Let Freedom Ring-Goodbye Crib

And if anyone needed more proof that my little boy is no longer a baby...we have officially transitioned Nathan into his "big boy bed," which for now, is actually just his crib mattress on the floor where his crib used to be. Nathan was starting to try to climb out of his crib, and while he never actually succeeded, thanks in part to my obsessive stalking of the video monitor, he was getting dangerously close. We had been talking up the big boy bed for a few days in anticipation of the switch, and the first night we decided to give it a try, Nathan was SO excited. We cuddled and read some books in his bed and when it was time for sleep, he gave me a kiss and said "nigh nigh" and that was it, he want right to sleep! I had no idea the transition would be so easy. I fully expected his first night of freedom to be crazy, either resisting the bed completely, or just running around pulling everything down in his room. I guess I should have had a little more faith in the boy because he didn't budge the entire night. The next morning when he woke up he didn't even make a peep, he got out of bed, got a book off his bookshelf, and "read" it quietly to himself in bed. I may or may not have slept just a little bit longer while he read so nicely in bed. He has been sleeping in his big boy bed for about a week and a half now with virtually no problems. I am one proud momma, but this growing up thing sure is bittersweet.

In other big news, Mark unexpectedly got transferred back to Raleigh and we are all moving into a townhouse in about two weeks!!! The move is only temporary, about 6 months or so (hopefully longer!), but we will take what we can get right now. It is going to be so nice to finally be together again and not have to do the long distance thing anymore. Nathan is going to be so happy to have his daddy there everyday. The official move in day is August 12th and hopefully Nathan will transition into his new home as easy as he transitioned into his new bed.

Future Singer??

A video of Nathan singing Rain, Rain, Go Away. This kid sings ALL the time, and this happens to be one of his favorite songs right now, along with BINGO, Old McDonald, and Elmo's world. Sorry for the horrible lighting.

July 4th Weekend

I am pretty sure I was 10 years old when we first started our annual July 4th visit to Point Pleasant beach at the Jersey Shore. My dads immediate family pretty much all live in Jersey so this has always been our time to visit. When it first started, we all used to stay at this small (somewhat ghetto) motel right by the beach called Point Pleasant Manor. Every year we would get 4 or 5 hotel rooms for our families and completely take over the motel and pool area (my family is pretty big). I have so many great memories at this hotel, like knocking on random peoples hotel rooms and running, walking to the Italian ice store down the road, and going across the street to the beach and paying $7 just to walk on the sand. We went to this motel every year until 2003 when my aunt and uncle decided to buy a house at the shore. While our trips before were very fun and memorable, everything became much better once they bought this house(minus the first year when we stayed there with no AC during record heats...brutal) Our entire family stays in this one house during the July 4th weekend. The place is completely packed, people are sleeping in all corners of the house, and both of the bathrooms always seem to be occupied when you need to use it, but its great because we can all be together.

What makes me so happy is that we are now introducing the next generation of our families to this wonderful tradition. Two of my cousins have daughters that are 7 and 10 months older than Nathan, and both of them are pregnant again! This was Nathan's second trip to the shore, and it is already very evident that he loves it. It is so special to me that some of my favorite childhood memories may be some of Nathan's as well.

This year, with the babies growing older, the trip was much less of a relaxing, do nothing kind of trip and more of a making sure the babies don't fall in the pool, brawl over playdoh colors, or color on the walls sort of trip. Thank God for nap time! None the less, the trip was still as great and memorable as always.


A view from the pool in the backyard. No wonder Nathan's new favorite word is boat.


Nathan and his cousins at the boardwalk. This was his first time on a ride, and he was very serious about driving that boat!


Nathan eating his first Popsicle with his cousins.


Mommy and Nathan in the pool