OBX - QT with Grandma and Pap

One of my favorite parts of vacation is spending time with my family.  Since we live in Virginia, my parents are in Pittsburgh, Brian's in DC, Kristen spends most of the year in Ohio, and Jeff is all over the place, there are very few times that we can all (or most of us) get together, let alone get together for an entire week.  That's why our family vacation is so important to us.  Not only is it a week at the beach, but it's always full of lots of family fun, from board games to cookouts to beer pong, it's always a good time.

Living away from where I grew up became a little bit harder when we had Addie.  I grew up with lots of family 5 minutes away.  I had my Nana and Pap, lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins that I saw on a weekly basis.  My Nana and Pap had a pool and we spent most of our weekends hanging out there, on top of an occasional weekday night swim. Most of my "out-of-town" family was only a short drive away so we still saw them a few times a year as well.  My Grandma and Grandpa took each one of us kids one by one for a weekend in the summer and would spoil us with letting us do anything we wanted to do.  My trips were usually full of manicures at the nail salon, going to a women's basketball game, and eating at Damon's.

Eric grew up with a lot of the same experiences.  He spent many hours with his grandparents and some of his cousins were more like brothers and sisters.  The men of the family went on an annual deep sea fishing trip, which I have heard many stories about.'

We want our kids to have a lot of the same experiences as we did growing up, especially with my parents and Eric's mom.  Grandparents are so special to children.  They spoil their grand-kids a way no one else can and have a very special bond with them.  Addie had a blast with Grandma and Pap in the Outer Banks.  My mom enjoyed doing any and everything with her, from giving her baths, snuggling with her on the beach, to watching her roll over from back to front for the very first time while she was babysitting.  My dad also had lots of quality time with his favorite grand-daughter (Yes, I can say favorite because right now she's the only one!)  Addie loved swimming in the pool with Pap and going for walks on the beach with him.  Although these aren't things that Addie will remember because she is so young but I can't wait to show her pictures and tell her stories about hanging out with Pap and Grandma when she gets older and I look forward to watching Addie create many more beach memories with them in the years to come.

OBX - Fun in the Sun

Even though we had quite a bit of rain on our annual OBX trip, we were lucky enough to still get a few days of fun in the sun.  Anyone who knows us, knows that we love the beach.  We are a beach family.  The beach has been one of our favorite spots from the very beginning.  Eric and I used to spend weekends at the beach when we were dating, we got engaged at the beach, and we even got married in the OBX.  We could not wait to share our love for the beach with Addie this summer and hopefully she would become a baby beach bum.  We took Addie to the beach when she was just 11 weeks old (you can read about that here) and we quickly learned that life at the beach wouldn't be the same with a baby.  After a few (failed) beach attempts, we realized that we would be pool people this summer.  The pool was easier, closer (a quick 5 minute walk vs. a 20 minute drive), and much more baby friendly than the beach.  We were excited about vacation, but we were also kind of nervous about how Addie would handle the beach.

After many days of fun in the sun, these are the things that we learned:

• Timing is EVERYTHING!  A well rested, full belly, happy baby is much more pleasant at the beach.  Addie woke up from her morning nap most days around 11 and we would head to the beach after she ate.  If we timed it right, Addie was full of smiles on the beach.
• The more help, the better.  The beach was much easier when we had Pap, Grandma, Aunt Kristen, Uncle Brian, and Carla to help entertain and take care of Addie.  Addie loved all the quality time that she got to spend with everyone.
• A baby pool is a must.  Addie absolutely loves the water and since she couldn't go in the ocean, she splashed around in her baby pool all afternoon.  We can't wait for her to get a little older and jump in the waves! 

Once we got into a routine we had a blast with our baby girl at the beach.  We enjoyed walking with her on the beach, splashing with her in her pool, and baby snuggles during her afternoon naps on the beach.  We are so lucky to be able to create these beach memories with our beautiful little girl and we can't wait for many more OBX trips in the future!

I can't get enough of her chubby legs and cute little toes!

Enjoying some fun in the sun with my hubby

Having fun in our neons.

Eric playing in the water, pretty soon Addie will be out there boggie boarding with him!

Addie looking adorable in her baby beach hat.

Hiding from the sun with mommy.

Addie is the cutest little baby swimsuit model around!

If we only knew what he was praying about in his sleep..."Please let me work on my farting problem so I don't scare Carla away?" or  "I hope she says YES!"  or "Help me learn to surf as good as my surfer friends!"

The whole crew enjoying the beach.

Pap is in time out for not following directions lol

Brian won the bet and Carla giving him the death stare lol

Uh oh, we feel for you Kristen.  We hope you brought your gas mask, he did have baked beans last night lol

Relaxing on the beach with Addie is hanging out with Grandma.

Sisterly love

The ladies minus Grandma and Addie

Our annual picture

"I love my Auntie Krissy!"

More auntie time

Eric and Brian rented surf boards and spent hours in the water with their "surfer friends."  It was great entertainment for the rest of us.  They had a blast and luckily no one got hurt!

Bocce ball on the beach

These 2 are my world :)

Addie spent hours splashing around in her baby pool. 

She loved standing and watching the waves.

And the sand...now that's pretty cool stuff! 

Our version of "jumping in the waves"

Daddy's girl

Flying Addie girl

Cooling off in her pool

Our 1st vacation as a family was amazing, until next year OBX....

My Favorite Things - Month 6

A few things I want to remember about your 6th month:

-We started classes at the Little Gym and you LOVE it!  We sing songs, play with toys, and tumble around and you smile the entire time.

-You love to "wave" and reach for stuff that you want and it's usually something that you're not supposed to have...my cell phone, the remote, food off of my plate, etc.  You also "wave" or move your hands in the same way when you get excited.

-We read books together before you go down for a nap and before you go to bed at night.  It's one of my favorite parts of the day.  You sit on my lap or your dad's lap with your paci and your lovey and look at the pictures as we read to you.  Occasionally, you like to eat the books too.

-Mirrors are your new favorite thing!  You love to look in the mirror and I don't blame you...you are one cute baby!

 -Another favorite is water.  Water in the pool, water in the tub, my glass of water - no matter where it is, you love to play with and in water.  Now only if we could get a mirror for when you play in the water...

-I think you are part cat.  You reach for things, especially your mobile on your swing, like a cat and it is hilarious.  It entertains you for at least 10 minutes, which is a LONG time in the life of a 6 month old. 

-Another one of your favorite pastimes is to try to escape whatever baby contraption I have you in.  You arch your back, straighten your legs, and push to try to get out.  You are now strapped in, tightly, no matter what you are in...you car seat, the swing, etc. I also rarely take my eyes off of you, I feel like you are just preparing us for when you become mobile.  Very impressive Addie, very impressive!

-Finally, I cannot believe that you are already 6 months old!  You've grown up over night and I can't believe that you are sitting up (with some assistance), riding in your car seat like a big girl (with much better views), and playing 24/7.  Being your mommy is so much fun and I know it's only going to get better!