400th POST!!!!!

Here marks our 400th post since becoming a family of four and starting the family blog. Where has the time gone?

I just thought I'd pop on here and document some of our recent activities. Carter is currently enrolled in swimming lessons as well as soccer. He's loving every minute of both. He is well over 3.5 right now and will be turning the big F-O-U-R in just about 4.5 months. He is growing up so quickly. He has started recognizing a few sight words. We practice sight word flash cards (I isolated a set of about 10 or so words) at night before he goes to bed. His first word that he could recognize was "no" (how fitting) but he has since picked up on "three, please, she, you" and a few others as well. My next step will be to try to help him recognize them in the real world, not just when they are on a flash card in front of him. He is doing so well, we're so proud of our little man! He has also started working on writing his name, though I must admit we've slacked on this the last few weeks. Summer in a busy time! He wrote his name for the very first time by himself on June 20th. That, of course, is hanging up on our magnet board! Carter is enjoying our "home days" and gets a little sad when one of us leaves to tutor or go to soccer practice. He's started guilt tripping which I must admit is still pretty cute at this age. I know there will be a time when it certainly is not. He will say something to us like, "But I want the whole family to be together......" Just yesterday when we all went for a bike ride and he and Caidey were riding in the bike trailer behind Daddy's bike we caught them "making fun of us" for what we think is one of the first times. Brandon and I said something and Carter started mimicking it. They thought this was just HILARIOUS which fueled Carter to keep repeating it and they just latched onto each other amidst all their giggles for a wonderful hug that only close siblings can understand.

Caidey. Yes, Caidey. It must be a Swart girl thing. The kids' cousin, Hunter, has always been full of personality. She knows what she wants and she wants it now. Even though about 1,000 miles separate these two Swart girls (something noone in the family thought would even exist), they are so similar!!! Caidey has attitude. Caidey has carisma. Caidey has personality. Whatever way you want to say it, this kid is unique! You have to spend time with her in person to truly appreciate it. She certainly frustrates us at times too, but for the most part, she's just funny. Ms. Caidey-Bug made a few more steps toward becoming a bigger girl this weekend. Brandon and I bought her a big-girl-booster-seat for the table so she can have one just like Carter's AND we went ahead and bought a rail for her bed. I'm currently working on refinishing my old bedroom furniture from my childhood so Caidey can use it as her "big girl" furniture. Two days ago we (Daddy) decided to go ahead and convert her crib to a toddler bed by removing the front of it and using the new bed rail. Caidey is so excited!!!!!! We hoped this could curb her tendency to wake up in the mornings or after a nap and cry for "Mama" but so far the cries continue. I just have to crack her door and remind her that she can climb down out of her bed on her own. We're only two days into it, I'm sure she'll figure it out soon. I just hope she stays in bed when she's supposed to. I think she will, she is a good sleeper. I really am pretty glad Brandon just went ahead and converted her bed to a toddler bed. It will provide her with a transition between her crib and real "big girl" bed and it was best for me too. I didn't have a chance to get all weepy and sappy about putting her down in her crib for the last time because I didn't realize her last time was her last time. She is ready for this toddler bed, she really is such a big girl.

Shool starts four weeks from today. I intend to make the very most of every single one of the twenty eight days remaining of our summer. We're having to much fun as a family. Trips to the water park can be seen here. I didn't want to post a boring post and not at least include some pictures. The close up of Carter with all of the water droplets on his face is one of my favorites. Caidey (surprisingly!) is a little more timid at the splash parks. Carter, on the other hand, basically runs from the parking lot all the way into the water!

Happy summer, kids. Mommy loves you guys so much!!!!