The Art of a Meltdown

We're in official toddler temper-tantrum mode around here, and it's not pretty. Here's what I've figured out so far about these little (ugly) episodes...

1)  It's a huge physical reaction. We're talking big alligator tears, stomping feet, major screaming, and turning bright red. During a meltdown, I have to remind Collins to breathe.

2) The injustices causing the meltdown are pretty significant. Recent examples include putting cherry tomatoes in the grocery cart, stopping her from flinging watermelon all over the dining room, and removing a towel from a bag.

3) It's really embarrasing when you're in public.

4) They end as fast as they begin (thank goodness). Here's my baby in meltdown mode yesterday.

Here she is two minutes later playing quietly with friends.

If anyone has any gems of advice on how to better handle a temper tantrum, please send them my way!

Summer is...

oppressive heat, excessive sweating, and attacking bugs. We experienced all three in full force today, and there's no other way to describe it except icky.

Good thing summer is also cooling off with popsicles...

the exhiliration of running through a sprinkler...

enjoying a snack of blueberries from inside your pool...

then fishing for the blueberries that you purposely dumped into the water.

I guess all the itching is worth it!

Making Me Pay

Let me explain...

This is the end result of a messy two-hour span yesterday. Collins now likes to climb the stairs and push things off the side of the stairs. Unfortunately, I did not see that an old can of Pepsi that she likes to play with was sitting on the stairs. Next thing I knew there was an explosion and Pepsi was everywhere- on the floor in two different rooms, coating all the surrounding walls and dripping off the ceiling. Miss #1 on my part.

After her nap, I gave Collins some watermelon and peanut butter crackers for a snack. I was prepping dinner items in the kitchen keeping an eye on her from a distance. What I didn't see till I got up close was peanut butter smeared all over her face, all over her shirt and pants, and all over her high chair. Almost as big of a mess as the Pepsi. Miss #2.

So I stripped her down right there and let her run around in her diaper while I cleaned things up. Next thing I know, she has somehow ripped off her diaper and is running around the house naked.

This is what I get when I don't pay attention to my wild child!

Taking Advantage

You don't get many low-humidity, low-heat days during the long North Carolina summers. We got three days in a row this past weekend and took full advantage! We spent every moment we could outside and enjoyed a visit from Mom and Baba, a wedding, and a Father's Day celebration.

Bubble fun...

Sliding solo is a new thing (can you tell?)...

Mom and Baba showed Collins how to throw objects in the creek below. She took the lesson to heart and flung her shovel off the bridge the next day.

In search of ammunition (pine cones)...

Enjoying her first popsicle...

Getting dressed up for a wedding was fun- our "prom" photo...

On Father's Day, Collins and Brian had a good time hanging out. I am grateful every day for what an incredible Dad he is to our little girl.

A new sand and water table was great (messy) fun...

Dining al fresco and loving some corn...

I doubt we'll get another perfect weather weekend like this all summer, but it was fun while it lasted!

She's Mine

People tell me all the time how much they think Collins looks like Brian. That's fine with me, but I want to be in there somewhere. Well, last week my contribution to Collins' DNA showed up in an unmistakable way.

We were in Myrtle Beach for Brian's bankruptcy conference when I picked Collins up from her nap (on a particularly humid day), and this is what I saw....

Oh Collins, I am so sorry. You are the unlucky recipient of my bad beach hair. No doubt it will be a long and grueling fight for you against humidity and frizziness and chances are good that you will lose. At least you will always have your Mom and your Mimi to empathize with...

Our MB trip was a whole lot of effort for not a whole lot of fun, but the bright spot was undoubtedly watching Collins dance to the live band at the cocktail party. That scene alone was worth the trouble. Here are some other pix from the trip.

Bald Head Island Vacation

We are just back from a week at Bald Head Island and have come away completely charmed. Dad and Heather started talking about taking a family vacation last year and asked what we thought about trying somewhere new, maybe Bald Head? I was excited to experience a new place, especially since I had heard so many good things about this beach. Well the rumors are all true- it's beautiful, it's interesting historically and geographically, and it's got plenty of little quirks that make it fun. Let me explain.

We had a neat dockside lunch in quaint Southport before meeting the fam at the marina...

Collins' first grilled cheese sandwich was a big hit....

Arriving at your destination via ferry makes it all the more exciting...

Luckily, you have to leave your car behind in Southport and traverse the island by golf cart...

Old Baldy is a neat historic marker and worth the steep climb to the top...

Somehow we caught three days of rainy weather and had to keep ourselves occupied indoors (easier said than done for some of us!) :) Luckily, a trusty keyboard, a pool table, and lots of goody bars helped pass the time.

When the sun finally made its appearance, it was spectacular outside with cool temperatures and sparkling waters. The view from our porch and the reason we spent a lot of time there...

We had the beach to ourselves during the day...

And a stunning view of the sunset each night...

The company wasn't too shabby either...

Roger and Sherron (Heather's Mom and Stepfather from Arizona) are such interesting people! We enjoyed getting to know them better.

This picture makes us laugh because we could not pull it together for a decent photo. Collins was a little on the wild side for our dinner out...

What a fun and memorable trip...Dad and Heather thank you so much!