Big kids

Since she is a year now we don't do monthly updates but I feel like so much has changed in the last month I just want to remember what happened when! We have finally been able to put away bottles, bottle dryers, bottle microwave sterilizer, and nursing pillows. She had still been nursing first thing in the morning (because I was too lazy to go downstairs and get her milk which I now have to do:)) and she had not wanted to drink milk out of a cup so she was still taking a bottle too. She has now taken to this weird sippy cup thing with a bottle like top but its not a real bottle so we're DONE! That stuff has taken up so much room in the kitchen so I'm really thrilled to have it all gone. I'm kinda sad to be done nursing but glad we ended slowly. It was such a different experience for each of them but such a wonderful thing to have been able to do.
While she pretty much refuses to be spoon fed anymore she has finally taken to eating all different textures. This week she even picked up pieces of strawberries, peaches and cheese which she never would have before (a texture not a taste thing). So it is getting easier to find things for her to eat. She is still taking 2 nice naps, though the morning one seems to be the big one so we have to try to reverse that.
The only issue we have is with her waking up early. I don't get her up until 6:45am but sometimes she is awake by 6:20am. Then after she drinks her milk I have to put her back in her crib (which she is not happy about) while I get a shower. If I get her down to play she just wants to charge into her brother's room and he is rarely ready to get out of bed before 7:30am. So that is our biggest struggle at the moment but not too bad over all!
The top to next to the front two teeth are finally breaking through. Although since the front ones have finally grown down, we realize there is a rather obvious gap between them:( Hoping this corrects itself?

Max is doing great two. He talks Non-Stop which is cute but exhausting at times. We're almost to the end of my list of things I wanted him to do before 3. He has his big bed, is pretty much potty trained, but we have to get rid of the paci. It stays in his bed for sleeping only but its starting to give him an overbite so we have to get rid of them. However, for our own sanity, we have to wait until after our trip to Myrtle Beach; it does come in handy for special circumstances like trips, especially long car rides! He has his blankie that he loves too so I hope that will suffice and it shouldn't be too hard but we'll see in a few weeks.

Other than that just enjoying summer and time as a family. It is so nice to feel complete and be moving on to next stages. I love babies and miss some of it but I'm kind of an "over and done" person and look forward to all the fun things that that they can do as "kids" and don't really think I'd enjoy being a a number of stages at one time.

We had another great vacation at Shenandoah Crossing! We're so thankful for Nate's mom and sister for always letting us use their place because I don't think we'd be taking vacations otherwise! And its just the perfect place because there is so much to do there we don't even have to leave. Aliyah started teething again finally which made her rather grumpy at times and she didn't sleep so well. Max slept in the big bed and did great this trip so I figure we have another year or two of rough trips until they can both not be thrown off too much. With Ali still taking morning naps too it limits our free time but there is so much to do there we keep entertained. Of course Friday they broke records with the 102 degree heat so most of our free time was at the pools with a short trip to the stables and a few short fishing adventures.

Ali loved the fountains but not quite as much as Max does.

Picnic at the pool

Watching cartoons in the huge bed.

Trip to the stables

Aliyah got to ride Wendy this year, she loved it!

That face!

Max was brave enough this summer to ride her again too (was too scared last time).

Come back here

Took a trip out with daddy while Ali napped and of course got some new cars.

She can't help but play with them too.

Relaxing playing his Thomas memory and puzzle games.

Pot of water for the peanut.

Max caught a fish his first time but quickly lost interest. He had more fun playing with his colorful worms in his little tackle box.

Cheese:)

Ellie and family came out Sunday. Some of Josh's family also came, we had a full house for a short while and then some pool time.

Some cousins from both sides of their family.

Fun pool time with Uncle Josh.

And with Luke and Emma.