Hannah - 18 1/2 months

Our Hannah turned 18 months on August 14th.  She had her 18 month well checkup on Tuesday and got a great report!  She weighed 25lb,  12oz and was in the 69th percentile for her weight.  She was 32 inches long and was in the 57th percentile for her height.  We're thankful for our healthy little girl!! 

Hannah's Favorites at 18 1/2 months:
Food: Strawberries, cheese, blueberries, goldfish, bananas, etc.
Movies: Baby Signing Time, Barney
Books:  Potty, Imagine That, I Love You Stinky Face, Taking it Easy!, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, any Peek-a-boo books
Activities: Playing outside, swimming, dancing, climbing on things, taking baths, reading books
Phrases She Can Say: Mine oh mine, love you, up please, thank you, my Daddy, my Mommy, lay down, a bug

Sleeping Habits at 18 1/2 months: 
- Takes 1 nap a day. Usually naps for about 1 1/2 hours in the afternoon. 
- It usually takes her about 5 minutes to fall asleep for both naps and night time.
- She sleeps for about 12 hours at night and almost never wakes up in the middle of the night.
- She sleeps with her bunny (must have the bunny) and a blanket that her Uncle Stan made.

Things I Treasure about my 18 1/2 month old:
- She loves to be outside playing...swinging, playing with bubbles, playing with a ball, taking a wagon ride or just walking around.
- She loves music and she loves to dance.  She especially loves the "Happy Happy Easter" song from Emily's choir CD.  I couldn't begin to tell you how many times I've heard that song.:) 
- She changes her L's to Y's  - "yites" (lights)
- She says many, many words. She will repeat most any word you ask her to. 
- She doesn't like crumbs on the bottom of her feet and freaks out a little when something is down there.  The other day I thought she was surely being attacked by some sort of bug because of how upset she was, but it turned out to be just a crumb.:) 
- She loves her bunny.  So much. 
- She's scared of ALL bugs...flies, spiders, gnats, ants.  There have been many times when I've heard her saying in fear and pointing at a bug...."Ahhhh, ahhhh, a bug, a bug."  I'm not sure where the fear came from, but it's real. 
- The other day I was in the kitchen fixing sandwiches for lunch and I heard Hannah in the other room saying "Ahhhh, ahhhh, a fly, a fly."  I walked in there when I finished what I was doing and told her that we're not scared of flies....they won't hurt us.  When I turned around to go back to the kitchen I saw what she was pointing at....a HUGE spider!  We've got to work on her terminology so that I know when to drop what I'm doing.:) 
- Hannah keeps close tabs on her "Emmy" and likes to do whatever she is doing. 
- Loves having bows in her hair and asks for them often. 
- Calls any liquid (milk, juice or water) "juice."
- She LOVES to climb on things....kitchen chairs, couch, recliner, beds, tall stools.  It makes me nervous because she's still not that stable, but I feel like every time I turn around she's found something else to climb on.:) 
- She prefers to walk by herself...everywhere we go.  She's a big girl and she doesn't want me to forget it.:) 
- She loves being read to.  If she's upset this is a great way to calm her back down. 
- Hannah loves dogs.
- Makes the sounds for a dog, cat, duck, horse, and cow.
- Her teeth and hair are coming in slowly but surely.  She has plenty of hair now for a bow and her 6th tooth is about to break through any day now. 
- She's a great eater  -- doesn't really care for the slimy texture...cooked squash, tomatoes, but other than that she's content to eat most foods. 
- She's an explorer...loves to get into cabinets, drawers, etc.
- She's a content, sweet little girl (most of the time)! 
-She loves the water...bath, pool or ocean.
- She doesn't like it when Emily gets in her personal space or takes a toy away from her.  Hannah will start yelling to let you know her displeasure.  I like that she stands up for herself.:) 
- It's one of Hannah's greatest joys to take all the clothes out of one of her drawers in her room and dump them on the floor or in her hamper.  If I told you how fast she could do it you wouldn't believe me. 
- She still has the sweetest laugh, beautiful blue eyes and the most adorable little dimple on her right cheek.

Hannah, you are an absolute joy, and we're so so thankful for you!!  Happy 18 1/2 months baby girl! 

Emily's First Day of K-3

Emily started K-3 this past Monday.  She's going to Taylors FBC Preschool in the two day program.  I'm so excited for her but I'm also a little sad.  I just can't believe my baby is old enough to be going to school.  She loves being around people and I think she'll do really well...I'm excited about all that she will learn academically and socially as well as about the Bible!! 

She's been SO excited!  A few weeks ago we bought another car seat to put in Bert's car, so that he could take her to school on his way to work.  She's been soooo excited about her Daddy taking her to school.  She loves having a carseat in his car too.  Sunday night he drove her home from church in his car while I drove Hannah in the van.  Emily said proudly..."Daddy, this is me and you's car and that's Mommy and Hannah's car."  Haha!  

She woke up excited about her first day!  Little cutie!:)  

I must admit I shed just a few tears when she drove off with her Daddy that morning...and maybe Monday night too when I went to check on her before I went to bed....and maybe when I was in the carpool line to pick her up.  We'll just blame it on pregnancy hormones!!:)  

Bert took this one just before she went in her room!

Emily with her teacher, Mrs. Morgan.  Mrs. Morgan seems so sweet and we're thankful she's Emily's teacher.  

We're looking forward to a great year!:)  

Baby GIRL On The Way!

Baby Watts is a GIRL!!  We're so excited to be welcoming another sweet girl into our family!  It's going to be so much fun having 3 girls!  Lots of pink, tea parties, dress up clothes, and dolls.  I decided that with three girls I should definitely learn how to braid so I'm going to put that on my list of things to do over the next couple years.  Wish me luck.  I've tried before with not much success, but I feel sure that I'm capable so I'm going to keep trying!!:)  

I had the big anatomy ultrasound on Monday morning (I was 20 weeks on Monday...halfway there...crazy).  We were able to see all four chambers of her heart, her stomach, her bladder, the bones in her legs, her brain, her sweet toes and so much more.  It was absolutely amazing to see her in such detail.  It just reminds me of how big our God is.  He is forming her in my womb.  I've done nothing, but look what He has done!!  It reminds me that He is a loving God and is in control of all things.  

Our sweet girl was moving all around and it was so fun to see her!  She really did look so sweet.  She kept bringing her hand up to her mouth and then one time we saw her stretch her hand behind her head.  I asked the ultrasound tech if it might be stuck back there...it honestly didn't look very comfortable to me, but by the next time we looked she had already moved it.:)  We were so thankful for a good report and a healthy baby! 

When we got back home from the doctor on Monday morning, Emily asked if we got the baby out while we were there.  Ha!  The other day she said "Mommy, is Daddy going to get the baby out??"  I certainly hope not!!  

This pregnancy has been going very smoothly.  My nausea stopped at about 12 weeks....I've had a little here and there, but mostly it stopped then.  I've had some mild lower back pain on my right side.  I'm trying to be careful to carry Hannah as little as possible b/c they've said some of my back muscles are weakened due to the pregnancy.  It's hard not to carry such a sweet, cuddly little thing though....especially when she lifts her arms up and says "up peese."  Good luck saying no to that!  

I've been feeling the baby kick more and more.  Bert was actually able to feel her kick for the first time about 3 days ago.  So fun!  I love feeling her kick, but I like for him to be able to experience it too!       

The picture below is a 20 week pregnancy update photo, and believe it or not, it was taken by Emily Jean Watts!  It's a little crooked, but I was impressed!!  

On Monday night we decided to go out to dinner as a family to celebrate our baby girl on the way!  We were so thankful for a good check-up for her and we couldn't think of a much better reason to celebrate!  We decided to go to Mutt's BBQ in Greer.  Kids 4 and under eat free, the food is great (I really wanted mac and cheese), and they have this train that runs on a track all along the top of the restaurant.  Hannah especially LOVES it!!  Every time the train would ride by (it came by every couple minutes) she would get so excited, point at the train and yell "choo choo!!"...just like it was the first time she had seen it!!:) 

Family picture of our night out celebrating!  

Sweet baby girl, you have a mommy and a daddy and two big sisters who love you so so much!  We can't wait to hold you in our arms!  We're praying for you!  

PS:  Keep up the good kicking...it makes me smile!  

Quick Visit!

Bert's mom and Mamaw stopped by for a visit last week.  They had been up to see Bert's sister (Alison) in NC and they stopped by Greenville for a day on their way back to GA.  Emily found out on Monday that they were coming.  I told her they would be here on Thursday and I can't tell you how many times between Monday and Thursday that she asked me "Mommy, is it Thursday yet?!"  

Just playing some games on Grandmama's ipad...

Friday morning we headed over to Woodruff Road to have Hannah's 18 month pictures made at Portrait Innovations.  Hannah cried several times throughout the session...she wasn't overly excited about being there, but we ended up getting a picture that I LOVE and it made it all worth it.  

After naps on Friday we went outside to blow bubbles, swing, and just get some fresh air before Mamaw and Grandmama had to hit the road.  

I didn't ask them to put their arms around each other...I just snapped it when I saw it.  So sweet!  

Grandmama and Emily pushing Hannah in the swing.  

Thankfully Emily loves pushing about as much as she loves swinging....makes for one happy Hannah!!  

We had a great visit!  We were so thankful they were able to stop by and see us!!  Grandmama and Mamaw, please do it again soon!!:)  

Fun in the Sun - PCB 2013

Our girls had such a great time at both the beach and the pool this year!

Emily loved the sand and she enjoyed the water (the last beach trip we took she ran from it....so she's definitely warming up!)  

Emily getting ready to cool off in the water...

Hannah had lots of fun playing in the water once she warmed up to it, but the sand really wasn't her idea of a good time.  Once we finally put her in the chair in the picture below she quit crying and just decided she would hang out and relax.:) 

After a little while she even sat up and started playing with her shovel in the sand....never leaving the chair of course.  I've got to say I understand where Hannah's coming from though....I love the beach but I don't love getting sandy.  I love to sit in a chair, feel the breeze, listen to the waves and read my book!!  

Her sister had sand from her head to toes and didn't mind one bit.  

This is a hole that Emily and Papa worked to dig.  She's actually standing in it!!  

These girls love to get thrown in the air!!  

I caught Hannah's picture right as Bert was catching her but I loved her big smile!!  

Emily asked me to throw her up one time, and I told her that was Daddy's job.  I'm not even sure I could get her in the air at all, but definitely not this high!:)  

Uncle Stan, Aunt Katherine, Papa and Hannah just hanging out in the pool!  

Hannah talked Uncle Stanley into throwing her up...she loved it!  

We went to dinner at Boon Docks and the food was so good!  We've been to this restaurant the last two years and we'll be back.  

Family Photo...

Uncle Stanley with his nieces and nephew...he loves them!:)  

After dinner we headed over to the race track for the guys to ride race cars.  These guys are very serious about their annual vacation race car driving.  This year they were bumping and knocking each other (as usual) around like they were driving bumper cars and Stanley actually got called off the track in the middle of the race.  I felt bad b/c I have know doubt that my husband, brother-in-law and Dad were just as much to blame, but Stan was a good sport about it!:)  I'm sure he's planning on getting them back next year.  

The whole family!  

We had such a great time on vacation, and we're so thankful for our family!:)  Next year we'll be added one more sweet little one to this picture!  Can't wait!  

Jacob Turns 2

This sweet boy turned two while we were on vacation!!  So fun!  We got to have a party for him on his actual birthday (Aug 9th)!!  

We had a low country boil for his birthday dinner and it was sooo good.  We decided we probably need to make this meal a yearly vacation tradition!  

Emily was very interested in helping Jacob open his presents.  She stood right beside Aunt Katherine just waiting for them to tell her he needed help.:)  

Happy 2nd Birthday, Jacob!!  The Watts' family loves you and we're so thankful for you!!  

Cousin Love

Jacob, Emily and Hannah had lots of fun with each other all week!  

Aunt Katherine was letting them watch a video on her ipad while they all drank some juice...cuties!!:)  

Hannah was laying on Bert's knees and Jacob kept coming over to give her a kisses.  She wasn't sleeping, even though it looks like it in the picture below...she was laughing at Jacob giving her kisses on her forehead.  

In the two pictures below it looks like poor Jacob is getting dragged around by his cousins.  Haha!  He might have been letting them pull him around, but it's only because he didn't mind.  We saw over and over last week that all three of these toddlers have their own opinions and they're not afraid to let you know what they are.:)  

I'm thankful our girls have such an awesome, kind, loving, fun "big" cousin!  Jacob is actually 16 months younger than Emily, but he's already bigger than her and I doubt she'll catch back up!:)    

Pier Park

One night we headed over to Pier Park for dinner at Five Guys and to let the kids ride some rides.  They really have built up a fun, family-friendly atmosphere at Pier Park...it was great!  

Our first stop was to ride the train.  We loaded up in different cars and got to take a ride down the street.  

Emily loved waving at everyone we passed!  

Hannah kept saying "Choo choo!"  

Jacob wasn't so sure about it at first, but once the train took off he loved it!:)  

Next stop was the carousel!  Hannah actually had her own horse....we just put her on the back of Em's for a picture!:)

Uncle Stan volunteered to ride these airplanes with Emily.  They actually go pretty high, but our girl loved it!!   

The cars in the picture below was Emily's favorite ride!  She kept talking about getting to drive a car with her friends!!  She loved it!!  

Emily was on her last ride (cars) and Katherine and Brett had started walking toward their car with Jacob, so Papa decided Hannah needed one last ride.  We had one ticket left so he and Hannah hopped on the carousel while the rest of  us were paying attention to Emily.:)  

When I turned around this is where I found them!  She was so excited...smiled the whole time!!:)  

Papa Stan did too!  I love the picture below b/c I feel like it captures just how much Papa Stan loves his grandbabies!  

We had such a fun night at Pier Park!  I seems like every year they add more and more rides.  This year Hannah was still too short for a lot of the rides, but watch out...next year she'll be taller and I doubt she'll let her big sister ride anything without her.:)  

Waterpark

On Monday we went to Shipwreck Island water park.  Let me just go ahead and say that I L.O.V.E. waterparks.  When I was growing up we would go every year while we were on vacation and it was most definitely one of my favorite parts of the trip.  I especially love Shipwreck Island b/c we've been going to that park since I was 2 years old.  This year was a little different as I was pregnant with our sweet baby and couldn't ride the rides.   A little sad for this water-park-loving-girl, but I'd do (or not do) anything for my sweet little one.  The kids kept us so busy that I didn't hardly have time to miss riding the rides.  We had so much fun in kiddie land.  We had a huge cabana just for our family, so we had plenty of room to spread out and we were able to enjoy the shade when we needed to get the kids out of the sun for a bit.  

The picture below was their favorite slide....they probably did it 456 times.:)  

Hannah took a nap on my chest while Jacob took a nap on Papa Stan's chest about halfway through the day.  Emily got to play with Mimi and Aunt Katherine while the little one's were taking naps.  She was so proud and excited...she kept saying "big girls don't have to take naps when they're at the water park do they, Mommy!?!?"  

It really was such a fun day!!  We all loved it!!  We'll be back, Shipwreck!!:)  

Roberts Family Vacay 2013

Last weekend we got back from our annual trip to Panama City Beach!  We had such a great time!!  There were 10 of us in one condo, but that's how I like it...I love it when everyone's together!!:)  Emily (3), Hannah (18 months) and Jacob (2) had SO much fun playing together!  They really were too sweet.  We were so thankful to my parents for treating all of their grown kids (and their grandkids) to such a fun vacation!!

Mama with her girls!:)

You know I love family pictures!  You can even see Baby Watts....18 weeks in utero in this picture.:)

On Tuesday night, Mimi and Papa Stan sent the young adults out for a night on the town while they kept the grandbabies.  Bert got to pick out our restaurant as he won the family March Madness bracket this year.  He picked Angelo's Steak House and we all agreed he made a GREAT pick!! Seriously, the food was amazing!  We had to tone down our excitement over how good the food was when we got back to the condo b/c we didn't want Papa Stan to get jealous of how good the steaks were!:)  

After dinner we headed to the movie theater.  The movie that everyone decided on (Wolverine) wasn't exactly my cup of tea, so I dropped them off there and then headed to Starbucks where I got a decaf caramel something (I don't remember the name, but it was good!), snuggled in one of the comfy chairs and read my book in peace and quiet for two hours...so relaxing!  It really was a win-win for everyone.  They liked the movie, and this book-loving-mother-of-two-little-ones loved the alone time!:)  We had a great night!  Thanks to Mimi and Papa Stan for insisting we go and for taking care of the kiddos!  

This was the first of many....more vacation posts to come....