Butler Reunion

Every two years we have the Butler reunion and alternate between Galax and Winchester.  This year was in Galax.  The Vaughans treat us to amazing food and fun at the pool.  This past year 4 new babies join the family!  It was so great to all be together.  This year wasn't quite the same since saying goodbye to three of the grandparents.  Mimi, Aunt Rose Ellen and Uncle John were greatly missed but we know they were all watching down on us so happy we are keeping the family tradition going!  Can't wait till next time! 

Our little fish!

 Whitney and Joey having a blast together as usual.

 Missing Marguerite!

 The whole group!

 The new generation is growing fast!

 Colin with Austin who is about 3 weeks younger.

Ruth and Evelyn are 10 months.

All so sweet!

Mike was handed the torch of family photographer.  I think he did a fantastic job capturing the weekend..  These are only a few of his fabulous pictures.

Kiawah with Friends

This June we got to spend 5 wonderful days in Kiawah with some of our closest friends.   With five families there, our kid total was eight!  Luckily, four of them are not mobile yet!  We all pitched in on meals and ate extremely well.  We enjoyed wine, specialty drinks and beer that made us feel like we were "young" again.  It is crazy how vacations have changed.  We were all up early and eager to head to bed by 10pm!  On Saturday night some friends who live in Charleston came it to join in the fun!   There really is nothing like close friends, good conversations and lasting memories with our precious kids!  Can't wait to do it again next year!

Lunch on the deck!  Showing off there maraschino cherries in their kidtails!

 Can you tell these three just had a blast together!

 Sweet Nicolette, you will be keeping up with them next year!

 Hangin' with her little Bro!

Nothing like waking up from a nap on the deck!

Eric likes naps on the deck too!

 Abby snuggling with Mommy!

 The Gallo's alway travel in style!

 Play Mat time with Parker

 Abby doing her morning stretches!

 Cheers Brian!

 Jake and Mommy

Doesn't get much better!

 I think Steph sums up the trip!

Ok, Sam and Chris, next year we gotta get you in some photos!  We did have the high hopes of getting a group kid shot.  First, finding a time when they were all awake was tough, but second a time when they were all happy!  Maybe next year!

Power Outage Vacay 2012

Power outages are no fun! But ours turned into a mini vacation so I can't complain!

 I pretty much just slept through the storm while Tim held down the fort. He did Colin's dream feed in the hall because he was afraid that the Bradford Pear tree (know for splitting) may crash into his room. Then when the power went out he moved Colin's pack in play into our cool basement and the two of them slept down there. Leaving me with a flashlight by the bed. Now this flashlight would have come in handy...I will get to that in a minute.

 About 12:30am Whitney woke up and called me in, upset with how dark it was in her room. So, I jumped at the chance to snuggle with my girl and told her she could come sleep with me. She was just as excited! Well, here's where the flashlight would have come in. Whitney bounced down her bed like usual but it was so dark she went off track and plunged face first off the bed into her stool and head into the corner. Her heartbreaking scream made me feel horrible I had left the handy flashlight behind. But I quick scooped her up and Mama's hugs made it all better. After a potty and water break we get settled in bed. But all I get is a "Night Mama" as she turns her back to me and snuggles with her doll Molly :(.

 The next morning I could hear Colin cooing in the basement.  Whitney and I made our way down and we quickly realized we did not want to stay in this hot house.  Not to mention, I had a freezer stocked with breast milk that needed a working freezer!  So, we packed everything up and headed to my parents house.

My parents are in Kiawah, so they couldn't join in on the fun.  But we took over the house and have been having a great time. Marguerite came out to spend the night on Saturday and we had fun playing with Aunt M on Sunday.  Luckily, her power was back on that afternoon.  As of now, our power is predicted to come back on by Tuesday night.  We are keeping our fingers crossed!

Here are a few pictures from the last two days!

Keeping cool in the baby pool!

Colin got to sleep in Mimi and Grandad's bed since they were out of town!

 Watching a little Bubble Guppies before bed.

Thanks to the neighbors, the Pumphreys, (in Kiawah too) for letting us take advantage of their beautiful garden! We had a delicious dinner!

Walking over to see the house we are renovating! 

 I got a new computer! Only 2 1/2 pounds!

 Playing games on the new computer.

A little Vino!

12 Weeks

It is hard to believe my little man is already 12 weeks!  This is the point I feel you make the transition from saying their age in weeks to months.  Really outgrowing the newborn phase.  Though he did that on his own by growing like a weed!  At his 2 month appointment he was 24 inches (75%) and 14 lbs 8 oz (off the charts)!  He is just about busting out of his 6 month clothes.  Part of me is sad that he is growing so fast but the other part of me loves all the new things he is doing.

As you saw in the previous post, he has started to laugh.  When I go in to get him in the morning he flashes a big smile at me.  He is getting much better about sitting up in his Bumbo seat.  When on his play mat he looks like he is marching and gets the most adorable determined look on his face.

Colin is such a calm and easy baby.  He never complains about a dirty diaper and loves to get his diaper changed.  As soon as I start wiping him he smiles and gives me a few coos like he is saying thank you.  He loves to watch Whitney play and loves to sit on my lap while we play a game.  And let me say he is a fabulous sleeper!  Great with his naps.  I know I am crazy to even admit this out loud for fear it will come back and get me, but he is sleeping through the night!  Right around 2 months he stopped waking up to eat. He goes to sleep by 8pm, get his Dream Feed at 10:30pm (Tim gives him a bottle in his sleep) and wakes around 7am.  We continue to be so thankful for the amazing things the Baby Whisperer book has taught us!

First trip to Kiawah.  Just chillin' at the pool! 

 Really working on tummy time to get rid of his flat head!

 My handsome little prince!

 Such a big boy!

Life has been so amazing since Colin has joined us.  Everyday just gets better and better!

First Big Laughs

Colin has been giving us some major smiles and coos the last few weeks but at 10 weeks he broke out the big laughs!  We caught some on camera but he was laughing for several minutes.  So adorable!

First Haircut

Yes, Whitney is three, and yes this is her first haircut!  Ok, my baby was bald until she was almost one.  Everyone thought she was a boy.  She went through a mullet phase but I held off and have been enjoying her luscious, golden locks ever since!  I promised Tim that for her third birthday I would just trim the ends a bit.  They were getting a little scraggly. (Is that a word?).  But we ran out of time and I just wasn't ready.

So, this past Friday night, we set it up.  Tim was getting his haircut so I called our stylist :) Ferdi, and told him I wasn't sure if she would go for it but would he give her her first haircut.  Of course he agreed!  When I told Whitney she was going to get her haircut she said she wanted to and was excited.  We had taken her the past months to watch us get our haircut.  She started out in my lap but that was a little difficult so we moved her to a stool and she did great!  You would have thought a movie star was there.  Everyone was coming to watch and ooh and ahh over our little lady.

In the end it doesn't look that different but a little cleaned up.  While Tim got his haircut we went to the play area at the mall.  Then we managed dinner out at La Sandia and enjoyed some mojitos and margaritas.  Not a bad Friday night!

Celebration!

Like most first children (and first grandchildren), Whitney was very spoiled this birthday.  We celebrated multiple times and she has gotten very used to receiving letters in the mail and showered with gifts.  The only thing she isn't too fond of is people singing Happy Birthday to her.

 First we celebrated in Kiawah with my family and she burst into tears.  Then on her actual birthday, Grandma and Grandpa were here and you will see she was very displeased.  So, when we were expecting 40ish people for her actual birthday party, I thought I better warn her that we would be singing to her again.  Well, she burst into tears and said, "We already did that"!  In the end she was a trouper and I held her while she was serenaded.  Though there wasn't a smile, I think she was ok with all the attention.  Here are some highlights...

Helping make her own mini cake in Kiawah!  So fun!

 Then there were tears.

 Opening gifts on her birthday morning.

 Refused to blow out the candles.

 But loved eating the Carvel cake.

 Treated to her first mani/pedi.

 Auntie Ann made a fantastic greeting with sidewalk paint that she made!

 Best picture of all the kids.

 Tolerating the singing.

 A fun week celebrating our big girl!

Oh, and yes, it was my birthday too.  I am happy to share the spotlight with Whitney.  Tim and I did get out for pedicures (his first) and a delicious dinner.  Thanks Grandma and Ann for babysitting and Grandpa for being our chauffeur.