Happy Birthday America- (and Daddy)

Today would have been my Daddy's Birthday so first - Happy Birthday Daddy, I miss you and I hope you are eating buttermilk cake in heaven!

So Emily is still too little to get the whole Fourth of July thing- but she did get to have doughnuts that day- so she had to know it was a special day!  We started the day with some sugary deliciousness and then mostly chilled with Daddy until we went to Nana's to meet Auntie Amy and Davis Cate for some pool time! Hope you had a happy fourth too!

yummy doughnut holes and milk

Davis arriving at the pool- stylish!

post pool snack

drinkin Nana's water

Davis Cate and Auntie Amy

Happy Birthday America!

Our time together these days

After being laid off it has taken me a while to adjust to being a stay at home mommy.  I don't really feel like I got the hang of in until very recently actually.  I think with the shock, then she was sick, then I was sick, then Sean's mom got sick.  We had a very busy month or so right after I lost my job and nothing ever felt "normal".  I was really wondering if I could be that kind of mom.  To be home with her all day and not go crazy.  I have realized a few things now that we seem to be settling into a routine.  I adore her more everyday if that is possible. I do think I like being home with her- but we need some structure.  So I signed Emily up for Mother's Day out back at the beginning of June. I just couldn't stand the thought of her going from full daycare with friends everyday to just me- and let's be honest, I would probably go nuts if I didn't have a little time a day or two a week to myself and to get things done!  She has really done well and seems to enjoy it. These are a few shots from our time there so far.

on our way....

wacky water week!

playin with a new friend

We've also been trying to get out a little everyday- the grocery store, Little Gym, lunch with Daddy or Nana.  And then of course there is playtime at home.  We sing and dance and play with the ark- and now we practice walking - A LOT!  We also try to go to the pool some too.

sending Daddy love by text

snacks are Em's favorite time of day!

naptime

Little Gym

lunch out

playtime

checking out new things before the pool

pool time

post swim = more SNACKS!

being her silly self- chillin with a juice (and it was a hat day)

too coooool for school

Girls Beach Trip

Last year, we took Emily (at six weeks old) to the beaches of Gulf Shores, AL. As you recall, she was this tiny thing:..

this year was a different story- she is a big girl who likes the pool and the water now. We decided on a girls' trip this year to the beautiful beaches of Destin- or Watersound, FL. Mom, Aunt Ann, Emily and I drove down. we took the trip down in two days to break it up and stayed in a hotel- AAARRGGHH  my child in a hotel room with us = NOT A GOOD NIGHT. I guess it's because she can see us from the pack n play becasue it was 45 minutes of screaming and crying before she gave in and passed out....for a few hours. then she was back up and I put her in the bed with me. She finally fell asleep again about 4:30am. UGH but here is the sweet angel sleeping peacefully (finally) - with Lovey of course...

We made it to the beach house, got settled in and just enjoyed catching up with Mrs Linda.  It was kind of funny actually- we had a total of 9 adult women and 4 kiddos at any given time staying together.  It was loud but fun- except at bedtime- for any of us. They all cried EVERY NIGHT when we tried to put them to bed.  But it was beautiful, the weather was great and it was fun catching up with friends we don't see very often. Kelly and her Mom and the boys came down for a couple of days and then Amy, Davis, her mom and Susie joined us later in the week!

first night sunset

Em enjoying snacks on our porch

 This was our beach- I think we saw like 8 people the entire time we were there!  SO NICE and peaceful
we took Em to check it out the first day after we'd hit the pool for a while.

puttin our toes in the sand

  Emily loved the beach but the water was so rough and I was having trouble handling her and keeping her out of the water that we could only really hit the beach one day.

what am I supposed to do with this thing?

hmmmmmmm

how do I use this if it's attached to the bucket?

I'll just smile and look cute

mommy and baby feet :)

ruffle butt shakin the chair

trying to get a picture with the "bump"

tired baby girl

We stuck to the pool most of the week. and the wonderful balcony with the gorgeous views of the lake and gulf. I hope to take her back for many years to come!

playin with the boys

sweet Ollie Gator

hey!

they like the beads...

and the ark

Davis and Em

what you mean I'm doing it wrong?

this is how I roll 

Davis on her morning walk...in Meca's glasses

Em ON THE WAY to lunch-!

Em and Davis playin

Em's favorite thing- pushing the cooler as a walker

sweet baby girl

Davis at dinner after too much day!