eleven months

Today this beautiful boy is eleven months old. I can hardly believe it. One month until this kid turns one! The past couple weeks I've felt like he's grow up a lot. He took his first steps (to MADELINE!) about a month ago, and since then has taken a few steps here and there but definitely preferred crawling. This week, though, he's decided to take walking much more seriously. 

He eats and eats and eats. I seriously think we need to start a savings account just for feeding him when he's a teenager. Literally he out eats Madeline and I at most meals. Love me some chubby boy!!

I can't remember how much he weighed at his last checkup.... ( #secondchildproblems ) But I do remember that he barely cried after his shots. He takes after me ;) 

Luke is so good at waving "hi" and "bye" and often accompanies those waves with a primitive sounding 'hi' or 'bye' respectively. He uses a couple baby signs, but not nearly as much as Madeline did. Which is totally fine. I'm not worried at all about his development. Look at that kid! He is happy and healthy and that's all that matters. 

Sweet baby boy you are such an angel and my goodness I love you. I can't imagine life without you and I'm so grateful you came to our family eleven months ago. 

i'm convinced this is the greatest park in the world

 ^^ You know he's starting to walk well when he can take a few steps on this thing ^^

These past few blog posts from our current trip to Florida are starting to feel like replicas of our trip a year and a half ago, but our family has changed so much, and it's such a beautiful place, I keep snapping away and you know me, I have to share :) 

This park. 

Every city in America should have a park like this. My soul sings being in such a beautiful, peaceful and happy place. Last time we were here Madeline was about fifteen months old and not exactly able to enjoy the park. But this time... this time she didn't stop. Luke obviously had fun, too. That boy has no fears. Dive down a slide? No problem-o. In fact, let's do it over and over again. Swings? Push me higher!

Seriously, though. If you're ever in Panama City, you must go to this park. 

thanksgiving 2014

I'm thankful for a lot of things this year, but the thing that stuck out the most yesterday was how grateful I am for our families. My kids are so blessed to have the grandparents they do, here in Florida and in Washington. And I'm so so grateful that our kids know who their grandparents are and that their little faces light up when they see them. They are loved by many, and that is a blessing I am very thankful for.

Also, grateful for pie. Always grateful for pie :)

we saw the goats (again)

^^ let's talk about how great that goat's hair is ^^

 ^^ 'honorary goat' ^^

You may recall that on our last trip to Florida we visited some goats and of course we had to do it again. It was a lot of fun seeing our kids get into it. Such a fun place to have right down the road from grandma & grandpa.

You'll notice I'm not pictured :) In instances such as these I'm especially happy to be the one behind the camera. I did feed one goat though, for the record.