cinnamon shore

for our little beach getaway we headed down to cinnamon shore.  we had heard only praises about this place and it did not disappoint.  and with it being only a 6 hour drive from fort worth...i'm in.  there's something very comforting to me to pack literally everything we own when traveling with a little one.  i like to be prepared.  here's a hodge podge of camera and iphone pictures from our stay.

 

we fell in love with the architecture of cinnamon shores and our rental looked like it fell out of coastal living (that top one was not our rental but don't you just love the rocking chair with a blanket ready to go).  

see what i mean...we packed it all!!

our days were pretty much pool to beach then beach to pool.  something so wonderful about a trip with no agenda.

we came home with one worn out beach bum.  we can't wait to go back next year.  such a great time getting to celebrate 30 years with the ones who hold my heart.

i should mention that all though the puggies didn't join in they had a wonderful time at their fur resort giving them a run for their money.  i'm pretty sure i heard clapping and cheering when we left after picking them up.

30

I turned 30 last week. 

{Gasp} 

To help lessen the blow of turning 30 we spent it at the beach.  That definitely helped.  Earlier this year boy had mentioned doing a party to celebrate my birthday, but I'm just not a huge fan of being the center of attention so I told him all I really want for my birthday is to take Declan to the beach for the first time.  So that's what we did.  Making it even better, my parents joined us to.  So, we loaded up and drove down last week with literally every baby item we own packed in the car and spent the week soaking up the sun and eating sand (guess which one of us that was).  I'll be back sharing some more of our trip. 

As you can see, a relaxing trip to the beach can be so exhausting.  Hands down best birthday!

declan & big daddy

first mother's day

Whether you're a mama with 50 years of motherhood under your belt, a new mama, maybe even a mama to be, or a mama with some four legged fur babies I hope you felt the love and Happy Belated Mother's day to you.

 (Declan's gift to grandma...butterfly footprint flower pot)

It's tough work y'all.  And tiring.  Real tiring (hence why this blog post is like 3 days late).  I love this kid more than I can anything, but I am just so gosh darn exhausted.  I always promised myself I wouldn't play the mommy comparison game, but in today's world with the blogs and just everything being so "in your face" it's really hard to take it in and not go "um excuse how do you have it all together?"  Because it's a blessing if I get a shower in before noon and a round of high fives if no one screams at me from the other side of the glass shower door.

I have a whole new appreciation for you mamas after these last nine months, so I really do hope you got a much deserved nap this past weekend.  I had an amazing first mother's day.  The whole day was a surprise starting off with me getting to sleep in then some family time in the morning.  We then dropped Declan off at my parent's.  At first, I was a little taken back that Declan wouldn't be joining us, but hubs goes "you desperately need a break".  Oh how right he is.  So we spent the afternoon relaxing at the Botanical Gardens and dining at my favorite lunch spot Panera.  Simple yet perfect afternoon date with the hubs.   Then we headed back to my parent's for dinner. 

I may be running on fumes and my shirt is covered in snot, drool and Lord knows what else, but oh how worth it to wake up to this sweetness every day that made me a mom.

 (sucking on his big toe...the kid is ubber talented I tell you)

swim lessons

This little guy just graduated from his first swim lessons.  We signed up for a parent/child class at the YMCA last month and for the whole month we went every Saturday morning bright and early.  It was an awesome baby class that was really about getting him comfortable in the water.  In our eyes, it's never too early and we learned a lot of safety techniques to work on to this summer.  He's definitely a water baby and loved it.  I contemplated signing him up again this month just for the post swim lesson naps.  This mama got a lot done on Saturday afternoons.

A lot of the babies struggled with the floating part of the class.  Not this guy.  Nailed it.  Give this guy an umbrella drink with a straw and he's set for summer.

nine months

dear declan,

you turned nine months last week.  you're a whole pregnancy old basically!  i am loving this season that we are in with you.  you've got such a personality and i just love watching it blossom.  there's a song out by taylor swift called "never grow up" that we listen to all the time and each time this mama is a blubbering mess. 

you're growing so much.  you're wearing 9-12 month clothes with few 6-9 month clothes that I have to stuff you into.  i swear i spend have my day squeezing your chubby thighs.  you're also still wearing size 3 diapers.  you love mealtime and we can't shovel it into your mouth fast enough.  still not loving the greens, but we'll keep working on it.  big milestone this month...teeth!  you got your bottom two.  sadly both at the same time.  i feel like everyone warns you about those sleepless newborn nights, but they failed to mention the grueling days of teething.  lots of cuddles with mama and even a few nights where after my 5th trip into your room i picked you up and brought you back to bed with us.  also lots of runny noses.  we made best friends with the snot sucker.  thankfully, we survived and your back to sleeping great through the night.

you started swim lessons this month, and while you don't hate it, you don't seem overenthusiastic about it either.  i think you're warming up to it.  also, i'm pretty sure your favorite time of the day is when daddy comes home.  you light up and the two of you catch up on the day and just laugh and laugh together.  one thing i've really noticed this month is you know "your" people.  if someone you love is holding you like big daddy or bubbie (grandma) you flail your arms up and down in excitement smiling so big. but if it's someone you're not so sure about you just sit and stare at them.  i'm pleased to say that i'm the only one you reach out for.  my heart swoons when you do.

we love you so much little man.  everyday is such a blessing watching you grow.

all my love,

mama

happy easter

We hope everyone had a beautiful Easter.  We had such a blessed first Easter with Declan celebrating Jesus' resurrection. 

Go figure that we had to wake Declan up Easter morning for church.  The one day of the week this kid decides to sleep in.  We got ready then threw on his Easter outfit and off to church we went.  We met my parents there and then after the service Declan did a little egg hunt or more like daddy and big daddy picked them up for him, then ate his goods.

We ran back to our house to change and see what the Easter bunny had left for Declan.  I really would have been okay just buying a large bag of empty plastic eggs because this kid was all over them.

 Then we headed to my parents for lunch.  My dad, for some reason, can't stand Peeps much less the sight of them.  So for dessert I made a lemon cake topped with Peeps and set it by his spot at the table for lunch.  We're that kind of family.  He happily ate the cake part.

The more generous Easter bunny made a stop for Declan at my parents house too.  My mom put his gifts in those giant eggs and I love his face checking out those eggs.  Like he just cannot believe those plastic eggs come that big.   And, thankfully, the Easter bunny brought this mama a large Dove dark chocolate bunny too.

Literally, chewing on God's word with his first bible.

And no Easter is complete without a good nap and some backyard swinging!

"Puddle Pug" winner!

Congratulations Treesa

on winning a copy of "Puddle Pug" in the giveaway!