9 Year Anniversary

Ben and I were fortunate enough to have my parents come up to watch the boys while we snuck off with Ruby to Delaware for a night away to celebrate our 9th anniversary. Last year when I was matron of honor at Abby's wedding, she graciously gave me a gift certificate to a wonderful little hotel outside of Wilmington, The Inn at Montchanin Village. We had a lovely time staying there and had a fabulous dinner and breakfast at the hotel. We also visited a local winery and the beautiful Longwood Gardens to see the Mum exhibit. Here are some pictures of weekend away. Oh, did I mention, I love my husband and feel so lucky I share this life with him? He is the best. period.

Two Month Appointment

Ruby Alice had her two month appointment and she is growing just beautifully. She is very healthy and we are so lucky. She weighed in at 11 lbs, 14 oz (75%) and her length put her in the 60%. Here is a picture of our beauty.

Halloween 2011

Halloween was the best this year. The boys had such a fun time during the actual holiday and the days and weeks leading up to the big day. We decorated the house with all sorts of scary stuff, carved pumpkins, went to costume stores, and pumpkin patches to get in the spirit. We also had a large Halloween party with 25 kids and their parents at our house. I had envisioned an outdoor party, but it actually snowed that day! Crazy. So we set up all the festivities inside-- we had a pumpkin painting station, a ghost lollipop making station, and played pin the brains on the zombie. It was great and the boys had so much fun! They also enjoyed their school parties and school parade. The actual night of Halloween we took the boys to about 20 or so houses and Ruby tagged along in the infant carrier. The boys were so proud of their candy and had a wonderful holiday. Kids are the best.

Homecoming 2011

Ben and I headed to Williamsburg for William & Mary homecoming in October. It was such a fun weekend, we got to show the boys the pool where mommy swam, went to a fun tailgate and Ben and I got a date night since my parents offered to watch all three kids on Saturday night! It was fun to explain to the boys that W&M is where mommy and daddy met and fell in love. We got to spend some time with my best friend from college, Kristen, and her family too! A fun weekend all around!

My Little Superheros

Halloween is fast approaching, one of my all time favorite since having the boys. They are so cute about decorating and want to have a very spooky house. Everytime we go to the store I end up buying another Halloween decoration, but it is such fun to see the excitement on their faces. We are having our annual Halloween party again this year and the boys are SO thrilled. We already have our costumes-- and here is a picture of my three little superheros-- Batman, Wonderwoman and Spiderman. Love these kids!

One Month Appointment

Last week Ruby turned one month!! Hard to believe how quickly the time has gone. She had her first appointment with Dr. Barakat and Everett came with me and was such a big boy helper-- ever since Everett stopped napping (which was the week we took Ruby home!) we have gotten to spend lots of time together in the afternoons, he is such a sweet boy, although I still think he needs a nap once in a while. Of course, he is now a "big boy" and fights even the thought of a nap! We learned at Ruby's appointment that she is a very in propotion girl-- 75% in all her stats. She weighed in at 9 lbs, 15 oz, 21 1/2 inches long and her head was 15 even. Here is a picture of our sweet girl.

First Day of School

I can hardly believe my little Rollin started preschool!! Everett and Rollin both attend a great little preschool called Resurrection Luthern Weekday Preschool in Westover. Rollin attends two mornings a week in the two year old class and Everett attends four mornings a week in the three year old class. They are both doing so well with the transition. Rollin LOVES school, he runs in to class while I stand there waiting for a kiss and the other mothers are peeling their two year olds off their bodies to get in to the class room. I am so proud. His teachers, Miss Kristen and Miss Maribel, say he is doing so well and his speech is great, they have no problem understanding him.. music to my ears. Everett this year gets to go on four field trips! Such a big boy. I am so excited to be able to be a parent chaperon on the first trip to the Potomac Vegetable Farm on October 5th. Such fun! Here are some pictures of Everett and Rollin's first day of school. Love these boys so much.

Ruby's Arrival Video

A Big Thank You!!

I want to have a special post to thank my mom for all her hard work with our family when Baby Ruby arrived. She worked so hard with the boys, making dinner, doing laundry, cleaning the house from top to bottom, giving Ruby a bottle at night and overall outdoing her herself. I am so lucky to have a mom like her and I only hope I can do the same for my boys and Ruby when they have their children. Thank you mom!!

Welcome Baby Ruby!

At long last, a post about Baby Ruby Alice's arrival on August 31st! The delivery went so well, I was a bit nervous as I always get before my C-sections, especially because I did not have that great of experiences at the hospital with the boys. Ben and I showed up at 10 a.m. and Ruby Alice arrived at 12:37 p.m. and it went great. I could not believe it... I was so excited to meet this little lady and she did not disappoint! My mom was there for the birth and got to spend some quality time with Ruby a few minutes after her birth, and she came back with the boys later that evening after dinner for them to meet "sister" for the first time. I am happy to report that the boys love thir sister, no jealousy, no anger, just love. Rollin always comes in the hosue and says "where is Ruby Alice?" "I love her" "she is cute" and Everett loves to snuggle with her and kiss her head. It is adorable. We are adjusting to life with three kids... I forgot how difficult the nights can be with a newborn. Ruby is up every two hours, even at three weeks old... but I think (hope!) it gets better soon. She is a doll and so very pretty. We love her so much and Ben and I both feel like she completes our family. Here are some pictures and videos of Ruby's arrival.

Finally a Pic of Baby Hannah

I know I blogged about her arrival a few posts ago, but finally uploaded a photo of our first visit with this pretty little lady! Cannot wait to see her again and for her to meet her cousin, Ruby!

Annual Pawleys Island Beach Vacation

We had a wonderful trip to Pawleys Island yet again this August. Sadly this year the LeMaire family was not able to travel from Colorado, but instead my mom's brother, Sean his wife Angel and their three kids were able to fill in for the LeMaires. Everett really enjoyed playing with their youngest, Josie, who is almost five. The boys were a bit under the weather the entire week, but powered through their sickness and had fun in the sun. Everett got to jet ski for the first time ever, such a big boy! He was so brave and Rollin kept telling us he liked the pool, not the beach. Thankfully our house has a pool! It was a wonderful week with family and so fun to get to hold and snuggle beautiful baby Brock as well! Here are some photos of our trip.

Rollin's Two Year Stats

Although a few months late, we finally had Rollin's two year appointment with Dr. Barakat this past week. His stats are 32 lbs (90%), 38 inches (97%) and HC 19 1/4 (60%). He is a tall guy, but not as heavy as Everett. Also, Dr. Barakat was very impressed with his talking which has really taken off the past few months. He now repeatedly uses 5 to 6 word sentences to express himself, although he articulation is a bit spotty at times. We are working once a week with a speech pathologist who is helping with his articulation, however, we certainly do not have any difficulty understanding him and if we do, Everett ALWAYS knows what he is saying, it is adorable. We love you Rollin!

Summer 2011 Update

The summer is quickly flying by, even at 8 months pregnant! We have had a great summer so far. We joined a local pool, Overlee, so we spend a considerable amount of time there with the boys and Everett is becoming quite the swimmer (like mommy perhaps?). The heat has been unbearable at times, over 100 almost everyday, so there is little left to do than head to the pool or stay indoors. We had a great 4th of July down in Williamsburg with Aunt Emily, Uncle Matt and baby Brock and Grammy and Pap Pap, above are some pictures from our fun weekend. We have taken the boys to Busch Gardens a few times, which they love and it is always fun to see the big smile on their faces when they are having a good time. This past weekend we made the big move of putting the boys in the same room! They love it so far and have been sleeping like champs! Everett loves his big boy bed and Rollin thinks it is the coolest thing in the world to sleep in the same room as his brother. They are too cute talking to each other and we overhear them in the monitor. Adorable. We made a trip up to NJ last weekend to meet baby Hannah Elizabeth! Aunt Abby and Uncle Steve were so cute with their new bundle of joy and it was so fun to hold her, she is a sweetheart. We then stopped in southern NJ to get dinner with Josh, Charlotte and the kids who recently moved to Haddonfield from Texas, we are so happy they are within driving distance as the boys love their cousins.

We are getting the nursery ready for baby Ruby Alice's arrival on August 31st, only a few weeks left to go. I have felt pretty good this pregnancy am I am ready to finally meet her. She is very active, kicking me all the time, I love feeling her move and will miss being pregnant, but I think a family of five is plenty for us to handle. We are headed to our annual Pawleys Island vacation next week, at 36 weeks pregnant, hopefully I can manage, but the boys are too excited to spend the week at the beach. Wish me luck!