Yep, I've become one of "those" people.

I'm not going to lie, when Kaylee and Layton were little, I knew nothing about car seat safety. To me, it was simple. If they were in a car seat, they were safe. It was just that easy. We would literally throw it in the back seat, buckle it in, and bam! Done! At age one, we would flip them around (because that was the magic number) and they were good to go. I didn't question it, didn't research it. Just went with it.

Wow, have I (and times) changed in about 8 years or what?

I am a laid-back mom. I'm the type that doesn't freak out when my kid falls and scrapes their knee. I don't lose it when I catch them eating dirt, I don't care if they drop a cracker and eat it off the floor. They're kids, and they are going to live.

But, my complete outlook has changed when it comes to the car seat. 

Of course, nowadays you hear about ERF (Extended Rear Facing) a lot. I first learned about it when a friend of ours, (who is also a police officer) gave me a lesson on proper car seat installation when Ava was about a month old. Just like the older two, Lee latched her infant base in the car about a week before we had her and then we just locked the seat into it, and away we went. We had NO CLUE that there was so much more to it. I was stunned to find that the install was totally wrong and completely unsafe. I was grateful for his knowledge and advice and after that, it sparked my interest on the topic. 

Since then, I have researched and educated myself on car seat safety almost daily.. I have read stories like this one and many more telling of why correct car seat installation, and rear facing your child for as long as possible is so important. I joined this wonderful page on Facebook and have learned so much from it.

Now, I find myself advocating all the time. The other day, a friend of mine posted a picture of her gorgeous daughter in her car seat with her chest-clip down to her belly. I sent her a private message letting her know (nicely of course) that it needed to be just a tad higher in order to protect her. She said she had no idea and actually thanked me.

I too, never understood that there was so much to know. That's why I think it is so important to spread the word and share what I have learned in order to keep all kids safe. 

Lee told me just yesterday that he is super proud of my passion on the topic. I'm not one to be very opinionated on things that can be so controversial. (This being one of them.) It made me smile, knowing that he supported me 100%.

I plan on keeping Ava rear facing as close to age 4 as possible. People roll their eyes, make fun of me, and give me crap, but that's fine by me. They can talk, laugh and judge all they want. While they are doing that? I will continue to try and educate anyone who will listen.

This is IMPORTANT and I feel that even if someone gets defensive with me for speaking up, maybe they will at least take a minute to step back and do a little research of their own. And that, makes me feel like I've done my part.

The handful.

The other day we went swimming and Ava was in the kiddie pool with two little boys, one was 18 months and the other was almost 3. After about 5 minutes of watching them all play together, the mom says to me, "how old is she?" I told her "just a little over 14 months." She then replies, "wow, she's a busy one." I laughed and said "that's an understatement."

Ava thinks she's the boss. She prances around and demands that you give her what she wants when she wants it. Lately, it's enough to drive me insane. Trying to teach a one year old that they aren't in charge, is, well.... impossible.

She has used her time-out chair a handful of times and although she only sits in it for maybe 30 seconds, she already knows that she goes there when mama has had it with the tantrums. She threw a fit yesterday when I closed the snack cabinet, so I asked her if she wanted to go to time-out. She stops, points at it and grunts. She's seriously too smart for her own good.

On one note, she can be a total monster of a child. But, then on the other she is my sweet, cuddly, funny girl, who has a new and hilarious cheese face when I tell her to smile. (Of course, getting her to do it for the camera isn't the easiest.)

She fills my days with laughter, excitement, total joy and occasionally, an awful migraine.

I wouldn't trade her for anything.

The fourth.

We do the beach every year and this year, was a blast - as always.

Ava decided that she actually liked the sand after screaming her head off for 5 minutes.

The big kids went tubing on the lake and Lee and I took out the jet-ski.

The weather was perfect.
Ava didn't sleep too horrible.
Kaylee brought the bestie.
Fireworks were awesome and the family time was even better.

We left tired, with the same room booked for next year.