One year down, many more to go!

I realize that I have yet to be post since Abby was a month old. Now I understand why all of my sisters are so busy and have little time to do much of anything. Having more than one child is a true challenge. Since then lots has happened. Christmas came, we had fun spending time with family and Rachel coming for the holidays. 2015 came to a close and with that 2016 was here! Hannah is turning 5 this year which means my oldest is going to Kindergarten. Yikes! Cue the gray hairs! So onto this year, I asked Daniel what he wanted for his birthday in February. He said he wanted to spend time with us, and go to the beach. We decided on Myrtle beach. We also said a vacation with the kids isn't that much fun unless you have a babysitter so we invited Daniel's parents to come along.  We had a blast renting a 3 bedroom condo at a resort, swimming in their indoor pool and enjoying the less crowded Myrtle Beach. Yes, it was a perfect temperature of 65 and cloudy, despite the rain and cool air, we visited the Ripley's Aquarium, Broadway at the Beach and walked along the Boardwalk as well as the beach itself. March, April, and May passed quickly which meant the end of Preschool and Graduation for Hannah. She has thoroughly enjoyed the friends she made and the wonderful teachers there. Summer officially began and that meant hot weather and attempting the pool with a baby. Most days we enjoyed the pool with the Halls, other days we attempted story time at the library. Naps away from home somehow have eluded my spirited young child, and so needless to say, mommy has decided to become a hermit. :)  Just kidding. Just as soon as Abby has settled into sleeping at night and two naps a day, August begun and the start of Kindergarten. Now, I am lucky to get the girls to bed by 7:30pm and then mommy does a little happy dance! :) Hannah has also decided that riding the school bus is super fun because its bumpy. She also has the same teacher for Kindergarten that her cousin April had the previous year, as well as she has made lots of new friends. She has come home each day and loves to tell me the things she has learned at school. I have to admit., the first day of her riding the bus, once the bus left, I actually teared up. Why? I asked myself, well, Hannah is notorious for forgetting things and I was sure she was going to forget where her classroom was or that the bus ride experience would not go well. Thanks goodness I was wrong on either account. The teachers and staff at the school have been awesome as well as the bus driver. I can't be more grateful for the great experience and transition she has had to Kindergarten. What a blessing! As for Abby, her little personality has just blossomed before our little eyes. Around 4 months this little gal, decided to roll over, and began enjoying cereal. That meant we could began to sleep train! Within days, she was sleeping 10 hours at night, and sleeping on her tummy. Then, the true challenge came, teeth plus army crawling. I literally had to baby proof my house overnight. From there, she was into anything she could. Hannah's toys, etc. She was happy though! Now at 12 months, she is walking, jabbering all kinds of words that still make very little sense and being a normal toddler like screaming, and throwing all kinds of tantrums when she doesn't like something or gets in trouble. She still loves to watch and copy Hannah, and loves to eat whatever we put in front of her. Toddlerhood has definitely become my least favorite part of childhood. I love the milestones of sleeping at night, eating well, no more breastfeeding or formula, but I am ready for this fight for independence and not being able to communicate to be done. I have a bad feeling that the terrible 2's will not end with her when she turns 3. Lord help me! Otherwise life has pretty much settle to a new norm. Hannah enjoys school, Abby misses her playmate, and mommy enjoys having one child at home for a few hours at least :) Here is the plethora of pictures to sum up our fun!