We have had the best summer!! I think this is the first time in a very long time that I am sad to see summer end. I'm usually itching for fall to get here by now but I wish we could hang on to summer (sans the hot temps) a little bit longer.
We were able to check things off our summer bucket list and spend some very intentional time together as a family. The summer is a little bit calmer for us without Wednesday and Sunday night church activities so we soaked up a lot of quality time and made every effort to be outside, be adventurous, and simply enjoy being with each other. Levi is at such a fun age and is learning new things every day. I have loved every minute with him and I want to remember this summer forever :)
Here are some fun things we were able to do this summer: Roadtrips to New Bern to see Mimi and Poppy and the Fickles, Charlotte to shop at the mall and eat at Cheesecake Factory, and Greenville (twice!) to visit Aunt Meg and the boys; play dates with friends; mornings and afternoons at the pool (we spent several days a week at the pool and loved it!!); swinging, sliding and playing in the sand at the playground; playing with Finley and blowing bubbles in the backyard; VBX and SummerSalt for Ryan; Fireflies game with our SVBC family; pool party and paint wars with our SVBC students; half marathon training/running 4 days a week; going out to breakfast after our long runs on Saturday mornings (we've tried to eat somewhere new each week as a reward after our runs and it's been so fun); and last but not least... the Riverbanks Zoo and splash pad!
Update on Levi at 15 months:
Likes: being outside!!, going to the zoo and splash pad, chasing and playing with Finley, feeding Finley his food and filling up his water bowl, playing in his big blue truck, reading books, dancing to any music, his mega Legos, veggie straws, Annie's canned organic biscuits and fruit, bathtime (he bolts to the bath when we ask if he's ready to take a bath), brushing his teeth (also bolts to the bathroom for his toothbrush when we ask if he wants to brush his teeth), his paci- he would keep it in his mouth all day if we let him but he only gets in at bedtime/nap and in the car if he's fussy.
Dislikes: water being dumped on his head in the bath, when Mommy says we can't go outside, meal times, his car seat most of the time
Milestones:
~Levi now has 10 total teeth and the 11th just popped through on the bottom, wears 18 month clothes, weighs 23 lbs, size 5 diapers and is still dairy and soy free
~He can identify his tongue, eyes, ears, nose, head and feet when asked and points out specific things he recognizes (tree, fish, dogs on tv, and things like that). We are now working on animal noises.
~He understands most everything we say to him, can follow simple instructions, and can tell us what he wants (snack, paci, go outside, etc.) I feel like we can have conversations even though he doesn't talk. :)
~He does well with more, milk, please, thank you and hot in sign language.
~He can say mama, dada, Holley (pronounced "Hi-ya"), tree ("ee"), water ("wa-wa").
~He holds up his #1 finger when asked, "How old are you?" and loves to brush his hair with my brush when I ask him.
~He has his favorite books and likes to point out specific images on the pages each time, "read along" with me, and do the motion for "pee yew" when we read about the stinky dump trucks in "Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?" We've ready some books so many times that he knows what's coming on the next page. He also loves to say "dibble dibble dibble" when we read about the rain in his Dr. Seuss book.
~Graduated from the nursery to the toddler class for Sunday school (He's in SS for two hours on Sunday morning and for an hour on Wednesday nights. I'm thankful for this time he has with his friends and teachers to begin learning about Jesus and I'm also thankful for time to worship and teach our class on Sunday mornings and hear Ryan preach on Wednesday nights.)
~Plays very well by himself. We have independent play time every morning after breakfast and he explores all of his toys and entertains himself for over an hour.
~He has still never been sick!! Thank you, Lord!
Sleep: This boy remains a champion sleeper and still goes down without a problem and never wakes in the middle of the night. When it's time to go to bed at night we ask him, "Levi are you ready to go night night?" And he will wave night night to us and run to his room all on his own. Makes me laugh. He sleeps 7/7:30 pm-8/8:30 am. He takes a 1.5 hour morning and a 1+ hour afternoon nap most days but we have been really flexible with that this summer if we have things to do or places to go. There are several days when we skip morning nap and just take an earlier afternoon nap but he is happiest when he gets two naps.
*(Update as of 9/1/16: we have officially dropped morning nap. He started taking a longer morning nap and refusing his afternoon nap so we decided that was a sign he was ready to go to one. He has transitioned well and is very ready for his nap when it's time. He now naps right after lunch for 2+ hours. Usually 1-3 or 1:30-3:30 pm)
Here are a few snapshots of our summer!
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| VBX! |
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| Waterfall Junction |
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| Even riding the tram to the splash pad is fun! |
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| Asher, and Isaac, and Levi at the zoo- oh my! :) |
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| My cousin Stephanie and her son Nathan passed through Columbia for a visit- we spent the day at the pool and grilled out for dinner. |
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| Pelican's night with our SVBC students |
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| Paint night with the SVBC women's ministry |
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| Farewell lunch for our college bound students! |
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| Levi LOVES feeding the animals at the zoo |
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| Sleep stalking- look at that angel boy :) |
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| My mom came over a bunch to go to the pool when she was home from the beach this summer. |
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Charlotte with my loves
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| Daddy bought Levi a fishy and named him Fernando! |
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| Reading a favorite |
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| Best buds at Clemson Extension |
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| Finley went and sat under the tree so Levi followed and sat down ride next to his buddy. |
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| Pool party with the best SVBC parents |
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| He just randomly hugs Finley and it's the cutest thing ever |
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| Harrison, Levi and Isaac- the three muskateers ;) |
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Books with Aunt Holley are the best
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| Friends since the fifth grade having fun at the propski with our babies |
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| Play date with Harrison and Evie |
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| Pelican's date |
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| Sweet Poppy |
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| Best day with our best buds at the zoo! |
((Romans 8:32))
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
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