Kure Beach Vacation

I feel a little bit like I have been away from home more than at home this summer...I am actually homesick...I want to stay home just BE! But it doesn't look like that will happen quite yet, I think we will have one more trip to go before Fall gets here...I HAVE TO GO SEE MY ONLY NEPHEW HOME FROM THE NICU!!!

Anywho...our trip to Kure beach was fabulous...a very wonderful week of nothingness! I expected Sebastian to really enjoy the sand and water and playing with his cousins...BUT, boy was I WRONG! My child HATED the sand, HATED the salty sea water, HATED the wind blowing through his hair and would have nothing to do with playing with his cousins on the beach! Unless he was in Mommy or Daddy's arms, he was not smiling all that much, so we did a lot of holding and keeping the sand off his precious little skin.

I'm ok aslong as I am being held and being fed!

Can't avoid the grumpiness, even on vacation!

I can't say I blame him, sand and saltwater are not my favorites either...I love the beach and listening to the waves and watching the seagulls but I am not a fan of the ocean. He much preferred hanging out on the awesome deck with Mama.

Don't touch my ball!

Concentrating hard

This boy loves peaches

Almost ate the whole thing

Hanging out with us on the deck

Yelling at someone!

Everyone has to take a rehydration break!

We did have some happy times on the beach though, he usually had about ten minutes of "I'm ok" time. Then Mama tried to get creative with a towel and floaty but Mr. Active didn't stay put long.

Daddy headed out to surf

Hanging with Aunt Kelly

Jonathan brought his kite and everyone enjoyed flying it!

Aunt Kelly looking fabulous in her bikini

Daddy looking fabulous with his surf board

We also visited the local fair!

So, I have gone just a tad bit picture crazy in this post...and to think, this is only one of the three cameras! I'll end the post with how most of our nights ended...with cute pajamas!!!

Sebastian's Great Aunt Janet

Wrestling with Lilly

I'll try to post more when I get the other pictures from the other cameras...until then, Goodnight!!!



Milestone Mania while on Vacation!!!!

Sebastian seems destined to accomplish most of his milestones while we are on vacation! We hit FOUR new ones this past week...I could hardly keep up!

1.) He cut his fourth tooth at the beginning of the week...now he looks so goofy cause the two top teeth are different lengths and look way too big for his mouth but his smile is priceless with those sparkling white wonders!

Its hard to get a picture of top teeth, but you can just barely see one there!

Using those glorious chompers to eat a Necturine!

2.) Two days into our lovely vacation at the beach...Sebastian decided to WALK to MAMA...well, he made a great attempt at it...4 steps in a row!!! I got video don't worry...since he has realized he can do it, it is now a common occurrence...two steps here, three there...he is pushing the limits! When we got home today, after 4 hours in the car, we decided to hit up the mall and find him some shoes that actually fit! He has the chubbiest feet in the world...they are just tall and chunky! VERY few shoes will squeeze those bad boys in...BUT I found some today! Crocs...I hate the way they look on adults but they can be quite cute on kids AND what do ya know...they fit! He wears a size 5...and his toes hot the front so I got a pair of size 5 and size 6 so he can have a pair to grow into!

Carolina Panthers blue is definitely his color...it matches his eyes!

Not too sure about them!

3.) We only went out to eat one night during our trip, with fourteen people its just too much of an ordeal to go more than that, but on that wonderful evening out....Sebastian finally figured out the infamous stick in a drink...how it took this long, I do not know...he certainly knows how to suck on a nipple! It was very cute but very messy, he enjoyed the act of sucking on a straw more than drinking the Diet Coke...most of it dribbled down his chin and into my lap!

No, I do not have a picture of the Diet Coke drenched chin...but this shot is pretty gosh darn cute!!!

4.) On our long drive home...Sebastian learned the art of clapping after Daddy finished the B-I-N-G-O song! We have been working on it all week and it finally clicked...it doesn't take this kid long to figure things out! He learned how to crawl a mere three-four weeks ago and is already bored with it!

In a different state but on the same note...Wesley was released from the NICU on Thursday and is home with his Mommy and Daddy and loving it! He had to go home on a heart monitor and with a G-tube but we are counting our blessings!!!

Beach pictures and a detailed recap of our adventures at Kure Beach to follow shortly!!!

Sneak peek of the beach...

Enjoying the week off!!!


Also...in other news...Wesley may be going home this week!!!

Nine Month Check-Up with Dr. Craig

Sebastian had his nine month check-up visit on Monday...it is only about two weeks late but Dr. Craig is a busy man. Mama knew he would be getting some shots so I pre-medicated the little guy with some Tylenol, great idea on my part cause he was hardly phased by those prickly needles.
Sebastian was very chipper that morning and dressed in his green monster onsie for the outing. Sebastian and I shared some yummy cereal for breakfast and then headed to our 9am appointment across town.

We arrived early, as usual, and enjoyed talking to each other in the car. When we finally decided to go at 8:45am, I had to fill out tons of nine month questionnaire questions that I was not anticipating...no biggie though, Sebastian munched on gold fishies the whole time. I was VERY proud while filling out the questionnaire as Sebastian scored a YES on every single milestone. He can grab food and feed himself, walk along furniture only using one hand, mimic sounds and phrases Mama says to him, pay attention to whomever is speaking to him, knows who strangers are, focuses on a task and sticks with it, is too smart for his own good and knows when Mama hides a toy and how to find it again, and so on and so on.

We finally got to go back and see the Doctor, their computer system was on the fritz so it took a bit longer than usual. The nurse did all her fancy measuring and probing...Sebastian weighs a very healthy 22 lbs. 12 ozs. and is 29 in. long. He is ranked in the 75th percentile for height, weight and head circumfrance. He had to get a Hep B vaccine and also have his blood checked, meaning a finger prick...I don't know how you prick such a tiny finger! He cried for only a second after the shot and not at all during the finger prick, he was merely angry that the nurse was holding his hand so tightly.

Since our fabulous appointment where the doctor said we are doing everything right and have a very healthy, happy bouncing baby boy...Sebastian has learned how to throw a ball :) Wrestle with Daddy and walk like a speed demon with his walker. He is also mimicking Mama when I say it to him first...LOVE IT! He has successfully moved into 12 Month clothes AND........has two NEW TEETH! They are so cute! He still nurses four times a day...mostly for the hydration value since he refuses to drink from any type of bottle or sippy cup AND he still doesn't sleep through the night BUT we are down to only one wake up at about 3am. He will typically nurse for a few minutes and fall back asleep so I am OK with that!

We are leaving to go to the beach for a whole week tomorrow....so I will have plenty of pictures to post next week...until then HAPPY FRIDAY and have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!!!

First Haircut and More cUTe Pictures

Well, the dreaded first haircut has arrived...dreaded because I just love his golden wispy locks but they have simply become unmanageable. I did not feel the need to have it professionally cut since he had no clue what was going on and he would certainly feel more comfortable with Mamie messing with his hair then a stranger.

Wondering what on earth is going on.

Such a cute little boy haircut!

We also had our first playdate yesterday evening!!! It was the first time Sebastian has really interacted with another baby his age...and it was a bonus...they were twins! Little Peyton and Vaughn were so cute and so sweet...they were very patient as Sebastian used them as a climbing post, several times!

Sebastian...Vaughn is steering and Peyton is looking at the camera! They are identical twins and they happened to all be wearing the same type of outfit!

I'll leave you with some adorable pictures from this past week...

The Isabella Santos Foundation & United Support Services, Inc.

     I am overly excited about my company, United Support Services, Inc. will be the Presenting Sponsors for the 5th Annual Isabella Santos Foundation 5K for Kids Cancer! We will be the first ever organization to accept this level of sponsorship for the foundation. It is such a wonderful group of people fighting for a cure for kids cancer. The event is a 5K at the Ballantyne Corporate Park in Charlotte, NC on September 22, 2012 at 8am!

     The Isabella Santos Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for research of Neuroblastoma. They are a non-profit organization looking for a cure! Isabella was only two years old when she was diagnosed with this devastating disease and has fiercely battled it for the last five years! In December 2011, Isabella was cancer free after her 4th relapse.

     In May 2012, she underwent a normal screening with unthinkable results, not only had the cancer come back but it had invaded every part of her poor little body. Isabella's parents were given the news they have always feared, there were no more treatment options for her. It was time to take her home and enjoy what little time was left. Isabella passed away on June 28, 2012 in the loving arms of her parents, she was 7 years old.

"I want there to be no more cancer!

I want kids to be able to play and go to school, not be in the hospital feeling sick."

~Isabella Santos

     In memory of this incredible little girl, we are raising money through the 5K to find a cure for Kids Cancer! Join USS and Isabella Santos Foundation by participating in the race or donating funds through the link below. Every penny helps beat this devastating disease!

Please come out and volunteer, race, or raise money for this incredible foundation for a much needed cause!

United Support Services, Inc. has 21 volunteers and 6 racers already signed up....all are welcome to join in!

If you can't make it to the race but would like to donate to the cause, visit:   Click Here

NEUROBLASTOMA FACTS AND FIGURES:

	- Neuroblastoma affects approximately 500 children a year and is most commonly found in children under the age of 5.
	- Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer of the sympathetic nervous system, a nerve network that carries messages from the brain throughout the body.
	- Most neuroblastoma begins in the abdomen in the adrenal gland or next to the spinal cord, or in the chest.
	- Neuroblastoma can spread to the bones, bone marrow, brain, spine, liver, lymph nodes, skin and around the eyes.
	- The first symptoms are often vague and may include fatigue and loss of appetite which is why it can be hard to diagnose.
	- 70% of cases at diagnosis have already spread to other areas of the body which places the cancer in a Stage 4 category.
	- The 5 year survival rate for Stage 4 neuroblastoma is 30%. 60% of patients with Neuroblastoma will relapse. Once in relapse, the survival rate drops to a minimal 20%.

Thank you....