Corey walked!

I don't have pictures or video, but he took his first steps today, 2 weeks and 1 day before his first birthday. He has taken one step before, but never more than one and never with the intent of walking.

He is getting SO big. I am getting SO weepy! My sweet baby is getting bigger each day!

Newest Nightly Ritual

My sister describes Carley as whimsical and that is really a good term for her. She loves to live in a world of make believe, princesses, weddings, dancing, and love. It is so funny, so cute, and so precious. I love her innocence and her perception of what life is like.

Every night for the past couple of weeks, she has slipped away to her room and come out in a night gown, slippers, and a crown. She stands at the door and waits for Cody to notice her and ask her to dance. The look on her face is priceless. She usually blushes and quietly walks to her daddy and lets him hum to her while the dance. Usually it is just for a couple of minutes, but OH it warms my heart each time. Cody loves it too. She just adores her daddy right now.

Back to School, week 1

The kids did great back at Daycare. Carley loves being in the oldest group and was excited to see all of her friends. This year she takes a backpack because she has homework every day. She feels very grown up in the Owl Class. (hence her new favorite picture pose with her arms out)

Corey has a little bit of a hard time this week, just because it was a big change to his schedule. His teachers could not be sweeter. He is used to a morning nap and they don't do those, so he gets tired. Little guy has been asleep before 7:00 pm each night this week.

We are getting more used to it and back into the swing, though!

11 months

How is Corey Wayne Nelson 11 months old?

My favorite new trick of Corey's is that he is starting to talk more and more. This week he started saying "Quack, Quack, Quack" at his bath ducks. These are precious moments.

Fabulous K did it again!

Thank you so much, for the face lift of my blog! I love it! She always does a great job and makes your blog SUPER cute and personal.

http://www.fabulouskcreative.com/

Thanks, Kelly!

Heigh Ho

..It's off to work I go.

To quote Phinneas and Ferb -
There's 104 days of summer vacation
And school comes along just to end it

Today is my last day of Summer Break and tomorrow starts another year of being an employee of Public Education. I always face this day with mixed emotions. It is SO hard to leave my kids and my laid back summer lifestyle. This time it is MUCH harder than I remember. Maybe it is having two, maybe it is Corey's 5 tooth smile, maybe it is Carley's precious personality, maybe it is that this was a summer without pregnancy or infertility, maybe it is all the changes at work, and maybe it is all of it, but I am not ready for tomorrow. Not at all. Not even a little.

I am excited that my kids are going back to the same childcare facility as last year that I feel really good about. Carley is excited to see her friends. Corey will be in a room filled with great toys and experiences for him. Man, I am going to miss them both so much. I will love seeing my friends and getting back on routine. I will love adult conversation. I will miss filling sippy cups, cooking mac and cheese, reading and rocking, kissing my babies a million times a day, laughing with Carley, cuddling with Corey, and family dates with Cody. This year I am just not ready, not at all.

Please say a little prayer for us Nelsons in the next couple of weeks and we move into a new year and adjust. Once we get into the swing of things, it will just fine like always. It just take more Sonic drinks then usual to get in the groove.

Carley and Corey, thank you for the most wonderful summer I have ever had. I love you both so much!

The Cutest Campers

Cody and Carley are camping in the backyard tonight. They set everything up, made smores on the grill, talked about life, and are going to hit the sack before too long. They are a precious sight and bring such joy to my heart to see. Carley is a lucky girl to have a daddy that loves her as much as Cody does and Cody is a lucky to have a daughter that adores her daddy so much. They are a cute little couple.

Bangs

Carley got a big hair cut today. She has been wanting to do her own hair for awhile now and does not want to wear twisties, bows, headbands, clips, or anything of the "keep my hair out of my eyes" nature.

I have tried lots of different ideas and even some major layers but can't get her hair to stay out of her face. I finally decided that some bangs might help. She got a big girl hair cut today and LOVES IT! I hope we end up as happy with it as she has been the past couple of hours and I hope it slows down some early morning fights!

Alyssa is having a....

...precious, healthy girl. I am so excited to meet my third niece in December. I am also excited to see Lauren and Camryn get another sister.

The kids and I spent last week with Alyssa's family. Her girls were wonderful to baby Corey and all of us. They will adore their new sister. Alyssa is generous and kind to a fault and never made us feel like we were imposing. Poor Corey was sick most of the trip. He had a fever, an ear infection, and a throat infection. It was awful. But Alyssa and my mom helped me with Carley and Corey and let me spend some time with both of my kids. Alyssa wrote a great post about Corey being girltrapped by his cousins and I know he is thrilled to have another buddy. I am thrilled to watch Clint be girltrapped even more.

Every life, every pregnancy, every baby is a miracle. Alyssa and Clint, and many of their friends and family have prayed for this baby and the future of the O'Rear family way before there was ever a positive pregnancy test. Take a moment and thank our Father, the Great Physician, and the Creator of Life for this little life and that the rest of her pregnancy is healthy and perfect.

Love you SO much, little baby girl O!