Disney 2011

Our first family vacation as a family of 4!!!

With Anna being born in June, we were not able to go on vacation during the summer. Ashlyn was quite the trooper and enjoyed her time around Mt. Pleasant. After we got on a regular schedule with school, etc., we decided to hit Disney for a few days. We were not sure how it would be with a three month old in tow, but we decided to give it a go. Our motto...divide and conquer when necessary, or in Ashlyn's favorite words, "Mommy has a girl, so Daddy needs a girl!"

Anna's first character encounter...MICKEY!!!

Ummm...yep, she fell asleep during our photo shoot!

The first day we were in Florida, we went to Hollywood Studios. It was Ashlyn's first time to visit that park. We had a pretty good time. There were a few afternoon showers that we had to hide from, but Ashlyn was so excited to see Disney Junior Live, that the rain was just a small detail of her day! She loved seeing Jake and the Neverland Pirates. This sparked the idea for her to be Izzy for Halloween & Anna would be her parrot, Skully!
On our second day in Florida, we decided to go back to Sea World. Ashlyn had not been there since her second birthday & could not remember the dolphins. She really enjoyed watching all of the shows with her Daddy!

Ash giving Anna a kiss! Anna & I could not go into the show, so we watched from the balcony.

That evening, we headed over to the Magic Kingdom. Our family favorite...Trick or Treating with Mickey!!! Ashlyn dressed in her Rapunzel dress.

We enjoyed watching the "Boo to You" Halloween parade. Ash had the best view!

Getting tired....

Well, not if there is still candy to collect!

We closed the park down!!!Day 3, we went to the Magic Kingdom.

We had lunch at the Crystal Palace with Pooh & his friends. We decided to try to see different characters on this visit. We took Ash to see ALL of the princesses on our last visit.

Ash wanted to take a few pictures...Rick & I with Tigger!

Piglet...Anna never cried!

She loved looking at all of the characters...I think she liked the bright colors!

My favorite! Eore!

The Chadwick girls with Tigger!

Next we hit Neverland...Ashlyn loved the outfits that all of the fairies were wearing. Their wings were beautiful! Here she is with Rosetta!

Ash & Tink! Ok, so if you know Ashlyn, then you know we could NOT leave without seeing Ariel & giving Prince Eric another kiss!!! We waited in line for an hour for this special moment!

I just had to share this...our little sweetheart...totally pouting because, well, I can't even remember now. Rick and I could not stop giggling to really figure out what upset her. She stormed up the steps and sat with her back to us for a few minutes. I like to think that she was reflecting back over the 3 days of family fun that she just experienced!

No attitude there...

She got over it pretty quickly & was ready to take some pictures!

Rcik and I at the hotel!

Rick & Ash being silly in front of the waterfall.

What a great weekend...I look forward to our return next Fall!

Ashlyn's 1st day of school...I cannot believe that she is 3!

So, after much anticipation, the day finally arrived! I think I was more upset than Ash...OK, I was totally the ONLY one upset! After having Ashlyn in my class for two years, she would be leaving me this year to go to the 3's class. She is now a member of Ms. Cara & Ms. Kim's Fish Pond!!!

On the first day, all of the parents met with the teachers & then went to orientation. I had to be with my new class, so Rick and Anna went with Ashlyn. I was able to pop in for a couple of seconds near the end. I was so afraid that Ashlyn was going to cry, but she never did!

She loves her new class! The first day of class. Ashlyn was so excited to be going to the "big kid" class. She thinks that it is hysterical that I have to stay with the"babies"!

Random Summer of 2011.....

The summer was definitely action packed & loads of fun. I am just figuring out that I know what we did, however, I don't know when we did it all. Ha Ha...I'll blame it on baby brain and sleep deprivation! I know we saw lots of family and friends & went on as many outings as I could handle. Ashlyn was able to catch the fireworks on the 4th. Sissy & Curt came to visit & we had a cook out. Ashlyn went to Bible School & really enjoyed it. She also took a class at The Little Gym, which was really fun because she got to wear her new tap shoes! We went to story time at the library, the aquarium, made play dates at the park & pool, and I managed to fit a few naps in the mix.

Anna's first visit to Great-grandma Hazel Collette's! Daddy was trying to keep up with everything & work....

Ash & Rick at the neighborhood pool.

Sleeping while everyone else enjoys the pool...two weeks old!

Aunt Glenda with Anna

Brooke, Cara, Ashlyn, and Anna hanging out. Aunt Glenda kept Ash some after Anna was born & her girls came to stay with us some, too. It was a great break for me. Brooke plays well with Ash & Cara does a great job holding Anna!

Cara, Ashlyn, and Brooke at the water park. We went with Nana & Papa to a Fire Department party. It was fun to watch Ash on the bigger slides this year!

Grayson and Lauren came to visit for the summer. We were able to spend a few days together & it worked out that we were able to take the boat out for an afternoon. It was totally fun & I realized how much I miss these guys!

The family...minus Tess and Greg. We always get together the day in between mine & Dad's birthdays.

Lauren & Anna

Ashlyn & Grayson

Grayson & Ash with one of the two huge stuffed animals that he won for her at Blackbeard's Cove.

Rick and Ash hanging out on the boat. They were talking about Ash trying the tube by herself.

Ashlyn riding behind the boat all by herself! She was awesome & kept wanting to go faster!

Rick took Ashlyn to get her first bike. She did very well & they went on neighborhood rides everyday when he came home from work.

Ashlyn and her friend, Brynlee, at the neighborhood water park.

Ashlyn, Rick, and I at a Riverdogs game. It was Military Appreciation Night. Fun times with some of Rick's coworkers & the only game we were able to see this year.

Mommy & Me

A local art studio, Bottles N Brushes, offered a "Mommy & Me" class that I thought would be fun. With Anna being a few weeks old, I figured that Ash and I could use a little break & spend some time together. It turned out to be a really fun experience. Ash did great!

Ash & I before class... Ashlyn working on her master piece!
The pictures turned out totally cute. We each painted two clown fish swimming in the ocean. The seaweed on my painting connects to the seaweed on Ashlyn's painting...hanging them side by side will give us a school of adorable little "Nemos"!

Fun Saturday in the Lowcountry!

What a great day! We met Avery, Macy, Julie & her firend at the aquarium. The girls played for several hours & were very happy to find that Dora was visiting for the day!

Ashlyn with Dora & Boots Ashlyn and her best bud, Avery, checking out the new play area at the aquarium!
We finished our visit with a stop by the IMAX theater. They had a special showing of Dora in 4D. It was awesome & the girls really enjoyed it! Our last stop before heading home was at Fleet's Landing for a bite to eat. Ashlyn was super excited to have "shrimp with paper to peel off" for lunch. She ate an entire order!

Chadwick party of 4!!!

June 27...so I was having contractions just after midnight. Rick and I loaded up the car and headed to the hospital. We called my parents to meet us there and hang out with Ashlyn.

Rick and Ash patiently waiting to see if Baby C would be joining us! We waited & waited and finally the decision was made...it was NOT time! We headed home & were there by 6 am. We were all so tired! Later that morning, I called Dr. Dennis and we decided that I should rest for the remainder of the day. We set up the appointment for the following morning at 8:30...I would be induced! Rick and I headed back to the hospital on the 29th.

Ashlyn was with her grandparents and would come to hospital as soon as we called. We checked in & to my surprise, things went pretty smoothly and quickly. We had our new addition in just over six hours from arriving!

Introducing Anna Hazel!!!

June 29th, 2011

2:41 pm ~ 8 lbs 8ozs and 20 ins

Holding onto Daddy's finger just minutes after being born!

Mommy holding Anna for the first time!Things were a little bit different from the time Ash was born. Instead of taking the baby to the nursery right away and bathing her & testing her ears, etc., they left Anna in the room with me for about an hour. It was perfect. Ashlyn was able to come in right away and meet her baby sister. Then, all of Anna's grandparents came to meet her. Aunt Glenda was there, too. She brought Cara and Brooke along as well, but they were not able to come back to the room because of age restrictions. The girls were able to see Anna through the window when she went to the nursery. Rick showing Ashlyn her new baby sister. She was SO EXCITED!

I'll never forget that moment!

Ashlyn wanted to hold Anna right away!

The first of many kisses!

The Chadwicks!

Ashlyn was so proud & had lots of questions about Anna!

Ashlyn opening her necklace that Rick and I gave her for becoming a big sister!

Meme and Popa meeting Anna!

Nana and Papa with Anna

Aunt GlendaDaddy and Anna

Rick and I visiting with Anna before she had to go to the nursery for a bath and some testing.

Ashlyn watched through the window as the nurses took care of Anna. Apparently she kept knocking and saying, "don't hurt MY BABY!" She continued calling Anna "hers" for several weeks. I didn't get to see all of this, but I hear that it was very sweet!

Not too sure about all of this...

Anna in the nursery after her first bath.Our second little angel...what a blessing...God has been so good to us!!!

Ashlyn was with us most of the afternoon. She went to dinner with her grandparents and then came back for a bit. She held Anna several times!

And she kissed her....

Mommy & the girls!

Daddy had some one on one time with Anna. We have a picture of him holding Ashlyn in that same chair. It is pretty cool...both of the girls were born at St. Francis in room 5!

I could stare at this picture all day...it makes my heart melt!!!

Day two! We only stayed at the hospital for one night. The morning was pretty busy. The doctors were there to check on Anna &I had to attend a class before I could be discharged.

Mommy's coworkers, Sue, Cara, and Karen, came to see Anna. Meme and Popa came back, too. They brought Lauren with them. Nana and Papa brought Ashlyn back after lunch. we were excited to be going home...as a family of 4! Ashlyn stayed very close to Anna & helped Rick get her ready to go home.

Snug as a bug!

Checking out...let the adventure begin!