Impromptu Vacation

Our first vacation as a family was an impromptu one. Our condo was reserved 4 weeks before we were to check in. We hadn't planned on going anywhere this year, but my mother and I talked ourselves into it, and I'm very thankful we did.

Our adventure began at 3:30 Saturday morning, so Avery slept the majority of our "10"hr drive (ended up being 13-ish hrs... we got lost). She was so good, except for the last 2 hrs (which never would have happened if we could follow the directions on our GPS). Poor thing was over the whole car seat deal and ready to get out! She was a hot mess. It wasn't pretty. Once we made it to our condo, it was easy to let the stress of a long car ride (with a 9 month old baby) melt away and breathe in the salty sea air.

Our pool for the week.



No agendas. No rushing around. Just playing in the curtains, swimming, crawling around in a diaper, and pounding on the sliding glass door.

I love this picture.

Swimming with Moe.

I seriously think this was her favorite thing about vacation.

Our dear friends, Tandy and Cindy, joined us because they are family.  Combined with my mother, these ladies are hilarious. Even if you have no idea what they are talking about (and I don't half the time), you will crack up just listening to them laugh... just ask my husband (the only male on this trip). Love his heart. He said he felt like he was with the Ya Ya Sisterhood. lol!

Mom, Tandy, & Cindy

Me & my girl

Great weather. Lots of laughter. Lots of love. Great week.

I think this picture accurately portrays our week.

July 4th Weekend

     Happy 4th of July! I know, I know... I'm a couple days late, but better late than never... right? Our weekend kicked off with a Saturday evening at Central Park, where Andy was playing music. My husband is an outstanding pianist. Phenomenal. Seriously. I love listening to him play. When a few of my friends found out that he played, which took awhile (he never "toots his own horn"), they said he looks more like a drummer. Hmmm... I wonder why? Could it be the tattoos?

  

Waiting for the show to start.

   

Hot Husband

Watching Daddy play.

Sweet baby girl

     Sunday, we grilled out with our dear friends & neighbors, the Harrison's. A low-key evening with lots of love and laughs. We are so blessed to have them in our lives, not to mention across the street, and they treat our baby girl as if she was their own (and I wouldn't have it any other way). Avery and I go visit them almost everyday (and I'm sure that they wouldn't have that any other way).

     Monday, was a lazy day for the Caudill's. We didn't do much of anything. Andy threw some burgers and dogs on the grill, and Avery tried some "big girl" bananas. LOVED them. She was a sticky mess and wasn't in the mood to get wiped off, so she's a "banana-face" in the following pictures.

    

YUM

New car Moe got for her.

BEEP! BEEP!

I love her big brown eyes (and her banana-face).

Summary: We had a wonderful weekend with family.

Have a great day!

A perfect 9 months

I love sleep. I LOVE SLEEP. I'm notorious for hitting snooze one to many times or even turning the alarm off altogether. When I finally wake, I have zero recollection of doing either. This morning was no different.

Avery's 9 month well baby visit was this morning. Appointment time was 9:30. Alarm was set for 7:30, second alarm set for 8:00. What time did we wake up? Drum roll please... 9:05.
Great. Just great. Nothing like rushing around with a sleepy-eyed baby (she's such a trooper though). We made it to the doctor's office at 9:31. Granted, I was wearing the same clothes I wore yesterday (I did manage to brush my teeth and fix a cup of coffee).

Avery's doctor seems very pleased with her growth and development, saying that she is "exactly where she's supposed to be. Perfect.". This last part, the "perfect" part, is something that anyone who has met her already knows. lol! :) She weighed in at 18 lbs and measured 27" in length. She is (and has been) in the 50th percentile. She received one shot and took it like a champ.

It's really hard to believe that she is 9 months old (of course, I've said that every month for the past 9). She has been "out" just as long as she was "in". I've started mentally planning her birthday party. Nothing big, just family and a few friends, but I want it to be special.

Speaking of friends... Avery had a play date our new friend Carter. And, since I can't post without a few pictures, here you go. :)

 

Lovin' on each other ;)

Have a great day!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is a special day. Today, some -- years ago, my mother was born. So, today Blake, Avery and I decided we should take our mother (and moe) out for lunch at the place of her choosing.

The Birthday Girl and the Blake boy

Me & my girl

We ended up at the Old Fashioned Soda Fountain. It's a little place, where burgers take time, the crinkle fries are crispy, and the hot fudge melts the ice cream just a little. Our waitress even sang "Happy Birthday" as the rest of the patrons looked on, sang along and applauded.

Mom even got to blow out a candle!

So, Happy Birthday to my beautiful, wonderful mother. I am forever grateful that I was chosen to be your daughter. You've taught me through example what it is to be a mother, and I'm thankful I'm able to pass along this love to my daughter.

Love you Mom.

L-A-Z-Y

   L-A-Z-Y. That is what you can call me today. My mother would call me that most days, but today it seems obvious, even to me.

   It's noon, I've been awake since 8:30, and we have done absolutely nothing. There TONS of things I SHOULD be doing, but I have only managed a couple cups of coffee and started a load of diapers (we use cloth). Other than that, I have sat on my crack and blog-stalked/Facebook-stalked. Exciting stuff, huh?

   Moose even seems to be in on the "action".

   Avery just woke up from her morning nap, and I wanted to show you the wonderful way she wakes up. This is the face I am blessed to wake up to every single day. Am I a lucky girl, or what?! She is such a joy to be around. Her smile, which takes over her whole face, is absolutely infectious. We are so blessed to have such a happy baby.

Well, it's time to get up and get moving. I will be productive today. I will be productive today. I WILL BE PRODUCTIVE TODAY. (Think the fact I put that in italics will help?)

Have a wonderful day!

This week...

Now that my mother is out of school for summer, most of our days include a visit with her (which makes me very happy). We've had an exciting week so far ("exciting" for us means leaving the house). We have been to the Huntington Mall, watched movies, and went on an adventure to Carter City. I'm trying to be better about taking my camera with me, so I've decided I'm not going to leave home without it. Here are some pictures from this week's adventures.

Water Bug Baby

     Avery is a Water Bug! She went swimming, not once, but twice this weekend! LOVES IT! I'm trying to use this as leverage with Andy, so he'll agree to put in a pool of our own. Sadly, I don't think it's working ("Not right now" is the only response I've been getting).

     Eventful weekend for the Caudill's. Avery went to her first birthday party for our friend Sydnee and we all had a great time. Didn't get to stay for the whole thing because Momma & Daddy had a "Date Night" scheduled. We don't pass up opportunities to have some alone time (even if that "alone-time" takes place on  a motorcycle and in a crowded restaurant).

Great weekend. Love my family. Love my life. Feeling very blessed right now.