Colby's Trips to Destin

Colby's 1st trip to the beach at 3 months old

Colby's 2nd trip to the beach at 9 1/2 months old

Colby's 3rd trip at 1 1/2 years old!

Man has he progressed and changed! It will be fun to look back each time we go! Its amazing how each time is more fun then the last too!

Beach Trip 2010

Begging to go out on the balcony!

He was such a big boy in the pool!

Ready for the pool

Headed out the door

Colby on his 3rd beach trip!

We just got home from Destin, FL. This was actually Colby's 3rd trip there but by far the most fun! I can only imagine though how much more fun its gonna get as he gets older. Its amazing how he has changed from those other 2 trips. The first trip we took when he was only 3 months old. He basically stayed in the condo the whole time with my mom. The 2nd trip he made it down to the beach and pool a couple times but he was still only 9 months old. He did learn to crawl there though! This year he is 1 1/2 and had a blast! Let me start at the beginning!

We left Friday morning. Colby did really well in the car the whole way up. We only had to stop twice. We stopped at Ruby Tuesday's for lunch. Colby was such a big boy and sat in a booster seat at the table with Austin and I. He did really well for the first time. We haven't completely taken him out of the highchair it just worked out well since it was just Austin and I and we had a whole booth. He loved it too I think. I had a chicken quesadilla and Colby helped me eat some of that. He only slept for about an hour of the trip up. I couldn't believe he stayed awake the whole time! I think he was so excited about going somewhere! He loved seeing jeeps, flags, and the water from the car. He would go "ooooh" everytime he saw something he liked!

Once we got to the condo we got settled then decided to go ahead and take Colby down the beach. He was not fond of the sand/beach experience at all. This is how it was last year too. I hoped it would be different since he was older and could splash in the waves. I don't think he was scared of it as much as he just didn't like the way the sand felt on his feet. I am hoping he outgrows this! Needless to say we didn't stay on the beach long. We took him to the pool instead. I bought floaties for him for this trip...he had never used them before but since he is now too big for an infant float and I didn't want to hold him the whole time in the pool we invested in floaties. I really wasn't sure how he would do with them. Suprisingly he loved them and had no problem at all putting them on. He was a little skittish in the pool at first he wanted to be held up close to us but he still did well for the first time. He loved playing on the stairs though. After the swimming experience we thought it best to take him to the room and let him relax. Since he only had slept for an hour that day and all the stimulation and excitement he needed some down time. I am not sure if he really slept or not. We left him in his bed for about an hour. We didn't hear him but when I went in there he was standing up wide awake. We soon ate dinner then pretty much bathed him and put him to bed. Austin and I stayed up watching the movie "W" about George W. Bush.

Saturday we woke up and headed to my parent's condo for breakfast. After breakfast Austin and I got Colby ready and brought him down to the beach and pool. Once again he cared nothing about the beach but loved the pool. This time he was braver in the pool. He even let go of us a couple times and floated/swam to the steps or one of us. I can tell by the end of the summer he will be a little fish. He had the best time playing in the pool. After swimming we went upstairs and just chilled out in the condo. It was nice to not have anywhere to go. At lunchtime we went to my parent's condo again and ate. Colby was starving and ate so well the whole trip I guess from all the swimming we did! After lunch we went back to our condo so he could nap. He took a good nap well we all did. Once again it was nice just to relax. That afternoon though we got dressed and ready so we could go out to eat. This was only "eat out" night as a family so we went to Popano Joe's. As always I enjoyed the food and scenery here. I got a bowl of gumbo! It was soo good! Colby also did really well. After we ate we went to the Destin Commons which is an outdoor mall area and walked dinner down. After we got back to the condo and put Colby to bed Austin and I stayed up and watched "Blind Side". I really enjoyed our time together at night watching movies. That movie was sooo good though I can't wait to see it again!

Sunday we slept in a little more then Saturday. We then went and ate breakfast with my mom and dad. A cold front came through overnight so it was wayy too cold to swim at the beach or pool that morning. We knew we couldn't just hang out at the condo either with Colby. He had fun in the condo but he would get bored after awhile. So we took him out to SanDestin to this cool playground we had heard about. I think he enjoyed it. The play equipment was hot though so he didn't want to do much other then swing and walk around. It was still nice. We will definitely go back there now that we know where it is. We headed back to the condo b/c my aunt and uncle were coming for lunch. They were really anxious to see Colby. So we hung out with them in my parent's condo for lunchtime. Colby was hungry then cranky and tired. I finally had to take him back to our condo for his nap. He was definitely ready b/c I didn't hear a peep out of him! So we visited with my aunt and uncle a little while longer while my dad stayed in the condo with Colby then Austin and I went and took naps too! I swear I took the best naps while we were there. It was so refreshing to get to relax like that! After our naps we got dressed in our swimsuits and headed down to the pool. It was a little chilly but not bad. Colby had a blast. This time he really wanted to be out in the middle of the pool and even let go a few times and went on his back and tummy. He will probably be a fish by the time he gets in swim lessons.

After we swam for about an hour we brought him back up and got changed because Austin and I were going to hang out while my parent's babysat. We ended up going to O'Charley's. I got chicken it was really yummy. We then went and played puttputt. It was nice to have a date night. We always play putt putt when we are in FL so it was fun to keep that tradition and just have time to ourselves. We got back right in time though to get Colby to bed. It was good that we got to see him before he went to sleep. Then Austin and I stayed up and watched movies.

Today we got up and got packed and headed home. We only stopped twice. We stopped to eat at Panera Bread. I got some of their yummy soup! We stopped one other time to change Colby so he wouldn't spring a leak. I swear that little boy drinks so much he can fill up diapers quickly!

All in all it was a wonderful trip! I really feel like it was the most fun we have had since going there with Colby. I loved watching him swim and spending mother's day relaxing with my family! I had a great time and am so thankful we got to get away like that! The weather was gorgeous and it wasn't crowded at all!

Playdate at the Children's Museum

Today Colby and I had a playdate with Cameron Grubbs and her mom Kim. We just got a membership to the Children's Museum Saturday when we took Colby so I invited Kim and Cameron to come with us. I am so glad we got one too. Colby loves that place and it will be a great place to take him this summer especially after GymRompers ends.

Colby and Cameron both loved the toddler area. I think we stayed in there over an hour. The highlites for Colby were the slides and train table. I think Cameron liked the houses, blocks, instruments, and books. It was fun to see them both interact with each other and other kids. Cameron was definitely more outgoing and her and another little boy had a "dialogue" going back and forth. Colby pretty much sat back and watched and played to himself. He seems to be going through another phase of being a little intimidated by other children. I hope he outgrows it I mean I don't want him to push and shove but I don't want him to be scared of other kids either.

After the todder area we took them to the little grocery store. Both had a blast in there. Colby got a cart right away and started putting things in it...it was so cute to see him and Cameron gathering up groceries. Then Colby got to the salt and decided he needed all of the salt! He put every single salt container in his buggy. He then pushed his buggy around for awhile then put all the salt neatly back on the shelf! It was adorable! I don't think either him or Cameron wanted to leave the grocery in fact if they had to leave they wanted to take the carts with them. We finally got them into the boat section. Both enjoyed that but you could tell both of them were winding down and getting sleepy by that point. We quickly did the Mr. Roger's exhibit then went downstairs. Colby started begging for his juice so they walked around briefly downstairs then they were both ready to go. It was a fun morning though!

Colby was so cute though on the way home pointing out all the American flags and saying "flag" each time! He came home and played for a bit now is down for his nap. We are gonna have a low key day the rest of the day after his nap we are just staying home. I think Austin may do yardwork tonight so we will probably just pick up salads from some place and eat quickly then play outside.

The last 2 days...

So the last 2 days have been pretty uneventful. Yesterday Colby and I went to Target to get some beach supplies and a birthday present. As always we bought wayy too much and spent too much money! I always leave there too forgetting something we really needed. But I did get the birthday present a few household items and ofcourse left with stuff for Colby that he probably doesn't need. One of those being a big blue truck. I went down the toy aisle which is always a mistake especially these days b/c he wants everything but I kinda wanted to get him some type of Fisher Price little people toy I was thinking the school bus because he is obssessed with school buses on the road. Well he liked it but then a blue truck caught his eye. I gave him the choice I was definitely not getting both! So the blue truck won out! The rest of our day after Target we just hung out at home. We ordered pizza for dinner when Austin got off work and just had a stay at home family night.
Today Colby had Gymrompers. Nothing really big to report there. He did enjoy riding a little tractor/truck thing around at the end. It was the first time he really did that there. He was having the best time until another little boy decided he wanted it. This kid seems like he is kinda a bully. Once he approached Colby ...Colby got off of the truck but was not happy about it. Then the mom came over and got the little boy off then they were both crying. Finally I convinced Colby it was time to leave anyway and let the other boy get on it. I mean Colby did have it first but he had been on it awhile and the other kid was pitching a major fit and I felt bad for the mom b/c she had another baby with her too. I know how I would feel if that were me. So the little boy got it and Colby got happy about leaving so all was well.
When we got home we tried to figure out where this really bad stench is coming from. My dad was afraid it was coming from our house. Austin and I smelled it last night and he thought it was in the garage but we checked everywhere. He said last night it smelled like old seafood...so that is what we thought it was that someone boiled something and threw the carcases out. Well this morning before we left for Gymrompers the odor was horrible! Colby was about to gag because of it. My dad worried that it might be something in our gutters or on our roof. We couldn't see anything so we don't know what is going on. It seems to be coming from our neighbor's house though. Hopefully tonight when Austin gets home we can investigate some more. The smell is not as bad now but it might be because the wind switched directions.
So the rest of the day we are just hanging out here. Our friends Josh and Laura are coming over and we may either grill burgers or pick some up to eat. It will be fun to hang out with them some. Tomorrow Colby has a playdate with Cameron at the Children's museum so that should be exciting! Then Thursday is our grocery day then Friday we leave for Destin! Busy week ahead!

Rainy Day!

Today has just been a rainy day! We started the day by still going to Sunday School though. Sunday School was good although it was only Colby and Cade. Laura helped with the kids since our other teacher Mrs. Shirley is out of town. Both boys did good but are at totally different levels so I feel like I can't quite give them both what they need. Cade needs more one on one attention and floor time whereas Colby is big enough for stories and art. I had brought stuff to paint today but since it was only Colby that could participate I figured it wasn't worth the mess. I can make the mess at home with him. So I left it all there in hopes next time Broc is there we will paint!

After Sunday School the weather was getting worse so we decided to head home. Its been such a busy weekend anyway the extra rest time was good. But I mainly didn't want to chance getting stuck in traffic or floods. I think it was a good decision to come home even though the weather never got really bad. It gave Colby and I a longer afternoon and more time to play and get things accomplished. I hate I missed church but Austin wasn't there and Laura and my mom had to work extended care so I would have had no one to sit with.

Our afternoon has been very relaxing...just hanging out no where to be. I am actually not minding the rain. We have been so busy and doing stuff the last few days a day at home wasn't too bad. Colby doesn't even seem to mind being couped up. He hasn't played with his toys much lately since we were so busy so I think he was glad to get to stay home and play. We also played in the rain for a bit this afternoon. He loved that! I sat under our patio and put his rain coat on and let him go to town! He was cute ooohhhhing and ahhhhing over the rain! Such a sweet boy!

Happy Birthday Austin aka DaDa

Today is Austin's 31st birthday! I think he has a good one but you would have to ask him to make sure haha.

We started celebrating yesterday by having dinner at my parent's with his choice of food and cake! Today his parents treated us to lunch at Landry's on the lake. Tonight I'm sure we will just be hanging low though since we have been so busy!

I plan to take him out though either just the 2 of us or with our friends sometime soon!

Well that's all...happy birthday austin!

Oh and he's one awesome husband and father! Hope we celebrate many many many birthdays together!

Children's Museum and Lunch on the Lake

Another busy day but a fun morning! Since Austin's parents were here today we decided to get up and take Colby some place fun! We chose the Children's Museum. They wanted to see him play at a park but its a nasty day. It hasn't rained yet but its just windy and very overcast. I am glad we picked the Children's Museum though he had a blast. This was his 2nd visit there and today was much different then the first. He had fun the first time but today he was much more confident and is older and can "pretend" play a little.

He acted like when we pulled in the parking lot that he already knew where we were. We took him to the toddler area first since that was his favorite last time. It wasn't crowded at all when we first got there so he played on the slide and car and pushed little toys around! Soon though it started getting ready busy in there. Apparantly there were some twins who were celebrating their birthday. It didn't bother Colby though that there were so many people he just checked it all out and did his thing. After playing in there for about 30 or 40 minutes we went to the Mr. Roger's exhibit and the ships and boats. He had a blast in both. Again he acted a lot more confident and had a good time checking the things out.

When we got downstairs he had a blast checking out the firetrucks, police cars, and ambulance. He also liked the train table! We decided to get a membership today because we would have paid over 40 dollars to get 4 adults and a child in so we just went ahead and bought the 50 dollar membership. I know it will be worth it because we will probably take Colby there a lot this summer. It will be a great place to go when its too hot to do anything else.

After the museum we decided to drive down to the Lake and eat at Landry's. This was the first time we had been there since Katrina. It used to be Joe's Crab Shack. It was really good. Colby was also really good at the restaurant I was quite proud of him. He's funny now he wants to have his hands cleaned and he picks up all his utensils and bowls when he is finished and says "thank you". He was quite a ham all weekend I am glad Austin's parents got to see him at his best!

Now we are all home for naps. Its been a busy couple of days and won't really slow down until after tomorrow since we have church for most of the day. The pictures on here aren't the best it was hard to really capture him at the museum he wouldn't stay still long!