Swiffer

It's about time she started doing chores....

{New} Home

Since I recently posted my goodbye love letter to Charleston, I thought I should show some love for our new home - Kansas City. We are settling into our home more and more everyday, meeting neighbors and getting into our routine. The house is amazing and I still pinch myself everyday that it's ours. Everyday Jordan, Willie and I go outside and play - Jordan on her playset and Willie with his frisbee.

We have loved seeing friends and family and looking forward to seeing many more folks in the coming weeks. And yesterday, as I looked around my table on a Thursday and saw my sister-in-law, cousin and her kiddos, my nieces, my mom and daughter - I thought to myself- this is what this move means. Jordan growing up around family.

Doug started his first week of work and is adjusting to his new role and new job. Looking back, I think I should have celebrated and recognized all of these milestones much more. At the time we were so busy with moving, but something that took 26 years of school and study should have been a bit more celebrated. I know that he doesn't mind at all, but I am so proud of his accomplishments.

So now we are back to our old routine. Jordan, Willie and I spending quiet days (trying to avoid the crazy heat) looking forward to when Daddy comes home. Home {Sweet} Home.

Jordan is 12 Months Old!

Such an amazing, busy, awesome, bittersweet month with our baby girl. Or should I say, big girl? Jordan took walking to a whole new level this month - running all over Charleston as we tried to soak up every last bit of our time there. She developed a whole new love of beaches - especially a fun time with friends at Carolina Beach. Jordan was excited to have her Burgess/Bonus family visit just in time to have an early birthday party. The Heffners also visited from St. Louis - which was such a great time for all of us.

Doug coined a new phrase that we are loving for her this month. She is always so busy - picking up a blocks, moving things around, playing so well by herself or others. Doug started calling it her "baby work". And it's such a perfect way to describe it. The way she tackles each task, does make it seem like she is doing a job.

Walking/Running
Do you remember the scene in Forest Gump where he says, "Now you wouldn't believe me if I told you, but I could run like the wind blows. From that day on, if I was ever going somewhere,I was running!" That is a great quote for Jordan this month. She wants to walk (run) everywhere. We struggle to keep up with her baby energy.

Stacking Blocks
Jordan has always loved to play blocks - usually knocking down any structures Doug or I would build. But this month, on her own - she started stacking blocks. It was so fun to see her doing it all by herself.

2 - It's the Magic Number
This month carrying things around the house became a big pastime. But it is always two things. And if possible, it's two matching things. In fact, one day, Jordan went into my messy closet and found a flip flop. She then went back in and found the match to the pair and walked around with them for an hour or so. So funny.

Words
Da (Dog), Ge (Doggie/Willie), Mama, & Dada are her words this month. Although she isn't saying a ton of words, I am absolutely amazed at how much she understands what we are saying. She really comprehends so much of what is going on. She throws away her own diapers and with very few gestures really follows commands very well.

Opposites
Someone gave Jordan an opposite book and she really loves it. This month - she was very into opposites. Up/Down, Asleep/Awake. It was so much fun to see her throwing her arms in the air for up or laying her head down to be "asleep".

Books
Although we have always read books, Jordan became very, very interested in holding and opening them this month. In fact, changing her diaper is so much easier now. When you lay her down, she points to her shelf with books and I give her one. She lays back while her diaper is changed, quietly turning the pages. It's too funny.
Teeth
Jordan's bottom two teeth got really big this month - prompting us to teach her how to "show us your teeth" as explained in this photo. She also cut her top two teeth - which are looking big, a little spaced out and completely adorable.

Other fun photos from this month:

Fun with Grandma & Grandpa at Middleton Place Plantation

Loving her new tent from James, Kim & Will

Dinner with the Moses & Heffner Families

Jordan was playing Hide and Seek...

Boxes, boxes. We are never moving again!

Beach babe on Memorial Day

On her birthday on the steps. My big girl.

Playtime with Chloe, Will & Parker

Sandcastle fun at Carolina Beach

Sweet Home Charleston

I never used to understand people who spoke about the city where they lived as if they were in a relationship. But I have to be honest - I have turned into one. I absolutely loved living in Charleston. And as one person recently commented back "Seriously, what's NOT to love?".

This beautiful city with sweet southern charm. Where the teller at the bank wears a bowtie and everyone calls me Miss Katie. I got to live in a city with Island in the name and became hypnotized by the ocean tides that would rise and fall outside our back deck. Sometimes I'd go to the beach on a Tuesday just for fun. What's not to love?

Every stroll downtown turns into an adventure- a new discovery, a new street, a new favorite. And the weather. Our pool was open in March! Where Doug's drive to work included sailboat, cruise ship & seagull spottings. What's not to love?

The wonderful friends that feel comfortable just stopping by and memories that we have made together with our families. The amazing places we have seen. The sunsets off our back porch, at high tide while the baby ducks swim by. This magical city where we raised our sweet daughter for the first year of her life. What's not to love?

But, as it is with so many relationships - it's time to move on. I really don't want end my relationship with Charleston. I'm hoping it's lifelong - we will be back to visit. That is a promise.