Duck 2010- vacation part 2

Just like going to Rehoboth we also headed back to Duck with my family. We were so lucky that we had great weather this second week also. Lauren loved getting to spend time with her cousins Justin and Tyler and also her second cousins- her favorite Maddie. Everyday we headed down to the beach and Gabe would nap and Brian and Lauren would play at the beach a little then head up to the pool to swim. The kids did great. I loved getting to hang out with my family just sitting at the beach. It was also nice to see extended family who stayed down in Duck the same week too. Lauren got her first pet courtesy of my sister- a hermit crab named "Beachy". We are doing our best to keep "Beachy" alive as long as possible. Thank you to my family for making everything so great. Click here to see more pictures in our photo album (Duck 2010).

The second picture above is all the grandchildren on Heatwole side- Derek the oldest 18 years old down to Gabe 6 months.

Rehoboth 2010- vacation part 1

The Winterhoff side of the family all headed to Rehoboth again this year for a week of vacation. We were looking forward to the week all summer. We even made a paper chain countdown for Lauren to rip off each day until we left. I was excited about the trip but not the actual trip for getting down there. I wished and prayed that a mini-van would fall from the sky and land in our driveway so we could take that to the beach. The drive is about 5 1/2 hours long and I had no idea how we would survive in our little Honda. I was worried about not being about to reach Gabe in order to calm him, etc. There just isn't enough room for me to fit in the back seat with both kids. But I have to say we survived to and from. I did have to do some pretty funny maneuvering to tend to Gabe while we drove but we survived. Once we arrived at the beach it was wonderful. The weather was terrific and family was great. Our kids did great sleeping...which is first for us. We went to the beach and pool everyday and then headed to our favorite Fun Land each afternoon. I don't think we have as many pictures as in years past but I realized this year with two kids it is just a little more about survival then capturing the moments in pictures! Thank you to G and Poppy for such a great week! I love the picture with all the cousins together. Next year Mark and Carrie will have a little girl Gabe's age to add to the mix!! Click here to view more photos in our album from our trip (Rehoboth 2010).

Summer update

After talking with a friend the other day I realized that I have not updated my blog this entire summer. I will have to say each day seems to fly by plus we went on two weeks of vacation back to back at the end of July (more on that later). The first part of the summer we headed to the pool a lot. We had to go in the morning because of the crazy hot temperatures but lucky for us our pool opens at 10:00. This summer at the pool Lauren decided that she knows how to swim. It all took place over about three trips to the pool. We started with her wearing a swim vest and I thought that was great. By two days in she was swimming, diving down for dive sticks with out a vest. Now it is like she is a regular swimmer. It totally blows my mind. But of course I am very proud of her! The other major discoveries this summer had to do with Gabe's allergies or rather finding out that he has them. He is allergic to dust mites, milk and eggs. We decided to switch him straight to soy formula and I stopped nursing. The whole time I was nursing I wanted nothing more then to stop but then when it really came down to quitting I was a little sad. Gabe however handled the transition great and now I'm really happy to be done with that phase. I'm not sure if it is b/c we eliminated the milk and eggs from his diet or if it is just part of babies growing up but Gabe is turning out to be an amazing baby. We can just lay him down for his naps and he goes to sleep. Not like with Lauren where we did hours and hours of walking and shushing. At the beach this summer both families made comments that we could not complain about Gabe at all because he was such a great baby. Overall the summer has been good. I'm ready for the 100 degree days to end so we can get back outside more but other then that things are good. Click here to view more pictures from our summer so far.