Tailgate Time

Saturday, Barrett and I along with my parents, niece and nephew, loaded up and headed to Tuscaloosa to the SEC home opener vs Ole Miss.  It was Barrett's first tailgate outside the womb and I think he enjoyed it.  It was a later game so we didn't get down there till around 2:00.  John set up the tent and tv outside so we had the apartment and some space outside too.  It worked out really well.

Barrett was waving bye as we were leaving to go to the game.  He stayed at the apartment with my mom and all the people who didn't go to the game.  I hear they all had a fun time.

He loved the shakers. If you look closely you can see his two bottom teeth.

Love that sweet grin!

Barrett with my cousin Adam.  He graduated from Alabama and his wife graduated from Ole Miss.

Barrett and Nana

Liz and Clay were in town.  She and Barrett got lots of snuggle time in.  

I'm sure this is what most college kids do after football games, play Nintendo 64.  Barrett fell asleep while we were at the game and then woke up when we got home and stayed awake until we left around midnight.  He also woke up when we got home and didn't want to go back to sleep.
Sister went to the game and sat with me.  I was so excited to get to spend so much time with her all to myself.   It was kinda surreal being down there with a baby.  I felt like I was having an identity crisis all day.  I loved having Barrett there with me but I also had a blast at the game, with other adults.  I don't think we'll be making anymore night games though.  It was just to late for both of us.

Barrett's First Beach Trip (Part III)

Part I: {Here}, Part II: {Here}

Our last night of vacation we went about 20 minutes down the beach to Seaside.  Seaside in on 30A which is the prettiest, most natural beaches in the area.  We met Lorie, Joseph and Elise and headed out to the beach for some pictures.  My biggest concern when we decided to go to the beach just our little family of 3 was who was going to take our picture. I know, first world problems.  It was an added bonus that we got to take some really cute pictures of our kids together.

As you can see getting them to both look at us and smile was easier said than done.

Love my little family.

I bought this little outfit earlier in the summer for beach pictures.  I thought it was so sweet (even if it is a little girly).  When I look at this picture I can't believe that he's mine.  I can't believe I have a beautiful, healthy son.  I can't believe that he's already 9 months old.  I feel so overwhelmingly blessed to be his mommy.

Elise wanted to hold him.  He wasn't so sure.

My best friend and our kiddos.

Beautiful sunset.  I think it was the prettiest one we saw all week.

I love this one.

Taking pictures on the beach was the perfect ending to a great week.  I loved spending time as a family.  I also loved getting to spend time with friends.  I'm someone that typically likes to have a plan, even on vacation.  I let go a little and we just went with the flow for the most part.  I had a few things that I wanted to do (mostly places to eat) and we just relaxed as much as you can with a 9 month old and enjoyed this season of life.  It was definitely different from any other beach trip I've taken.  I normally take at least two books if I'm going for a week.  We we went for a week a couple of years ago I read 5 books while we were gone.  I didn't even finish one book this trip.  I went down a couple of days while the boys took a morning nap and just enjoyed the beach by myself for a few hours.  It was a nice little recharge.

Patrick and Barrett really bonded. That was the most time they've spent together since we were in the hospital.  I love watching them together.  

It was a great week.  I can't wait to go back and make more memories as a family.  

Barrett's First Beach Trip (Part II)

Part I: {here}

These are pictures from Saturday through Wednesday.  It all seems like a blur now.

Pretty bird on the beach.

We wanted to get out to the beach early Saturday but we decided to let Barrett take a nap in the room.  By the time he woke up and we all got ready it was noon.  We didn't get the tent out at first because we were planning on going in early to watch football.  We were out there for about 10 minutes before we realized we were going to have to get the tent out.  While Patrick was getting it out of the car this sweet girl from down the beach invited us to sit under her tent.   I think it was obivious that we were new parents that were pretty clueless!

 We headed in around 2:00 to watch the Bama/ Texas A&M game.  It was a nail biter.  Patrick and I don't watch a lot of football together because we each love our teams.  It's a toss up for me because I want Auburn to lose but I want Patrick to be happy so I kinda want them to win for him.  The things we do for love!

For funzies here I am last year at the A&M game at 32 weeks and my sweet boy is 37 weeks old.

These mirrors.  There are so many pictures from my childhood of me looking at myself in these mirrors.

Sunday I got up and went to church, then we hung out on the beach most of the day and enjoyed dinner in.  Monday we shopped most of the day and then it rained a little so we hung out inside and went to an early dinner.  Tuesday was a fun day.  We hung out on the beach and then met up with Lorie and Joseph for dinner at one of my favorite places, the Captain's Table.  Lorie's dad and stepmom offered to keep Barrett with Elise.  We were excited to get a grown up night but we were a little nervous leaving him.  He was cutting 3 teeth and had been kinda fussy but they said he did great.  We had a great time with them although we mostly talked about the kids.  Barrett went to sleep while we were out and when we got him back to the condo he was not interested in sleeping.  He cried for hours it seemed.  It was a late night.  Wednesday we went to the beach and stayed in for dinner.

I'm going to be honest.  I have no idea what days these next pictures were taken.  Like I said it is all a blur now.

I bathed Barrett as soon as we came in each day.  This day he almost fell asleep in the tub.  Patrick got him out of the tub and he was asleep before he could even get the diaper on him.

How sweet is this?!?

One morning I took Barrett out to the beach before it got to bright and made some pictures of him in his sea turtle pjs.  They turned out so cute!

I love his hair blowing in this one.

He was okay with the sand as long as it was on his terms.

Sweet, sandy baby toes.

and hands.

Long lashes.  I want to remember every detail.

Holding his bottle on the beach like a big boy.

This might be my favorite picture of the trip.  Love these boys.

 {One more post and I think the vacation will be recapped.}

9 Months

I'm in complete denial about how fast this year is going by.  How has it seriously been 9 whole months since you surprised us Christmas day.  I know I'm going to be a crying mess when the holiday season is in full force.  I haven't put my Fall decor out because I know when it comes down Christmas goes up and that makes me a little sad that the end of your first year will be here soon.  Don't get me wrong, I love seeing you grow and learn but I miss my baby.  I'm so thankful that you still love to cuddle.  You love to be held are in no hurry to grow up on me.  This month you went on your first family vacation.  It was some much fun sharing such a special place with you.

• You weigh 16lbs 14oz (in the 10th percentile)
• You're 26.5" long (5th percentile)
• You're head circumference was 17.5" (25th percentile)
• I think your hair has gotten lighter (although you can't really tell from these pictures)
• Your eyes are turning somewhat hazel.

• You're still wearing mostly 6month "play" clothes. Your dressy clothes are mostly 9 month but there are still a few 6 month outfits you can wear.  We've gotten our moneys worth out of your Summer clothes.  We've got to go shopping to get you ready for Fall and Winter.
• You wear size 3 diapers and use about 6 a day.
• You have 3 teeth and one very close to breaking through.
• You are sitting so well.  You still can't go from laying down to sitting but you're getting stronger every day.

• Sleep has been great still!  You're still sleeping 11-12 hours a night.  
• Naps are hit or miss.  Sometimes you take two great 1-2 hour naps.  Some days you'll take one, some days you'll do two short ones.  I just never can tell!
• I think you've realized that you control your hands.  You'll hold your hand in front of your face and wave it back and forth.  
• You still think Ally (any dog really) is hilarious.  You laugh out loud and deep belly laugh at her.

• I stopped breastfeeding.  It was a difficult decision to make.  You were getting so distracted and weren't eating well and it was painful for me.  I bought some formula and you don't mind it at all (as long as we get the right kind!)  I've felt so guilty but I'm so proud to have made it this far.  I do miss the closeness of nursing but I think we're all a little happier.
• You take 4 6oz bottles a day, 7:00am, 11:30am, 3:30pm and 6:30pm
• You can hold the bottle on your own.
• You are still eating food only twice a day, in the morning and evening.  You eat 2-3oz of fruit/veggie and 2oz of cereal or oatmeal.  
• You have no interest in feeding yourself.  While we're feeding you, you keep your arms tucked neatly under your bib. 
• Now if one of us are holding you while we are eating you're trying to grab whatever it is we have.

• You're still not crawling.  You will roll all over the the living room.  When you're on your tummy you will push yourself backwards not crawling, just sliding on the hardwood floors.
• One night while we were putting you to bed your daddy was holding you and when I walked in you reached out for me to hold you.  Then while I was holding you, you reached out for him.  I'm pretty sure you were just prolonging bedtime but we thought it was the sweetest thing ever.  You still reach for me when you see me. 

You went to the beach for the first time.  It was so much fun.  You did not like the sand or the water but you didn't mind sitting on a blanket under the tent and you looked adorable in your swimsuit and sunhat.

• We also left you with someone that wasn't family for the first time while we were there.  Lorie's Dad and stepmom kept you and Elise so the four of us could enjoy a dinner together.  They said you did great and I hope they weren't lying!  
• You loved shopping and strolling! 
• You traveled fantastically!  You slept most of the trip.  We let you watch the ipad some too.

• You still love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
• You still love your rainbow ring tower toy.
• You still love Ally.
• You've been doing well at church.  You read books and manage to stay pretty quiet.

Love this face!

You have been so much fun this month.  You are interacting with us so much and you're not yet into everything.  This might be my favorite age so far.  (Like every month :))  You have so much personality and we have loved watching it develop. We are in a great routine now and I finally feel like I know what I'm doing.  Now that I say this it'll all go to crap tomorrow!  

I can't believe we only have 3 months of your first year left.  I'm going to hold back the tears and take in every single minute because I now know how quickly it will pass.

Love you baby Barrett!