Big Girl

Elly Rose is 20 months and one week today!  Last Monday we made a visit to our beloved pediatrician for her 20 month well baby visit.  She did fantastic - no shots, necessary.  She is growing and changing like a little weed.  At her one-year visit, Dr. Cumming asked if she had any words.  That was my primary concern...she couldn't say anything.  While there was lots of jibbersh and we were confident she understood us, she didn't have any specific words.

Fast foward 8 months...she speaks complete sentences (sometimes) and does so clearly.  Even expressing a now familiar "I don't want too" when we ask her to come inside or take a bath or any other task not at the top of her list.  She is still calling Bennett "Bubby" and she talks to him and asks about him constantly.

She now weighs almost 23 pounds and is 33 1/2 inches long.  She tries so very hard to keep up with her big brother.  And does not take it well when we do not allow her to do something Bennett is doing.  Examples include riding his newly borrowed big boy bicycle or going down the big slides by herself. 

She loves coloring, we are fairly certain she is left-handed.  She loves babies, eating and swimming at the pool.  She does not like stopping her activities to go to bed, when toys (or food) are taken from her and when she can't keep up with Bennett.

Our sweet baby is growing up so fast!  She has quite the interest in potty training and does pretty well.

Elly Rose is silly.  She does things now (good and bad) to see what type of response she gets from one of us.  From putting things in her mouth she know she should not to still climing on everything...we have to keep our eyes on her.

Beach Vacation

Just a few more of the many, many photo memories we have from our SSI and Sea Island adventure.  We love creating these memories with our children and family.  Bennett remembers so much about his experiences now - taking them with him and talking about them in ways that make sense in his bright little mind.  He was flipping through photos on my phone the other day (previously Zach's phone) when he started shouting, "its my lighthouse, mommy!" 

 

Sure enough - there was a photo of this same lighthouse taken one year ago when Zach went for a quick solo visit to SSI to see his parents and had snapped a picture with his phone. 

This year, Bennett got to go to the top of the Lighthouse and he loved it.  He walked all the stairs by himself and circled the balcony upon arriving to the top with daddy.  He loves lighthouses.  Thanks to Fireman Sam for introducing them, of course.

 

This little love was fearless of sand and water - ocean or pool.  It was all an adventure for her.  And you had to keep a tight grip because as the winds around the tropical storm built, the waves did too.  She was fascinated by the feeling of the ocean pulling the water and sand back from under her toes.

No shying away from the splashing waves for this one.  Poppy kept a tight grip on her.

Bennett on a search for shells and fish.  We brought home starfish and discovered crabs, mollusks and many other unnamed, yet interesting creatures.

Bennett and his boat.  He loved placing it in the water and seeing where the waves would take it...

 

"Louie the Hawk" with Grams and Bennett.  Louie would stand watch around the outdoor dining areas at the Sea Island Beach Club to keep the other birds from nibbling on our food.  You could touch him when he was wearing his beak protector.

The changes in tide, determined by the moon, are interesting on the island.  I don't understand it but it makes for the occasional great sandbar, interesting fish and shell hunting and great beach walks.  We usually did ours shortly after breakfast...7 a.m. give or take.  

Elly Rose teaches Charley about suckers!  E. Rose really did think Charley was her baby for the week and Charley was happy to play along. 

Loved spending extended time with these three - the many miles and busy work/life schedules doesn't allow us to see enough of one another.

Our sweet babies on their final morning before heading to the airport.  We went to the beach before breakfast on this morning, still in jammies, Bennett so excited to look for sea creatures and Elly Rose just to run along the ocean.  We blew kisses and waved "until next time..."

Beach Babies

As with all adventures...sharing them with your own children and family makes it just that much more special.  We have just returned from SSI and Sea Island and it was so much fun!

Grams and Poppy with their sweet grandbabies.  Thank you for an amazing week and great memories for the cousins.