Welcome to Destin - 2012 Edition

Let's just be honest: I take a million and twelve pictures. (I have good reasons, one being my memory sucks. And so if it isn't documented in pictures, then it didn't happen. Ask Josh about this. Also, this blog has become my scrapbook...it gets turned into hard-bound books and if I don't put it all in here then I will miss something years down the road.) Because I take a million and twelve pictures, our trip to Destin is well documented and will require multiple blog posts. OK, disclaimer over.

Our drive to Destin was great. Well, as great as 9-10 hours in a car can be. It didn't need to take that long but when 2 of the 3 passengers are a toddler and a very pregnant chick, well, let's just say we took our time. Keagan did phenomenally. He only watched "Poe" (i.e. Kung Fu Panda) about 6 times, on repeat. I only had to stop every 2 hours (like clockwork). We made it there and all loved each other once we arrived! (And in case I forget to mention it at the end, we had a great trip back, too. My child is a traveling champ. I can only hope his little brother is as good!)

Upon arriving at our condo, Keagan was like a kid on Christmas morning. I took some video of him running from room to room and it was hilarious. My videography skills kinda stink, but I am learning with my new camcorder. He was so funny and I couldn't believe just how excited he was! I mean, who woulda thought that a toddler could care about a home-away-from-home so much?! Josh and I were really pleased with the condo ourselves, and hope to stay there the next time we go. The price was right, the amenities were more than we expected, and the grounds were perfect. Really, our expectations were far exceeded and this is always nice when on vacation! And I truly think it was the best sleep I have had this whole pregnancy...I need to find the pillows that were on the bed for our own! So here are some pics of our condo. I took them about 3 days into our trip so it is cluttered with our stuff. Ignore all our crap. We definitely made ourselves at home :)

Keagan's Room: I made bumpers out of pillows under the fitted sheet so he wouldn't fall in and could sleep in the "big-boy bed" and Boy! did he sleep good! :)

Silly Goose in his new swimmies...best $5 spent all vacation! More to come with these..

The child was all about going outside on the balcony and scoping out the boats, planes, helicopters, birds, etc...and he had to wear his hat!

Our balcony view. What a gorgeous morning this was. I only got up early enough to see the sunrise on one morning...the rest of the mornings I spent in bed and it was glorious!

Our life for 5 full days revolved around these chairs and umbrella.

Many, many more pictures to come...

32 Weeks = OMG

This past week our family traveled down to Destin for one final family-of-three vacation before Finley's arrival. I have a lot of pictures to share with you from our week...but this will have to wait :) Mainly because we JUST got home yesterday and I am still terribly unorganized (in my home and my pictures...). But while down there I hit the 32-week mark in my pregnancy. And I thought you deserved to see what I look like now, after all it has been a month! Let's just say, I am huge. But Josh likes to remind me that this is how it is supposed to be. So I am embracing my belly and enjoying the fact that Finn is nice and healthy, and if that means big belly then big belly (and butt and thighs) it is! I did include a comparison picture of me at 32-weeks with Keagan. At this point in my pregnancy with Keagan we were going through our own personal hell, wondering if the baby would grow, wondering if he would come too early, wondering how many problems he would have...and just plain scared from having learned all the issues we were dealing with. I look back at this picture and can see the true fear written on my face...it makes me sad. But this pregnancy has been so different and despite my much larger size, I am elated to be pregnant and only getting good reports at my doctor's visits (and I think this shows on my face as well!).

So....32 weeks and a-countin'!

 Um, less than 8 weeks to go! And still so so so much to do! YIKES!

We Bought a Zoo

A week and a half ago we took Keagan to the zoo in Nashville. Keagan was just over a year when he went to the zoo for the first time, in San Francisco. He seemed interested then so we knew he'd really "get it" this year. Sure enough, he was all about all the animals! The only "animal" exhibit he wasn't into was the dinosaur exhibit, which featured life-sized robotic dinos. He was okay until one of them sprayed us with water and roared...he was scared from then on out and clung to us anytime we came upon one. He still likes to talk about dinosaurs and "roar" when asked what they say, but he has no need for the life-sized version. I don't blame him! He didnt understand that they were fake...at least it didn't last too long. He also showed us that he had no recollection of his love of carousels from last year. He was scared to ride it at first! He rode twice, but wouldn't hold the pole, and by the end of the second ride he didn't want off. This created a scene and ultimately a seat in the "Sad Spot" until he calmed down. Yup. We were that family. (I tried to remind myself that consistency is the key, even if that means reprimanding in public....even if it is embarrassing.)

Anyways, here are some pics of our fun zoo experience. P.s. The Nashville zoo Is Not Cheap! I just learned that the St. Louis zoo is free once you pay for parking...we are considering this next.