Leighton Update!

Just a quick update with Leighton's 1 year check up!

She is 24 pounds

30 1/2 inches

Ahead (YAY!) on all milestones!!

Doc was very pleased!

We are now on cow's milk 80% of the time (her tummy is taking some time to adjust) and baby food is only for treats and traveling emergencies. She still gets a serving of rice cereal a day, though.

So, what are these milestones?

First step - 10 months

Steps (walking) - 10 1/2 months

Full-on running - 11 months

Words: Momma, Dada, Noah, Kenzie, Love you, thank you, uh-oh, hello and she will randomly say things that sound like words, but since shes's not doing them regularly I'm not sure.

And here she is at 1!

Photos by http://www.kellinicolephotography.com/

Her 1 year pictures were done in January, so she's a little taller with a little more hair now;-) But they were so fun to take and way fun to look at!

The rest of the story...

So after the family bonding time at the beach, it was time to head to Shelby to spend time with my father in-law's side of the family. You see, this wasn't just a family vacation for fun. We were there to bring my father in-laws ashes to his home so he could be laid to rest. While emotional and sad, we also got to spend time with his brother, sisters and their families. What an awesome group of people! I just can't say enough about every one!

A couple years ago I had met Keith and Phyliss and their granddaughter, Anna, when they came to visit Clyde. Everyone else I hadn't met at all or only through Facebook. You would never had known!

We started with dinner at Vivian and Don's. They served us a delicious dinner of North Carolina bar-be-cue that was to die for! My father in law had made it once for us in Granbury. Unfortunately this fell during my pregnancy so I was on a strict diet of hamburgers and chicken strips, lol. Here's the pics from that first party:

Silly faces get my girl every time!

 Our gracious hosts!

"Texas Crew" 

Our technologically savy kiddos

Cousin Kristy teaching Leighton "thank you". She now says it regularly!

The next morning Keith and Phyllis hosted the whole crew for breakfast. What an undertaking! It was a great time, though, and the kids had a blast in "Anna Land".

Lexi's our diva! She makes wagon-pulling look glamours:)

After breakfast the adult crew headed out for the burial. It was a quiet, intimate moment with those that loved him the most. It was sad, it was heartwrenching, but it was peaceful. He is where he wanted to be physically.

That evening was the service. After the service we took a family picture. What a keepsake!



We all had one last meal together after. Unfortunately Bill started to feel under the weather after dinner, so had to run out to get him some Emergen-C and rest, but I'm a little glad we didn't do big good-byes. Good-byes are no fun and I'm sure we will not be waiting years to see this crew again!

A Very Special Time

We spent our spring break in the Carolinas. Essentially we were there to bury Bill's dad and have a memorial service with his family and childhood friend. However, Apri'sl family goes skiing every year, so she thought it would be great for the whole family to fly up a few days before the burial/memorial and spend some time together in the snow. Snow clothes were bought, condos and flights booked. And the day before we were set to leave the condo company called to let us know the slopes would be closing due to no snow. What?? Haha! We weren't prepared.

Myrtle beach was booked as an alternate destination. As it turns out, it was one of father in-laws favorite spots and he took the kids there often when they were little. It was perfect.

 Kids were WAY pumped to arrive!

 That beach shop behind us? Don't go, Bill bought everything in there. Sorry.

 Whole crew

 silly kids

Day 2 was beach day! No one in the history of ever loves the beach as much as my child!



Sunrise on the beach. Fear not, Meme took the picture. I have not changed. The only sunrises I've ever seen are the ones I stayed up all night for;-)

Thank you, Jesus! I love the beach!

 Not even the gingerbread man could catch her...

So after the beach it became apparent L was having an eye problem. Quick visit to minor emergency got her diagnosed with pink eye. But my little trooper still came out to the Big Crab for dinner. And we bought her a little toy crab for her trouble;)

 Outside the "Big Crab"

Putt putt crew. April is taking the picture. Meme, L and I hit the condo. We can't hang with these party animals;-)

Well, my eyes are dreary so I will finish part 2, our time with our fabulous NC family and a beautiful service for my father in law, later.