The Morrows: Caroline is 15 Months old on St. Patty's Day!

Caroline turned 15 months on St. Patty's Day. We haven't been to her well-baby appointment yet, so I will fill in her stats after we go, but she is doing great. She has so much personality, and I want to use this post to document some of the things she has started doing in the past month or so.

Walking - Caroline started taking a few steps at a time at 13 months old, mid-January. By the end of January she was up to 8 steps, but now she is off and running. She is very fast and loves chasing her sister and being chased by her sister. They are so cute together and have started playing so well together that I can actually take a quick shower while they play nicely in their rooms and some in my bathroom. I love to hear them giggling together. She loves walking in slippers. Lyla had some bunny slippers that Caroline loved to walk in, but they were too big, so my mom bought her some that fit her. Here she is walking in Lyla's slippers. No, its not Halloween, she was just wearing the PJ's. I figure the fashion police won't come and arrest her for her PJ's.

Eating - Caroline's favorite food still seems to be spaghetti and has been since she was less than a year old. She slurps it and shoves it in her mouth and eats more than Lyla. It's my go to meal when I want the family to sit in peace and eat. She also loves chicken pot pie, meatballs, mac & cheese, peas, grapes, bananas, strawberries, grilled cheese, pancakes, PB&J, and most any little snack like goldfish and Cheerios.

Blessing the food - Lyla always sings a blessing before we eat dinner. We normally fold our hands and close our eyes while she does. About a month ago, as soon as Caroline hears the word blessing, she folds her little hands and gets so excited when Lyla starts singing. She applauds after amen. This is such a cute thing and I'm glad she is already in the habit of saying a blessing for her food that Jesus provides.

Sleeping - Caroline is sleeping very well these days. She sleeps from about 7:30 to 7:00 most nights with one to two naps a day, depending on if we stay home in the morning. The only time she wakes and fusses is when she is teething, which she recently cut one of her molars, so we had some night waking a couple weeks ago. We would give her Tylenol or Motrin and she would go back to sleep. I thought I would never see the day that Caroline would sleep well because it took her a couple months longer than Lyla to sleep all the way through the night. Lyla was spoiling us, but we no idea back then.

Songs - Caroline's favorite songs are Happy and You Know It, because she loves clapping her hands. She recently started doing the finger motions to Itsy Bitsy Spider, and she moos when I sing Old McDonald. Its a very cute closed mouth moo. I love it! She also loves for me to sing to her. After I read her a book at night, I turn her around to face me and I sing her some songs, which always includes Jesus Loves Me and Jesus Loves the Little Children. She looks at me, pulls on my clothes and jewelry a little and sometimes she lays her little head on my chest and just hugs me, which is the most wonderful thing!

Caroline gives really good hugs and kisses to me, Tommy, and Lyla. When she kisses or hugs, she always says "Mmmmm." That's how you know you are really getting some love from Caroline, if you hear that sound.

If you want Caroline to get close to you, just hold her and walk towards a stranger. She won't cry, but she will lay her head on you, and hold so tight with her arms and feet. It is so sweet and feels so good. She's my little shy baby. She also loves when people smile at her though, and she will smile and sometimes she'll sit up and wave.

Caroline loves taking a bath. We bathe her and Lyla together now, which makes nights a lot easier. She does the cutest thing, if you say "Caroline are you ready to get out?" She's curl up and tucks her little head down because she is not ready to stop playing in the water. She also does a similar trick in her crib when I go to get her up from naps. She will stand and act like she wants me to pick her up, but when I stick my arms out, she dives back down and lays down and hides. It's a cute game, but eventually you have to grab her and get her out of there.

Lyla loves crafts, and sometimes I get brave and let Caroline join in on the fun. Here she is finger painting. Yes, she tried to eat a little, but its non-toxic, right? Oh, the things you would never say with your first child.

Spring has sprung in Florida and we always go to the playground 2 to 3 times per week, so Caroline is getting the hang of it. She walks around, tries to climb up the slides, and plays in the mulch or sand, whatever she can find.

My friends and I decided to enjoy a day at the beach last week. This was the first time I've taken Caroline since she was a tiny baby. At first, she just sat quietly and played in the sand, but then she found the water, and that's all she wanted to do. She would walk until she fell, get up again and do it all again. She also chased seagulls, and got pretty close, which mommy didn't care for. I didn't get great pictures because I was watching both girls and scared to drop my iPhone in the ocean, but here is one when we first got there.

My girls helping me sweep. The Swiffer is awesome because Lyla actually picks up dirt with it!

Caroline after her third (I think) haircut at Doodle Doos. I love how they braid her hair and get it away from her face because I love to see all of that precious little face.

Here is Caroline with Mason on a wagon ride to the playground on base. One of my friends hosted a play date for us lonely Navy wives.

On Thursday, me and my awesome friends (same as the beach crew) took our kids to the playground for playing and picnic. Look how cute they are sitting on the blanket eating. Is it just me or does Caroline look like a big kid in this picture?

Sweet sisters! Lyla is pushing Caroline in the swing.

Tommy had been on the ship and wasn't home for St. Patty's Day weekend, so we were sure to fill it with fun times with friends. We kicked it off Friday afternoon with a St. Patty's Day parade for the kids at the park. They made noise makers out of paper plates and macaroni, then marched around the track at the park. My girls look so pretty in green!

My friend Martha Stewart, I mean Sarah, made the most fabulous green cake and brought it to the park for the kids to eat after the parade.

I wasn't eating any cake because I'm doing another Stroller Strength Fitness and Nutrition Challenge, but I was using a spoon to feed it to Caroline. As you can see, I wasn't feeding her fast enough, so she took matters into her own hands, literally.

The girls with their noisemakers. I can't tell you how much I love these girls and their mothers.

The cutest parade ever!

After the parade, we let the kids play on the playground. Caroline and Mason loved the tunnel. I eventually had to pull Caroline out so other kids could have a turn. When we left the playground we went to Tijuana Flats for dinner...6 kids, 3 mommies, and 3 much needed beers (one for each mommy) and we made some great memories. If you can't tell I really appreciate my friends, everyday, but especially the days that Tommy is not home. I love spending time with my kids, but I need some adult conversation mixed in there too. Thanks girls!

Saturday morning, Sarah (another lonely Navy wife, and the Martha Stewart from above) took our kids to the Hands On Children's Museum. They had a blast, and it was a great way to spend a Saturday morning with great friends.