Take me back please!

I am craving the beach terribly. This is not a very unusual thing for me since I wouldn't mind just living there too. Thankfully, we had a wonderful vacation at this beach several weeks ago with John's fam. We look forward to this trip every year. Even though I am an Alabama girl and love me some 30-A beaches, I have come to love this area just as much. This is where John's family has always vacationed and it is fun hearing all their stories and memories of trips growing up. John and I also got engaged on this island 4 years ago, so both islands are very special to us. We were excited to take baby girl with us for her first year to join. The week was a blast. I loved watching Caroline explore the beach, sand, and pool. She loved it too. Thanks to my wonderful in-laws for hosting us!


Now go away oil because we cannot wait to go to the gulf next!

eight

Is it just me or do you feel like I write these monthly post like once a week? The months are going by too fast!

Caroline is now 8 months old and we have had some fun milestones lately.

I am not a huge fan of bows on babies but her hair is out of control these days.

I feel like I should nickname her "Curious Caroline." I get this look often like, "what is that or what's goin on?"

Here is a glimpse of life with C at 8 months:

-4 bottles a day (about 24 oz total)

-baby food 3x a day (cereal and fruit in the morning and veggies for lunch and dinner)

-naps 1-1.5 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the afternoon

-sleeps 12 hours at night

-C has 2 teeth now! the two bottom front teeth came at the same time last week

-sits up on her own

-close to crawling - C is rocking back and forth up on her hands and knees but hasn't figured out how to move forward or backward in that position

Likes:

-to wave bye-bye or hello to people (we started with the full arm wave and she is now trying to figure out only flapping her wrist back and forth)

-pretty much all baby food - cannot get enough of it

-playing on the floor

-swinging at the park

-sitting up and playing in the bathtub

-car keys and cell phones

Dislikes:

-when you take a toy away from her

-when I leave the room or she cannot see me anymore

-sitting still to have her diaper or clothes changed

Father's Day and Birthdays

This weekend was a very special one indeed...

On Saturday my man turned the big 3-0!

And celebrated his first Father's Day on Sunday.

We had a great weekend hosting friends and family in the new house. Friday night, we celebrated John's birthday with friends.

Thankfully, Lila could come for Caroline too.

Baldwin, JP, Jared, baby Thatcher Simmons, and Caleb
Rachel, Anna, me, Natasha, and Meredith

JP, Christian, and Peter

Michelle, me, Lauren, and Kerie

Saturday night we headed off to Margaret and Will's wedding

Sunday, we had family over for Father's Day lunch as well as John's birthday and his cousin, Powell's birthday. JP and Powell have the same birthday. Powell turned 3 on Saturday. It was alot of fun to celebrate them together.

Hey Caroline!

Powell being shy opening his gifts

The birthday boys! (Powell not too happy about the pictures)

Bob (JP's grandfather) and Caroline

This rookie mom totally forgot to take a picture of John and Caroline on Father's Day together. Oh well, we didn't get one of us on Mother's Day either. Guess you learn the next go around.

We are so thankful for you, Buds. You are an amazing daddy to Caroline and she is blessed to call you her father. We love you!

Playdate

Last week my friend Anna and her little girl Lila came over for the morning. Lila and Caroline are 3 months apart. Typically, Anna and I always meet for walks together and the girls cannot even see each other in their stollers. But on this day, they enjoyed some playtime together on the sofa. Lila was so sweet and Caroline, well, I am not sure if she wanted to eat Lila or attack her. Anna and I could not stop laughing taking these pics!

We started out good...

then confused
and so the action begins

Poor Lila

Lila gets in the action too

I promise it was not as rough as it looks

I think Caroline has already learned the fake smile

I'm back!

And I am sure you have missed me! I took a break from the blog. Vacations, moving, and 5 days without baby girl do not allow much time for blogging. I know, it is a rough life. I have so many things to post about now. Caroline has been at "grandmother camp" for 5 days! If you have never heard of this or done it...you should starting calling your mothers or in-laws now. My wonderful mom is a school teacher and wanted to have Caroline come to "camp" at her house in Birmingham for several days this summer. I said, "sign me up and send me the dates!" Caroline has had a blast (see all pics below), My mom has been in heaven, and John and I have been so spontaneous in the last week we don't ever know what to do with ourselves. It is a win-win situation for everyone I tell ya! BUT, I could not be more thrilled to have my baby come home today. I am so ready to see her and squeeze those cheeks. I think I made my mom send me like 50 pictures over the the weekend....

Looks like she discovered her belly button while she was with her MiMi.

C had some great time with my grandmother too

I think she misses me in this one

In other news around this house, John started work last week. He is really enjoying it so far. This was the morning of his first day.

Caroline has learned to wave bye-bye to anything and everything.

More updates to come!