Daytona 2013 Picture Overload

We just got back from an awesome week at Daytona Beach Shores with my family. We stayed at an unbelievable residential condo called Palma Bella. We've never stayed somewhere as nice, spacious and convenient before. I think we've found our permanent vacation spot! The beach was not crowded and the kids spent hours and hours in the ocean and pool and playing in the sand. I took almost 300 pictures, but tried to just pull some highlights.

 I am amazed at how much older Tripp looks this year than he looked last year. I think it's because of his two adult teeth in the front, but he just looks so grown to me...and so handsome! :-)

 A highlight of the trip was the ice cream truck that came down the beach every day. We spent WAY too much money on ice cream, but it was worth the memories we made!

 Another great thing about this trip was that the Ainslie's were also there on their family vacation and stayed in the same resort. So, our beach set ups every day were side by side and Tripp and Makinley had the best time playing with Drew and Malcom all week. It was like the best of both worlds...vacationing with friends AND family.

 Addie Grey did amazing in the sand and ocean. The sand didn't bother her one bit and she would crawl all over the place. The last two days, the ocean made little pools and she loved being in those. She would get really brave and almost face plant in the water. She allowed me to be outside for about 3-4 hours each day, which is way more than I thought I would get. This was the first year in eight that Tripp and Makinley didn't ask to go inside long before we were ready. The last day they stayed out for a little over 6 hours.

 We did our annual pictures early in the week so that Trey and his family would be there. I think they turned out great and I loved the color combination.

 This picture was actually taken by Makinley, and I LOVE it. I love Addie Grey's facial expression!

 We ate out several nights and headed to the Board Walk and pier one night. Makinley got mad because we didn't do the GoCarts.

 It was the best vacation we've had to date since becoming parents....even though Addie Grey decided to cut four teeth and our nights were AWFUL from Tuesday on. I saw the sun rise Wed-Friday....along with MANY wake ups in between.

 My mom took Addie Grey on several walks so that she would fall asleep in her stroller and I could have a little longer outside enjoying the ocean.

 Once we came in each day, everyone pretty much found an electronic device or a television to park in front of. The kids were worn out from the beach each day.

I love this week every year. It's probably my favorite week of the year. So, for me, the countdown to the beach in 2014 has already started! :-)

Addie Grey- 9 Months

Every time I turn around, it's time to write another 'month' post. I have yet to figure out a way to make time stand still...or at least slow down. So, here we are at month nine.

 Every day we see more and more of your personality. Although, we have decided that you are the least vocal of our three. You squeal and laugh, but you aren't really trying to say anything yet....other than the occasional 'dada'. Tripp and Makinley were both saying several words by 9 months, but that's perfectly okay.

 You are a BUSY girl. You are extremely curious and want to see what everything is. And then, once you find it, it goes straight to your mouth. You've recently figured out that our rooms are all connected together, so you don't have to stay in one room if you don't want to. We have often found you in a totally different location than we left you in just a matter of seconds.

 You are doing better and better at standing. You will pull up on things and then let go and just stand there. There have been a couple of times that I thought you were going to stand up in the middle of the floor without any support, but you haven't been able to get all the way up yet.

 You are a mommy's girl BIG time. Your most favorite place to be is on my hip. Even if you are having a really fussy time, if I'm holding you, you are normally okay. But, Lordy, don't let me put you down or hand you off to someone else.

 You also love your brother and sister (and your daddy too!). And they love, love you! I think Tripp falls more in love every day. You pretty much have us all wrapped.

 At nine months you....

• weigh around 18 pounds
• are around 27-28 inches long
• wear 6-9 month clothes
• wear a size 3 diaper
• smile all the time
• pick up things with your left hand
• LOVE to throw things and you throw with your left hand too
• have started trying to play peek a boo
• have tried several different table foods: cheerios, goldfish, watermelon, mashed potatoes, green beans, popsicles, ice cream (you definitely have older siblings that like to give you tastes of things), and several others that I can't think of right now
• have been doing great at the pool so far this summer. You either hang out on mommy's hip in the water, play in your baby pool, crawl around, or nap in your stroller. We've have several times of being able to stay at the pool for up to 3-4 hours. Hoping for a great week at the beach next week.
• like to put stuff over your head
• like to eat out of the baby food 'pouch' things that you can squeeze and suck
• you do awesome with a sippy cup. In fact, you even know how to drink out of mommy's water bottle that you have to bite down on and suck from
• are an awful nighttime sleeper. You wake up every 2 hours to comfort nurse. I've created a monster and don't have the heart to fix it.  You'll sleep by the time your five. Ha!
• you have also started being an awful napper...which is no fun. I'm lucky if you nap for an hour- an hour 1/2. Most of the time it's 30-45 minutes. So, I get nothing done. Nothing. Oh well.

We love you. Way more than we could ever tell you!