Hilton head

Last week, we were able to go to hilton head and spend time with my family. Lewis's school started in the middle of the vacation, so my parents flew us out early so that we'd still be able to have a week there. My mom and Steve were there early too, so it was fun to spend time with them.

It was a lot of fun to watch Lena experience the beach for the first time. She went to Hawaii when she was 3 months old, but I doubt she remembers it. So it was fun to watch her experience it all for the first time.

I thought she would be hesitant of the ocean at first, but Lena jumped right in and loved it! The beach was so long, that you're able to walk out really far into the water before you're not able to stand anymore. Lena kept wanting to go farther and farther out into the ocean. It took a few waves to the face to be able to convince her to hang back a bit.

Here are some of the moments I was able to capture on camera.

 

Looking out the window of the plane

Watching dad build and destroy a sand castle

Playing in the sand with grandma

Hanging out in the ocean

Jumping over waves

Steve trying to talk Lena into following him

Me and my happy babes

Steve throwing sand at Lena. It's the piece in the air right by Lewis's back

The boys building their castle. And Lena observing their handy-work

The boys and their completed castle

Baby Godzilla destroying it

 He check-mated me. After only like 3 rounds. I'm really good 😉

I wanted to bury my child 😄

She held onto the shovel nonstop every time we were at the beach. She wouldn't ever let it go.

Reading with dad

"Mom, it's nap time. I want to go home!"

Building together

Looking at the starfish with Clark and Alicia

She actually touched it!

Can't let go of that orange shovel.

We had a great time even though we had to leave early and only got to see half the fam for half the time. Lena loved the beach more than I thought she would and were grateful to my parents for planning such a fun trip and for letting us come along!

We're goin to the zoo, zoo, zoo!

Last week, we spent a day at the zoo. All day. Not kidding. We went as soon as Lena woke up and ate breakfast, came home for her to take a nap, and then went back when she woke up. The zoo is only like 20 minutes away, down back roads I might add, so we thought we'd take advantage of the free re-entry on the same day deal.

Lena had a blast. She saw monkeys, fish, a rhino, gorilla, brown bear, black bear, sting ray, turtle, polar bear, cheetas, bats, snakes, and so much more.

The monkeys were here favorite. The little ones that swung around on the tree limbs and bars.

But also the big ones who just hung around and slept.

Showing off the monkey to her new friends.

Then we found a giant gorilla. And I thought Lena would want to sit in his hand. But nope!

A little scared.

And she also loved the fish.

In the aquarium, there was a "touch and feel" section and she actually touch and felt! I didn't think she'd want to, being as shy and timid as she is, but she went right in and felt with both hands right from the start!

We also went on a tour around the dinosaur island. Lewis LOVES dinosaurs. Always has ever since he was a little kid. So when he found out there was a dinosaur island, we HAD to go :) Lena was so cute on that ride. She had her own seat since we had to sit in a boat to travel around. She sat up straight, staring intently at everything going on around her, all the movig dinosaurs and even trying to find where the sound effects were coming from. She played with her thumb the whole time. Super cute to watch.

She was in awe when the T. rex came in the scene. Her eyes got big and she was mesmerized.

We're gonna watch land before time as soon as we can ;)

We had such a good time! I think I'm going to buy a member pass so that Lena and I can go back once a week!

Home

Well, we made it.

Our flight was at 7:15 in the morning so we spent the night before at a hotel near the airport so we wouldn't have to wake up so early the next day. We put Lena to bed around 9 when we finally made it there. Lewis and I went to bed soon after.

At 4:00, neither of us could sleep.

5:30, the alarms went off.

6:00, Lewis took the suitcases downstairs and I went to wake up Lena. Lewis slammed the door as he was leaving, I turned on the light and started running the kitchen sink and Lena slept through the whole thing. She was tired. Went over to start talking to her and rub her back, and she wouldn't wake up.

6:15, make it to the airport. Return rental car (thanks mom and dad!) and race to the check-in counter

6:45, waiting in the security line. Remember we have naked juices in our back back and drink as much as a could before having to toss them

7:00 finally make it to our gate and get on the plane

Lose one hour.

8:00 plane lands in Phoenix. Plan to stop and get breakfast/lunch before our next flight

8:30, make it to have and realize there isn't time. But there's one open seat on the flight and we decided to get it for Lena. With the hope that she'd sleep.

8:45, plane leaves for Columbus.

Lena and I played and ate. She wouldn't eat on the last flight sitting in my lap, so I put all the food in front of her and she gobbled up TONS!

About two hours into it, she got really tired. But wouldn't sleep. We knew this would happen. Eventually, she just had to cry herself to sleep. Lewis rubbed her back, I sang and "shhh"ed while rubbing her head. And eventually the miracle occurred. And I loved every minute of it.

And she slept for the next hour and a half! That NEVER happens! (Yes I took pictures. Because this hasn't happen for 7 or 8 months and she looked so so cute)

Gain 3 hours.

3:45, arrive in columbus. Let Lena run all around the baggage claim area. Poor Ms active had to sit still for the last 7 hours and just wanted to run. And run she did.

4:15, get rental car and head home!

4:30, drive right into a monsoon! Seriously. Lewis had the windshield wipers full blast and we couldn't see 3 feet in front of us. Good thing we landed before it hit!

This was the shortest day of our lives because we lost 2 hours coming from mountain time to eastern. But it was actually the longest day of our lives. Hard to make it on those airplanes, but I'd do it again if Lena would sleep on my like that. My little piece of heaven.

Grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who answered so many prayers that day.

Pool time!

We got to take Lena to the pool today. We took her a few times last summer, too so this wasn't her first experience. But it was the first one she can remember. Like always with Lena, it took her a few minutes to warm up, but quicker than usual, this kid was growling, splashing, kicking, and smiling until we finally decided we should go home.

mid-growl!

I'm willing to bet she loved it. Can't wait until next time! Maybe tomorrow! 

[almost] walking!!

Lena has been so close to this step in we life. She's been crawling, climbing stairs, and pulling herself to standing for a little over 4 months now. For weeks, we've practiced walking. She'll stand up at her chair (the 'gate' we have for the stairs) and then walk as far as she can. Which is usually only 2 or 3 steps before she face-plants to the floor.

Yesterday, we made progress! She usually only wants to play her 'walking' game from her chair, but yesterday she started walking from anywhere we could. And boy, was she walking!! Girl was moving so quick I had to put it on sports mode so the camera would respond faster. Every time she fell over, I'd clap and she'd crawl back to the couch to start all over again. I pulled out her panda and told her to walk to Mr. Panda!

wipeout!

She was so excited when she finally made it all the way to him!

When we did it in the afternoon, she would not let go of her golf ball that grandpa found for her in the weeds on the golf course. She loves that thing.

fee-fi-fo-fum!

This girl is so close to walking! She's taking 8 or 9 steps now and just wants to cruise all around the house, holding on to chairs, stairs, walls, or whatever else can help her balance!

Yay for developmental milestones.