June

It is officially summer break and this is the first summer where I have felt at a complete loss of what to do with the kids. I got so used to Everett being in preschool that having the extra time together this summer might either break us or make us that much stronger. I love that little boy to death but Preschool is a blessing for us all. 

I did get a nice start to my summer. I spent a weekend in DC visiting Jesse. It was such a nice little getaway and we saw some fun parts of DC that I hadn’t seen before. It was a refreshing way to start the summer spending time with family and having a little vacation from the little ones.

My best purchase of the month was an $8 slip n slide. Everett and I in past summers used our little pool every afternoon to cool off. Now with two kiddos and Everett being a little older the pool wasn’t quite cutting it. The slip n slide has been so fun in the hot afternoons. 

Nathan started walking! He has a confidence that I love watching.
We had a lot of fun at the annual PM&R pool party and the residency graduation dinner.
We have found the best way to spend our mornings is at the park before the extreme heat hits.
I turned 31 this month. Stephen and I had a nice date night uptown and I felt pretty spoiled.
Everett had his first ever swim lessons. It was amazing seeing his progress from start to finish.

We spent Father’s Day at one of our favorite places, the beach. I love Stephen so much and am grateful he is the dad for my two sweet boys.

Nathan: 15 Months

15 Month Checkup:
Weight 22 pounds 6 ounces 43%.
Height 31 Inches 40%. Head 18 Inches 19%.

You are saying Dada now and it is the sweetest.
You love dancing when music comes on and get the biggest smile on your face.
You do the cutest little smile head shake.
You love looking at books. Your favorites are the touch and feel ones. When it is time to read at nap and bed time we offer you a book and you will either grab it or push it away until we pick the one you want. Your favorites change every week or two.
I love when I find little hand prints on the outside of the car and on the windows.
You have a new tooth coming in on the bottom.
You started walking while I was in DC. Dad sent me lots of videos of your first steps.
My favorite thing right now is you grabbing books and bringing them over to read on my lap.
You like to pee on the floor while I am changing your diaper after your naps.
A couple days before Fathers Day you learned how to clap your hands.
You started saying Mom a week before my birthday.
In the mornings when you wake up we have been reading stories in your rocking chair until brother wakes up. It is one of my favorite parts of the day. You cuddle right into my lap.
Whenever I tell Alexa to turn on Disney Children's radio on Pandora you start shaking your body to dance.

PM&R Graduation Dinner

We celebrated the fourth year PM&R residents and Stephen finishing his second year of residency. The closer we get to the end of training the more emotional these graduations are. Only those who go through this journey understand the sacrifices and years of long hard work that is put in. We have been very blessed along this entire journey in the friendships we have made and places we have been able to live. It is sad to see some friends go but I am so happy for them and their next journey. This last year was long and tough. We are so glad to have it over with. Stephen is now in his third year of residency, one year closer to being done.

Washington DC

To start summer vacation I was able to have a much needed two day getaway. I headed to Washington DC to visit my brother. We explored so much of the city and walked a ton. My favorite place we visited was the Holocaust museum. It is somewhere I have wanted to visit just not when the kids were with me. We had a lot of fun together and ate a lot of delicious food. It was just the restart that I needed.
While I was away Nathan decided to start walking. I knew it was going to be any day that he started and of course the little stinker had to wait until mom went away for a couple days. Stephen sent me videos of him taking his first steps and walking all around.