Savannah is TWO!

Sweet Savannah turned TWO yesterday!  She is the last birthday of the whirlwind birthday season, so we now have a 6, 4 and 2 year old.  Every time someone has turned 2, I literally have had another baby a few weeks later, so we are about to explore new territory with our youngest kid being over two.  I am very excited for this time, as things already seem a little easier with the kids being older.  Sad to not have a baby anymore, but looking forward to this new phase of life.  

Savannah is such a sweet girl, but also has sass for days.  I didn't think it was possible, but she at least equals Luke is loudness and personality.  Audrey is maybe one notch behind on the crazy, which isn't saying much!  So overall, she can definitely hold her own with her older siblings.  She is very vocal and we have been amazed at her vocabulary.  I think she is saying more than either of the other two did at this age, and can literally repeat anything you ask her too.  She is quick to tell you "No", and unfortunately is now testing some serious boundaries.  She has pushed her mama a few times when she didn't get what she wanted and has spent a lot of time in time out recently.  Savannah is very independent.  She wants to do everything her siblings do, and doesn't want any help from me.  Her favorite phrases are, "I do it", "I hold it", basically "I do it all!".  Haha! She is also quick to give kisses, loves to say goodnight and give hugs to everyone.  She makes sure she hugs Luke and Audrey each night before going to bed.  She is a big "helper", and likes to "help" me and be by my side most of the time.  Her teachers say she is their big helper as well.  She loves to jump, and will jump off a curb or anything she can that is in sight.  She is also pretty fast when she runs.  We always crack up laughing, because when she runs, she looks like she is going to fall over at any moment, but never does.

Here are her stats: 

Height: 2 ft 8 inches (33.75 inches) - 50%

Weight: 24 pounds 8 ounces- 25% 

So over the past year she has grown 3.5 inches and gained 6 pounds. 

Here are some pictures from yesterday morning.  I had a major "mom fail".  I was taking pictures and not paying close enough attention, and 2 strands of her hair caught on fire!  It was very brief, and I got it super fast, but still scary and DUMB of me!  Lesson learned.  Here she is before the hair singeing incident. 

Here is Savannah on her birthday every year.  I still can't get over that black sticking up hair that just grew out to a blondie!

Here she is in her chair at 2 weeks, 6 months and then yearly after that.

We sure do love out sweet and sassy Savannah!

Celebrating Audrey

While compiling this blog, I realized that we celebrated Audrey A LOT!  When Luke turned 4 we took him on a date with just Brian and I, and we wanted to do that for Audrey.  We couldn't even think of a time when it was both of us with just her, so it was way overdue.  She absolutely loved being the only kid there, and kept saying she was glad "those stinkers weren't with us so she wouldn't have to argue that day".  haha!  We took her to the mall where we ate at the Cheesecake Factory, let her play on the playground, rode the carousel, saw a movie, walked around the Disney Store and had some ice cream.  She was in heaven, and I loved just being able to focus on her.  We are going to try and keep doing this at least yearly for their birthdays.    

Tula and Pop were out of town on her actual birthday, so Tula brought her presents and a little treat to a park the week before. Audrey scored her first Barbie gear.

On the day of her birthday we had some fun as well.  Here is the puffy faced little early riser blowing out some breakfast candles.

After breakfast, Savannah had Meet the Teacher, and then we made a quick pit stop after that.  Audrey just started gymnastics for the first time 2 weeks ago, and when we went to sign her up about a month before, she saw this very nice, very orange, very expensive leotard.  I told her we couldn't get it because it was just too much, and I thought she would leave it at that.  Well... for weeks I kept hearing about the sparkly orange leo.  She was always sweet about it and kind of just talking about it, not whining or even asking for it.  I decided on a whim that for a special birthday surprise we would go get it.  She was sooooo excited and wore that thing the entire rest of the day.  It came with a matching scrunchie, so obviously we got our monies worth! ;)  Haha!  That thing better last!

After the leo purchase, we met our cousins, minus Luke (which is so weird), for a little fun at Jump Street.  It took some convincing to get Audrey to wear her pants. (Oh and please note the crazy moms photobomb in the glass, say cheese!)

After picking up Luke from school, we just enjoyed a nice afternoon at home.

Nonnnie, Grandpa, and Aunt Tracy came over to watch Audrey open some presents, and then we all went out for a fun dinner to Cracker Barrel.

Luke used one of his assignments at school to make Audrey a card.

We sure do love celebrating this girl, but I think for now, this years celebrating is over!

First Day of Preschool

The girls are both back in school, and this mama now has two free days for 5 hours!  Whoohoo!  I have not had any consistent kid free time in 6 years, so this milestone is a little sad, but mostly exciting!  I will have Tuesdays to myself, and Thursdays I am going to start volunteering at a local women's center.  I am very excited about this time, and knowing how much they love school makes it even better!  

Savannah started school a week before Audrey.  With Savannah's birthday being September 16th, she missed our preschools cut off day for the 2 year old class by 2 weeks.  Our preschool has a 1 year old program, but it was only 1 day a week.  Both Luke and Audrey went 2 days a week at 2, and Savannah was so ready to go 2 days.  I was super bummed, but found out that the preschool across the street offered a 2 day program she could be in.  On a whim, I put her on the waiting list, not thinking much of it, and then got a call a week before school started that she got in!  I jumped on the chance and she is now in the Busy Bee class and loving it.  Her school is literally across the street from Audrey's, so it is not that hard going back and forth.  

This was also a huge blessing for me!  I have felt that the Lord has been leading me to this volunteer opportunity, and with her being in school only one day, I was getting a little stressed with fitting everything in. I knew in my heart it was something I was suppose to do, and prayed this summer that I wouldn't feel so stressed about it.  Well... what a pleasant surprise when I got the call that she got into the 2 day program.  Took a huge relief off of me, and the Lord truly answered my prayers.  Now I feel like I can fit volunteering in there, and be excited about the opportunity, and even have a bonus day to myself.  God is so good!

Ok now to the pictures of our sweet preschoolers.  

These two just love their classes and are pretty pooped at the end of the day.  Here they are resting and Savannah tells me, "I snuggle Audey".  Oh how I love these sisters!  Here's to an awesome year!