we {heart} the beach

Last Monday, we headed south with Jamie's parents for a week of fun, sun, relaxation and yummy seafood.   We stuck with Brink family tradition and stayed the night at the halfway point, in Montgomery at the Embassy.  During the first half of our travels, I noticed BOTH of our boys were running high fevers (Collier's was varying from 100 - 101 while Noah's was up to 102.5 at one point).  Uh oh... this wasn't quite how I hoped our vacation would begin.  Thankfully, when we arrived at the hotel, the kids were both acting just fine and in great moods, despite their fevers.  I chose to sleep with Noah, who was running the highest fever, in one of the beds so I could keep an eye on him.  His temperature actually came down during the night... probably because he was doing somersaults in his sleep.  Kidding, but this kid is a wild man in his sleep so he kept me up most of the night.  The following morning, we set out with both kids still running fevers, and arrived in Sandestin mid-afternoon. We chose to keep the kids in the rooms and out of the heat for the day to try and prevent their fevers rising anymore. 

THANKFULLY, after a little more than 24 hours of consistent Tylenol and Motrin doses we woke up Wednesday morning to normal temps so off we headed to the pool!  Both of the boys had lots of fun floating in their little floatees and playing in the water.  After a few hours I was even able to get Collier, my little busy-body who will never fall asleep out in public, to GO TO SLEEP in my arms... but wait, it gets better, AND I was able to lay him in his stroller under the umbrella!  SCORE!  HE took a decent 45 minute nap, Noah relaxed on a chair under the umbrella and the rest of us were able to lay out and work on our tans (well except for Jamie's dad because he could care less about getting a tan and more about walking around and socializing with his homebuilder friends.)  The rest of our days were alot of the same.  We owe a HUGE thank you to Jamie's mom, Nana, for staying with the boys while they napped in the room and allowing me and Jamie a few hours to ourselves each day out by the pool! 

Dinner at Louisiana Lagniappe

We ate delicious dinners each night at all of our favorite seafood spots, such as Louisiana Lagniappe (my FAVORITE), Mitchell's Fish Market, Seagar's, and Bayou Bill's.  On Thursday night, we attended the Homebuilder's Cocktail and Hors d'oeuvres party on the deck of the Hilton.  We took this opportunity to have a little photo session with the boys on the beach. 

Hombuilder's Cocktail/Hors d'oeuvres Party

This is what happens when daddy's behind the camera... he cuts off our bodies! :)

Trust me, this picture took lots of effort. And help from Photoshop.  I even managed to slice my foot open on who knows what while working hard to get both boys to smile, all while snapping pictures.  But like any determined mom, I kept on going, despite my injury.  I had begged Jamie to let me hire a photographer to take family beach pictures and he wouldn't let me because of all the money we've forked out to Captured Studios recently, so needless to say, I was desperate to get a good one of the boys.  Even if that meant I walked away with battle wounds.  I mean, the cut will heal.  The pictures will last forever. :)

Friday morning, I started my morning with a much anticipated visit to the spa at the Hilton and enjoyed a Deep Tissue Massage. Ahhhh... I sigh just thinking about their spa and that massage.  It's so relaxing and enjoyable!  And why is it that no matter if you get the 50 minute or the 80 minute massage, it always goes by way too fast?! I always wrap up my visits there with a nice, LOOOONG shower.  Their showers have not one, but two shower heads and for some reason it's like the ultimate shower experience for me!  Once I returned to the room, I hung out with the boys and let Jamie have a little one on one time with the sun.  Its so funny that while we are at home, he could care less about working on a tan, but when we're on vacation, he can't get enough.  After he had all he could handle, he allowed me to head off to the outlets for an afternoon of shopping child-free! 

Later that evening, following a delicious dinner at Mitchells, we headed to Seaside.  If you ever visit the Destin area, you MUST make the short trip to Seaside.  It is THE cutest little community.  In fact, the Truman Show with Jim Carrey was filmed there!  Every Friday evening, after the sun sets during the summer months, you can enjoy a family-friendly movie projected on a huge screen in the Seaside Amphitheater located in the center of town.  They have adorable shops, candy and ice scream stores as well as delicious seafood restaurants lining the square. All of the buildings, landmarks and beach houses are gorgeous.  Seriously, Seaside is a must see!

Our last day was spent like the others, enjoying our time out in the sun.  Homebuilders had their annual pool party for all the attendees so there were inflatables for the kids, free food and drinks and live music all day at the pool and on the beach.  Later that evening, we took the kids down to the ocean to see what they thought of it.  As I've said before, I love to be AT the beach (i.e. I want to be able to see the ocean from my room) but I hate the sand and can do without it getting all over me, especially when I'm covered in suntan oil/lotion and carrying a little person on my hip.  Jamie feels the same way so we always stick to the pool and just visit the ocean at night.  Plus, I couldn't imagine trying to lug all of our stuff, plus two kids, all the way out to the ocean!  It's hard enough getting it all out to the pool.  Anyways, last summer, we never even ventured out to the ocean while we were in Tybee Island and Hilton Head (mainly because I was 7 months pregnant and it was just too dang hot).  So the last time Noah had seen the ocean was when he was 2 and to be honest, the rushing of the waves scared him.  WOW what a difference 2 years have made.  He LOVED it.  In fact, he kept trying to pull his hand out of ours and head further into the water!  Collier dipped his little toes into the ocean too but he was pretty indifferent over it.  I'm sure he'll love it next year. 

This is what majority of our family shots turn out like!

Later that evening, we put the boys to bed and Jamie's parents stayed in with them so that we could have a dinner alone.  We chose to eat at Seagar's, which is located in the Hilton.  It's the only 5-Star restaurant in the whole Destin area so we were excited to try it out.  Our reservation was set for 8:30 and we arrived a few minutes early.  We were seated in the bar to wait until our table was ready.  We waited... and waited... and finally the manager came and apologized for the delay and offered us each a drink on the house.  Finally at 9:45, our table was ready and we were seated.  Seagar's is one of those restaurants where it's an EXPERIENCE.  It's definitely not an in-and-out in a hour kind of place.  You have a Captain and a Server and they prepare items table-side.  I'll admit, after waiting so long, we were pretty ill... and hungry.  After waiting another 10 minutes or so without so much as a menu to look at, Jamie finally got up and let the first person he could find know that we were starving and had been waiting too long and at least needed menus.  We decided pretty quickly on what we were having, which was a fried green tomato/crab meat appetizer, the Surf-n-Turf (Filet Oscar and a Maine Lobster) with Sauteed Mushrooms.  The food was DELICIOUS however, we didn't get our food until 10:30.  By that time, we were just plain tired.  I know Jamie was disappointed with our wait but I hope we'll get a chance to try it again in the future.

We had an awesome vacation... in fact, it was by far one of my favorite trips we've ever taken!  I was so surprised how great the boys did, how well they slept at night and that they even took good naps.  They went with the flow and behaved well at dinner and were very easy to take care of the whole time.  Not a single breakdown or fit.  Jamie and I enjoyed watching them have fun.  But we also enjoyed getting a little time to ourselves, as well as spending time with his parents.  I know his parents enjoyed being around the boys so much, too.  They told us repeatedly how much they enjoyed it.  We had gorgeous weather, delicious food, got good tans and a little R & R!  All and all, we had a wonderful, wonderful week!

Happy 9 Months, Collier!

Our sweet little Collier turned 9 months old while we were on vacation!  I can’t believe he has officially been in this world longer than he was in my belly.  This past month has been a big one for Collier.  He has begun pulling up and cruising!  He uses push toys to get around and will walk back and forth while holding onto the couch.  He loves being on the go and it’s only a matter of time before he becomes an independent walker.  As exciting as it all is, I’m not quite ready for my baby to be a walker just yet.  Collier has also begun talking in the past few weeks.  At 8 ½ months he said “mama” and “dada” on the same day (however he said mama first… but who’s keeping up?) :)  Since then, his favorite words have been “dada”, “yaya” and “baba” and he has forgotten about “mama!”  I keep trying to get him to say it again, but he’ll respond with “dada” instead!   To be honest, it doesn't matter what he says, I just love hearing him say these little words.  He has started waving his sweet little hand for "hi" and "bye bye" and is also reaching for us when he wants to be held.  I really thought he would cut a tooth this past week.  He began running a low grade fever for no reason so I assumed he would get a toothy while we were out of town, but once again, I was wrong.  However, that's okay,;I love his sweet little gummy smile!

Collier did wonderfully on our trip to the beach.  But thank goodness for the DVD player and Baby Einstein!  He has never been interested in watching tv at home, but while we were on the road, he wouldn't go to sleep and began fussing.  I pulled out the DVD player and he was glued to Baby Einstein and happy as can be!  He only slept for about an hour TOTAL each way, to the beach and back home but at least he was content.  He loved the water, both the pool and ocean, and even took naps out by the pool each day.  We were able to stick (very loosely) to our schedule and Collier took naps each day and things were great.  In fact, it far exceeding mine and Jamie’s expectations of how it would go being that the kids were sleeping in the same room as us (when they are used to napping in their own rooms, with the door shut so it’s super quiet.)

Collier is weighing right under 20lbs (around 19lb 13oz the week before he turned 9 months).  I’ll find out his official weight when I take him in for his 9 month check up this week.  Now that he’s on the go so much, I’ve noticed that he’s beginning to slim up and is reminding me more and more of the physique Noah had as a baby.  He loves playing with his brother and follows him around like a little puppy.  But at the same time, he does very well entertaining himself and playing independently.  He’s still a very happy, social baby and just an absolute joy. We are so in love with him and adore how he completes our family! We love you Collier and thank the Lord for allowing us the priviledge of being your mama and dada.

Vacation couldn't come at a better time...

I apologize for the debbie downer post, but that's all I've got.  It's been a stressful, difficult past couple of weeks and thank goodness we leave for our vacation soon because it seriously couldn't have come at a better time!  My dad is getting ready for his stem cell transplant to begin at the beginning of August so he's back and forth quite a bit between here and Nashville, doing lots of tests, blood work, etc.  Two weeks ago, we received news that some blood work came back positive for Prostate cancer.  They did a biopsy that confirmed he does in fact have Prostate cancer. It's in the beginning stages, so the doctors aren't concerned and will worry about it once we have the transplant behind us. If you're like me, then you're thinking HOW in the WORLD did my Dad have any new cancer growing in his body with all of the chemo he's been receiving???... well wouldn't you know that you don't treat Prostate cancer with chemo, but rather with radiation or surgery.  A completely different course of action than what he's been doing the past 6 months. It makes me sad and, if I'm being honest, slightly mad that now dad has one more thing on his plate to tackle.  I know that his "break" in this situation is that it isn't a terminal kind of cancer but good grief.  How many people are diagnosed with two different forms of cancer, completely unrelated, within 6 months of one another?  It's crazy. And disappointing.  And frustrating... I could go on but I won't.  I told Dad that God must think he's one crazy tough guy.  I don't quite understand God's plan in all of this, but that's why it's all up to the Big Guy, not me.  Maybe one day, I'll look back and go "ahh..." that's why.  Who knows.  All I do know, is that it's in HIS hands and we're looking to HIM for healing and comfort.

A couple of weeks ago, Jamie's 85 year old grandfather, Papa Jim, was outside in the yard picking up sticks. He lives on the river and his property is on a very steep slant down to the water.  He fell, rolled down the hill and the only thing that kept him from falling in the river, was that he hit a tree with his head.  He was in ICU for 2 weeks and had some complications with pneumonia and kidney failure.  He passed away early Friday morning so we had his visitation and funeral Monday and Tuesday of this week.  Papa Jim was a tough, hard-working man; he started Brink Apartments in 1959 with a 5 unit apartment complex and over the years grew it into a business of over 550 apartments, with the help of the other Brink men.  He taught his son, Tony and all 3 of his grandsons every aspect of apartment management, from the dirtiest of jobs, unstopping toilets -- yuck! to the financial and business aspects of managing the office.  He was a hard-nosed man and sometimes he could drive Jamie bonkers with his stubborness but you never doubted that he loved and cared for his family.     Papa Jim lived a long, fulfilling life and we know he's spending his eternity with our Lord so his funeral was a day of celebration rather than mourning.  However, he will surely be missed.

I think it's very clear that I love my kids.  They (along with Jamie) are my world.  But if we're being completely honest here, then I have to admit, sometimes they drive me nuts.  In fact, I know EVERY mom has those days.  And the past couple of days have been some of "those days".  I'm not sure if it's the extreme heat, the fact that all three of us have colds or a combo of everything going on, but it's been ROUGH.    I just have to keep repeating "This too shall pass... this too shall pass..."  And hopefully Jamie won't come home and find me balled up in the corner of the room hugging and rocking myself. :) 

Like I said, vacation couldn't have come at a more perfect time.  And since we are days away, I'm now giddy with excitement.  It's our turn to go with Jamie's parents (Jamie and his brothers rotate each summer as to who gets to go with his parents since someone has to stay behind to run the business).  We will be with them for the Alabama Homebuilder's Association Annual Summer Meeting and they have lots of fun activities, dinners and parties for all those in attendance, plus alot of other families from this area, most of who are friends with the Brinks, will be there for the conference.  We are really looking forward to it!  I am a tad bit anxious as to how Collier will do since he's a very routine kind of baby. It will definitely be different with two kids.  Especially since it will be all 4 of us in ONE hotel room (and my sweet little Collier has a habit of waking around 5 or 6ish and talking for a little while in his crib, then going back to sleep.  Trust me, I'm bringing ear plugs, a sound machine and a go-with-the-flow attitude!  So to get me through these next few days, I'm going to enjoy these great pictures and know that I'll be there by this time next week!

 Jamie and I will most DEFINITELY make time to do this... sit on the beach alone and gaze longingly into each other's eyes.  Um, yea right.

 But we WILL hang out right here, at one of my favorite things about the Hilton.  In fact, I will probably even enjoy one of those colorful drinks, except mine will be frozen and taste like a margarita. :) 

 And I ALWAYS pay a visit to this little piece of heaven and indulge in a fabulous massage

And we'll most definitely be here each day

Awww.... sweet sweet vacation, I can't WAIT for you to arrive!!!

Fireworks for the Fourth

For the 4th of July, Jamie spent the morning on the golf course with my dad and Derrick, my mom kept the boys for me and I spent several hours relaxing pool-side at our country club's swimming pool.  Ahhh.. it was nice having some time to myself to soak up the sun, catch up on the latest celebrity gossip, and finish up a book I've been reading on my Nook.  However, a couple of hours was all I could handle because it was insanely hot and humid!  Later that evening we grilled out at Chris and Stacey's house, along with Haley, Wes, Madelyn and a few friends.  We enjoyed delicious steaks grilled to perfection by Chef Chris and his Green Egg grill, all the traditional 4th of July foods, such as baked beans and potato salad, and topped it off with yummy red, white and blue cupcakes.  We enjoyed letting the kids play until late in the evening because as soon as it got dark enough, Chris pulled out an array of fireworks and put on his own mini-Fourth of July firework celebration.  It's safe to say that Noah thoroughly enjoyed the fireworks as he oh'ed, ah'ed and squealed throughout the whole show and clapped his hands after it was over.  I was surprised to discover that Collier handled them well, too.  I was afraid the noise would scare him however, he never once got upset and watched in awe as the colorful explosion of sparkly lights lit up the sky.

 

Simple Pleasures

What started off as helping Mimi water her flowers ended up with Noah having a blast with the water hose, slinging it all over the place, spraying himself, attempting a drink straight from the hose, and managing to get himself completely soaked in the process!  Isn't this the kind of thing that summer is all about?