Swings, Teeth, and Strollers!

How cute is this boy!? 

I know, right?! Adorbs.  He got a new hat from a college friend who shares our love of all things Tigers and Red Sox, and we couldnt wait to show it off :) Thanks, Devon!

And I have something else to show off.....our new stroller!

TaDAAAH!

Im. in. LOVE. with this thing.  She's a beast, but she is amazing. Both kids really love it and it means I can take them to Disney playdates and the zoo and on runs in the 'hood by myself. PRICELESS.

We had been stalking a City Mini on Craigslist for a few weeks.  Had a few exciting moments where we thought we had one, but they kept slipping through our fingers.  Then Eric did some research and learned that the City Mini cant have trays/cup holders for the kids.  Deal breaker. Sadness. Now what!?

So we did some more research and picked our top two requirements and found this beast at Babies R Us. Used a 20% coupon and another 15% coupon in-store, and ended up getting $80 off!

Funny part: We were planning to go to the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot last weekend.  We didnt have a double stroller I liked, so we stopped at BRU, bought the stroller, and Eric put it together in the front of Babies R Us.  They were happy to let us borrow their screwdriver and wrench :) We then hopped over to Target for a tire-pump, and were on our way to Disney with THREE strollers in our car.

We werent at Epcot 10 minutes when a stranger was struggling with the tires on their stroller.  Sure enough, their tires were flat and they needed a bike pump.

Here we come to save the daaaay!!! We owned the stroller an hour and were already using the pump to help someone out. :)

It was a great day and the stroller was a HUGE hit.  Grady napped. Whitney loved it. And it was so easy to push and maneuver with one hand, even with the weight of two kids! 

LOVE.

We met up with one of my besties, Kathy, and her family for some Around the World walking at the Food and Wine Festival. Always fun to see Whitney with Kathy's big girls, Kacey and Emiley.  And it helps that our hubbies really like each other, too!

Another bonus to the stroller: the footrest served as a nice bench for the girls while they ate their popsicles and for me when we were waiting for Eric in a food line!

Miss Whitney was excited to get her face painted for the first time. Doesnt she look adorable?!

Very exciting day :)

Eric's company sponsored Epcot's Food and Wine Festival this year, and they had a "lounge" for all cardholders to enjoy, escape the heat, get some complimentary snacks and drinks. 

We hung out for a few minutes, hit up the bathrooms with no lines, and headed out to see the Food and Wine expo. It was a fun day with great weather and awesome friends!

Early in the day we got fast passes to ride Soarin'.  When it was time to ride, we werent sure Whitney would be tall enough.  Poor kid cant WAIT to ride Splash Mountain and I just know she will like Soarin'.  She was excited about MAYBE getting to ride...

No beuno.

She's still too short to ride, so we all skipped it. Maybe in a few months :) 

She had a better ride in mind :)

We headed over to Nemo while Kathy kept Grady for us.  It was a quick but nice reminder of our "good ol days" when it was just the three of us.  Whitney still doesnt like to do stuff without Grady, but Im hoping we can convince her to hit up Disney with just Mommy and Daddy soon :) 

It was a great day for everyone! Great, cute, well behaved kids.....lots of excitement.....awesome weather......and a quiet ride home (once we stopped at Walgreens to get more formula for Grady since this Mama didnt pack enough :( )

How cute are these two?!

On Sunday, I headed to Eric's family's home town to celebrate a close family friend and her baby boy.  My SIL Lynzie threw a really cute baby shower for her life-long bestie, Sarah and we were thrilled to be included. 

Grady enjoyed some snuggles with our Aunt Carol :) 

We call her the Baby Whisperer :) All the family babies love her and Uncle Joe, and I know they just cant wait to have grandbabies of their own!! 

Grady is more and more mobile lately, and cuter every day :)

He rolls and squirms and flops all over, grabbing toys (and Whitney's hair) in his path :)

He hasnt been napping or eating much lately and at the baby shower on Sunday I remarked that I couldnt feel any teeth about to pop through, but thought it would be within the next week or two.

Sure enough.....the next morning.....

....this dude.....

Popped a TOOTH!

Its SHARP and coming through more and more by the hour! 

Whitney popped her first tooth the day after Halloween 2009, and I am repeatedly reminded why I love that these kids were born in the same month.  It makes it so easy to remember her milestones and anticipate what he might be up to next!

Like sitting on his own like a big boy.....

He looks so grown up!

And I absolutely LOVE catching them playing "together".  I know hes still too young to REALLY play with her the way she wants him to, but she is so loving and such a great big sister already.  

On Tuesday, we were lucky enough to meet some of our favorites at the park for a quick picnic and some playground fun! Avery only has about three more months as an only child and then we will have FOUR kids at our playdates!

This dude is excited to have another boy on the way to play!  Mandy is due to have Hutchison in January, and Natalia is due to be a big sister ANY day, as Erin and Steve await the arrival of Sawyer! We are LOVING that our girls are all so close in age and will all have baby brothers around the same age! 

Grady went on the swings for the first time and LOVED it!

...which reminded me of this picture from November 2009.....

Same park. Same swing.  Cant believe I get to do this again. 

Grady was yelling and squealing and could NOT stop kicking his legs :)

LOVE this.

We are so blessed. 

"If you take me out of this swing, we WILL have a problem."

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!"

and within 3 minutes:

It was such a fun day, topped off by a quick visit from my dad who learned we were at the park and decided to run up to see us. Best. Gramps. Ever. ;)

And when I was getting Whitney ready for school the other day, I remembered she had worn the same outfit last year....

2011

2012

(I love, love, love that she posed herself like this. Shes such a ham!)

Isnt it amazing the difference a year can make?!  Makes me wonder what the NEXT year will bring!