Lauren's First Trip to the Movies!

I took Lauren to see Beauty and the Beast in 3d today. It was her first time going to the movies- she LOVED it. All she could talk about was seeing Belle on the big t.v. There was a group of us that went (me, Lauren, Amanda, Nathan, Courtney, and Taylor). It's amazing how far 3d movies have come, Lauren didn't really like wearing the glasses and kept them off most of the time. I took mine off to see how it looked without them (just a little concerned about her squinting to see the movie) you could barely tell! It was a tiny bit blurry but nothing major.

Total Failure!

We caved and gave Michael his ni-ni back. He was doing ok without it but started sucking on his fingers- I would rather battle taking away his ni-ni later than having to fight with a finger sucking child!

We Said Our Goodbyes!

To Michael's pacifier (also known as a ni-ni in our house). I made a decision a while back that I would NOT buy the next size pacifier for Michael (the one he is using goes to 18 months). He is almost 16 months so I figured what better time then now. He's doing better than I thought he would without it but he is still pretty mad about not having it. During the day he doesn't care but when its time to sleep he gets pretty upset. The hardest part of it is hearing him cry out "mama" over and over knowing all he wants is his ni-ni. Yesterday was worse than today and I'm sure tomorrow will be easier I just need to keep myself from caving!

Sea World

I took Lauren to Sea World today with Amanda and her son Nathan. We got up early and were out of the house by 6:45 (Michael and John were still sleeping when we left and didn't get up till 8:30- Michael has NEVER slept that late for me!). Anyway, we arrived at around 9:30. It was a long day but the kids had a great time and were both VERY well behaved.

Right when we got there we got the kids pictures drawn like cartoons- they came out really cute... I don't have a picture of Lauren's but it's going in a frame on her wall!

 

Next we fed the dolphins. Lauren wasn't really a fan of touching the fish!

Feeding the sea lions...once again, they eat raw fish... she would not touch them!

Sharks eat shrimp... Lauren liked feeding them!

Lunch time! Of course I packed breakfast, lunch, dinner, and plenty of snacks but I did buy her some watermelon which she loved.

Lauren is the most serious person I have ever seen when watching the shows. She doesn't talk and just takes it all in. After the show is over she is a ball full of energy and wants to talk all about everything she saw.

This cave was in the polar bear area. Nathan went ahead of Lauren to "see if it was safe for her" There was a fake bear growl in the back of it, the second he heard it he came running out (scared of course) yelling that it wasn't safe for Lauren and we had to leave. It was so cute!

Lauren's first ride (besides the carousel which she's been going on since she was a baby). And yes, that's Amanda on there with the kids.. there was no way i was going on this one.

There it is.. it goes up while the whole thing spins around and then each individual thing spins. Ever since I had Michael my stomach is a little weaker when it comes to motion sickness - all I could think of when I saw this ride was how sick I would be if I went on it.

Lauren and Nathan went on this ride ALONE! It was a very bittersweet moment for me.. I can't believe she's already big enough to ride alone!

And of course we had to ride the carousel...Lauren's favorite ride!

She decided to switch fish right before it started.

The last show of the day. After this we bought souvenirs and headed home. Lauren picked out a small box to fill with all different plastic sea animals we had seen that day and she picked out a ball set for Michael (balls are his favorite toy).

We got in the car at almost 7pm- both kids ate dinner and fell asleep around 7:30. Lauren woke up right when we got off the turnpike but was right back to sleep when we got in the house.

I couldn't resist taking this picture... I know one day she will not be happy I did but she just looks so silly!

Memory!

I played memory with Lauren tonight. She got it for Christmas (from Santa) and I had promised her if she took a nap today we could take out one of the games Santa got for her after Michael went to bed. She had a blast! I tried to take out a different game too (hi ho cherri-o) but she would only play the princess game!

How A 2 Year Old Plays Hide and Seek

John and I played hide and seek with Lauren tonight (Michael ran around the house laughing while we played). The game started with John playing with the kids (running around the kitchen table) and he ended up hiding from them. After a few times of him hiding we told Lauren to hide from us and we would find her. This is how she hid:

In her mind, if she can't see you then you can't see her!

She's getting so big!

Lauren June 20, 2010

January 15, 2012

 While we were at Alex's birthday party today I was bombarded with a lot of good memories from our time in New Hampshire. One of the things Lauren and I did together while we were living there was attend weekly classes at My Gym. The place Alex's birthday party was held was very similar to My Gym. One of those similarities is the ball pit. While looking through old pictures tonight from My Gym I found the picture of Lauren from there- what a different 1 year and 7 months can make!

A VERY Long Sunday!

Today was a VERY long day. We started at church. All week Lauren has been talking about wanting to go to church. I have spent a lot of time talking to her about Mommy not staying in the room with her anymore and that I was going to go with Daddy and be back after I was done with service. I didn't think she would make it but I had my hopes up, it's been so long since I have actually sat through service and I would really like to have the opportunity to again. (Although I know one day I'm going to miss my kids needing me!). So, we dropped Michael off in his classroom first then took Lauren. At first she didn't want me to leave but then I heard Michael screaming- a full temper tantrum scream! I told Lauren I had to go get him and surprisingly she let me leave! The teacher she had today was really good about talking to her and taking her to play so it worked out well. Anyway, Lauren made it the entire service in her classroom without me and without any tears. However, Michael who is usally not the problem decided he would be today so I spent the entire service in his room!

After church we headed to Barrel O Monkeys in Delray Beach to celebrate our friend Amanda's son Alex's 2nd birthday. The kids loved it- the place was very similar to My Gym which I used to take Lauren to in New Hampshire.

Everyone LOVED the bubbles!

Alex- the birthday boy!

Even John got in on the fun!

Such a big boy!

We left the party and headed home to drop off John and Michael then Lauren and I went shopping with my mom. The day ended like every other Sunday- dinner with my Mom and Marc.

Lunch with Nams

The kids and I spent the late morning and early afternoon with my mother today. We went to Sugar Sand Park to ride the carousel and then out to lunch at Too-Jays.

Lauren LOVES the ipad (not sure why her face was so close- this isnt how she normally uses it!)

Ladies Night!

I went to ladies night at our church tonight with Tammy for dessert and an amazing guest speaker, Jackie Kendall. I could listen to her speak the word of the lord for hours she's that amazing! Her knowledge of the scripture is so moving and gives me more motivation to read the bible more!
Besides listening to her speak I purchased two books- one for myself... The Mentoring Mom. 11 Ways to Model Christ for Your Child and one for Lauren and I when she gets a little older... Lady in Waiting for Little Girls (which she signed for Lauren- its really sweet.. it says, "Princess Lauren, be "his" princess"). I can't wait to share this with her once she's around 5.
I also signed Tammy and I up for the upcoming women's bible study- the book of james. Tammy is already my buddy at the Intentional Moms study we go to once a month- this study is weekly for 8 weeks- I cant wait!

A Day at the Zoo

A friend of mine (Amanda) went to the Miami Zoo on New Years Day with her family and kept her ticket stubs. One of the deals they have is if you come back with your ticket stub within 5 days admission is only $5 so I used Jon's ticket and got in for $5 (both kids are free!). We left this morning at 9:15 (our goal was 9 but with all the sleeping issues in our house last night we did pretty good). Courtney also came with her 2 kids so it was 3 Moms and 6 kids in all! Johns big joke is we should get a church bus for our day trips since we each have to bring our own car everywhere!

The gang (from left to right): Taylor, Lauren, Nathan, Alex, Michael, Hudson.

This is how kids in south FL make snow angels... in the rock pile for digging fossils! Lauren's too girly to put her head down in the rocks!

Enjoying a lollipop while his big sister is in line to ride the camel!

There she is! I was SHOCKED she actually got on.

Not only did she get on but she LOVED every second of it and asked to go again (she was told she could do it next time we come)

Lunch time (I packed grilled cheese and grapes- the kids favorites!)

Enjoying his grapes.

Lauren loves Nathan

Feeding the giraffe- another big surprise for me.

Look at that tongue!

This is what you do when your 2 year old is tired and you forgot the double stroller at home!

Michael was sound asleep before we were even out of the parking lot! Lauren on the other hand who I thought would surely pass out after being up half the night last night stayed awake until 2 minutes from home and ofcourse woke up right when I went to bring her inside.