Happy Birthday, Eli!

I am a few weeks late here, but...

HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY, ELIAS! 

From the day you were born, you wanted to be seen and heard! You were a total shock to the system and you constantly push me to be a better, gentler, more calm mother (because if we all lived in your world...). I know, without a doubt, that without you I'd never know what it was like to be pushed to the brink -but for the better! 

One day you are going to be an AMAZING leader (like your father!) and teach people that they can push past boundaries and dig deep. 

Your charisma and charm are going to win people over left and right as you grow and I can only pray I'm giving you the tools you need to put that to GOOD use! 

Two days old. Newport, RI. 

3 months old. Somewhere in Maine. 

One year. Jacksonville, FL.

My almost two year old. Atlantic Beach,  FL. 

I think it's hilarious that he still makes this face!

My almost three year old! Chesapeake, VA. 

No childhood is complete without a broken bone. Eli's motto in life:
Go big or go home!

Last day of THREE. Three years, three duty stations...

You have a heart of gold, my son. You are fierce, loyal, intense, imaginative and loving. I cannot imagine the world with out an Elias Jonathan Baggett! 

A Fish In Water

There are times when I'm sure we're going to doubt whether or not we're making the right decisions for our kids (like Turner and soccer or the time I gave Eli paint and then walked away), but enrolling Eli in gymnastics is not one of them. It was like watching a fish return to water, peanut butter suction on to jelly, or a fat kid noshing on cake. It was just meant to be. 

**These pictures were taken from my phone, behind a window.**

He listened to everything he was told to do (just a few random outbursts of energy) and has been asking about his very own class every day since! 

A Quick Trip: Washington D.C.

I started this post on 8/15...it's now the 30th! Yikes!  

Here are pictures from our super quick trip to Washington, D.C. We'll definitely be going 

again! 

The Summer I Drove...a lot!

I knew this summer was going to be an adventure, but I had no idea I'd drive over 2,000 miles! Luckily, my dad did an 800 mile leg with me (over night from our house in VA to FL). It was exhausting and to say I was happy to come home (to a super dusty house and a fried modem) is putting it lightly! We had a great time seeing family and friends but there really is nothing like being in your own bed at night. On top of coming home, we're back together with Daddy again. He was gone for three months for his "learn to be a captain" school. 

We hung out with cousins...

Celebrated birthdays...

Ran races...

Let Deacon indulge in the finer things in life...

Soaked in lots of pool time...

And outdoor tub time...

We enjoyed water hoses...

And more cousin love...

Played with Florida bugs...

And went fishing for the first time...

We ate lollipops and held squid...at the same time..

And did a lot of hanging out with grandparents...

The craziest part is we grew...

And grew....

And grew...

What a busy summer! It's not over yet, we still have Turner's birthday to go! 

Ah, Newport in the SUMMER!

Um, er, fall...or spring. The weather up here isn't sure what it wants to do yet. It's very cool and I only have summer clothes for myself and the kids! Oh well... Despite the weather, 

we're excited to spend some time with John. He's in Newport, RI "to learn to be the captain of the ship," according to Turner. 

We drove from New Jersey, straight to the "hotel" (aka bachelor quarters). The room is split in to two areas so its better than I thought it was going to be!

We headed straight downtown for pizza and ice cream. The kids really enjoyed running around on the grassy square in the middle of town. 

How does he do that with his eyebrows?!?

Daddy, always the indulgent one.

Bruddahs!

Deacon learned to spit and kept doing it on John's shirt. 

Some wrestle time with Daddy.

Rest time.

John's yacht. Uh, totally joking....

Enjoying a chocolate covered marshmallow, after a dinner of pizza a dessert of ice cream.

I'm hoping the weekend plans include a visit to Boston and Plymouth, MA. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and the kids have already learned the art of bouncing off the walls in the room. There isn't much to do indoors with kids here on the island so I bet I'll be doing a lot of driving around!