Eating my own words

I was just telling KB on Wednesday that Lucas can still occasionally wear 2T items. He hasn't gained much weight lately and seemed to have just kind of stalled out in the growth department. Well, of course, the minute I say it, it ceases to be true. Yesterday I tried to put some shorts on Lucas that fit him A WEEK AGO and now they are too tight, too short, and it is all too funny to me. It wasn't just one pair, either--we tried several and it was the same story with each. So unless daddy went a little psycho with the dryer and shrank everything, Lucas is officially getting his grow on again. After the painful clothes trying session (Lucas HATES just trying on clothes...and don't get me started about shoes!!) I actually think I could TELL that he has gotten taller. Like overnight. Weird!

In the same vein, I also told KB that Alex still isn't talking and we are concerned about his speech development. I guess I should always confide my fears to KB, because it seems to be the spark that causes the event to change, since Alex CLEARLY woke up this morning and chanted "Mama BABA!!" for ten minutes. So he can say a two-word sentence when he wants his bottle.

Normally I don't like to eat my own words, but in this case, I think I'll make a meal of them.

bienvenido a Miami

Ahhhh...Miami. For our annual conference at work we got to fly out to Miami for a couple days. I'd love to tell you all about how we flew in and saw this exotic paradise on the way to our hotel. About how after the conference the first night they loaded us all on buses and we drove to beautiful Southbeach where we visited the cutest little salsa bar called Enrique's. About how the music was amazing, the drinks (free) and oh so tasty and they even had dancers (topless HOT Spanish dancers!!) who would teach you to salsa dance. About how we partied ALL night and just when I thought it couldn't get any better, Will Smith busted in and started singing "Welcome to Miami".
I'd love to tell you all of that--but reality is much...LESS. I was so excited to see Miami, and the truth is that I saw it from the plane (picture featured below) and upon landing was immediately whisked to the hotel, where I stayed for two days and was then taken back to the airport. No lie. I got a little bit of a view of the city from my hotel window (also featured below). So if asked, I would have to say that I have still never been to Miami. Except in my dreams, where Will and I do things I'm not at liberty to discuss on my PG-13 blog.
Here is the Charlotte crew (in Miami...don't you love the beauty of the city??)
My view of Southbeach...from the airplane.

And the view from my hotel room. It is almost cruel to look at these pictures...I was so close, yet so far away!

Onto less depressing news, I came home to find my boys had missed me and we had fun chilling in the pool. Alex still enjoys splashing in the water and Lucas is a FISH. I really considered signing him up for more swim lessons this summer, but then we went to the local water park again the other day and I was shocked to discover that he was swimming on his own. I guess our first round of lessons and all the exposure to water this summer has really helped him along. I still wouldn't trust him around water without an adult--but if you put him in a body of water he will go under and swim several feet by himself. So thanks buddy for saving mommy the expense of lessons!

Much needed vacation weekend!!

I have to start this Fourth of July post by saying that I feel so blessed this weekend. I finally have a job that doesn't RULE my life and for once in many working years, I felt truly RELAXED on the fourth, despite the fact that I actually worked a good chunk of the day. So yeah for that!! Josh and I both ended up being off most of the weekend, so we spent tons of quality family time together.
Friday morning we kicked off our staycation weekend ("Stay" since we were not leaving town...) by heading to Wild River Country with the BM crew. We bought season tickets and so far have managed to get our monies worth--its like belonging to a pool only with really fabu slides thrown in the mix. Lucas cracked us all up by latching on to Kathy (KB's sister)--literally and figuratively. He refused to hang with anyone else, followed her around like a puppy dog, and most embarrassingly, kept trying to remove her swimsuit top.
After a day of fun in the sun, the kids were wiped and took a great nap. Then Josh and I had parents night out--we were able to find a great sitter (thanks Laura for recommending your mum) and we went to a very nice adults only dinner at Yaya's. We grazed on appetizers and drinks and then managed to find room for dessert, too. Afterwards we saw Transformers (Josh's pick) with some friends from med school. The company was great..the movie, not so much! **disclaimer: guys probably think this movie rocks...and normally, I like action. Just not two and a half hours of non-stop digital effects. Maybe it was my four martini's, but I couldn't tell the difference between the Decepticons and the Autobots. And the fact that I just typed that sentence almost makes me feel like a geek.
Saturday we had a great Fourth brunch with the BM crew. The kiddos had fun romping in the pool and running naked through the house. The adults had fun stuffing our faces with casserole, fruit, biscuits, bacon, and sausage. Yummy!! I had to head to work for several hours that afternoon while the boys napped, and then that evening we ran by Vic and Rhonda's party where we ate until we popped again.
Finally, today we attended our church's Patriotic service. I had to drag Lucas to church (I don't wanna go!!) and then he had so much fun that we had to drag him away (I wanna stay and play!!) It was a great service--very moving, inspiring words and hymns, and a kickass potluck buffet afterwards. I highly recommend it to my friends for next year.
Overall--a great mini vacation with loads of memories, good food and great times.

The Final Countdown!!!

Today is the first day in the one year countdown to Josh no longer being a resident. YIPPIE!!! I am going to get a countdown clock up on the blog when I have more time (haven't found a cute one yet--open to suggestions) and I will periodically update the progress to next year, but only twelve months left!!! I cannot express how glad I will be when the hospital is done using my husband as a slave/servant/whipping boy. Its time for ME to use him for those purposes. Just kidding. Sorta.