Gulf Shores Family Vacation October 2010

 In early October 2010, we went to the beach.  Each year we travel to Gulf Shores - it's the closest place we can get to and have the beach, pools, shopping, etc, and with 3 kids total, we need that to help us survive the commute!  At this time, Carter and Katlin had just turned 2 and Cole was 6.5 months.  The big kids LOVED it but Cole wasn't nearly as impressed. 

We stay at the Lighthouse Condos b/c their pool is a zero entry with neat little splash fountains that the kids can play in and have a great time.  Even at just 2 years old, they can walk about halfway through the pool without it being too deep.  We love it and will probably stay here until the kids are much bigger and are better swimmers. 

 Carter loved to stand on the fountains and make the other ones splash much higher

 In the master bedroom, there was a huge closet that Carter and Katlin called their playroom.

 I have this same picture from last year - wow how they have grown up!

 Lounging in their chairs soaking up some rays

 Sacked out in the beach tent

 Carter loved getting buried in the sand

Cole "surfing" - as you can see, he wasn't too happy about it

A Visit with Nanny

On Saturday, October 16, we headed out to Millington to visit my Nanny's grave.  We enjoyed time with some of my cousins and their kids, my sister, mom, and dad.  It breaks my heart to know that my boys will never know my Nanny, but I hope we have gatherings like this every year and that I can preserve her memory in them by telling stories about her and telling the boys how much I know she loves them still!

 Carter & Abbi

 Thomas, Abbi, Carter, Taylor, & Cole

 Me, Scott, Carter, Mom, Katlin, Dad, Lindssey, Derrick, & Cole

All the attendees minus my dad and Tyler, who was on camera duty!

Kissy Pictures

Once again, I owe my tiny readership and my kids a huge apology for being a horrible record-keeper and going yet another month with no postings.  Realizing that one night last week, I snapped some shots of the boys (Carter 2 and 1 month, Cole 6.5 months) playing and some of Derrick and I kissing them.  What can I say, we're a loving family??



Carter's Party - Part 2

For Carter's party, we rented a bouncey house for the day.  Lucky for him, they delivered it by 9:00 in the morning, so he was able to bounce before, during, and after the party.  He asked the next day where his boucey house was...I think he thought it was just one of his birthday gifts!

We had about 40 people attend, and had hot dogs, chips, and cake.  The kids played on the swingset, swam despite the cool weather, and jumped in the bouncey.  It was a great time, and he got so many awesome gifts.  He got a soccer set, a scooter, big wheel, art easel, chuck the truck playset, basketball goal, football, golf set, pajamas, new clothes, handy manny tools & play set, and more. 

Derrick and I got him a bowling set and a tball set for his birthday on Thursday, and we surprised him with his swingset on Friday night before his party.  Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us, and a special thanks goes to the Hintons for traveling from Kentucky to be with Carter on his 2nd birthday!

Birthday Cake

For Carter's birthday party, he asked for a shark cake.  Our neighbor, Lisa, makes cakes for weddings and baby showers and volunteered to make his cake.  It took 8 cake mixes and turned out awesome...thank you so much, Lisa!  I had a shirt made for Carter with a friendly little appliqued shark as well, and I think it turned out so cute.  Thank you to Lindsey Whaley for making it for him. 

Here are some pictures of Carter just waking up from nap and seeing his cake for the first time.  He was overwhelmed b/c there were already probably 15-20 people in the house that came early to his party.

Carter turns 2!

Carter turned 2 on Thursday, September 2.  It is hard to believe that my baby is now a running, jumping, talking, funny, independent toddler.  I treasure the moments when he'll let me hold him, snuggle him, kiss, and hug him b/c often times these days he's just too busy for all that!  Every day is equal parts joy and challenge (hello terrible twos!) but I wouldn't trade the worst day with him for the best day with anyone else.  He is the one who made me a Mommy, and I love him with all my heart.  Happy 2nd birthday, baby!

Cole & Solid Foods

Cole starting eating cereal at 4 months and hasn't really liked it all that much.  However, we were able to start him on baby vegetables this past week, and he has enoyed them.  First, I tried sweet potatoes, and of course, he made the obligatory baby funny faces, but when I tried green beans, he loved them!  After we've tried all the veggies, we'll move on to fruits and oatmeal, which is a little bit sweeter than the cereal but still ok for him to eat once a day. 

I had been feeding him either in his carseat or bouncy seat but moved him to Carter's high chair so he could sit up and he was all smiles.  Below are a couple of pictures to commemorate his first high chair experience.