AUGUST, 2014

August is a big month in the Perry household.  Emma was born in August, David was born in August and August is the month of the official Perry Family Beach Week.  I am always so dang excited about each one.  This year was no different, and Emma was going to celebrate her 2nd birthday at the beach.  Thankfully, there were no funerals or other things to keep us all from celebrating as a family.  Donald and Danielle and Max came, so it ended up being one big happy family (in a 2 bedroom condo in the pouring down rain for 3 days, but I'm just saying).

I put together some invitations for our beach friends to come to the condo for a birthday party of sorts for the Sweet Cheeks.  We had cake (made by the Bi-Lo at the beach - a beach themed cake with an Elmo ornament on top).  It was hard to find both, but we survived and everyone loved the cake.  Sure wish I had taken a picture.  We also had chips and salsa and bean dip.  It was super fun and Emma even got a couple of presents.

Once we got to the beach, the three of us headed down to the ocean to give Emma a heads up about what was coming the rest of the week.  Fortunately, she took to it quickly and had a blast the entire week.  It was hard getting her to come up.  She was especially a fan of the pool, even though the temperature had her shivering the whole time.  I got lots of video and pictures of her running up and down the beach.  Our beach friends fell in love with her and served as occasional babysitters.

David made me fried scallops.  We ate seafood all week.  We shopped.  We drank.  We had a great time and it was so sad to leave.

After David's birthday celebration of steak tips and multiple cookie cakes and pies (he celebrated for like two whole weeks)...  Sweet Cheeks had her 2 year old checkup!! 

She is classified as perfect.  50th percentile in everything, trending as she should for her age.  Which means her head isn't as big as we thought (at least size-wise, she's still spoiled).  She got a hepatitis vaccine and cried for only 5 seconds before we distracted her with videos of herself.  We took her for ice cream afterwards...a Perry family tradition. (Sadly this did not happen to kids in the Andrews household).  

We are so proud of her and are amazed every day with the new things she does.  And then, just like that, she was advanced to the 2 year old class.  They drink out of cups, start potty training, and don't write us report cards each day.  Needless to say we are excited for her to learn new things. 

With this development came tears.  Mommy's tears.  Emma adjusted well and I think had a great time.  They even have a potty in the room.  I cried every single time I saw anyone.  So, I had to hightail it out of there before people thought I was insane.  I just can't believe how quickly she's growing up.  Her friends missed her in the toddler class and commented that she was their best friend.  Her teachers miss her and I think she misses them - she runs to them every snack time.  I'm going to need therapy by the time she gets to kindergarten.

It's a good time to be an Emma.

(ooooh and also, we bought another timeshare the week before our week at the beach.  Can you say 2 weeks at the beach??  In a row?????)