Firsts

We’ve been busy in the Halman house.  I like to celebrate “First” time events.  And that’s because you can only have ONE first time for every event in your life.  First smile, first steps, first time riding a bicycle with no training wheels, first kiss, first heartbreak, first child.  Your “firsts” change you and you always remember your first everything.  That’s why this post is dedicated to all the firsts that have been happening in our neck of the woods lately. 

We’ll start with a first date night we’ve had in a while.  We plan to make it a weekly or biweekly event from now on.  When you have children, be it one or 10, it’s hard to find time for just the two of you.  But we’ve made a promise to have “our” time and to not forget the feelings we first had for each other.  It’s what made us who we are today and gave us this awesome family of ours.  If the mommy and daddy aren’t happy and on the same page, no one in the family is happy.  Well, we are happy!!! 

First day of Pre-K.  Am I really typing this?  I can’t believe little angel, Isla Shea, is in pre-k.  We went shopping together, just she and I, and she picked out every article of clothing on her little self.  Hot pink Hello Kitty shirt, check!  Hot pink glittery tutu skirt, check!  Sparkly leopard print shoes, check!  I’m ready, mom!

Not really a first but I had to throw in these two pictures…I mean can it get any sweeter?  (Even if Palmer is crying in the second one)

First rice cereal.  The boy was hungry!  Palmer was like a little bird in the nest opening his mouth and waiting for the worm to drop in.  He loves it!  Especially if it’s mixed with bananas or sweet potatoes.  He can’t stand peas…but who can blame him.  Palmer still wakes up twice a night for feedings so it doesn’t fill his little belly up as much as I’d like, but I’m happy he likes it. 

First picture of John carrying Palmer in the baby Bjorn.  It’s the nightly ritual.  The witching hour starts at 5:00pm in our house.  Cue Isla, Leo, and Palmer either whining, crying, or being too wild and crazy.  And they all do this at the same time.  After John walks in the door and dresses out of his work clothes, he straps the baby Bjorn on and in goes Palmer.  Then we have only two children left to tame.  Meanwhile I cook dinner, fix the plates, pour the drinks and we finally get to sit down and talk about the day (whiny baby still in our laps or strapped to John.)  Then it’s bath time and bedtime for the P-nut.  Isla and Leo aren’t far behind. 

First Gator game of the season.  And Palmer’s first gator game ever.  John and I got a babysitter and went up to Dick’s Wings to watch our team in action.  We may have left at halftime to go dance at the Ritz.  :)  GO GATORS!

First time sleeping arrangements.  It broke my heart to have to move my precious Palmer out of the bassinet and into his crib.  I wanted to have him sleeping next to me forever but it was time.  He was waking up every hour all through the night.  After crying my eyes out I put him to sleep in his crib in his owl themed nursery.  He slept like a rock!  This meant Leo had to move out of the crib and into a big boy bed.  And not just any bed, a bunk bed with his sister sleeping on top.  I was really nervous that they would talk and play with each other till midnight before falling asleep.  Surprisingly they were asleep by 9.  Leo only cried once to go back to the nursery but we told him this was his new bed and thanked him for sharing his crib with Palmer and he said, “Okay.”  Such a sweet heart he is.  They absolutely love sharing a room together and they sleep better than before.  Isla used to walk into our room at least twice a night because of nightmares but she hasn’t at all now that she has Leo to keep her safe.  I hear them talking, laughing and singing to each other behind the door and it makes me so happy that they are so close.  So the First that I was dreading most turned out to be wonderful for everyone!  And a great nights sleep makes for a happy baby in the morning: 

(Last time in his crib…my baby boy is growing up)

This little one is 4 months old and continues to melt our hearts with his sweeter-than-candy smiles.  He smiles at anyone who talks to him, he giggles and even let out a belly laugh today, he grabs at anything within his grasp; including my hair, he loves to play with his feet when he’s lying on his back, he also loves to roll to his side but hasn’t quite made it all the way over yet.  Palmer is a precious little p-nut and we are so complete!  Time to go capture some more firsts on film…

Week of Fun

Last week all three kids were at home with me all day, every day and it was…CRAZY!!!  I have to admit though, not as crazy as I thought it would be.  Ever since Palmer’s been born I've been terrified to get out of the house with all three by myself but I knew this week was my week to hurdle that fear.  And I came out with a blue ribbon and a bottle of wine.  I planned a fun week for all of us and each day had it’s own activity.  Monday came and went and I swore I’d never leave the house again with all three, but by the time Friday came it felt normal and natural and I no longer am scared to parade around town with these three…

Before the week of fun started we had to say goodbye to the 3’s Preschool class.  They had their class party at beach bowl and had the time of their lives.  Isla even bowled a 101 on her second game (bumpers were down) but I still don’t think I could bowl that.  Isla also had to say goodbye to her best friend, Riley.  They were born 4 days apart and have the exact same personality.   They’ve been in the same class for the past two years but will be in different ones next year.  But not to worry, we’ll still have play dates together. 

We also celebrated Coach’s birthday at the Pier for lunch.  Leo and Coach are best buddies! 

That weekend  John and I also celebrated another year of marriage.  7 wonderful years with “my prince”, as Isla would say.  We have built such a beautiful life together and to think it all started over a beer at a keg party 11 years ago.  I love you, babe and the 7 year itch ain’t got nothing on us. 

(August 14, 2004)

And so Monday came and I woke up excited and terrified at the same time.  I probably shouldn’t have scheduled such a hard outing for our first day but I thought hey why not dive in head first.  So we drove to the Avenues mall to go to “Build a Bear.”  Okay it was around 99 degrees outside, I’m unloading the double stroller out of the Tahoe while Palmer is screaming and Isla and Leo are bouncing off the walls with excitement.  I’m already sweating and completely stressed out.  We finally get out of the car and head inside but Palmer continues to scream.  I thought he may be hungry so I make the kids go back outside and get into the car so I could nurse him.  I was so stressed that he wouldn’t even eat so we unload again and head back inside.  We make it to the store and Isla and Leo were in heaven.  They were having a blast so I tried to ignore the fact that I had a screaming 3 month old in tow.  Isla picked out a purple cat and Leo picked out a gator (good choice, buddy).  The bears were stuffed and then they were allowed to pick out an outfit and a pair of shoes.  They were running in different directions and I was bouncing a crying baby and thinking to myself I have lost my mind.  Somehow we got the bears dressed and their birth certificates printed when John walked into the store to meet us for lunch.  I was so relieved to see him.  However, we had to skip the lunch date because I had to get Palmer home to feed him.  Oh boy, it was a tough morning and note to myself…never go to the Avenues by yourself with 3 kids.  After naps I was recharged and decided to take Isla and Leo to the Hanna Park Splash park while my mom watched Palmer.  I had so much fun running around with them and splashing in the ice cold sprinklers.  We even played on a 4 person see-saw.  Monday turned out to be not so bad after all and the rest of the week was a breeze.

Tuesday we went to the Ponte Vedra pool with my dad and then to Sierra Grille for lunch.  In the afternoon we stayed at home and played many games of hide-n-seek.  Wednesday, I took them to Planet Pottery.  Isla picked out a little angel fairy box to paint and Leo of course picked out a truck.  Palmer fell asleep on the way so they had my total attention.  For an entire hour they sat there and painted their art concentrating so hard and making sure to not let a speck of white show through, well Isla did at least. 

That afternoon we posted up at Books A Million and read a ton of books and then they got to pick out a couple to buy.  I think we came home with some “Cars” musical books, a Barbie book, and a Little Bear book.  We went out to eat at Culhanes to end the day. 

Thursday I took them to story time at the Library and we also read and checked out books.  That afternoon we had art time in the driveway.  Isla and Leo finger painted and played with glitter while Palmer hung out on the porch and had some tummy time in the yard.  Leo wasn’t that into getting his fingers dirty but he tried it out for a bit. 

Friday came and I was sad.  I was sad that our week together was over.  We went to the pool again and relaxed in the afternoon.  Although the week was a lot of work, it was also a lot of fun and I know how fast these little ones grow.  I made sure to soak up every second and I’ll always remember this special week together.  Thank you Isla, Leo, and Palmer for our week of fun and for every day we spend together.  I’m so lucky to be your mama!  Muah, muah, muah, hug, hug, hug!!!