Sea World Day

It was killing me that 2014 was coming to an end and we had not cashed in our free annual admission to Sea World, a fabulous military perk.  So even though large crowds were expected this time of year and rain was forecasted, we headed to Sea World with nothing to lose.  Lydia may not be a Shamu lover but she is a thrill seeker.  She was all about the rides, including her first sledding experience.  She passed out on the way home as the rain began to fall.  Success!  Megan

Christmas 2014

John may have been sick and I may have been tired but how could we not absolutely love seeing the happiness on Lydia's face as she opened her gifts!?!?!  We felt extremely loved when all the gifts arrived from family the week prior to the holiday.  Thank you family for spoiling our kids.  You made their Christmas!

Megan

Making Cookies

We made thumbprint sugar cookies on Saturday using a recipe made famous in the Rauschenberger clan by John's Ahya.  First step was a trip to the grocery store in which Jack is now able to sit in the car cart with his sister.  There is only one car cart at our grocery store so every trip comes with some anxiety/excitement.   Will we find the car cart!?!?!  In this case getting there at seven in the morning brought us success.  The cookies also turned out well, though a tad messy-looking.  Baking with a three year old is often messy.  Picture sprinkles everywhere.  Megan

Happy Birthday Jack!

We celebrated Jack's Birthday a day early so that John could be here for the party (shhhh...don't tell the kids).  The cake was designed and made by Lydia.  Jack nibbled at it but preferred playing with it.  On the other hand, Jack was all about the gifts and luckily all his Birthday boxes arrived in time for the early celebration.  Happy Birthday, sweet Jack.  You were an easy baby and are a determined, but still totally cuddly, toddler.  We love you.  Megan

Just Two More Days

Jack turns one in two days!  I feel like I have not given him much attention in recent posts, so this post is devoted entirely to my almost one-year old.  

Favorite foods: chicken noodle soup, pears, watermelon, carrots, popcorn, baby cheetos 

Favorite book: Ten Tiny Tickles

Favorite toy:  Any toy that his sister is playing with

Favorite movie:  Baby Einstein fan, particularly likes the puppets

His moves:  He is beginning to climb and spin

His language:  First word "momma," maybe.  Puts his hands up when he wants to be picked up.  He will retrieve toys and pass out items, when asked.  He thinks the word "no" is funny, uh oh.

Megan

San Diego, You're Broken

It has been cold and rainy since returning home.  Last night, it poured.  San Diego may be broken but Lydia's leg no longer is.  She is cast free and hopping in puddles. Megan

Preschool Photo

Lydia's preschool photos arrived!  We splurged on the Christmas ornament (and passed on the mouse pad, grocery bag and pretty much every other possible thing imaginable).  Lydia now hangs next to a photo of me as a child on the tree.  Quite a resemblance.  Megan

Home

We are now home in San Diego!  Our drive to New Orleans was easy, followed by a non-stop flight that was completely the opposite.  A week from turning one, Jack's behavior on the plane was completely on par with a toddler.  Megan

Hello Santa

We made a quick stop before heading to the airport for the kids to meet Santa.  This is a classic example of what we love about Navarre.  Santa arrived at a local restaurant on a fire truck.  No huge crowds waiting to meet him.  Lydia even got to sit in his fire truck.  When he asked Lydia what she wanted for Christmas, she replied "Tom and Jerry movie."  Megan

Gulf Breeze Zoo

I know the San Diego is world-class but when it comes to entertaining young kids the Gulf Breeze Zoo may have them beat.  The petting zoo and bird feeding was such a hit with the kids today, particularly with Lydia.  She spent over a hour feeding the birds.  I kept encouraging her to move on to other animals.  She grew angry at me asking and snapped, "MOM, I'm almost there!"  This was her way of telling me to not rush her fun.  Megan

These Crazy Kids

Our vacation is sadly winding down.  This means John and I have gone into "work mode," fixing up the condo.  Entertaining two kids while trying to do projects is not easy.  Everything seems to take three times as long as it should.  John reminds me, "They are just kids being kids."  Megan

And Even More Cast Drama

I'm almost embarrassed to write this...Lydia soaked her cast again.  Another waterproof cover fail while swimming. This time I took her to the nearest emergency room, rather than drive the hour to Pensacola Naval Hospital.  The local hospital had much more limited services than I ever imagined.  The don't do castings there, just splints.  So now Lydia is in a fiberglass splint.  Good news is that she was able to take a bath today.  For the first time in three weeks she is clean!  Megan

Movie with Pops

Pops visited us for the weekend and offered to take Lydia to her first movie in a cinema, the Penguins of Madagascar.  Pops also spoiled her with popcorn and arcade play.  Lydia requested to sit in the front row and even watched some of the movie standing right up close to the screen. "That's a BIG TV!!!" Lydia was impressed.  Megan

Drama in Paradise

I guess no trip is perfect.  Drama #1 - Lucy got terribly sick at the dog sitter's house.  She stopped eating, is lethargic, and keeps throwing up.  Luckily our good friends were able to pick her up and she will be spending the next week with them and her dog friend, Major.  She is already showing signs of improvement thankfully.  Drama #2 - Lydia soaked her cast while swimming.  The waterproof cast cover failed us.  She is now sporting a new, festive cast.  We just have one more week to go in it.  Megan

Beautiful

This vacation reminds me why I started this blog three years ago.  To show appreciation for the beauty around me.  Tonight, I walked the pier with these two beauties.  We saw sea turtles, pelicans, and sharks.  I am eagerly awaiting my first dolphin sighting.  Megan

Beachtime

Lydia's waterproof cast cover tore yesterday morning as I tried to put it on, so no pooltime for a few days.  While we wait for another one to arrive in the mail, we are enjoying our beachtime.  Can you find her and I in this photo?  I could play Barbies endlessly if it means we get to stay at this beach longer.  Megan

Feels Like Home

We are savoring our vacation so far.  It has been warm enough to take the kids to the beach and pool.  Lydia even dips her toes in the surf.  This upcoming week looks to have great weather, with high temps of 70s.  While there are lots of little tasks that need to be done with the condo, we are making a conscious effort to slow down and appreciate this beautiful place.  We certainly miss living here.  Megan

Wow, It's Pretty Here

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We had our take-out turkey dinner and pie on Wednesday evening. Thanksgiving day was spent traveling to Navarre.  I thought to myself during the flight "I am thankful for healthy kids (broken bones aside) and half empty airplanes."  Megan

Time with Daddy

John loves tinkering away in the garage.  The kids enjoy being near him in his "man cave."  It's almost as if they pick up on his happiness in this special space.  This is the only time Jack is content in his Jumperoo.  Lydia loves "fixing" things right along side her dad.  Speaking of manliness, check out John's moustache he is growing for the month of November.  Megan

And in Cast News...

Lydia had a follow-up doctor's appointment today.  Her leg is healing well and she will only need the cast for three more weeks.  So she will be cast-free for Christmas!  Lydia is moving quite quickly in it and was even able to take a true bath today, thanks to a handy cast cover we were able to find.  Megan

About This Guy

Jack is 11 months old!  He has four bottom teeth and four more about to cut through on top.  He loves playing outside and will start crying if anyone goes outside, even if just to get the mail, without him.  He also likes to play in the fridge and dishwasher.  However, this can turn messy (as shown in the pic).  He is super mellow when we are out and about, taking in his surroundings.  Most meals, he eats more than Lydia.  He sleeps solid at night and his naps are starting to lengthen.  Jack likes to pull hair.  Picture us at the grocery store.  Jack is in the top of the cart.  Lydia is inside the cart screaming.  Jack is twisted around with Lydia's hair in his death grip.  I am saying "No Jack!  Let go!" while trying to pry his fingers loose. This is a common scene for us. Megan

Proud of Lydia

Last night, Lydia hated her cast.  She kept hitting it and saying "I'm stuck!"  She refused to walk in it.  This morning she woke up a new kid. Within a hour of waking she was outside practicing her new walk.  I posted a video a few months ago proudly sharing Jack's walking.  Now I am posting just as proudly for Lydia.  Click on the link to view.  I apologize for the harsh shadows.  http://youtu.be/uEcuAtRiips

Megan

Officially "Accident-Prone"

 A small fall yesterday at school, a reinjury of her knee from her trampoline accident, brought Lydia to tears.  I made an appointment with her pediatrician for this morning.  A second round of x-rays showed a small fracture at the top of her right tibia.  Tiny break.  Huge cast.  Let the healing begin.  Megan 

Change of Events

This morning I had my bag all packed to head back to the hospital to request a MRI of Lydia's leg.  I fell asleep last night with visions of casts and crutches in my head.  We were just finishing up our breakfast when Lydia started walking, well limping, saying "leg all better!"  It isn't all healed yet but we are certainly breathing a sigh of relief.  A cast would have really put a damper on her upcoming beach vacation.  Megan

Keep Smiling, Lydia

Lydia and I had a mommy-daughter date Thursday morning.  We headed to a brand new trampoline park near us, first ones through the door, a huge smile on Lydia's face.  Within a minute of her first trampoline experience, Lydia was in tears.  She simply landed wrong and hurt her knee.  A trip to the ER showed no breaks, however the past two days Lydia has been unable to walk.  Hoping for some improvement soon or we will be heading back to the doctor.  Luckily last night's campfire brought a big smile to her face. And the upside of being chair-bound is that Mom and Dad did not have to worry about Lydia getting to close to the flames.  Megan

When Lydia is Away...

Have I mentioned how much I love Lydia's preschool!?!?!?  The best part is so does she.  She is enamored with her teacher, Ms. Sharlet.  Her best days are when she is chosen to be Ms. Sharlet's Helper of the Day.  I love Monday, Wednesday, Fridays for the downtime; it gives me a break as the pace is slower, the house a bit quieter.  Jack enjoys preschool days too.  He helps himself to the toys that Lydia does not share so well.  Yesterday was especially wonderful for Jack because he had his Daddy all to himself for a trip to the Botanic Gardens.  Megan

First Time for Fireworks

Our friends invited us to their annual firework watching party on Saturday night.  The show is one of the largest in the country and their home is in the perfect spot for viewing.  This was actually Lydia's first time seeing fireworks and she was mesmerized.  As we drove home afterwards, she commented "I like fireworks.  Just a little bit scary but I like it."  Megan

Kite Flying at the Park

Jack is old enough now to play at the park, not just observe from his stroller.  We love our neighborhood park.  It is the perfect place to fly a kite.  Megan

Pajama time

The temps are cool here and I am enjoying the feeling of fall!  The kids are still a tad sick so it was time to invest in some fleece footie pajamas.  Lydia loves her's. Jack does not seem to share her sentiment.  Megan

The Differences Between the First and Second Child

Jack's favorite place to play is Lucy's dog crate.  It is dirty, but it makes him smile.  So yes, I let him play in there.  Megan

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from Robot Lydia and Pirate Jack! Megan

Still a Cutie

In an attempt to make life easier, I decided to give Jack a buzz cut myself.  I already miss his golden locks.  Can't wait for them to grow back.  Megan