Spring Break Beach Trip

We had such a great time at the beach last week. It was my Spring Break from work, and we had been planning for a while to take the babies to the beach. I had already learned a lesson from a friend about expectations on beach trips with little ones. Thank goodness her kids are older than mine, so she can give me a fair warning on all the things that might not be that fun as a parent. A trip to the beach was one of the things she had told me "not so fun" stories about several years ago. We decided our philosophy would be that we understood we would be just as crazy busy and tired as we are at home, but there would be a beach outside and fresh seafood in restaurants. Looking at it from that perspective really worked! It was so much fun!

Rush LOVED, and I mean L-O-V-E-D the beach!!! He immediately wanted to walk in the sand. We just gave him a shovel and a bucket, and he went to work. He shoveled and dug in the sand the whole time we were on the beach. Phil took him down to the edge of the water, and he let the freezing cold water run over his feet. He just laughed and laughed. He will be with me one day sitting on the beach for hours at a time. He can dig in the sand and I can read. (Yes, reading is what I used to do on the beach pre-twins.)



Rush's first steps on the beach






Rush's fun times in the sand!!!






My sweet Sydney Frances was a little less sure of all of that sand, although she handled it pretty well. Her personality (so far) shows us that she likes to watch first, and then participate after she has had some time to observe. She walked in the sand a little the first day, but she really wanted us to pick her up. Then, when it was time for the play time on the beach, she started out by sitting on the end of our beach chairs. Then, we convinced her to move to a beach towel. After that, she moved to the edge of the towel so she could play in the sand. I had the sweetest moment with her on the beach after she had mustered up some courage. She turned and looked at me from her towel. She then stood in the middle of the beach towel and locked eyes with me (in the chair). Then, she smiled at me and very quickly walked across the sand to me. I cheered for her, and she was so proud of herself!!! So sweet!

Sydney Frances's first steps on the beach:






Sydney Frances's fun in the sun..






We enjoyed a trip to a great restaurant in Seaside called Great Southern. It is SO good. We ate our dinner on the deck because the weather was so nice. I confess... we went two nights in a row because it was a good, noisy place that didn't mind having two kids there.. AND the Grits A Ya Ya, their signature dish, is TO DIE FOR!!! Grits and fresh shrimp. What could be better for this southern girl? Ha! I love it!!



Rush and SF had popcorn shrimp. Doesn't it look like they are having a conversation here?

Overall, it was such a great trip. They traveled well. We even got stuck in traffic a couple of times, but they hung in there. I got a lot more free time than I thought I would. During nap time, Phil would stay in the condo with the babies, and I would get my beach reading time in! He knows I love that beach!!! (Thanks, Phil!) I am already trying to convince Phil that we should go again for my Fall break in October. Don't you think that is a good idea?

Beach Teaser

We are having a great time at the beach! We are leaving to come home tomorrow morning, but I wanted to put up at least one picture to let you guys see the babies on the beach. Great memories! More pictures and a post to come...

Spring

These are few pictures from "Spring Picture Day" at daycare. They were supposed to have their pictures made at a local preschool, but they weren't able to go because of a huge rain storm. I snapped a few pictures of them when I dropped them off. They were both very enthusiastic, as you can tell. I think Rush just couldn't move past how cute he looked in his sweater vest. Sydney Frances was also very pretty in her cardigan that her Dad-dee bought her.




Finally a little smile!



And... these just crack me up. Phil walked into our bedroom and said, "Rush is riding his fire truck around the kitchen." And I said, "What fire truck?" Then, I cracked up laughing and went to take pictures. This truck is quite obviously NOT a ride toy. Unless you are one and you turn it into one. He does have on his fire truck PJs after all.

Toddlers

It sounds like such an odd word for me to use. Toddlers. I just really can't believe that we are the parents of two toddlers! Over the last several weeks, though,I definitely feel like they are moving into this category. Both of them are starting to really have minds of their own. As you have seen in the last few posts, there are more "time outs" which I think is just a natural result of trying out the limits of what will be allowed. They are learning, and so are we. We definitely have to stay on our toes. Amid all the time outs, though, we are having LOTS OF FUN!!! They are absolutely hilarious, and we laugh out loud at them every single day. Entertaining is an understatement. Rush has a hysterical new face that he will do on command. I am going to try to post a short video of that. I have been amazed at how much their speech/language has developed over the past few weeks, too! Sydney Frances will try to repeat almost everything that she hears (yes, everything.. ha). Rush has also really started to chatter and attempt more and more words.

A few statistics:

Rush at 18 months:
20 lbs. 10 oz.
30.5 inches tall

Words now being featured in Rush-speak: map, backpack, Dora, milk, Mama, Daddy, sister (ti-ta), shrimp, sorry, thank you, up, knock-knock, and baby. He will try to say most things when we ask him to repeat them. My current favorite is "cup" also known as "puck".

Sydney Frances at 18 months
22 lbs. 4 oz.
30.5 inches tall

Current Franisms: (I have to include her pronounciations because she puts so much emphasis on her words.)
*milk (milT)
*diaper ( eh biPER)
*oops ( OOTS)
*oopsie daisy (OOTSIE daysee)
*brother (eh bruh-da)

This past weekend, Sydney Frances was watching me put their milk pucks into the refrigerator. Apparently, she wasn't quite finished and needed more milT. She walked up and put her hand on the door of the refrigerator then looked up at me and bumped her little fingers together and said, "Mo." Want to know why that is so interesting? We haven't been teaching them signs, but she was signing "more". :-) They learned it at daycare. I love that place!! Rush can also sign "more" when he wants more of something. Pretty amazing stuff. And, of course, she got mo milT.

I don't have many great pictures of the two of them from the last couple of weeks. They are especially wiggly lately, and it makes it tough to get a picture in before they are gone. I did catch this one, though. I told Rush to give Sydney Frances a hug because she had hit her head on the dresser. He went and laid down beside her and put his head in her lap. Umm... how sweet is that??
P.S. This also gives you a chance to check out Sydney Frances's new stylin' bow. She wears one every day because we are "growing out her bangs."



I will include a few others since Aunt Ivy hasn't seen them in a while.

Too busy playing to stop for that dumb 'ole camera


Yes, Rush does have Frannie in a headlock. He thinks it is hilarious.


I hit my head on the dresser, y'all!

P.S. Mama and Aunt Julia... I FOUND my Seiko watch that Mama and Daddy gave me for graduation. Can you believe it? I found it. I will have to tell you the story.

Meet you in the corner

Rush decided he needed to return the favor today.

Twin stuff

We have had to put the "Sad Mat" into action here a little more than usual lately. Perhaps turning 18 months old is the reason. Don't know. This is basically just the "time out" spot for the kids if either of them is up to no good. It makes Rush very sad to have to sit there. So sad, in fact, that Sydney Frances is not able to handle the sadness. She went to sit with him today and read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (aka.."Brow Beer") to him.


Take a close look at S.F. She DID have a white bow in her cute little hair, but Rush ripped it from her head. He also held her down and scratched her face and pulled her hair... hence... the Sad Mat. Still, she chose to read to him. Also, do not fall for Rush's pitiful face. There were no real tears. I know... I fall for it,too, sometimes.

Finally... some sunshine!!

We have had a rough winter around here, in my opinion. Maybe it has just been long. We got a short break from our winter weather with some awesome days in the 60s this weekend!!! Yay!!! We all needed to get outside. We gathered up all of our gear and headed into the backyard. Guess what? The babies weren't really interested in the gear. As usual, they were more interested in playing with pine cones, sticks, pine boughs, and rocks. They also just like to RUN!!! And RUN! And then after that, maybe a little running!






As far as I am concerned, he never needs another haircut again... ever!


I wonder if everyone else thinks she is as beautiful as I do?


Fun with Daddy!


Love this grin!


This is what Phil has had her in training for. She and Rush both shake their little arms and grin so big when he says "R--- T---!" My heart is so sad. I have already bought SF an AU sundress for this spring. I will not give up.