. Congrats Aunt Ash and Uncle James!!

 

Just a few highlights from the big event. It was eventful for us but very fun!

After the wedding we took wedding party pictures and then headed to the (heated) reception. It felt so good to get warm!! We ate, let GGH dance, watched them cut the cake and then headed back to the room to check on Marcus. It was a balancing act all day but we made it work.

Rhonda (mother of the bride) and my Mom. They are the best of friends and more like sisters! Love them both dearly.

 

 

 

The bride and her lovely bridesmaids all in a row. The reception was gorgeous! We had the best time while we were there.

 

Flower girl down! She lasted long enough for us to get her home and in her Christmas flamingo pajamas (they are a hand-me-down, Carters brand) before she was gone.

 

We decided to stay two more days after the wedding since school was out on Monday and Tuesday for the election. I'm really glad we did because it would've been a super short trip and it warmed up so we could enjoy the beach.

 

The rest of the week the weather was great so we spent as much time in the sun as we could. The pool was too cold to swim in so we stayed at the beach and in the grassy area by the pool overlooking the ocean. It was snacktime! Actually it's always snacktime :)

One afternoon it was just me and baby boy on the beach while the baby and Daddy napped and the rest of the family hung out by the pool. I have had very little time to just slow down and enjoy his company between having a toddler and renovating our house. This was a nice little retreat :)

 

We did a little shopping in the morning when it wasn't quite warm enough to put our bathing suits on yet. This girl picked out everything pink. She claims her favorite color is orange but I beg to differ.

 

I just love this sweet picture of my two favorites. The beach was empty so it felt like we had it all to ourselves. She had the best time just playing in the sand with us. These moments of just the three of us on the beach I will always cherish.

 

The last day we stayed until nearly sunset because why not? We always take a summer beach vacation but with the baby coming in the spring who knows what next summer will look like. We wanted to soak up as much as we could.

 

I don't mind getting sandy for my girl!

 

Even though the week started out hard with two under the weather it ended on a much higher note. And it was nice to take a little break from the normal, everyday life. The beach is definitely our happy place. 

A Memorable Second Birthday

We are back from the beach and this week I am attempting to play catchup on the blog. I want everything to be documented and up to date before we submerge ourselves in the holiday season which is nearly here! And we hope to move into our house this month also so lots of fun events and memories being made :)

 

Last Thursday was Georgia Grace's actual birthday and we tried to make it special despite our busyness.

 

She went to bed as an one year old...

and I have no picture of her waking up because she was NOT in the mood ha!

 

Last year she had a much better outlook on waking up :)

 

We got up and got ready for the Halloween party at AKK. I was off for her birthday last year but I decided to work this year so she could go to the party and leave a little early for our afternoon plans.

 

They made it a special day for her and she had a cake and received a gift (Anna doll) from AKK.

I think she thoroughly enjoyed it!

 

And then it was time to party! She went right for the Olaf apples. 

And like always bit the nose :)

 

Before they got in their costumes they did a little pre-party dancing. She had decided she wanted to wear pjs and if you want to wear pjs on your birthday you get to.

 

Wardrobe change and the birthday girl transformed into Princess Anna! There were a million Elsa and Anna's for Halloween this year but you think this girl minded? Her costume was completely homemade by Grandmomma! Everything but the boots which were my Mom's. It was so beautiful and I know she will be wearing it for dressup for years to come. 

 

The partying preschoolers! Love that my mother-in-law and sister-in-law join in on the costume fun!

 

Grandmomma made Shanna's costume too and Grandmomma wore antlers (Sven) so the whole Frozen cast was represented :)

 

A sweet picture of her with one of her boyfriends Thomas. He says he will marry her someday and that would be alright by me! He's the sweetest thing.

After the party and a nap we picked her up early and headed to the pumpkin patch! She has been once with Gammy and Gran Stan this year but we never got to take her so we decided her actual birthday would be a perfect opportunity.

 

I asked her if she wanted an apple cider slush like Mommy and she said, "No, ice cream!"

 

And then the unthinkable happened. We took her to the petting farm section of the Orchard and a pony bit her finger! Yes, a pony bit her on her birthday-is that not the worst luck ever?!? After cleaning and disinfecting her finger and getting her calmed down we knew the pumpkin patch trip was over. Bless her heart we felt so bad about what happened. She is fine (after I sent my NP friend text after text of worries!) but I have a feeling she won't be asking for a pony like most little girls do...

 

She passed out on the way home. It wasn't the exact birthday we had in mind but one we won't forget.

 

Regardless of her age my baby she will always be. Bring on year #3 and all the fun memories that come with it!

Two Years

Dear Georgia,

In a perfect world I would have had this written and posted on your actual birthday but we know life gets in the way sometimes :) And what a beautifully full life we have been given when God gave us you. I can't wrap my mind around the fact that you are TWO!

 

My October baby came into this world with such beauty and ease and that continues to be true. Your birthday will always be a special day for me too because it is also the day I became a mommy. I never knew how much I could love someone until you were placed in my arms for the first time. Those first few days with you were magical and moments I will never forget.

 

The last 730 days with you has been a gift. Every milestone, smile, laugh, cry, tantrum and all the other events have been a part of your story. You have the ability to light up a room when you enter it and you make friends everywhere you go. Your sweet personality and contagious smile has brought us endless joy and pride.

 

As we enter into this new chapter of our lives expanding to a family of four, my hope is that you will love and cherish your role as big sister. You are a natural leader and already love to tell people what to do ha! I know you will be the best big sister to your baby brother. I pray that your bond will be close and you will always put each other first.  

 

As hard as it is to see you grow up from a baby to a little girl I look forward to those days and thank God for making you perfectly ours. You are the most adorable baby girl I have ever seen! God knew what He was doing when He gave you to us. I pray that we will be the Christian parents He intended for us to be and we provide you with opportunities to live a life that would be pleasing to Him. We would lasso the moon for you if that's what you wanted! :)

 

So my dollbaby daughter, happy second birthday! The days may seem long sometimes but I know the years are short and I don't want to take for granted one second with you. Our love for you grows each and every day. Our lives have been changed in the best way possible.

 

I love you forever!

Love,

Mommy

Brother Bear

Georgia Grace has some extra special news to share...

a baby BROTHER is on the way!!!

Yesterday we went for our anatomy scan ultrasound at the 17 week mark which is exactly when we went with Georgia Grace. We didn't do the blood test with her and we opted to not do it again this time-just a personal preference :)

 

Let me begin by saying this pregnancy has been different. It started out feeling the same but took a turn at the end of the first trimester. Marcus says he knew confidently it was a boy the day I ordered a steak in a restaurant. Of our 11 years of dating and almost 5 years of marriage he has never once known me to order a steak. Most days I have bouts of queasiness, nausea and gagging. I rarely vomit but I do everything but that. And that burst of energy you are suppose to get in the 2nd trimester? Never happened ha!

 

So needless to say we weren't shocked by the news but oh so ecstatic! The first time around we waited to find out at the same time as family and friends during our gender reveal party but this time we opted to find out together, just the two of us. When the tech said, "Congratulations, it's a.....boy!" we both just cried. It was one of my favorite moments. I always wanted to give my husband a son and experience the mother-son relationship.

 

Sticking with the theme of the season we kept things simple and came home to tell family the news. We wrapped a blue baby outfit in a gift bag and Georgia Grace opened the gift in front of everyone. Just for fun we had them write "It's a Boy" or "It's a Girl" on a blue or pink paint swatch our paint store gave us. Considering we are in the middle of updating our new house we thought that would be a neat thing to do. Blue won with a landslide :)

 

Right now we're just letting it sink in that we are having a son. We have a short list of names but nothing for sure yet.

And posts about our big girl's birthday coming soon! We've been crazy busy this week so those will come after we get back from the beach!

Happy Halloween and Happy wedding weekend James and Ashley!