Beach recap

If you've been reading this blog for some time then you know that my family does an annual Florida beach trip.  For many years it was just me, my mom, my aunt (Jenni) and Casey (close family friend who is basically fam).  Some years we got to go twice and we would take my grandmother.  I remember when I was finally old enough to go with the girls.  I was so excited!  

2005 was the first year they let me take any pictures.  They hate pictures.  Dumb.  Anyway.  It literally rained the entire week we were there.  So we sat on the balcony tucked under the awning and played cards and drank bloody mary's every single day.  We talked the realty company into letting us stay 2 more days but we had to move to a different condo.  We threw everything into the car and drove next door to get our 2 extra days!  That one is definitely one of the most fun times we've had, even though we didn't get much beach time.  

2009 my cousin Jan started coming with us.  

In 2010 we changed things up a little bit.  When my mom, Jenni and Jan were little their parents brought them to the beach.  A few months before our trip, Jan's dad, my great uncle passed away.  We decided it was time to return the favor and take my Aunt Jerry (Jan's mom) to the beach.  She hadn't been in many many years.  So we made a much bigger girls trip out of it.  We got a large 4 bedroom condo and all 7 of us went.  (recap here)

2011 recap here.

In 2012 we did the unthinkable.  We invited Lonnie!  Ha!  That recap is here.  Pretty sure he is the only male who has or ever will be invited.  Unless, of course, I get pregnant and I have a little man.  :)  

2013 recap here

So that brings us to this year.  My Aunt Jerry couldn't make it.  The drive down is just too tough on her and she will not fly.  Hopefully next year she will feel better about it and want to make it with us.  

The second day there was Mother's Day.  This is my new favorite picture of me and my pea pod.  

2 generations

3 generations

4 generations

Blakely had a ball as can be imagined.  She loved the sand and the beach.  At first she loved the water.  Then she got splashed pretty good and for a day or so she was totally freaked out and would not go near it and did not want any of us to go near it either.  "No Mommy!  Stay up here!"  On about the third day Lonnie and I took a walk with her on the beach.  She realized that she could find seashells if she got a little closer to the water and her fear of the water ended there.  After that, she wanted to kick or jump over every wave when it came in.  We half buried her in the sand, we waved to the helicopters and airplanes that flew over low, we built sand castles, and we made "sand soup".  I really wish we lived closer to a beach!  She still plays with all of the seashells she and Jan collected.  

BIG STRADDLES!

We went to dinner almost every night.  Blakely loved trying new foods and she especially loved learning how to eat fried crab claws.  One night after dinner I wanted to take her out on the beach and get some pictures with my good camera.  I didn't take it to the beach everyday because, hello, sand.  Our dinner lasted a little too long so the lighting wasn't what I wanted and Blakely would NOT stay still but I did get a few that I like.  I also didn't really take many pictures with my phone because I was wrangling a 2 year old.  Lonnie only went to the beach a few times because he was still feeling rough and the medication he was on made him very sensitive to the sun. But he did make it down some so we at least have one picture of all three of us!  

wild woman

She napped loooooong every day and she slept in the pack n play at night.  She is too big for it but since she was so tired she just passed out right when we put her down.  

She slept in a pull up at night but woke up dry every day we were there.  She typically does that when she isn't in her own bed.  I thought when we got home we would go for it and try night time in panties.  But then I was leaving just a few days after we got home from the beach and I didn't want to leave my mother in law with possible dirty sheets in the mornings.  We will try later this summer.  

All in all it was a great trip, as usual.  Blakely did really well on the 10+ hour drive.  Lonnie still felt pretty bad until the end of the trip but at least he got to rest and relax.  I think that helped him to heal.

This picture is sooooo out of focus but it is the only one I have of everybody!  

My mom rode down there and back in the back seat with Blakely.  We hadn't even left my mom's driveway after dropping her off when the trip was over and Blakely went hysterical.  We literally had to turn around so she could give GranDi "once more hug and tiss".  She DID NOT want to leave GranDi.  It was so sweet.  I look forward to going again next year!  Or maybe again this August?  :)

Things

I know I've been pretty quiet on the blog lately.  I don't really have a reason.  Ha!  We do have a lot of things going on and I just can't seem to want to detail all of it out here just yet.  I've sat down to try to write about each thing but after a few minutes I delete it all and walk away.  Just not really in a writing mood I guess.  We will go with bullets for today just as an update.  

• Blakely has been giving me a run for my money lately (this week).  She says "No, Mom!" in a super sassy tone to every. single. thing I ask of her.  She wants to do everything "right now, Mom!" and anything I suggest we do is, "No!  I don't want to".  Talking back at the age of 2.  Awesome.  It is really wearing on my patience, today especially.  It is 3:30 and I am ready for the wine!  

• There may be some big things changing about Lonnie's job.  We don't know yet and I am not sure when we will know.  But change can be good so we are trying not to stress too much.  And if the change isn't good I say we pack up and move to the beach, amiright?

• Speaking of beach, our annual beach trip is coming up.  I've been busy planning and preparing for that.  I am definitely looking forward to it but I am in no way ready to see myself in a bathing suit.  Scary.  Maybe I will fast for the next month.  ;)

• We are going ahead with an IVF at our new clinic fairly soon.  I really want to write a lengthy post about this but I just haven't been up for it.  Weird.  But anyway, it is happening and I have been planning and preparing for that as well.  I will have to be away from home for over a week so there are a lot of things that I need to do for all the people who are going to be helping out with Blakely.  I am anxious, nervous and very excited all at the same time.  

• Recently I have become totally overwhelmed with all of the crap in our house.  Like where did it all come from?  I am in the mood to purge all of the things.  Two days ago I cleaned out our upstairs bathroom.  This is the bathroom Blakely and I use to shower/bathe and get ready each day.  (Ha...as if I "get ready" each day)  I threw away an entire trash bag of stuff.  How does a bathroom have an entire trash bag worth of junk in it?  Yesterday I started on the laundry room.  You don't even want to know what it looks like.  I am over all of this clutter!  

After typing that out I guess I do have a lot on my mind!  Anyway, I am still here and will hopefully get back to more frequent updates soon!  

Beach girl.

If you have followed this little blog for a while then you know that the women in my family take a beach trip every year.  I have been going with my mom, Jenni, Casey, and Grand forever.  A few years ago we switched it up and took a few more people...my cousin Jan and her mom (my Grand's sister).  Last year was the first year we took Lonnie.  What a trooper going to the beach with 7 women and a baby!  He had such a good time and couldn't wait to go again this year.  

We drive and it is a 12 hour trip.  I drove while Lonnie was in the front seat and my mom was in the back with B.  I packed a car bag full of activities for her if she got bored.  Would you believe that we only got ONE thing out of that bag?  She was so good!  

This was when we first got to the condo and she ran onto the balcony and kept saying OH!  

The first 2 days were overcast and cold!  Which really doesn't bother me because we just hang out in the condo and play cards.  

Wrapped up on the balcony.  

Sharing coffee...  This all started a few weeks back when she wanted his coffee so bad and would not give up.  He finally gave her a taste thinking she would hate it and move on.  No.  She loved it.  So now she gets to dip her finger in his coffee a few times on the weekends...and on vacation :)

Blakely entertaining everyone.  

Learning how to play UNO with Jenni.  

Finally it was warm enough to go to the beach.  And let me tell you it was absolutely perfect.  Not too hot and the perfect breeze.  I really didn't know how B would like the sand.  I was prepared for her to hate it, just in case.  

Long story short...she loved the sand.  And the water.  And the sea gulls.  And the beach chairs.  All of it.  This girl is a beach baby.  She would have stayed out there all day if we let her.  She even loved having sunscreen put on her every 43 seconds.  

Lots of sand play with daddy.  

She's a people watcher just like her mama!

such a climber...

It was actually so amazing because she would sit (or squat) and play at our feet and we could sit back and read or just watch her.  She was perfectly happy entertaining herself.  

The water was still pretty cold so I didn't think she would like it but oh she did.  Every time a wave hit her legs she would say MORE!  She spent a loooong time with her legs in the water with daddy.  

Taking a little walk with Jenni.  

The only family picture we have from the whole trip.  I know....I'm so mad about that!  

Here is a little video of B on the beach.  Her favorite thing to do was to have her bucket full of water and she would add sand a little at a time and then stir.  We called it sand soup!  I love this video...

I did get a couple of pictures of me and B.  That never happens since I am the one with the camera usually.  

Such a silly girl!

We went to dinner every night.  You just never know how a toddler is going to do at a long sit down dinner.  I was so impressed with her and her eating.  Her favorite thing?  Fried crawfish tails.  She ate them at multiple places and loved them.  There was only one night we had to get her out of her seat and take her for a little walk.  

Daddy was teaching her how to make a wish!  

Even those few times when she was "over it" she was still good sitting at the table and coloring or playing peek a boo with someone.  

I feel like this is the look of a teenager!  

me and my guy....

It was a great trip with many memories.  I have to say the best part about it was my family getting to spend so much time with Blakely.  Especially my grandmother who I call Grand and B calls Grandmama (which sounds eerily close to mammy!)  She was in our condo so she was able to see B a lot.  She enjoyed watching B put on her shoes, attempt to put on my shoes, play with a billion stickers, run around like a crazy girl, play with daddy, and just generally make a mess.  You know...the normal stuff.  B lights everyone up.  She makes them all smile but none smile bigger than my Grand.  Yesterday Blakely got a letter in the mail from Grand.  I cried while reading it to her.  She wrote to her all about the trip and all the things she enjoyed seeing B do.  It means so much to me that she did that.  I will keep that letter forever.  

And just in case you are interested...
Florida 2012
Florida 2011

Beach baby

We had such a wonderful time at the beach this year!  Blakely was at a great age to be there....able to enjoy everything but not yet mobile.  Although she really wants to be...dear God.

We left Saturday morning at 530.  In our car it was me, Lonnie, my mom, and Blakely.  In the other car it was Grand, Jenni (my aunt), Casey (family friend although more like just family), and my great aunt Jerry.  My cousin Jan lives in Colorado and she meets us down there.  It took us 12 hours to get down there.  Blakely did well the entire way.  My mom was in the back with her so she was able to keep her entertained.  We only stopped 3 times total.  But those stops each lasted about an hour.  With 7 adults and a baby it just takes forever to do anything.  By the time we got there we were all ready to get the heck out of the car.  We dropped Grand, my mom, Blakely, and Aunt Jerry off at the condo and the rest of us went to the grocery and liquor store for the week.  We always hate doing that but it helps to just get it over with.  

This was just one of the carts  :)

We were all exhausted from the trip so it was early to bed.  We had two condos each with two bedrooms.  It was me, Lonnie, Blakely, Grand, and my mom in one.  And the rest were in the other.  

The next morning we got up leisurely and drank our coffee/cokes and ate our traditional cheese toast topped with fresh tomatoes.  It was so yummy and even Lonnie liked it!  Then we got all ready for the beach.  I got Blakely naked and lathered her up in sunscreen.  And then I did it again.  She was a gooey gooey mess.  She didn't mind it though.  She actually giggled while I was putting it on her.  A friend of mine suggested getting a baby swimming pool and putting that under the shade with all of her toys.  That turned out to be such a great idea!  She could just sit there and play without getting sand everywhere.  If I had just put her on a towel it would have been a huge mess and I wouldn't have been able to take my eye off of her for a single second.  Of course, there were times that I did let her play in the sand.  Just not sitting in it constantly.  

Blakely with her grand cousin Jan and then with daddy.  

Toes in the water....ass in the sand....

The first night (Sunday) we always go to dinner at Staff's.  Blakely wore the dress that I MADE HER.  You read that correctly...I made her dress.  Kinda wish I had a better picture of her in it!

The next morning everyone got up and did the cheese toast/coffee/cokes thing.  And when I say everyone, I mean everyone but me because, apparently, I consumed a wee to much alcohol the night before.  So daddy was on baby duty while mommy recovered.  After that it was pretty much a lazy day in the condo.  We just played on the balcony and took naps all day.  That night we did go to eat at a place called Louisiana Lagniappe.  This place has the best shrimp and grits ever.

The next day we decided to take Blake to the pool.  This was her first time ever in a pool.  It was a little chilly at first so I had to ease her in so she wouldn't cry.  I held her for a bit and then I sat her on the ledge of the pool.  She loved it!  

Then I put her in her little boat and she REALLY loved it!  She kicked her little legs constantly.  It was adorable :)

We finally got out of the pool and we were both all wrinkled up.  We sat out by the pool and played for a little bit before it was time for her nap.  

The next day we went to the beach in the morning but then it looked like it was going to rain so we went back up to the condo for the afternoon.  We played games and Blakely just sat and watched and entertained us.  She loved the UNO cards and helping mommy play :)

That night we went to a restaurant called Captain Dave's in Destin.  It was super yum!

Beach again the next day.  She played in her little pool for a while but she really just wanted to be climbing all over daddy.  

redo solo cup of course....

For being so out of her element Blakely did well.  She didn't really want to nap in the pack n play though.  Naps were a struggle unless I nursed her and then laid down with her for a little bit.  I think she felt like she was going to miss something.  This day she didn't nap at all.  I knew if she didn't nap before we went to dinner it would not be pleasant.  So I nursed her right before we left and she fell asleep.  SOUND asleep.

I thought she would sleep through dinner for sure but she only slept for 30 minutes!  This was the only time she was cranky.  And since she didn't nap well that day she didn't sleep good that night.  Up at 2,4,and 6....  I was tired!  Oh well...we got to sleep in at least!  And, daddy made us breakfast!  You know you married a great man when he goes on vacation with 7 women and a baby and also cooks you breakfast on said vacation!  

That evening Lonnie and I decided that we wanted to take Blakely for a walk on the beach instead of going to dinner with everyone else.  We strapped her into her daddymobile and off we went.  We walked a LONG way and stopped to eat some dinner.  It was great family time. 

This is what it looked like on our way back.  BEAUTIFUL!

The last day we did more beach!

Look MOM!  I stood up!

This was the view from our balcony.  

The last night Lonnie took some pictures of us before dinner.  Here we all are!  

Four generations :)

All in all it was a great trip!  Blakely did great and Lonnie did great dealing with all of us.  My Grand got to spend a lot of time with Blakely which makes me happy.  I had a few moments when I got emotional.  Everything has just come full circle.  We do this trip every year and there were a few years that I yearned to be pregnant or have a baby at the beach.  Then last year I was pregnant.  And now I got to take my beautiful baby girl on her first beach trip...perfect!  

I have to say though, I am happy to be back in our normal routine.  Even on vacation, mama doesn't get "vacation" ;)