Summer Time Is Fun

Summer is hot here in NC..like really hot and I am so thankful that we have a community pool because being cooped up in the house all day is not easy with a 14 month old.  Daisy loves the water and she loves to observe the other kids and toys in the pool.  She even knows when I grab her swimsuit that we are going to the pool and she gets excited!  Plus, getting to play with the bottle of sunscreen is a treat!

We are going to the park a lot, going on long walks (Daisy prefers walking herself and holding our finger for support to stroller rides now unfortunately), playing in our lovely backyard every morning, watching animal videos and imitating the sounds animals make, dancing, visiting the zoo (just wish it was closer!), taking lots of baths to clean up a messy baby and playing with friends.  The more activities we have to do the more smoothly the days tend to go.  Can all of you moms relate to that? 
 

I'm having such a wonderful time with my mom.  We are staying pretty close to home and enjoying it.  We did venture out to the zoo though and that was fun.  I'll share those pics soon!  It's just so nice to have my momma in my home, have extra hands with Daisy and extra hands cleaning my house...it's what she likes to do when she visits and I sure don't mind!  oh, and she makes me coffee every morning...I think I will keep her! hehe

For D's second pool outing we went with our friends and neighbors Christine and Vinnie up the street.  Vin is the sweetest little boy and he plays so well with Daisy.  I love seeing D on her tip toes here and both of them look a little worn out from a fun time at the pool.I think she just really wanted to steal his sippy cup!!

I didn't let her eat a lot of sunscreen I promise.  It kinda happened all to fast to stop. lol

Below: Our very first swim of 2011.  The water was a tad chilly initially (no heaters on pools out here) but, it felt better after a little swim and though Daisy stayed pretty serious and took it all in exactly like she did last year she seemed to really enjoy it! Doesn't she look so big these days! 

She has an awesome pink car floatie that we got her for her birthday.  She likes it okay but, would much rather be swimming by herself...seriously, she wants me to like...let go of her when we are in the pool and evidently she thinks she can just take off.  lol.  She also loves to walk off the side of the pool (I'm holding her) and making a splash. That gets her really laughing and burns my arms like the blazes! lol

People often suggest to me that activities such as going to the pool will wear Daisy out and she will take a great nap afterwards.  I kid you not...nothing helps this kid sleep better.  She has fought sleep and long naps since the day she was born and though she has gotten SO much better she still isn't an easy sleeper.  It's frustrating at times but, it's just who she is so I roll with it.  But, when she does sleep, oh how sweet it is to lean over the edge of her crib and watch her laying there so peacefully.  She loves to snuggle into her blankie and she moves around a ton...just like her Daddy.

We gave D a bowl of ketchup (knowing she would make a huge mess) to eat with her chicken nuggets and had a blast watching her play and eat the red stuff.  I think it was the longest she has ever sat in her high chair so thoroughly entertained.  I loved watching her.

We also had another pool date with one of my four pack friends Lindsay and her little girl Lila.  Lila and Daisy get along so well together.  Daisy pretty much always wants to steal Lila's snacks, sippy cups and toys and Lila is very nice about it so it works out really well. lol  You gotta love D's face here...her hand is totally trying to make a sly pass to steal her snack cup away!

And, I wasn't going to post this picture originally but, after staring at if for a few minutes I started cracking up.  Do you see that she has Lila's green paci in her mouth below???  We use Maams and Lila using Nuks but, that didn't seem to bother Daisy and I never knew she had stolen Lila's paci.  I wonder if Lindsay noticed when she sent me this picture? lol