Beach Baby

It's official... we are buying a mansion on the beach. Okay, maybe not as official as I would like... we drove through a couple of prospective neighborhoods. Ponte Vedra is beautiful and we had a great weekend visiting my parents at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. Austin sat in the sand and dipped his toes in the ocean for the first time. I love this "first" of his- it was long overdue considering we live only 10 minutes from the beach! I am so thankful he didn't try to eat the sand, and we didn't stay out long enough for him to get too hot or sticky. It was a definite success!

 

What's a vacation without exploring? And what's exploring without stopping for pictures? Jokes on you, Jennifer. We tried to take quality pictures of the babe and myself.
Three minutes of sitting. Four ridiculous pictures.

Two grumpy models. One decent shot.
I think I'm becoming less photogenic with weight age.

The resort had four or five gift shops- I wanted everything, including all of the little girls' Lilly dresses. My mom had to practically yank that Lilly 2T dress out of my hand. Ladies, it was 30% off.  Everything was wayyy too overpriced, just like any other resort. 58 dollars for a butter dish. Please. I did, however, find this adorable Vineyard Vines bracelet- and it was half off!
 A fun weekend, indeed. Now for a super busy next couple of days: painting the condo, measuring for and buying tile, and more packing. There's always more packing. How did we manage to cram so much into this teeny apartment and still manage to keep it looking nice? Oh yeah, we didn't. This apartment has been a train wreck since day one.
Happy packing to all of you fellow movers out there

Five on Friday

Hey, lookie here- we're on time this week! It's Five on Friday! I just know you're doing leaps of joy into your morning coffee. Speaking of coffee, I'm already on my second cup. It was a long drive back to Jacksonville yesterday.


One.
Remember that little game of Austin's that I talked about in this post? "Stick the paci in, spit the paci out"... well, Austin has brought this game to a whole new level. Yesterday I stuck a paci in his mouth, just for old times sake... and to my surprise, he kept it in. And then, he created a new game. The new and improved Hokey Pokey. Stick the paci in, spit the paci out, stick the paci in, and turn yourself about. Repeat. It's too cute, and he entertains himself for minutes at a time. While that doesn't seem like very long, I will take any "self entertaining" I can get!

Two.
Last night the husband and I treated ourselves to Coldstone. A celebratory, welcome back indulgence. And indulge we did. An entire pint of cookies and cream, complete with chocolate milk... and Duke tongue. Duke doesn't normally get people food, but his curiosity and wandering tongue were just too much not to snap a picture. 

Three.
So... this is happening. This is the perfect inspiration for my laundry room. I'm visioning a gold cork board, gold picture frames, and gold cabinet knobs. 

Four.

My parents are in town for the weekend... I guess they think they are entitled to some sort of vacation for putting up with me for the past month. Little do they know, Austin and I will definitely be joining them for some fun in the pool and delicious brunch. Any how, you can find us here for the next couple of days... The Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. Please be sunny, please be sunny...

Five.

It's almost fall. I am counting down the days until the cool weather sets in and I can pull out the boots and scarves. I cannot wait to decorate the new place for the seasons! 

How cute is this pullover? Major brownie points to the husband for finding this gem on my Pinterest board and buying it. All on his own! This was taken right after my baby shower last November... it was "Little Prince" themed, can you tell? ...Sorry for the poor quality. 

We are simultaneously unpacking our bags from Fort Pierce, packing our beach bags for Ponte Vedra, and cleaning the apartment. Packing up boxes also starts today- a busy house over here!

6 Month Favorites

Austin is halfway to his first birthday. I cannot believe it. I remember absolutely everything from the day he was born, and so vividly. Our guests, and their reactions... the hospital food... his entire first day at home... and then, a blur. Everything went by too quickly. My little scrunched potato who barely moved and slept all day is now scooting clear across the room- I blink my eyes and he is making a beeline for Duke's tail or someone's shoe. He grows bigger and sweeter every day- I just love him! Whether he's spitting green beans in my face, pulling out chunks of my hair, or drooling all over my Lilly dress, I can't get enough of him (hah, just remember that at the end of each day, Jennifer). I could go on and on about every single thing I love about my angel, and probably do, sometimes, but I will spare you for the time being and just throw out some mommy tips that I've picked up over the past few months.
But first, his 6 month favorites.

(As fashionable as they are, the pink crocs are not Austin's- despite his best efforts. He loves his Peach's shiny pink crocs. They could entertain him for hours all on their own.)

Tips and Tidbits
1. Austin doesn't care if his socks match or if his blanket compliments his outfit, so stop jeopardizing your timeliness for your color coordinated 6 month old.
2. Go ahead, feed him lunch wearing your new outfit. Everything looks better with green beans and carrots on it.
3. A slobbery mouth is the best mouth, and wet kisses are the only kisses. (Duke agrees.)
4. English sounds as silly to him as I thought Spanish did, it's all foreign to a baby.
5. Do not ever (again) decide attempt to suddenly become Supermom and change the explosion of a diaper in the back seat of the car whilst standing outside in the pouring down rain. News flash, you're not Wonder Woman.
6. Every store, every boutique, and every website will always have cuter girls' clothes. It's a fact of life. Accept it, and get over it. No, you cannot put a bow on your baby boy. Girls' aqua shorts, maybe.

Six on Saturday?

So apparently last Friday was a bit too hectic, I totally spaced and forgot about the weekly link up- butttt I'm back, and ready for this week's Five on Friday Six on Saturday! (Guess yesterday was hectic, too.) I've been meaning to use this link up party as a bit of an escape from my normal baby posts, mainly focusing on my current thoughts and interests... but, every week I find myself mentioning the babe in at least one of my five spiels. And guys, it's gonna be no different this week. Let's be honest, this kid runs the show. 

One.

So we own two condos in Jacksonville- why we are renting a way too expensive apartment when we could be living in our pick of two condos, for free, is beyond me. I'm sure somewhere between the hormonal pregnant rage and the two flights of stairs with no elevator, Juan's drive to please me went in to overdrive. So we moved. And now we're about to move back.
 For the past couple of days I have been in complete renovation mode. (Hence my being MIA.) I am ready to start packing, painting, and finally, moving. A place of our own. No more monthly payments, no more freaking out because Juan's astray dart made yet another hole in the wall, and no more excuses to leave the place unfinished. It's not a house, but it's ours- and it will be wonderful for the next few years. One more month until our move! Three words. Pink. Laundry. Room.

Two.
This dress.

I've had my close eye on this print for a while, and I'm so excited to say that I finally splurged and bought this dress. I don't feel bad for making a bit of a pricey purchase on a dress that will be in season for only a couple more months because a) I followed the 3 (or is it 30?) day rule and thought about it before buying it and b) who am I kidding, I live in Florida, I can wear this dress all the time (with a sweater in December). Please don't judge me if you catch me wearing it over and over... and over and over again. I was even daydreaming about cutting the bottom half off and making it into a dress for my future mini. 

...The mind of a mommy who wants a little girl. Someday.

Three.
My heart is heavy for Shoep the doggy and his owner. Haven't heard of him? He and his owner were a hit sensation when a picture of them went viral last year... read all about Shoep's story here. Shoep just passed away after a long battle with arthritis. As a dog mommy, I have an immense amount of respect and love for this kind man. Rest in peace sweet boy, you finally are able to cross the rainbow bridge, pain free.

Four.
My grandpa just brought down a bushel of the sweetest and most delicious peaches. Ah, Georgia Peaches, how I love you. Strange thing, Austin HATES peaches. He refuses to eat them. Silly kid.
I suckered my mom into buying a ridiculous amount of mason jars for the 4th, so I'm thinking I'll make use of them and stir up some Peach Jam. Last summer, Juan and I picked up a few bushels from Georgia on route to Texas, and let me just say- we were eating peaches, peach jam, peach pie, and peach muffins for weeks.

Five.
We have family visiting from Georgia (again... yeah, we have a lot of family in Georgia). They too have a sweet new little addition to their family. Cousin Tyler is almost exactly three months younger than Austin, I can't wait for these two to grow up together! This morning we all went to the Farmer's Market- Lord it was hotter than a two dollar pistol out there. The poor babes' cheekies were rosy red. But look how content they look in their baby pouches.

Dinner went way past Austin's bedtime... that, or we were boring him. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. He is advancing so quickly these days!

Six. 

This angel turned 6 months yesterday... does this mean I can start planning his first birthday party?

He looks bigger in his 5 month picture than he does in the six month picture. But he is definitely much bigger now, little chub worm. He has packed on some serious pounds since he's been down here on vacation. It's okay, babe, it happens to the best of us. Ugh.

Welcome back, sanity

Last night Austin slept like a baby log!
(Can someone please explain that "sleep like a baby" phrase to me, because it has been my experience that a sleeping baby is kind of a conditional thing. At any moment, all hell could break loose. The scariest thing is waking up in the middle of the night to a 1 month old baby wide awake, staring at you- bloody murder scream in 3... 2...1. I digress.) 
After almost one month of waking up every two hours, we are finally back on track. I hope I didn't just jinx it. Read all about my nightmare of a baby in this post. Not only am I well-rested and (somewhat) sane again, but I am completely stumped. I have no idea what changed and caused him to get back on his regular sleeping schedule, but I am thanking my lucky stars. 

Sweet baby, mommy loves you and thanks you times infinity and beyond.

Lately, I've been going a bit crazy with online shopping. Austin has tonssss of clothes, more than any little (soon to be) 6 month old baby boy should. But there's one problem... it seems that once he hits that 12 month mark, my little angel will be running around stark naked as a jaybird. (Not that mommy would mind, he does have the cutest baby booty in the business, after all.) We have zero clothes past 12 months. None. Zilch. Thank goodness for thinking ahead, right?! I've been hitting up all of the online clearance sales- buying clothes that will fit him well into his first year. Mostly adorable spring pastels, of course. I'm calling this "early Christmas shopping" so the husband won't be too upset. And, tell the truth, would you be able to pass up these adorable 4th of July shorts?

By the way, is it acceptable for a baby to wear seersucker before Easter? Yes? Great. (Item added to cart.)

This babe deserves everything and more.

Rough Nights

My kid has escalated fast and far beyond the stage of no nap ninja. This- at first, silly, then funny, quickly turned awful and annoying- habit of his is now prevalent in his sleeping (or lack, thereof) during the night. No nap ninja has now become the teething troll. Or growth spurt gremlin. He wakes up every two hours spitting out all sorts of loud noises at me; this goes on and on until I give him a bottle, which he then throws back like he's at an all-you-can-eat buffet. I've about reached my wits' end. I'm not sure what's causing this newfound game habit (need?) of his, but something has got to change. I'm sleeping in the same room with a newborn all over again. 

I've already called his doctor, she chalked it up as a growth spurt. Do growth spurts last over 2 weeks? If this goes on through Friday, I'll be calling her back. I need answers, like, yesterday.

Rough night for us all, notice that little tuft of hair standing straight up?

It won't go down.

All too often I find myself getting annoyed with him after a long night, but he always seems to know exactly when to pull out his little get out of jail free faces.  Melts my heart every time. Little rascal.  

It's a Party in the USA

We kicked off our beautiful 4th of July morning with a festive breakfast- a breakfast bar complete with red velvet pancakes, cream cheese frosting, and fruit kabobs. For the fruit kabobs, instead of using marshmallows or bananas, we used pound cake. Personally, I don't like to sit there downing marshmallows, unless they are on a graham cracker covered in chocolate. And bananas would have gotten gooey, so pound cake it was. 

Austin's first 4th of July! I think this has been his favorite holiday, yet. He rocked his flag jams like a champ, I had half a brain to place my hand over my heart and break out in Star Spangled Banner tunes every time I looked at him- or at least hoist him up a flag pole. You see those chocolate cookie looking things that babe is about to get his hands on...? Those are my ill attempt at red velvet pancakes. Guess I need more food coloring and less cocoa powder next time- at least they tasted yummy! We topped the pancakes with cream cheese frosting and whipped cream... delish!

After a rainy week, the 4th brought nothing but sunshine and clear skies. We had a bang up good time sailing, swimming, and then cooking out. I enjoyed baking in the sun while Juan and my uncle sailed us around the river. And bake I did- holy sun burn. OUCH. 

Meet Casey. Have you ever seen Marley and Me? That pretty much sums up this 9 year old chocolate lab. About 10 minutes before this picture was taken, he jumped up on the kitchen counter and grabbed 7 hotdogs. SEVEN. He ate every last one. Stomach of steel I tell you. Needless to say, Juan and I had to make another beer hot dog run. 

We watched the fireworks show over the river from my grandpa's third story condo. Talk about front row seats. Austin was mesmerized by the beautiful light show- with the crazy booms, I'm surprised he didn't throw a fit. He was a complete gentleman and loved every minute of it. 

Juan had to go back to Jacksonville early Friday morning, so the rest of the weekend was spent relaxing with my cousins before they head back to Blue Ridge.

You know you're from Florida when... you roast marshmallows using your poolside chiminea. Pretty darn good. It's no campfire or fireplace, but this little chiminea gets the job done. I have been craving s'mores for quite some time, so this was a great treat to top off a great weekend. 

It is now Sunday afternoon, and after a packed full and festive weekend, Austin is a little terror. He has stayed up late the past few nights, and throwing that in with his everlasting no nap ninja self, it makes for a very cranky baby. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was my best friend this morning. We need you back, daddy! 

Please bear with me and this lame excuse of a couples picture. "Mommy and daddy, only" pictures are tough these days. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend!