Backing up just a little...Memorial Day Beach Trip

So I've decided that there are lots of times/memories that Kevin & I have had together that are in my head, but nowhere else.  I love scrapbooking, but anything I didn't get finished before we had Eli (which wasn't long after we were married) has been put on hold for a while.  And now any free time is spent on Eli's scrapbooks and soon to be Evy's too!  So...I'm going to start blogging about the past as well as present so that these memories can be printed eventually for my kids and grandkids to have.  I don't want to sound negative about thinking about when I'm not here, but that's one thing I wish I had of done with my grandparents is heard more stories and listened better when they spoke.  Memories shared are so special and you don't always realize that until you can't ask your loved ones those questions.

So...past memory #1 is not that far back...Memorial Day 2013.  Grandma & Granddaddy (Marlene & Wayne) came for a visit and we all went to Pass-A-Grille Beach at St. Pete on Memorial Day.  I should have blogged about it then, but either I forgot or was waiting on pictures.  Blogs are better with pictures! :)  Eli LOVED the beach, well most of it.  We took his kiddie pool and he played there a lot.  By the end of the trip it looked more like a mud pit really but he didn't care.  He LOVED getting into the ocean and would have dove right in if we hadn't of been holding onto him.  He waved at everyone he saw and said "hi" and at one point had about 5 kids around him (who were like 6 or 7 years old) all talking to him.  The pictures tell the rest!

Eli had on his flag shirt for Memorial Day.

Chillin' in the pool.

Grandma & Granddaddy's favorite spot...in the shade. :)

His first time in the ocean.  Love his expression.

Tired little boy towards the end of the day.

Granddaddy helping him up.

Grandma walking around and Eli waving at kids.

Family Beach Photo 

Mr. Independent.

Walking up & down the beach with daddy.

Enjoying the water.

Worn slam out on the ride home, with his book in hand.

Watching "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" on the way there.

A pretty hotel right on the beach when we first arrived.

June 10th, 2013 - A day to Remember.

Nana & Papa were in town (they came in on Friday) and I had forgotten that I had a doctor's appointment on Monday - June 10th.  On Saturday, mom & I had a "girls day" out and about while Kevin worked and my dad watched Eli.  Our girls day was basically mom spoiling me while we shopped for Maternity clothes and just caught up on things we had been too busy to talk about lately.  I tried on a million clothes and even found a few out of the pile that I liked! :)  It started pouring rain on us and we had to wait it out to get to the car and once we decided to go for it we made some memorable moments getting soaked trying to make it to the parking lot.  It was a good day.

On the way home, it dawned on me that I had a doctor's appointment Monday and so OF COURSE Nana started saying, "I wonder if they can do an ultrasound and we can find out if the baby is a boy or girl?"  I didn't know if it was possible but was willing to ask.

On Monday, I went in at 8:00 for a routine check-up with no hopes of finding out the gender.  The doctor had told us last visit that we would find out on July 8th when we were 22 weeks and took a detailed look at the heart, spine and brain.  When I got taken back to the room it was the one with the ultrasound machine.  I thought "Hmm, I don't want to sound stupid, but am I getting an ultrasound?"  So I asked the nurse.  She responded, "Yeah, it should be the gender ultrasound today at 19 weeks."  I told the lady that my mom was in town and that it was her birthday.  (Ok, so it wasn't EXACTLY her birthday, but it was on the 5th.)  So she said I should call my mom and ask her to come down there since the doctor was running late.  Mom got ready in 5 minutes (which is unbelievable for my mom) and was there within 10 minutes in the room. 

When the doctor came in he spoke with me like usual, went over information, measured and then said ok so the big ultrasound next time right?  I was like "your nurse said we were having one today so I even called my mom to come down for it.  Is that possible?"  He exhaled but said ok. He's awesome by the way.  We had the ultrasound and at the very last moment he said Everything looks great.  I was like and..... He said yes?  I was like boy or girl?!?!  He said Oh you wanted to know gender.  I was thinking DUH but simply said yes please!  He said well...I don't see any boy parts at all, IT'S A GIRL! :)  My mom and I looked at each other like is he for real?  Did he just say girl?

We wanted to do more than just tell Kevin & Dad that it's a girl so we went straight to Publix, got 2 balloons "It's a boy" and "It's a girl".  When we walked in they both stared intently and then dad said "oh crap...we still don't know." (Haha). Eli saw the balloons and came running.  So I told the guys, well whichever balloon I'm still holding is what we are having... and then I handed Eli the "It's a boy."  Kevin said "It's a girl?!?"  I said YES and we were all so happy.  Eli ran circles around the "It's a girl" balloon once I gave him that one and the rest of us just couldn't believe it really is a girl. 







What A Date night!!!

My husband is amazing.  I fall more in love with him everyday and as cheesy as that sounds, I whole heartedly mean it.  My parents were coming to town, and whenever that happens they always give us a night out.  (Both sets of grandparents are wonderful about that).  However, when I think of date night I think dinner, maybe a movie if we can stay awake...but NOPE Kevin goes big or goes home.

So on Friday night, June 7th, Kevin took me to the Rascal Flatts/Band Perry concert.

 





It was great.  It started out with Cassadee Pope as the opener.  Nope, the music teacher did not know who she was.  Well, let me rephrase that.  I knew she had won the voice but I had no idea what she sang or if she was any good.  Not too bad...

Then came The Band Perry.  They were unbelievable.  This is our second time seeing them.  The first time I was pregnant with Eli and they opened for Luke Bryan and Tim McGraw.  Now they have come along way but were even better than the first time and we didn't think that was possible!

The pictures turned out great, but it doesn't even begin to do their performance justice!

Last, but not least...RASCAL FLATTS!!!!

This was an awesome night and all because my husband does everything in the world to make me happy.  Thank you honey for a night I will never forget.  Now I can cross this off of my bucket list.  I love you!

 

 

Fun in the Sun!

A while back (end of April), Kevin & I got Eli a kiddy swimming pool.  Eli LOVES water and he LOVES being outside so we figured it was the perfect thing for him.  We started with it in our yard, but we soon found out why everyone in Florida have their pools INSIDE of their screened in, covered patio.  All three of us were covered in black bugs within minutes.  So we dumped it out and moved it in the patio where it was lots more fun without the bugs.  Eli loved it and here are pictures from that day.

He's going to be a fish...just like his mommy & daddy. He loves the water and isn't afraid of it at all.  You can dump a bucket of it right over his head and he just laughs. 

No More Backyardigans!

Well...today is truly a day to blog about.  This past week at 18 months old, Eli is finally interested in other shows besides The Backyardigans.  Don't get me wrong, I think they are adorable, and I love the music but a person can only take so much.  Plus I didn't just start watching the shows with Eli, the kids I was a nanny for loved the show as well.  So I've probably been watching it for like 3 years.

This past week Eli has enjoyed other shows.  He now likes Mike the Knight, Ruby & Max (which I love but Kevin thinks is lame), and Jake & The Netherland Pirates.  I've tried Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and for whatever reason it does not keep his attention.  Go figure...we live 20 minutes away from Mickey and Eli doesn't care.  I think it's kind of funny.

Eli is still our busy boy.  He is saying tons of words now and is Mr. Sociable.  I guess he gets that from his mom.  He high fives the kids at daycare when he arrives every morning and has to tell each one bye before we can leave in the afternoon.  He LOVES being outside and of course playing ball, like his daddy.  We bought him a pool that we keep on the patio now and he also loves water.  I can see him being like me and swimming like a fish early on.  He will dump buckets of water over his head and laugh about it.

Eli loves to color and has his own little desk that he sits down at creates masterpieces at.  I was excited when out of all the coloring books he chose a Smurf one. :)

He's been pointing to pictures of himself a lot lately from when he was a baby and saying "baby."  Of course he doesn't understand he's going to be a big brother but we still enjoy talking to him about it.

Sorry there are no pictures in this one!  Maybe next time!  12 more days of work and then I'll have lots more time to post pictures and blog this summer.  YAY!

Long weekend almost over.

These past 4 days have been extra long and extra tiring.  I'm sure most of that is because I was missing my best friend and spouse to give me company and help care for our busy, busy little boy.  Eli has been missing his daddy too going to the front door several times, trying to turn the knob and saying "daddy" like he should be coming home already.  We've had fun mommy/son time, but are super glad to be getting him back today.  Here are a few random pictures from the past week.

Eli sure loves to find the smallest spaces.  Sportin' his Braves hat.

Striking a pose!

Excited about his new toy.

Pressing the music note to hear the "ABC's"

No fear...Lifeguard on duty here.

Spinning around in the kitchen.

Taking a stroll in the shopping cart on the patio.

While daddy was gone, Eli had to play ball with mommy.  This was his expression.  I think he was saying, "seriously mom?  You throw like a girl."

Muffin relaxing outside.

Coloring daddy a picture because he comes home today.

Hmm...I wonder if daddy likes red or purple better?