Going to Visit Meme & Mel

Mary Catherine and Ella went on their first adventure together as sisters. They actually left Mommy and Daddy at home (to work). Bless Meme and Mel's hearts, they took both girls for the weekend to give Kevin and I a chance to unpack. What a wonderful house warming gift. The girls had a great time in Charleston. Meme and Mel took them down town to ride on the horse and buggy. They had so much fun. Ella squealed with delight. Both girls also went over to Aunt Pam's for swimming. Ella loves the water. She sat on the steps with Meme and Aunt Pam and splashed. Upon arrival home, Ella has a second tooth. Both teeth are on the bottom. She likes to show them off! The girls can't wait to go back to Charleston for another visit!

This week as we were napping, we awoke to our sweet little Ella singing from her crib. When her Daddy got to her, she was standing on her tip toes on top of her bumper pads looking over the END of the crib. Much to my dismay, we had to remove the beautiful bunny toile bumper pads from the crib. The first time we put her in there with out them....guess what...she bumped her head. Oh well! Special thanks to Meme for making us some beautiful curtains from the bunny toile to use in the nursery. They are gorgious!

We Moved!!!!

We Moved Today!

Our New Address is:

Kevin, Stephanie, Mary Catherine and Ella Rawlinson

1825 Brigadoone Lane

Florence, South Carolina 29505

843-662-7265

These are photos of my new nursery!

Fun at the Beach- Garden City 2007

We had sooooo much fun at the beach. Ella is crawling up a storm. She had to learn to crawl to keep up with cousin Wills. Who by the way started walking while we were at the beach (probably to get away from Ella). Ella was too funny at the ocean. I bet she ate a pound of sand. Every time I looked away, she would have a hand full of sand putting it in her mouth.

Celia and I decided this trip not to take a nanny or babysitter with us. We were not thinking about the Dad's not being there or being able to help when they were there. She and I were up everymorning with our "little singers" at 6am or before for bottle and morning play. Then we had to feed them breakfast. Then Mary Catherine was up and ready to eat. By the time everyone was fed and dressed it was usually 11am. Then we had to LOAD the golf cart for what seemed like a 10 mile hike (it was actually 3 blocks) to the beach. We didn't just take a towel and a chair. Nope--We took, towels, chairs, umbrellas, toys, baby pools, life jackets, floats, coolers, bottles, diaper bags, beach bags, lotions, and hats. I swear one of us had a kitchen sink. We actually had so much crap that when we all got on the golf cart to come home the first day, we rode the wheel off the golf cart (yes, we had to walk the 10 mile hike that day). Beach trips were a real effort with Wills, Ella, Mary Catherine, and Mary Catherine's friend RJ who stayed with us for a few days. Kids require alot of STUFF at the ocean. I was so exhausted after the first beach trip that I decided, I would rather just not go to the ocean. Ella and I only went down to the ocean 3 times in the week. We did go to the water park for a day. That was fun. Never again will I go on vacation with two kids who can not feed themselves, poop in a potty or sleep til at least 7am. If Daddy or a nanny is with us, we will do it but that is the only way I will do it.

We participated in a beach picture party down at Huntington Beach State park with Graceful Images Photography. I can't wait to get the photos back. I will post some here when I get them.

First Tooth

Ella got her first tooth. She is very proud of it. We had a rough time getting it to break the skin. She chewed on everything for about a week. She was very fussy for a few days. Emily found the tooth while Mommy was with Daddy having surgery on his hand. Daddy is doing great. Just can't do anything with his hand. We have been very busy the last few weeks getting packed to move to our new house. We hope to move the week we return from the beach. Yes, we are leaving for a week at the beach with The McLaughlin's tommorrow. This will be Ella's first trip to the beach and the first time she will see the ocean. Fun! Fun! Ella is sitting up very good by herself and beginning to say DaDa more often, Still no MAMA...Figures! She is eating good. She has finished all of the stage one foods and has started on stage two baby foods. She loves to eat...except green stuff.