It's a ... Family Tradition

Now that the Howard Family Vacation series begins, it brings back memories of some good 'ol Van Pelt vacations. It's no secret that we never had anything materialistic to speak of, yet my parents always found ways to enrich our lives in so many other ways. I am so grateful for their desire to go and do and let us experience the world around us. I can honestly say I have been to almost all 48 states, have flown all over the country and have driven cross country several times.

Those cross country trips would take us weeks to do being we would take different routes every time and stop at any and everything there was to see. Reno, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, Yellowstone, Yosemite, New York City, Atlantic City, Carlsbad Caverns, Atlanta... I could go on and on. And that's not to mention all the little touristy adventures we came across along the way. I can remember seeing signs for parks, western villages, historical sites, etc and stopping to get out and explore.

I realized a while ago that my parents didn't necessarily do this for us girls and I love this about them. When they returned from Cocoa Beach, FL a couple years ago, they had pictures of them at Disney World, Universal Studios, Daytona Speedway and Kennedy Space Center. Every time they go somewhere, if there's something worth seeing within a reasonable distance, they are there.

This is definitely something I want to establish as a tradition and carry on with our family. So starting now, with our first official family vacation, we are making it a tradition to seize the moment and world around us.

Go Beach!

is what Patrick used to say very excitedly when he was little getting ready to go to the beach. Needless to say, GO BEACH, we are packing up the family, all five of us (dogs included), and heading to Harbor Island, SC in the morning for a week! Yay! Well, kind of. Next week also marks the LAST week I have of maternity leave which makes today a very sacred day being my last day home with just her and I.

I knew this time would come and that my blissful 12 weeks at home would come to an end, I just never imagined it would feel like this. It's so hard to explain how much I LOVE being home with her. Not to say I don't love my job too, I do, and everyone at Diamond Creek has been more than amazing, I just don't want to miss a second of her life and worry about all the things every new mother worries about when faced with this crossroad.

I know we'll get through it and am not going to focus on the negative or make it worse by dreading it, rather I'm going to enjoy every second of these next 10 days. This beach trip will be a fun adventure and the first of many fun-filled family vacations!

Easter 2009

Gettin ready to dye Easter Eggs

She slept through most of it Dressed in her Easter Best ~ hat and sweater made by Kris Welliver

Two Month Check-Up

Today was Brooklynn's two month check-up and first visit with her Pediatrician, Dr. Yale. He reported that she is 'beautiful and perfect', which of coarse we knew! I must admit, it never gets old hearing it.

She weighed in at 10 pounds, measured 22 inches long and had her first set of shots which made both her and mommy cry. Those cries of pain are so different from normal cries and it absolutely broke my heart. Thankfully, we both survived and she was back to her normal happy self by bedtime.

Milestones, she continues to build strength in her neck, arms and legs and loves to kick and wiggle. She loves to listen to music. True to her roots, she seems to like country the best; Alabama, Diamond Rio, Rascal Flatts and of coarse I had to throw in a little Old Crow Medicine and OAR.

Her communication skills are steadily improving; she can have complete conversations through her little eyes, sounds, sighs, coos, grunts and faces. She is becoming more animated and emotional everyday and is quick to communicate what she wants, what she likes and what she doesn't like. One of her new favorite past times is taking a bath in mommy and daddy's big bath tub.

A few more pics from her second month..

Dinner time with Grandpa Howard

Snuggle time with Granny Howard

Poochy pouty lips

Fighting sleepBath time

Little faces