Kiki's Funky Arm/Shoulder/Back Problem

Ashley, these videos are for you so you can see what's going on with my arm. Keep an eye on my right shoulder blade... that's the one that's messed up. Things don't seem to be getting any better, but I'm headed to the neurologist tomorrow for a checkup. I watch this video and I'm just baffled by the number of moles and freckles I have on my back!! Seriously, have I never seen myself from this angle before...do I need to get any of these checked out?!

Hudson's First Day of FIRST GRADE!

Hudson is off to his first day of FIRST GRADE! Yay Hud. He says he is not nervous at all... just excited. I still have a hard time believing he's so grown up! Larkin starts pre-k at her Montessori school tomorrow, and Brooke starts her first day of preschool at the end of September. We are officially in school world now. I'm sad to see summer go, but I'm excited for the new routine, the cooler weather, and all the fun things fall has in store for us. Maybe now that the kids are going to be busy with school, I'll have a minute here and there to get back to my blogging.

Another Dance

This just makes me laugh. The girls are in to "recitals" now. Larkin is trying to choreograph the routines, but Brooke just likes to wing it. Hud's even gotten in on some of the action. I keep telling him that he would do great in ballet because he still walks on his toes all the time, but he's not going for it yet. I wish Brooke could start ballet with Larkin, I think she's the one that's the most enthusiastic about it.

Happy 7 months Nellie

Happy 7 Months Nellie!This last month has seriously flown by. We had a fun trip to Hilton Head with a side trip to visit uncle brandon, auntie cat, and cousins isla and ronan in Florida (yeah, forgot my camera on that trip and missed a lot of great photo opportunities). We all had some much needed vacation time on the beach (well, the pool mostly... but it was relaxing nonetheless). I had a super-nanny with me again... LOVE her!Before the trip and after, our days have been filled with pool time, play time, friends so much these days, I'm having trouble remembering it all! By the end of the day I can't bring myself to sit down and make a blog entry. I'm sorry for that. I'm hoping to get it back together once school starts in a couple of weeks.I didn't forget this important day though. For her 7 month milestone, Nellie decided to officially crawl today. For the past two weeks she's been perfecting her scoot lunge around the carpet, but today, she added a little knee action. The video is cute... I can't get the sound to work, but you don't really need it to get the picture that my little tiny baby can CRAWL! I never had a crawler this early... I'm about to enter a whole new world... why oh why did Hudson have to fall in love with the chokable legos right now!?! Nellie is still such a sweet and giggly baby (for five minutes right before bedtime, the kids and I get her rolling with laughter... big belly laughs that just make us all smile), but now she's added active and curious to the mix. She wants to go everywhere and see what everyone is doing... now she can actually get there. And yes, Everything is going in her mouth. Fun Fun. I got some adorable pictures of her today. I'm hoping one of these will make it on our wall of photographs soon. We love you Nells!

Favorite Things

Nellie is literally up to the creases in her neck in baby food right now. This girl can EAT! Anyhow, I like to give my babies organic food, but with four kids and a crazy lifestyle there is no way that I'm going to make my own, so I love the prepackaged options... there are so many more organic choices now than there ever were even just two years ago when Brooke was a baby. These Ella's Kitchen organics are my FAVORITE... or I should say Nellie's favorite. She loves them all... even the broccoli and peas concoction! I can't say enough... love love love them! Love the size. Love the combinations. As a runner up I like these Sprout pouches... seriously, why did it take so long to do something other than glass jars that always break in your bag! As a side note I do NOT like or recommend these Tasty Brand cup things that go in the freezer from whole foods. I don't want to bash the whole brand... maybe they make something tasty... but Nellie and I both think these are gross! I love the cup idea, but something about the freezing makes the texture yucky.

This mini version of the latte bowl from Anthropologie (I'm too lazy to crop this picture.. but they are the red and blue ones on the left) is the PERFECT size for baby feeding. I like that they aren't plastic, they come in fantastic colors, and are just plain fantastic. They aren't expensive (especially if you buy the off-season colors on sale... I got mine for less than a dollar apiece!). The rest of the kids have developed a fondness for them now too because of the fun colors and the perfect snack size. I don't know how I feel about that because they are breakable. We haven't lost one yet though. I can't find them online, so maybe you actually have to go in the store to get these (and resist buying all kinds of fun other things in there... love love love that store. That's probably a favorite thing by itself).