my favorite!

Vivian Elizabeth is growing up SO fast!  At 22 months, she is a sweet, affectionate, opinionated chatterbox!  Her vocabulary expands by the minute and she repeats EVERYTHING we say.  Emma Jane told Vivian she was mad at her tonight and Vivi promptly said, "I mad, too!"  Some of her favorite phrases include:

I wuv you!  I miss you!

Yes, ma'am!

Mommy!  Stop talking!

Watch this!

I try!

Yay!  I did it!

My turn!

Cute!  Sooooo cute!

Mmmmm...my favorite!

Speaking of favorites, here are a few of Vivian's favorite things:

  1.  fire trucks and dalmatians

  2.  doggies (especially Loula!)

  3.  books (especially about firetrucks and dogs!)

  4.  bike rides (still not solo pedaling)

  5.  muddy puddles (whether or not she's wearing rain boots!)

  6.  hats (especially her SC baseball cap)

  7. dinosaurs  (she can name several)

  8. drawing and painting (makes tiny little strokes)

  9.  splashing (in the bath, in fountains, and in her cereal!)

10.  dancing her little heart out!

hammock beach

Our trip to Palm Coast, Florida earlier this month was amazing.  Paul and I were a little hesitant about vacationing on the Atlantic Coast since we both grew up on the Gulf Coast.  We were pleasantly surprised!  Even though the weather was a little overcast and rainy at times, we had a wonderful time exploring Hammock Beach.  Of course, the girls loved every minute of it!

Emma Jane asked to throw a penny in the lobby fountain every time we walked by it.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch at an authentic BBQ joint (with the smoker smoking away right out front!). 

I took a few pictures of the girls on the resort grounds.  I wish I had taken more pictures of the area...it was just beautiful!

Emma Jane had a ball going down a gigantic slide into one of the resort pools.  I couldn't believe how brave she was to go down it by herself!  After each time, she would shout, "Let's do it again!"

Vivian was a little more timid around the water and just stuck to wading or sitting on the side of the pool with her buckets.

During our trip, we spent an afternoon in St. Augustine.  It was just a short drive from Hammock Beach.  After taking 13 field trips with my 4th grade classes over the years, I was so excited to explore this historical city with my own family.  I took LOADS of pictures in St. Augustine, so I will save those for another post! 

puppy dawg

On our recent trip to the beach, Vivian insisted on bringing her "Puppy Dawg" everywhere.  We aren't even sure how she acquired this tiny Dalmatian figurine, but she is in LOVE.  If you look closely, you can spot the little guy in every single picture below.  Puppy Dawg had the time of his life!

He was definitely ready for his first visit to the resort pool.

He had a ball splashing in the buckets!

He was included during snack time!

He loved digging on the beach!

He waited patiently for his feet to be rinsed.

He took a boat ride during bath time!

He even snuggled up for pajama time!

(Although I didn't get a picture, 

Vivi DID sleep with him every night!)

He explored old forts in St. Augustine...

and checked out the inside of a real live cannon!

He was willing to go to the beach again...even in the rain!

He ventured out on his own this time...

but not for long!

We're pretty sure Vivian and Puppy Dawg will have many more adventures together!