A Little Training and a Little Life

A couple of weeks ago, I flew to Charlotte, NC to meet my sweet new little nephew Declan. Tim's Mom and Dad were nice enough to keep the girls while I was away. This was my longest time away from Avery so it was hard, but I know they were spoiled rotten (proof in the pics below) while I was gone. Kennedy LOVES going to Nana and Pawpaws and had been asking when she was going to get to go again prior to this trip so although I miss her when she's away it's easier knowing she wants to go and enjoys herself so much when she's there. Now that Avery is sitting up more, she is ALL ABOUT a swing. I had first tried her in a baby swing not long before they went to stay with Nana so I had told her she'd love their swing and clearly: she did!

She enjoyed the swing so much that Nana sent it back with us afterwards so it's on our swingset in our yard now and we've been using the heck out of it while the weather is still nice. Avery says "thank you Nana!"

Aside from the girls having alone time with Nana and Pawpaw I love that while they are there (or while the family is there all together) they get some quality time with their Great Aunt Kahtryn and Great Grandma. Those ladies love these little girls and the feeling is mutual!

Great Aunt Kathryn and Avery

Smiles with Great Granmda

Crafts with Nana: my girl loves a craft

Tim and I always said that if we had kids they better be willing to seek Pawpaw out because he kind of lives in his study (praying, preparing sermons, etc.). I'm sure part of the reason we  feel like he's always in his study is because we are always there on the weekends (his crunch time). Well, Kennedy doesn't let that deter her...she just spends time with him there. We have so many pictures like this and I love it. I love that she'll just plop herself down up there with him amongst the MILLION books and just entertain herself and be close to him....it's really sweet.

So while the girls were away having tons of fun with their grandparents, I was getting some AMAZING snuggle time with this little man:

Whenever Melissa wasn't feeding him or getting some snuggles of her own, I pretty much just loved all over him while I was there so she could get some things done. You quickly forget how all consuming having a newborn is - it's a tired like no other so my main priority in "helping" was to allow her to get some rest (which I think she did). She and her husband Steve are doing exceptionally well as first time parents and he is one loved little boy.

Cheese!

Melissa and I laughed because although there was much accomplished in my short visit: we basically stayed in our PJ's all day every day. We did (thankfully) manage to get a couple of pics of he and I while I wasn't in my PJ's. =)

Leaving was bittersweet as it always is when I leave family, but I was so excited to see my girls and Tim too. I was really glad that Tim could get off work early to ride with me to meet his Mom in Morehead. I had this nervous, giddy energy when we were leaving to meet her and pick the girls up. It was like Christmas! Clearly the feelings were mutual:

Once we returned we tried to get back to our normal routine and for whatever reason Kennedy is showing more and more of an interest in her baby sister. Avery started cereal about a week before I left for NC and Kennedy has been ALL ABOUT helping to feed her (which I love and think is the most precious thing e.v.e.r!). Avery adores her big sister!

They were so cute this night that I captured some video. Love these sweet interactions between the two of them.