The month of July was another busy summer month for us! During the month, Kaelyn got to attend her first dress up party, we went on our family vacation, Rylan began eating cereal, and Kaelyn moved to her big girl bed.

Kaelyn was the cutest little 2 year old at the dress up birthday party. She walked right in and put on her purple tutu with pink fuzzy shoes and joined in the fun with the older girls. She even got to wear make-up for the first time along with fingernail stickers! I must admit that our little 2 year grew up overnight. I loved the party because I got to sit back and watch all the action with a big smile on my face. I knew Kaelyn was very "girly," but experiencing all her squeals and sheer delight at the party helped me realize it even more.

Loved her pink fuzzy high heels! 

She loved her fingernail stickers! If one fell off, she went back

to the "salon" for a reapplication!

First time for her to wear make-up! 

Her new friend Lexi who helped her with the makeover!

The finished product! All grown up! 

We left for our first family of four vacation on Saturday, July 23rd headed to Destin, Florida with the Blackstock family! Our trip had been in the works since before Rylan was born and we were all so anxious to get on the road and enjoy some beach time. We drove 2/3 of the way there on Saturday, stopping in Port Allen, LA for the night. We arrived in Destin on Sunday afternoon and the beach fun began! We stayed at the San Destin resort which was very family oriented. Kaelyn loved the sand. It provided hours of cheap (FREE) entertainment of sand castle building, burying daddy in the sand, and watering it. The kids all got along wonderfully and we got to enjoy some relaxing adult time as well. The resort had its own village called the Baytown Wharf and we spent several evenings walking around the village and enjoyed eating outside with live music. There were tons of activities for bigger kids (zip lining, a ropes course, etc.). One evening we got to see a fireworks show over the Wharf which was beautiful. It was Kaelyn's and Rylan's first fireworks show. Kaelyn kept saying "loud" so I'm not sure how much she liked them. After we got the kids down for bed each evening, we adults enjoyed sitting out on the balcony of our condo listening to the ocean and catching up on life. It was a great week and definitely not long enough. Robbie and I decided that the beach is our new favorite family hotspot because of all there is to do for our kids. Rylan will love it next year. We loved traveling with the Blackstock family as well! Kaelyn still asks for "Sarah Kate and Col."

Both of our kids were champs on the long drive!

Kaelyn passed the time coloring and watching movies. 

Kaelyn thought it was funny that Piglet helped Daddy drive. 

We made it to the beach!

(Her "Say Cheese" tilt of the head and smile)

Rylan loved the ocean breeze and his bed. 

The view from our 13th floor balcony. 

Sweet boy slept most of the day at the beach. 

The 3 big kids climbed into bed together to watch a movie. 

Kaelyn holding hands with Collin and Sarah Kate holding Rylan.

(Kaelyn is in love with Collin and made sure to hug him each night;

Sarah Kate was like a little mommy to Rylan and helped out with him)

Daddy and Kaelyn enjoying time in the sand.

I packed the garden water pot and had no idea what a hit it would be.

Sarah Kate and Kaelyn took turns watering the sand!

Blowing bubbles in the kiddie pool. 

Giving out some love. 

Gator Beach: Home to over 200 alligators

"Not too close Daddy."

Foggy lens from humidity, but picture with my babies!

Rylan's favorite thing to do at the beach...Sleep!

(It was his own personal sound machine)

Jumping the waves with Daddy. 

Taking a break from the hot sun to take a drink from her juice box! 

Burying Daddy's legs in the sand! 

The two boys at The Track

The kids built a fort under the end table in the condo and

somehow all fit inside very snuggly!

Inside was a little cramped. 

Meeting Memaw's sister, Birdie, for the first time.

She lives in Destin. 

More beach fun

Our condo at the San Destin resort, The WestWinds

Thanks to Tropical Storm Don, the waves were huge the last two days.

(Red flags flying)

This baby can sleep anywhere! Poolside this time. 

After our return from Destin, Rylan had his 4 month check-up. He is growing big and strong each and every day. He has a very contagious laugh and smiles with his whole body just like his sister! We love watching our little boy grow both physically and in personality! He even has started a high-pitch squeal that is just hilarious to hear. He enjoys watching Kaelyn play and thinks she is pretty funny too. Rylan has started teething and enjoys nibbling on anyone who will let him. We go for his follow-up Barium Swallow Study on Monday, August 15th and are anxious to hear if we've made any improvements. We are hoping and praying we can at least backup on the thickener. Our pediatrician has started us on rice cereal so we can hopefully get hiim sleeping through the night (this Mommy is more than ready for an uninterrupted night of sleep).

Rylan's 4 Month Statistics

Weight: 15 lbs. 12 oz. (75th percentile)

Height: 25 1/8 inches (75th percentile)

Not sure if he thinks the rice cereal is funny or his Mommy!

Kaelyn is also growing up as well! We just converted her crib to a toddler bed and she is sleeping very well in it now! It is an understatement for us to say that she adapts to most changes very well! She loves her big girl bed and wakes up each day happy and ready to come downstairs. Next on the list: potty training! 

Reflecting on the change! 

She is trying to figure out where all her babies are! 

Found them Mom! "I'm too smart."

(These are all the babies she slept with in her crib, but there

isn't any room anymore)

Waking up from her first nap in her new bed

Our Precious 2 Year Old!

On Wednesday, July 6th, Kaelyn turned two! I know I speak for many parents when I say that Robbie and I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by and that we are now the parents of a two year old! In our eyes, Kaelyn is really mature for her age and such a joy to be around! She makes us laugh all the time (most of the time we have to hide our laughs from her so she'll know we mean business) and she is growing to be fearless in trying new things. This might be my favorite age thus far because Kaelyn minds pretty well and is just independent enough to help out. For her actual birthday, Rylan and I took her to pick out her own donut for breakfast and then as a family, we went to GattiTown for dinner and play. I think she really knew it was her special day and loved all the attention (especially when anyone sang the birthday song to her).

Birthday Donut (sprinkles of course!)

Playing skee ball at GattiTown

Opening presents from Mommy and Daddy

A new baby that looks just like Kaelyn

(even wears purple Crocs)

"Don't worry; I've got my diaper bag and I'm

pushing my baby through the house."

Sweet girl laying her baby down on the exercise mat

On Thursday morning, we had Kaelyn's wellness check-up at the doctor's office. I was really impressed with her willingness to cooperate with our doctor. Unfortunately, she had to have a shot and then we had blood drawn. She wasn't as happy about that part of the visit, but still remained very strong (just a little sad)!

Kaelyn's 2 Year Stats

Weight: 28.4 lbs. (75th percentile)

Height: 34.5 inches (80th percentile; FINALLY)

Head: 20 inches (95th percentile; LOTS of brains)

Kaelyn at age 2:

• Loves Piglet. He travels everywhere with us and she hugs him all night long as she sleeps. He's truly her best friend.
• Enjoys watching a variety of television shows including: Backyardigans, Strawberry Shortcake, The Fresh Beat Band, Barney; she has even watched half of her first Disney movie, Tangled. (Mommy and Daddy can't wait until we have Friday night movie nights together)
• Has become quite the little fish. Enjoys the pool and the lake as well as bath time!
• Loves playing "hide and seek" with daddy. It's really funny to watch her watch Daddy while he looks for her. She doesn't want to miss a thing!
• She is very independent and enjoys putting on her own clothing and shoes. She's even started playing dress up. The one downside is that she is still very much into her head-bands and often wants to wear them out in public. It would be okay if there were just one or two, but not eleven head-bands at once, literally.
• Her baby dolls. Kaelyn walks her babies around like her Daddy walks her while imitating what Mommy says to Rylan saying "Shh...Shh...Shh."
• Has been jumping and dancing for a while now, but just now got off the ground in her jumping and has really learned how to shake her bottom in her dancing.
• Enjoys cleaning (whose child are you?) and often helps Mommy with diaper wipes (so cute and frustrating at the same time)
• Starting to use complete sentences: She says "I do," instead of "Yes." Often says the phrase "I get it," and plenty of more really cute ones.
• Is learning her colors and ABC's. Kaelyn starts school in September and we are really working with her at home.

Saturday, July 9th, we celebrated Kaelyn's birthday with a party at Pump It Up! Ordinarily, this would not be a place for most 2 year old birthday parties, but Kaelyn attended our cousin Kade's party there in May and absolutely loved it! She couldn't get enough of all the slides and obstacle courses. We decided that it would be cost-effective and allow us to enjoy the party if we held it someplace besides our house. It was amazing! Robbie and I got to play and climb in all the bounce houses with her and the adults even had a competition in one of the obstacle courses! The staff there took excellent care of us and we didn't have to worry about much of anything which was super nice! We even had our own cameraman, Uncle Keeton, to capture the moments.

Patiently waiting for the party to begin and all her friends to arrive

First slide down with Daddy (pure delight on that sweet face)

Can't leave sweet brother out

(He slept for the first part of the party)

Bounce House Jumping

PawPaw and Uncle Bentley collided on the slide

"What? Is that Mimi sliding?" 

KK and Kaelyn

(at the end of the slide, they were upside down!)

Our wonderful friends and family who celebrated with us!

KK, Kaelyn and Mommy inside one of the obstacle courses

(Great job Camera Man Keeton for climbing in to capture this shot)

Kaelyn easily scaling one of the walls (I struggled a bit)

Nana and Great-Granddad cheering us on with Rylan

Jason and Edie slide will Ava looks on!

Collin and Henry race down!

Grant and Luke playing King of the Mountain

One happy little girl!

Pop and Kaelyn

Cousin Brice along with Uncle Kylen entertained all

of the boys playing King of the Mountain

Natalie, Kade, Jackson, and Henry

Pop taking a break and holding Rylan

Group shot (almost everyone who didn't have to leave early)

Kaelyn is still an Elmo Fan!

(Great job Sam's Club for a delicious cupcake cake)

Getting ready to sing to the birthday girl!

Blowing out her candle!

Aunt Kim and Bre holding the newest additions to the Perry family

(Kipton and Kooper)

Licking the icing first

At the house while everyone assembled new trampoline,

I took pictures of the 2 month difference between Rylan and

Kipton and Kooper (Yikes!)

Kaelyn loves her new trampoline!

It's a great size and fits in the center of our gameroom!

Playing with water table on Sunday with PawPaw

Still our headband girl!

Dear Kaelyn,

Your Daddy and I cannot believe how much you've grown this past year! You are such a beautiful little girl inside and out. You have grown to be a great big sister to Rylan, and he loves watching your every move. You're fun loving, fearless personality and smiles are so contagious. Your compassion shines through when you kiss Mommy and Daddy's boo boos without us asking and when we see you taking care of all your baby dolls. We are very excited to see what this next year holds as you start school two days a week and continue to grow! We love you with all of our hearts and can't imagine life without you. You are truly a gift from the Lord!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Of course, I can't post a blog entry and leave out our precious Rylan from the pictures! 

"Where do you think you're going Rylan?"

He scooted clear off his mat; Mommy is not ready for this! 

Rylan loves his mobile in his crib!

My little blog helper! He kept me entertained while I updated. 

We have just one weekend left before we head to Destin, FL for our family vacation, and when we get home, we begin the adventures of moving Kaelyn to her toddler bed and begin potty training!