Molly Anne’s School Stuff

Well, Molly Anne is leaving Ms. Becky's at the end of August and going to a large church program for school!  It's going to be so sad leaving Becky's but I know this will be good for her.  She needs a challenge in her world!  And, we still get to see Becky because Grady will take Molly Anne's place there!  Win win!

I owe my friend Sarah who knows the ropes of school lunch all the credit for getting Molly Anne set right up!  This will be the first time I've had to pack a lunch (Becky feeds them Breakfast, Lunch and snack) so I didn't know what to buy!  

First up - Molly Anne's lunchbox - Christine monogrammed this for us!  Next, Sarah swears by these YumBox lunchboxes and evidently they truly do not leak.  And this drink container which goes in the pocket on the outside of the lunchbox.  These ice packs because they're slim and fit easily.  And a waterproof folder (from Wal-Mart) for all of the documents that get sent back and forth.  I put one of her mGa stickers on it that I had made from this Etsy seller.  

Everything will go right into her classic LL Bean backpack!  

And she'll be ready to roll!  I know she will love going to her new school!  

First Pedi and Our Weekend

On Friday Grady had a little test run day at Ms. Becky's so I kept Molly Anne and we had a little girls day!  I got soooo much done not having someone attached to me 24/7!  Haha!  

First up, we went to Polished and she got a mani and pedi!  She had had a mani before but this pedicure was extra special for her!  Then she wanted to get a chocolate iced donut so we did that afterwards!  

After we picked Grady up, we went next door to swim for our usual Friday night!  After all of the children were in bed, Hilary came over and we hung on the porch! 

Saturday morning!

We didn't do a ton on Saturday.  We cooked breakfast at home then had naps after playing.  Well some of us had naps and some didn't! ;)





We went to Southpark late afternoon because Kevin had to return something then had an early dinner at Pacos Tacos.  We always have to visit the fountain afterwards!

Sunday morning we hung around, I gave Mills a bath, then Kevin took Molly Anne to the playground so she could go down the slide a million times and take her new sand toys to the sand volleyball court!  She built a castle of course!

This is what we did!  Mills is the best. 

Look at him, he had his face stuck between the chair and ottoman and just let Grady chill on him.  It was so cute.  

After nap we played with water beads in her water table and then moved them all to this little tupperware container!  We grilled out for dinner and I'll try to share that new recipe later this week.  

Hope you all had a nice weekend!

Three on Friday

ONE:
Both children had well checks on Monday!  Molly Anne is as healthy as they get!  Just a little on the wild side! ;)  Grady has a couple things going on - reflux and torticollis.  I had taken him to the pediatrician in Maryland because I didn't want to wait two more weeks on the reflux, he got terrible when we were there and the Zantac from his one month visit wasn't doing anything.  Prevacid has really helped him!  Torticollis I knew was going to happen even though I've held this child for 24 hours of every day...not really but you get the point.  It must be how these babies sit in my stomach!  I had the pediatrician in Maryland send a referral to the same PT place Molly Anne went and I got his first appointment for this past Monday, right when we returned.  In fact, we went to PT before we even had his well check ha!  Thankfully his pediatrician here agreed we had made the right move!  He thinks we have a good chance of avoiding the band this time since we caught it early.  Needless to say, I'm all over the exercises!    

TWO:
I had ordered this shirt in blue and when I got it, I loved it so much, I ordered the pink.  It's legit and $29.  





THREE:
This boy and I....

have been selling lots of Molly Anne's clothes on a local Facebook group this week.  It has actually been a lot of work and I'm so sad to see most of it go.  But I know it's for the best.  We plan to save the money and put it in a savings account for her.  Maybe it'll be for her wedding dress one day as we sell her clothes throughout the years!

Unreal, right?!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Four Easy Meals

Here are four easy meals we’ve had this week that even the pickiest eater known to man approved and said he will eat again!  

1.  Damn Delicious Summer Spaghetti - I used mozzarella instead of burrata because I didn’t feel like going to a second store but I loveeee burrata. (Forgot to take a pic of ours but it didn’t look this pretty!)

2.  Skinny Taste Chopped Salad 

Toddler version



3.  I grilled hot dogs on Tuesday and we had these with fresh corn and fruit.  Molly Anne and I had ours without the bun.  While I grilled these, I also grilled hamburgers for dinner Wednesday night. 

4.  Skinny Taste Cheeseburger Salad


Toddler version

Night Nurse

I had a few comments and emails wondering if I could fill yall in on the night nurse situation we had!  Of course!

This is how it went down:

I always had read on my local Mom's Facebook group that there were a group of girls organized by one gal that all worked together at a local hospital on the mother/baby floor.  I never needed anyone with Molly Anne because well, I just didn't need help.  This time after the c-section and having an almost 3 year old, I raised my hand and said, yep, I need help!  

Anyway, one of my friends had used this group and said it was the best money spent ever and that the girls were wonderful that had helped her!  Done.  

I texted the head girl one night and the next night Jen appeared at our door at 9pm!  My Mom was still in town and Kevin of course was here so when she got here, we all sat in the den chatting about what Grady was doing - eating sleeping bathroom, repeat!  We gave her the scoop and since my Mom was still here, Jen stayed in Grady's room with him.  Kevin kept the monitor to keep ears on Molly Anne and I slept in the other guest room so I could SLEEP!

I set my alarm for 5:50am and Jen left at 6am.  About 8 consecutive hours of sleep.  SUCH A GIFT!!!

Jen came 5 times over the first 7 weeks.  She got me through the 2-3 times a night wakings and until Grady started only getting up once a night (around 7.5 weeks).  I felt like a new human when he only got up once a night ha!  

She always came at 10pm (except the first time when she came at 9pm).  I'd go to bed at 8/9pm and Kevin would let her in.  I would just text her the scoop on what Grady was up to before I went to bed.  Then I'd set my alarm for 5:50am and see her in the morning.  It was really nice having her those first few weeks when I had a question about something with Grady or my own recovery.  

Oh and after Mom left, she hung out in our den and watched TV or whatever.  She kept the monitor with her.  I told her she should drift off to sleep because I really didn't care as long as she heard him of course.  I don't think she did this but I was fine with it if she wanted to do that.

The burning question - $30/hour.  Worth every penny.  It was temporary and we knew that.  

Jen was wonderful and I ended up having her come every time to keep some consistency versus using different girls!  

So that's it!  Highly recommend!  It made me a better Mom those first few crazy weeks.  I was SO productive the next day after having sleep and probably a lot nicer to be around!  ;)

Last Week in Maryland

Well it's back to reality!  I got home on Saturday with Molly Anne and Grady.  It was a long day of travel but it only took us 10.5 hours versus the 11 it took going.  

We had three efficient stops and didn't run into traffic this time.  We stopped at a Chick Fil A in the pouring down rain in VA Beach.  Imagine one of those super busy Chick Fil A's that have two drive aisles for the drive thru then another lane and then parallel parking spaces.  Well that's where we had to park.  So yeah I got two kids out of the car and told Molly Anne to stay right beside me and I pushed the stroller in and held her hand with Grady crying.  It was fabulous.  But we got in there and knocked out the bathroom for all of us, fed Grady and got Carry Out food for lunch via the app (so I didn't have to stand in line and they brought it to the table for me!). 

The next stop I may have won a mom award.  Grady was not happy and I just had to stop.  I was trying to get to Durham but that didn't happen and I had to stop in a small town and had no choice except for the Cookout.  I'll spare you the details but I got Molly Anne a milkshake and she stayed put.  It was disgusting in there, not to mention I didn't feel very safe.  Anyway, we all survived. And all took baths the second we walked in the door at home.   

Stop 3 was at a Sheetz gas station about 1.5 hours from Charlotte.  I just fed him in the car that time and we moved along.  

All in all, it wasn't terrible to go up and back by myself with both children.  But I will say I don't think I'll be doing that again until Grady isn't taking bottles.  Flying next time!

My parents really went above and beyond for us.  I'm thankful for the time we spent with them and I'm glad they got time with Molly Anne and Grady.  Of course I like being home too.  We had visitors almost every day so we got to see a lot of family and friends as well.  It was good for the soul.  I spent two weeks up there during my maternity leave with Molly Anne so it was nice to get to do that again.  I'm not sure that'll ever happen a third time but ya never know. 

Here are some pictures of our last week up there!

One night Dad was out back grilling and they were playing tag.  This was so sweet to me because we grew up playing in the backyard at nights while Dad grilled.  

We went for a bike ride every morning after Grady's bottle and he slept in my carrier while she rode.  

Hey Mo!  She brought both children so many treats!  So nice!


Mom worked with her on learning how to write her name.  Mom was a teacher so she knows how to do all of this stuff that I'm clueless on.  (She had a little melanoma spot taken off her face).  


We got carry out crabs a couple times which was a big treat.  





We went to my cousin Jenni's pool one day.  They live on the river and it's just so pretty!


Grady and his first Grady White boat out in the distance.  

We resorted to the blow up pool that my parents had gotten her to play in! 

And of course they got her a big Mingo float!

Best buddies

Molly Anne lovessss my parent's piano!  

Mimi - my parent's long time next door neighbor- for like almost 40 years.  Like family to us!

Jenni came by to visit!

They did makeup!

Sweet boy

Molly Anne at 10 weeks 5 days and Grady at 10 weeks 2 days.  Same sofa in my parent's living room.  

This is what I drove through on the way back.  Whew.  

Alrighty I'm back in business and ready for a busy couple of weeks.  Becky is back today after being off since July 4th.  Both children have well visits today and Grady has physical therapy.  Busy day!