Wordless Wednesday

The Spa

I have said it before and I will say it as long as I live...we have great friends.  We have several groups of friends that we love and that we share life with and we are so thankful.  Friendships are something that we do not take for granted in this house.  My good friend, Keisha, is about to give birth to her 3rd boy so, to celebrate her (and him) and give her something "girly" to look forward to a few of us decided to have an overnight getaway at a spa.  Yes, a spa.  It was so fun and so relaxing to be away and be pampered.  After a day of pure relaxation we headed to a local diner for some yummy and totally unhealthy food and then we stayed up super late talking and laughing.  It felt like high school all over again and it was so wonderful!  I really appreciate my sweet hubby (well, all of our hubby's) for watching the kids and encouraging me to go and do something for myself.  It was so good for my soul!

What Lily Kate Has Been Up To....

Sister is the Queen of getting into trouble in a split second when no one is looking.  She was a great baby and never got into very much trouble .... and then she turned two!  Holy smokes!  Sister is fun and adventurous and super fast.  The other day when I was helping Cole with something for literally 2 minutes I realized Lily, who was in the kitchen, was being very quiet.  Never a good sign.  When I went to investigate I found this happy and proud mess waiting for me.  In 2 minutes Lily had found an avocado on the counter, opened it with her bare hands, mushed it up and placed it in the microwave.  She was so excited to show me her hands and all of the mess!  You can't help but smile at a toddler so full of joy about something so insane :)

Lily has always been much more independent than Cole was at this young age.  She loves her bed and her space but lately she has been more and more cuddly.  We love this new side to her and cherish the cuddles we get.  One thing that she is trying very hard to make a habit of is napping in our bed.  She has not been a "good" napper ever since she gave up her paci.  She rocks the night sleep but napping is tough.  However, in our bed, she sleeps about 30-45 minutes longer than in her bed so I can't help but allow her to nap here.  One thing I love about her is that she always...and I mean always since she has been a baby.... lays her blankie out on her pillow to sleep on.  Before she had a pillow I would find her like this at night in her crib and now it is part of her "routine" before falling asleep.  She loves soft, cuddly things and I love that she has found this way to have even more comfort in her sleep. 

The biggest (and best) thing Lily has been up to lately is using the potty!  She decided a couple of weeks ago that she wanted to do this.  With Cole it was my idea....Lily was due soon and I knew he could do it so we went for it.  This time it was all Lily.  She started using the potty before her bath for fun and we all made a big deal about it.  I told myself if she showed any interest in pooping in the potty we would become more serious with potty training.  She is still young and I did not want to push her.  Well, a few days after being pretty consistent with peeing in the potty at night, she did it.  She pooped in the potty!  That began the road to being potty trained.  We did a modified version of the three day potty training method just like with Cole and it worked like a charm.  I do put her in pull ups at night but she normally wakes up dry anyway.  Lily is our shy one...by far....so she has struggled a bit with using the potty with anyone other than Rhonald or I.  She does best for us and at home, although she will go in public if she needs to.  School has been more of an issue.  She has 2 wonderful teachers whom she loves but she only wants one of them to take her to the potty.  If Miss S is busy Lily has no trouble peeing in her pants.  Something we are working on - but she is young and she has plenty of time to master the potty with others.  She has gotten so used to being cheered for when going potty that she now cheers for all of us when we go potty.  It's so cute and so silly to hear "yeah mama!  yeah mama!" while in the bathroom.  But hey - whatever works right?!

 

 

So that is a brief update on Lily's life over the past couple of weeks.  Such a sweet and fun and challenging age.  We just love her to pieces.

Wordless Wednesday

Sweet Cole

"I believe that God send you into my life to give me something to fight for, to show me there is love in this world, to give me joy.  All the proof in God I need is in you.  You are a gift from the heavens."

 

 

My Dear Cole, You do bring us such amazing joy.  I am so proud of you and the boy you are growing up to be.  May you never lose your love for God and your love for others.  May you always know you are cherished and adored by your Daddy, Lily and I.  You make this world a better place every day and I am so very thankful to have you in my life.  

Valentine's Day

 We made homemade Valentine's this year.  Crayons and coloring sheets and little cards.  It was so much fun to do something that they both could help with.

 

 Lily Kate and her best school buddy, Khaliel.

 

Showing one another their Valentines.

 

 

I love Valentine's Day.  I know it is so silly but I can't help it.  This year I decorated the kitchen and living room in hearts and pink and red and had lots of goodies waiting for the kids when they woke up.  But, the most fun thing we did this year was their Valentine's Day parties at school.  Hanging out in Cole's class, with a bunch of 4-5 year old boys, is so totally funny!  They tell the silliest jokes and laugh at everything and talk all at once.  Oh, I wish we could always be so happy!  I loved spending that time with Cole, eating pizza and playing games.  When I felt like I had spent enough time with Cole I headed to Lily's class.  It was a much tamer group of kids who had no idea what the big deal was!  It was cute in its own way and it was sweet to see Lily playing with her friends as well.  I love where they go to school....love their teachers and all that they put into every day.  I am so glad that I was able to share this time with the kids.  I hope they always want me to sit by them and their friends during parties (I can dream right?!).

Fatherly Love

"Promise me you will always remember that you're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."

---Christopher Robin

 

Sweet Lily Kate - You have your Daddy wrapped around your little finger so tight I think, at times, it takes his breath away.  I hope you always know that he is in your corner, cheering you on, watching you take on the world one second at a time.  There is nothing he would not do for you!

One Of A Kind Superbowl Party

Yep folks, this is how the Searcy family enjoyed the Super bowl this year.  Snuggled up in a fort until with lots of snacks!

A New Start

For the few people that read this blog you may have noticed that I have not been posting as often.  And, for now, that is probably how it will be.  Rhonald and I have done a lot of talking recently about our family and the goals that we have.  We are spending a lot less time with the TV or computer on and a lot more time playing and making memories.  I have tried to capture big and important things on camera but for now I am trying to live the memories along with everyone else.  As Cole turned 5 we began realizing all to certainly that these 2 babies will only be this small for a second.  I realize more and more that I cherish this blog and the memories it is keeping record of but I also realize that I want to make the memories now and record them when there is "extra time."  We have joined a community group at our church (finally) and are learning and growing in the Lord.  We are turning up the music and having dance parties and bubble baths and many more meals together around the dinner table.  Rhonald and I have noticed that when our moods are focused and peaceful (especially mine since I am home more) then our whole house is more peaceful and focused.  The kids are playing well together and really becoming friends.  Don't get me wrong....we all still need our quiet hour alone in the afternoon but even that is something we look forward to daily.  We are simply seeking what we feel God wants from us right now and that in itself is a real adventure for us.  Life is exciting...life with 2 little kids is wonderful and fun and we truly can't wait to see what this year has in store for us!

So Proud!

Guess who is learning to pee and poop in the potty????  THIS GIRL!!!!!