Destin - Monday

Monday was our shopping day in Destin. We usually like to get there right when the outlet mall opens because it isn't as crowded, but Ellington needed a nap so we had to wait a little later this year! After E's nap we went to lunch at Pompano Joe's. None of us had ever been there before, but we wanted to eat with an ocean view so this is what we found! :) Here are a few pictures from lunch (my dad isn't with us because he was in meetings on Monday):







I wish all of my meals came with an ocean view!



After lunch we headed to the outlet mall. I had been really excited about going shopping and getting some new stuff for Ellington in the next size she needs, but it wasn't as fun as I imagined. :) It was SUPER crowded and SUPER hot. We also realized Sunday night that Ellington was starting to get a little cold so I was worried about her the whole time. We just hit a few places really quick and did not stay too long!

While Ellington was taking her afternoon nap, Robert and I went to Target to stock up on these:



If you have a baby in diapers and don't use Target's brand, you are missing out! We LOVE them. Seriously. They are only $14 for a big box. I paid for all three of these just about what I would have paid for one box of Huggies or Pampers. And they WORK! They leak less than the other brands (for Ellington anyway). Since we don't have a Target close by, we stock up big time any time we are near a Target. Robert and I really enjoyed our little outing Target. :) Any time alone together is special now!

On Monday night we got a special treat. Mr. Frank and Mrs. Janet have just bought a beach house in Destin and they happened to be there when we were there, so they invited us over for supper! It was so nice to visit with them and see their cute beach house. After supper we walked to the beach to take some pictures, so get ready for picture overload!











This is one of my favorite pictures from the beach.







This is my other favorite picture!



We didn't exactly mean for Ellington to be in water so deep! Robert was looking down at her and I had my back to the ocean taking a picture...so a big wave snuck up on us! :)





My parents with Mr. Frank and Mrs. Janet (thanks for hosting us!!!)



We LOVED taking Ellington to the beach and creating another great family memory. Now I only have ONE day left of our trip to blog about! (Thank goodness because this is taking me forever!) Stay tuned!

Destin - Saturday & Sunday

We went to Destin, FL a couple of weeks ago and had a GREAT time! It was Ellington's very first vacation.

Ready to go! Ellington actually did really well on the long car ride!



When we got there, GiGi, Pop, and Aunt Reagan were already there waiting on us. Ellington was so happy to see them!





On Saturday night we walked down to Baytown Warf and ate supper at Rum Runners.





On Sunday morning we headed to the pool. This was Ellington's first time in a big pool! She didn't love it, but she didn't hate it either!

I hate this picture is so foggy, but my lens had trouble adjusting to being outside.











After a little time at the pool and a nap for Ellington, the three of us headed out for a bit. I had a coupon for The Children's Place that expired that day (so I couldn't use it on our big shopping day Monday) so I wanted to go use that and while we were out we ate a late lunch at Fudpucker's.



They have an alligator exhibit at the restaurant so Ellington and I checked out the albino alligator.





We just so happened to be there at the time of their alligator show. I use the word "show" very loosely, but it was really neat to watch!



Ellington taking it all in.



We had a great time together! We LOVE taking Ellington new places and showing her new things-even if she won't really remember it!

Ellington then played with Reagan,



took a nap,



and played some more!



Sunday night was a FUN night! Robert and I got to go out alone! :) We went to Harry T's and enjoyed walking around the area while we waited on our table. We enjoyed uninterrupted conversation and I ate as slowly as I wanted. It was SO nice and I really appreciate my mom for taking care of Ellington so that we could have a little break!





Funny story from supper....I don't usually eat seafood. I went to the beach THREE times last year and never ate one bite of seafood. I decided this year I would branch out a little bit so Robert and I decided to share the steamed shrimp. When they set the HUGE platter down and I looked down and gasped! They had heads, and EYES...that were looking right at me!!! I guess fresh seafood is good, but not that FRESH! Ha! So my sweet husband de-headed all of the shrimp as I looked elsewhere and hid the pile of heads (oh my, that's gross) so that I couldn't see them. Thanks babe! :) I didn't let that experience stop me though, I had seafood 2 other times on the trip!

After dinner we stopped at the Donut Hole to bring this beauty back to the room:



It was a thank you for our evening out but it was also much cheaper than the dessert at Harry T's! :)

So, that's a wrap up of our first 2 days at the beach. Stay tuned for the next 2. This post took me FOREVER though so maybe I'll get it done by Christmas. :)

4th of July

Robert and I went back and forth a million times about what we were going to do for the 4th of July. My family was going to go to a Mississippi Braves baseball game and the original plan was to go and take Ellington, even though my mom offered to keep her. I really wanted us to all go together. Then I got to thinking that it was a crazy idea because the game didn't even start until 7:00 and I hated to drive all of that way just for her to melt down. So then we decided we wouldn't go at all and considered possibly going to another city nearby and spending the night and finding something to do. Then we decided we'd go to the game and leave Ellington with my mom. Then we decided to all go. And literally went around and around and around about it. When we got home from church and the 4th of July potluck we STILL didn't know what we were going to do. At some point I just said, "We're all going to the game!" So we did and I am SOOO glad that we decided to! We had a BLAST and Ellington did GREAT!!!







Ellington sat with Reagan for a bit at the game. It was especially convenient for Robert and I because we got to eat our supper at the same time. That's no small feat! :)



E did get fussy at one point so I whisked her up the stairs (because it was really more like tortuous screams than fussy and that's annoying to other people even at a loud baseball game). Robert followed us up and we decided perhaps some more food might buy us a little more time. And buy us time it did...look at her after eating some more:





We decided not to push our luck and stay all the way until the firework show (although I really wanted to see it!). We pulled out of the parking lot at about 9:45 and Ellington had rocked it all night long! She did so fantastic and we had such a great time. It's so funny...since having Ellington anytime we successfully make it through any life event Robert and I feel like rock stars. :) It's kinda fun actually. So Ellington's first baseball game and first 4th of July were a huge success!

9 Months

Happy 9 months Ellington!!! I can't believe you are so old! :) You are the light of our lives and we love you so much.



What are you up to at 9 months old?

• Weight & Height (will fill in after our dr.'s appt. next week!)
• You wear size 9 month clothes, 12 month footie pjs, and size 3 diapers.
• You usually have two 6 ounce bottles during the day and an 8 ounce bottle before bed.
• You have three baby food meals a day.
• You have tried a few teeny tiny bites of table food: baked potato, french fries, bread, and Daddy gave you a few bites of Key Lime pie when we were in Florida!
• You aren't too sure about food other than your baby food. You usually spit out Gerber Puffs when we try to get you to have a little snack.
• You take two naps a day and they usually last 1-1 1/2 hours. Thank goodness you haven't been doing 30 minute naps lately!
• You usually go to bed anywhere between 7:45 and 8:30 and sleep 10-11 hours. I would love to say you always sleep through the night, but you don't. Most night you do, but not always (like last night and the night before!).
• You love people watching!
• You still love fruit and tolerate you vegetables (but NOT green vegetables!).
• You babble, squeal, and giggle all the time. You say three "words", but don't use them in the proper context yet. :) You say: da da, ma ma, and uh oh.
• You have gone on your first vacation and have dipped your feet into the ocean. :)
• You have 2 teeth.
• You are usually happy as long as someone is playing with you. You don't really like playing on your own.
• You love playing with random objects more than your toys: empty water bottles, plastic containers, empty kleenex box, etc.
• You have started giving love. You lean in with your mouth wide open and kind of halfway close your eyes. It's the sweetest thing EVER!