Our Summer Beach Trip Part 1...

This post is late, but it has taken a while to get all of the photos edited and things (as always) have been super busy around here! Last month we headed down to our favorite beach spot. San Destin. It is on the Florida Panhandle and we have been staying in this resort for the last 4 beach trips. We declare it to be heaven on Earth! It is a huge resort that spans both sides of scenic beach road 98. We like staying on the Bay side b/c we can walk right out to the pool and shops and food!! Plus with little bitty babies the beach is a once a day for two hours trip- not an all day hang-out! We stay right above Baytowne Wharf which has about 15 restaurants, 20 or so shops and several bars. It also has a lovely amphitheater where they play live music for children on the green and show kids movies under the stars on weeknights. It is totally geared for families! We love it!! We stayed for 5 days, which wasn't enough- but it was enjoyable! Our babysitter, Chandler, cam and stayed with us part of the time. That was awesome! We were able to sneak off for dinner dates with just the two of us for 3 nights! Enjoy these photos...I promise to post the rest soon!

My 33rd Birthday!

As I get older I keep thinking that Birthdays are going to be more of a bad thing than a good thing, but not this year! On Friday I turned 33, and had one of the best birthdays to date!

Jeff started my day off with breakfast in bed- an omelet, toast and some very yummy fresh strawberries. Then I had a glorious morning massage and pedicure at a local spa while a sitter stayed home with the babies. Afterwards I did a little shopping for some running shoes and treated myself to lunch at Panera...alone. It was great! No ones food to cut up or noses to wipe...now that's my kind of lunch! Ha!

That night we went to dinner with a handful of sweet friends to celebrate. Jeff told me about it because a surprise is almost impossible logistically with two small children, but it was a very sweet thought! We headed to Chuck's Fish downtown. Jeff had some appetizers waiting on us and everything was so scrumptious! He even had flowers delivered and waiting on me at the table!

Stacie, me and Ashley

Stacie, me, Ashley and Greg (who somehow thought he was going to get out of a picture!)

Our friends and neighbors the Parkers

Matthew and Kelly Clark. Kelly was responsible for the cake, which was adorable and yummy!

When we got to the table Jeff had already arranged these to be delivered to the table! Isn't that so sweet? These are the same flowers used throughout our wedding and reception. Such a thoughtful husband!

The eyes are a window to the soul...

End of the Year Program

Yes- I know I am WAYYY behind on posting. I promise to get the beach pics up soon, but this was a shorter post I could get in pretty quickly...

On the Sunday that we returned from 5 fabulous days in SanDestin we basically had to come in on two wheels to get back in time for Anderson's school's end of the year program. He and his classmates had been practicing their song "God Loves Me" and their memory verse Deuteronomy 6:5 (love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.) for over a month. They recited their verse and sang their song. Anderson even decided he had done well enough to take a big ol' bow at the end as you can see in the video above!

Younger and older toddlers

Lydia

Anna Kate, Anderson and Thomas Elliott taking center stage!

These women love my child almost as much as I do. They have been incredible teachers and such a blessing to our sweet boy! They each have their own little way with him. It makes me a little teary to think about moving to a new room next fall!

Enjoying the reception (and most importantly CAKE, ahem, I meant icing) with our friend Hannah Faith

Mother's Day

We spent Mother's Day weekend at my Mom's house in Birmingham. This year Mother's Day also fell on her birthday, so she certainly thought she was the Princess that day! Ha! Anyway- here are a few snapshots from our weekend. Jeff and the babies gave me a new mailbox and 4 new lighting fixtures for our house that have been needing to be updates. I know it sounds awfully glamorous, huh? Sadly- that was what I asked for. I love getting stuff for the house anytime! :-)

Anderson made me a few things that I, of course, teared up over. He is getting to be such a big boy now. I just want to savor every second of time with him!

My step-brother's wife Susan and their new baby boy, Bastian

All three of Gigi and Pop's grandkids

My favorite people

One of Gigi's gifts from Lydia and Anderson

Gigi and Lydia

A few good causes...

We've been part of two great causes for children in the last few weeks. Two weeks ago we attended "Fuller's Festival" here in Tuscaloosa. It was a benefit for a local boy who is around 5 that has been battling leukemia for the last two years. Tons of people offered help to the family, and they decided they wanted to hold a fundraiser for Children's Hospital in Fuller's name. So close to 80 friends started planning the festival over a year ago. They raised a ton of money, and it was great fun for all the kids. Anderson had a blast!

He especially loved the Pirate Ship ride. At first I thought it was a bit too old for him, but after listening to him insist on riding it I decided I would let him. I want to encourage his brave little spirit when it comes to things like that. As soon as we got on it, he told the boy to his left- "This is gonna be SOOOOO much fun!" Little Fuller is sitting directly behind us with his name on his shirt.

Our friends the Mentels. Jaime has been attending the Esther Bible study I recently led. Her husband Charlesis an OB in my Dr.'s group and we honestly believe he could have saved Anderson's life when I was pregnant with him. I was on bedrest and admitted a couple of times for pre-term labor. Charles pulled the trigger on giving me stereroid shots for Anderson's lungs due to my complications. Sure enough he was 5 weeks early. We think those shots meant the difference between a healthy baby and a long stay in the NICU. Aren't their two little girls adorable?

Part Two: The following Friday Anderson's school held a Trike-a-thon to benefit St. Jude's Hospital. All the kids had to raise money and ride laps on their bikes. The parents decorate the bikes according to the theme- "It's all about Love", and all the kids got prizes. It was so fun for him! Even if he did REFUSE to use his pedals...

Mrs. Emily starting off the race

Anderson getting set

My sweet lil man

How cute is little Naia's bike?

This was princess Ella Gray- How girly!

I plopped Lydia in the baby buggy so she could ride too!

Scootin' along

9 Months

On your 9 month "birthday" we went to the Doctor

Weight: 20 lbs 2 oz (75th %)

Height: 27 inches (25th %)

*Perhaps those percentiles are the reason for your chunky monkey legs!!

***At 9 months old you are a sheer delight! Your happy little personality is still very much in tact! You smile ALL the time. We often are told you are the happiest baby someone has ever seen.

***You are very mobile. You still won't get up on your knees to crawl, but can do a mean imitation of the army crawl. It gets you where you want to go and I honestly don't see you crawling the "traditional" way. You haven't really expressed an interest in pulling up, although you have done it a couple of times. You are too busy going, going, going, to slow down long enough to grab something to pull up on.

*** You have finally gotten a little easier to put down for naps and bed. You did wonderfully with this for so long, but then about two months ago you started realizing that you were missing something. You wanted to stay up and play, so you fought us hard at bedtimes. Thank goodness that seems to have almost disappeared now.

***You still won't really take a passy, but you love to grip one tightly and hold on to the handle for an occasional gnawing! You love your Raz. It's been awesome for teething! Speaking of which- you still only have the bottom two. Your brother had 4 or 5 by now!

***You are cutting back on bottles and really increasing solid foods in your diet now. You love all food. You don't seem to have any dislikes. You love yogurt melts, and are now enjoying real cheerios instead of just Gerber puffs.

***You LOVE music and can clap to the beat. You love to roll on one side prop yourself up on an elbow and pat your leg. It is hilarious!!

***You have said- "dada", "mama", "bruder" (brother), "ball" and "Rrrrr tiiii" (Roll Tide)...and no I am not kidding about that last one! Your Daddy taught you to say it last week and it is your new fave thing to say!!

***You continue to love watching Anderson and laugh, shriek, and squeal at him all the time.

***You still suck your thumb. It is incredibly sweet! You are totally a self- soother. I love it!!

***Your skin is WAY more olive than Anderson's. We got you out last Sat. and even with 50 SPF sunblock you tanned a bit! It was so cute! Your hair is a golden blond color. It looks like it is almost highlighted. You have your aunt Jenn's slate gray colored eyes. The are beautiful and very unique.

Your basic schedule is something like this-

7:00 am- up and at em! Although if we aren't awake quite yet you don't scream to be picked up out of your crib. You are content to just babble and sometimes if we are super lucky, you even go back to sleep for about 30 minutes or so.

7:30- 7 oz bottle

8:00- 9:15- most weekdays we walk with our neighbor Amy and her little one- Henry. He and Lydia are 5 days apart. Both babies love being outside and around each other. It gives Amy and I some girl chatting time and exercise- PLUS t gets us out of the house for a little while. A must for stay-at-home Moms. :-)

9:30- 1 stage 3 baby food

10:00- 11:45/12:00- Morning Nap

12:00 7 oz bottle

12:15- 1:00- Go get your brother from school and return home.

1:45- 1 stage 3 baby food

2:00- 3:00 Playtime

3:00- Down for afternoon nap (your brother used to take a nap around this same time. He's not doing that anymore though)

4:30 up from nap and small snack

4:30- 5:30 playtime

6:00 - Daddy's home! Dinner time- 1 stage 3 baby food with a side of rice cereal for you!

7:00- Bath and last 7 oz bottle

7:30 Bedtime

I am really enjoying having a little girl so much for reasons just like the pic below. Just check out one of your new bows...how cute is that? A sweet little butterfly! Is it a bad thing that you have over 35 bows?