Shelter Cove

Last pictures from the beach...we went to Shelter Cove for dinner!

Prissy was sweating from eating outside--but loved the chips and salsa at the restaurant!

Our Salty Dog girl

Daddy bought Ellie her very first t-shirt!  How appropriate that it is a Salty Dog one!

 I just about couldn't stand it--how adorable is a bloomer and sun hat baby on the beach?

 and...she's off!  Crawling right on into the waves!

Family Beach Pictures

Family beach pics prove a bit difficult with a squirmy, curious baby but we made the attempt!

Beach Babe

Day 2 on the beach--she has figured out what it's all about and was a bit more brave with her exploration!  I put her crab bathing suit on her because she was certainly fitting the part.

 I think she would've walked or crawled to the middle of the ocean if we would have let her--she just kept wanting to go, go, go!

 My favorite picture of her from the beach below--it's not a smile but luckily a squint from the sun kinda looks like a smile?

 Monday night we ate at the Wreck of Salty Dog--I brainstormed outdoor dining and that was the trick. We had some touch and go moments but overall she was happy and behaved!

Hilton Head

We just returned from a wonderful week at Hilton Head.  I have 500+ pictures to weed through so I'll have to make a couple of HH installments this week!

Ellie was a little unsure of what to think of the beach but quickly grew to love it!  

 She was fascinated with the sand--would put it up to her mouth but never just "dug in" and ate it.

 She was a bit distracted every single time we wanted to take pictures with her--so we made do with her not really looking at the camera often.

 standing on the cooler was a favorite beach past time.  she would pull up, cruise, sit down, and repeat.  again and again!

 She took excellent beach naps.  We have a video monitor so I rarely go into her room when she is sleeping to check on her so I snuck in with my camera because what is sweeter than a sleeping baby?

 Miss Moody Pants came out in full force during dinner.  We went to Crazy Crab in Harbor Town and she was not having it.  We made it through dinner but it was not pretty!

 and attempts at a family picture were a complete FAIL

 Miss Independent just wants to sit on the ground and crawl!

Luckily the behavior improved as the week progressed!  Lots of fun to come :)

Week One of Summer!

In usual summer fashion, the first week has flown by!  We have had a very busy summer so far but lots of fun too!  I was playing around with my non-auto focus lens tonight and so there are a lot of not focused pictures, naturally.

 Day 1 of summer:  

1 year well appointment with Dr. Dobson--we spent the rest of the day around the house napping and playing

 Day 2:

We went to get Ellie's car seat installed, lunch and some shopping followed by naps and the pool in the afternoon!

 Day 3:

We stayed around the house...cleaning and laundry and playing!

 Day 4: (back to Monday)

I had therapy ALL day long--Ellie had her 2nd class at Gymboree and continues to love it!  Montgomery is her bf in class

 Day 5:  

I had an eye appointment (still blind), Ellie went to Bouncing Babies and Grammy treated us to Two Chefs for lunch where Ellie had to sit on the table because their one and only highchair was in use.  Made for a relaxing lunch...good thing she was in the best mood and was so silly and we giggled for the majority of the time.

We've had a great start to summer and I have a whole new appreciation for stay at home moms.  It is SO much work but lots and lots of fun to spend my days with this sweet girl!  

Our Girl's Day

Ellie and I had somewhat of a girl's day today!

It started off rocky with adjusting to no bottle when she woke up this morning.  We are officially down to only a nighttime bottle and she was not happy about it this morning but a Yo Baby first thing helped.

 Following her morning nap we headed downtown to have her "big girl" car seat installed.  Josh met us there so that he could have his installed as well.  I was hoping (and praying) that she would like her new car seat better because she would have more space and it allows her to sit up more but I'm afraid that was wishful thinking.  We chose the Britax Boulevard for my car and the Britax Marathon for Josh's and there is a feature that you hear a "click" when the 5-point harness is tight enough and um...it is tight and restrictive and she does NOT appreciate it.  Next week's ride to the beach should be LOADS of fun!

 E and I then headed to McAlisters for lunch--she loved and shared my Spud Max and sweet tea, of course!

 We ran a couple of errands and then headed home for nap time.  When she woke up from nap we ate dinner and then we all headed to the pool for a quick swim.  

 What a fun second day of summer!!