Beach Vacay 2013

Baby's first time in the ocean

So, we just got back from our family vacation today. We ventured to Orange Beach with my side of the family and had an awesome time! I have a big family so needless to say there is never a dull moment! And to top it all off it was Augusta's first time to the beach--priceless memories were made over the last week. Ones I know we as parents will cherish forever.

Splashing in the waves with Mommy and Uncle Luke

Our first day we arrived around 4:30. We got settled in the condo and then decided to make our way down to the beach, since we still had plenty of daylight. Augusta's face when she first saw it, and then stepped into the waves was magical! She absolutely loved it! She's a waterbaby for sure and she didn't want to get out of the water--the only way we got her to leave the beach was promising the pool. And then getting her out of there was a struggle! 

Someone is ready to play!

We had two pretty beach days (not too much sun with a breeze) where we got up early and headed to the shore. Augusta enjoyed every minute of it--she loved venturing out in the water, though she wanted to be carried out into it most of the time. She had fun collecting seashells. She carried around her little bucket and picked them up and dropped them right in there. Her favorite were the little white shells. She also had fun playing in the sand, building castles and animals. We also had fun at the indoor pool and hot tub. With the way the hot tub bubbled Augusta was in heaven thinking it was a big bathtub! 

Thinking so hard in her Fourth of July attire

One night in here was also the Fourth of July. We cooked burgers and stayed in--celebrating family style. We also got to experience Augusta's first fireworks. She really enjoyed them. The noise didn't seem to bother her, though it was kinda late for her and she was tired. We watched them on the beach right in front of our condo. But we saw plenty of them and then headed up and watch more from our balcony. 

Dad and Goo entertaining themselves with snapshots while shopping

The next day the rain started, so it was definitely a shopping kind of day. We hit the outlet mall and spent the majority of the day there. Then we headed back, exhausted, but just in time to get ready for dinner. 

My World

The day after that looked like it would be more of the same--nonstop rain. But we still hadn't taken our family beach pics that I had so been wanting! So we got ready and waited for a break in the rain. That seemed like it would never come, so instead of missing our photo-op, we headed down in the drizzle. My little sis was our awesome photographer and even though there was mist to a light rain falling on us, the photos turned out so beautiful! 

But guess what? Later that afternoon the rain cleared and the sun came out! We had a blast collecting shells (one of our favorites) and playing in the surf! It was the perfect end to our last full day at the beach. We had probably our best meal of the trip for dinner that night and then headed to the condo to pack for the journey home.  

Love and Sand Castles

Such a fun getaway with the family! I'm glad we all got to experience it together and make those precious memories. Maybe Augusta will have some memory of it as she gets older, but if not, we always have the pictures and videos! 

Playing with TT

Me and my love at dinner

View from the balcony

Footprints in the sand

Mommy and Baby love

Attempt at a family pic

Daddy-Daughter Memories

Summer 2013

Pool Fun!

So it's been waaaaaay too long since I made a post on this blog! I mean, should I even continue it? Lol, well of course I should! One, because once I start something I like to see it through; and Two, I like keeping up with our daily (or monthly) activities.

Well since Easter, life has been super crazy! Obviously, far too busy for me to write a blog post. But finally we are out of school for the summer, actually been out for about a month. So nice to think about!! 

Baseball game at Ole Miss

Baseball season has given way to summer baseball with about a week break in between. Needless to say, poor Chase is wiped out!! My baby sister graduated high school! Cannot believe it! Friends have gotten married and had babies (different sets of friends)! Augusta has become a daredevil monkey! She seriously needs some gymnastics on her life!! And I have been enjoying all the downtime with my little miss--well as much down time as you can have with an 18-month old! Mostly I'm just enjoying not having a schedule and filling our days with snuggles, smiles, and new discoveries! 

Tori's Graduation

Augusta had her 18-month check up...she didn't get shots, but from all the crying she did you would've thought they were killing the poor baby! Found out she's in the 93% for height--something she definitely didn't get from her momma! Also meeting all milestones! She's started going in the potty consistently every morning! Yay! Not pushing it throughout the day, but I'm glad we're laying the foundation! Also she's finally getting more teeth! She has bubbles on all her molars, and one has even broken the skin. My baby is growing up!! 

And now enjoy some pics from the summer so far! I'll try not to stay away so long next time! 

Aunt Lys came to visit

Cutest baby on the block

Baby's first Sno Biz Experience

Daredevil

Me and my love at Hedge and Chelsey's rehearsal dinner

Us at the wedding

Easter 2013

She loves being under the table!

Easter was so much fun for Augusta Kate this year--mainly because she didn't sleep her way through it! ;) But seriously, it was a great weekend filled with family. And Mommy had a four-day-weekend to cuddle with her girl, so I'm not complaining about that!

All ready to shop!

Friday was shopping and baseball! Augusta was such a trooper because it really was a long day for her. I also got her Easter Bunny pictures back and there were actually some good ones! I was so proud of her for not being scared like she was with Santa!

Saturday Chase's baseball games were rained out! So he got to come to the church egg hunt with us! It was Augusta's first time hunting eggs and she enjoyed it! Though once she had a few in her hands, she was content! (I think she got six eggs total!) The rest of the day was spent being lazy at home as the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down...(Reference to Winnie the Pooh) Then later that evening we went and dyed eggs as a family at Chase's parents. So much fun and Augusta even made her first egg!

Green Egg=Augusta's First Easter Egg--she drew the design! :) 

Sunday was Easter! Augusta awoke to find her Easter basket filled with goodies--even though she was most interested in her book! Then we got gussied up for church! Augusta decided she was not having sitting still though, so we ended up in the unattended nursery.

After church we headed to Chase's parents' house. His great-grandfather was there and we had food and did an egg hunt for all the girls inside the house. (It was just too nasty to hide the eggs outside!) Augusta's favorite part about the Easter Eggs was definitely trying to open them--and once she figured that out we were all done! Had to hide the candy!

Next we headed to one of Chase's Aunt's homes for more food and Easter celebrations with extended family. The girls had another indoor egg hunt. And though Augusta got plenty of eggs, she was delirious and over the hunting at this point! She was much more interested in playing with toys she found along the path to the eggs!

Family pic

She finally napped in the car and we headed to my parents where we finished our Easter celebrations! We planned to do another hunt for them, but cooking and socializing got in the way! Augusta did try her first corn on the cob, though! And she loved it! It was priceless watching her eat it!

Hope everyone else made some great Easter memories! And also took time to be thankful for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in his death and resurrection that we are forgiven & saved and will get to join our Father in heaven some day!

Playing under Mims' table

Mommy helping Augusta hunt eggs

Loving on her "Creepy Baby" at Gammie's house

With Chase's Great Grandfather, Pappaw

Spring Break

Breadsticks with lunch

It's Spring Break 2013!! Finally! As much as I love my job and my kiddos, I could not wait for this week at home to snuggle with my sweet girl and spend time with my husband! Even though his break will mainly consist of baseball games, we will be there to cheer him on when we can! Other than that our big plans include lazy days at the house with some shopping thrown in!

Peek-a-boo

First weekend of Spring Break was wonderful! Lots of family fun with both sets of grandparents. And just enough baseball and softball to satisfy us! I was also able to sneak in a movie date with the hubby. We went to see "Oz the Great and Powerful." It was fabulous! And Chase even liked it!

Hugs from Daddy

During the week we spent a day traveling around and shopping with Gammie and Pappy! (Guess they just can't go very long without seeing sweet Augusta!) Augusta and I also went to a consignment sale--got some great things! It's my favorite one to go to! :) We also had lunch out with a friend!

Too cool for you ;) 

We filled the rest of our time with baseball and playing outside--we got two really pretty days at the end of the break (80 degrees!) and Augusta was loving the outdoors! Wish we could say we filled our time doing family things, but sadly baseball took over the entire break for Chase.

Playing on her slide

We did her him to ourselves on Friday and again on Sunday. Friday he got a fishing outing and we relaxed and went to the park. Then we had a family dinner on the patio of a restaurant on town. It was so nice to be outdoors! Sunday was a day of rest (as it was meant to be) because we were all exhausted from the busy week!

Interesting ways my child watched TV--ignore the "bed head"

Loved the time off, but it just spoiled me for summer! It went way too fast! But at least, at the time this is being published anyway, there are less than two months left of school!

Mirrors are a girl's best friend

The world is her playground

"I can climb UP the slide!"

Riding the Workman with Daddy

Happy Valentine's Day

"We love because He first loved us."-- 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

"No more pictures, Mommy"

Guess the title gives it away, it's Valentine's Day! I'm blessed to have two special Valentines in my life--my wonderful husband and our beautiful daughter! I am so lucky to have them in my life, and to share in theirs. I love then so much!!

Chase got his Valentine's Day present early. He wanted an otterbox phone cover and I couldn't see me having it (I bought it about a month early) and then him breaking his phone when we had the protective case all along. But I couldn't let my love go without a gift on V-Day so I made him this sweet momento I saw on Pinterest, aka the place where all my good ideas come from!

Dating Anniversary, Engagement Anniversary, Wedding Anniversary

My sweet girl also got a special valentines surprise...well I'm not sure how much of a surprise it was since she picked them out, but at this age I think it was still a surprise. Anyway, she got a few new little people for her castle. She got Tiana and Rapunzel and wedding day Ariel and Prince Eric. She loved them, especially Ariel who is her favorite! (And mommy loves putting the princesses in the castle a d hearing them talk---shhhhh! It's a secret!)

Blurry, but playing with some of her new girls before going off to Gammie's

My valentines surprise came a little later when I came back to my classroom to find a huge bouquet of flowers on my table. Honestly, I didn't think my husband was going to send me flowers--I wasn't getting my hopes up. Though as I kept passing the office, full of bouquets from other deliveries, I was secretly hoping he would surprise me. And he did!! Just one of the reasons I'm so in love with him--his ability to still, even after nearly 10 years and a girl who it's hard to get things by, surprise me.

Tonight Chase is cooking us steaks and we'll have a family Valentines Day with our sweet girl. I couldn't think of a better way to spend it than with the people I love. Blessed girl over here! I hope everyone else's day was just as magical!

Fun at Gammie and Pappy's house!

Relaxing with Pablo to end V-Day

Wow...

Pretty baby playing outside on a beautiful January day--it was near 70!

So I'm glad my New Year's resolution wasn't to blog more because I am seriously horrible at it right now! (And to the few who read this don't expect it to get much better since this is the busy time of year for school-based SLPs!)

January dragged on, but it's finally given way to February! January's end brought my little sweetie turning 14 months! I cannot believe it--where has all the time gone?!? But seriously, I'm loving every minute of watching my sweet girl grow and change.

Stylin' in some of Aunt Lys's beads!

My favorite thing she's doing right now is shaking her finger at you! (I'm sure I won't love this for long!) She will sometimes say "no, no, no" or "don't, don't, don't" while she does it and I can't help but smile--it's adorbs! :)

We're also seeing more of her strong will coming out. She lets you know when she wants to go up stairs and play, and you had better understand this is not a suggested venue change. If not she'll bust out the pointing and I'm-not-getting-my-way tears, which of course all stop the instant you take down the gate blocking the stairs!

Gymnastics anyone?

But she still is the happiest baby, I have ever known. She loves to run and squeal. She also loves to laugh and give kisses and hugs! She's Mommy's little snuggie for sure! She lights up my world as well as everyone else's that she enters! She's also fearless...not sure how much of a good thing this is. She sure is a sparkler!

"I'm ready!"

This past weekend was the Super Bowl, and while I'd love to comment on everything involved, I spent the majority of it playing with Augusta and chasing her around. (Hey, what's better than playing with your little and burning calories at the same time?) We did go to a Super Bowl party and it was great to see our friends and visit, but honestly I could've cared less about the game! Maybe next year, right? Doubtful.

But I'll try to be a more consistent poster! And here's to keeping that up! :)

Playing in her princess castle with her favorite--Ariel!

"What was that?"

Pure love and joy--Love this shot!