ROLLIN ON THE RIVER WITH ELLE AND FRIENDS

This past weekend we traveled North to Tennessee to spend some much needed time with our friends, Tracy, Joe and sweet boy Mack.  Tracy and Joe just built a new house and we were dying to see it so we stopped in Jackson, TN to check out the new place.  It was absolutely beautiful and Elle and Mack were became fast friends while we waited on Joe to return home from work.

Elle and Mack playing on Joe's new "tractor." 

Once Joe came home from work we headed to Tennessee river to their river cabin.  A place where we have visited many many times with our friends but this was our first time to take Elle.  I finally felt she was old enough to spend the day on a boat.  I was so excited to have her with us.  

Saturday morning while the boys put the pontoon in the water we took a golf cart ride around the water.  We could not of asked for better weather.  It was almost cool and felt like fall.  

Love this golf cart selfie with a best friend our children!

Once the boys got everything situated it was time to hit the water.  Elle was so excited to get on the boat.  

Headed out for a day on the water.

Cheesing with Daddy and her new mermaid I bought her to play with.  She lost the tail and we were all devastated.  She was so sad.  I already ordered her a new one. 

We beached pretty quickly so the kids could get out and play and Elle just loved it! She liked being able to walk in the water and it did not intimidate her without the waves like the ocean.  She and Mack set to digging and Elle playing with her mermaid.

Playing on the beach.

Family pic on the beach.

The guys.  Drinking beers.

Trace and me.  You can kind of see the top of my baby bump in this pic.  I am large in charge already!

Sweet Mack on the boat.

Getting tickles from his Mommy.

Mid afternoon we set out for a cruise to try and get all the kids to nap.  We also had Brooks on the boat with us who was 9 months.  The littles went to sleep pretty quickly but Elle took some coercing.  Elle eventually passed out on me completely out in the open sun and with me in the most uncomfortable position ever.  The things we do for naps!

I had to completely cover her with towels which made both of us pretty hot.  

I was so worried about her getting a sunburn.

Thankfully the nap payed off and she was in a great mood when she woke up.  So we beached again to play a little more and enjoy a lazy late afternoon on the river.  It really was all so fun and relaxing.  It just makes your heart so happy when your kids are having a ball too.

Love this sweet picture of Elle and Aunt Tracy!

Digging in some river mud.

On the boat ride back in Elle wanted to drive the boat home with Mr. Joe. She was so excited and he really did let her steer it some.  She wasn't great at it but it made things interesting.

After a great day on the water we came back to the cabin for baths and dinner before all falling asleep extremely early.

Sunday morning we woke up bright and early and headed home.  To celebrate Father's Day Kenny requested to come home and relax and be able to watch the U.S. Open all day.  We did enjoy the day at home and I cooked Kenny one of his favorite meals.  It was a great Father's Day and a great weekend. 

LACEY BEACH VACATION 2014 PART 4

Okay last one I promise!  Just a few more pictures I swear!

The last couple of days we hit up the pool in the afternoon and some in the morning.  Elle loves the beach but toward the end of the week the temperature got a lot warmer and it was just a lot to go out there for me.  Plus sometimes I get over the sand at a point too.

Floating with Daddy.

One evening we stayed at the pool until dinner time and then road the golf cart over to Pizza by the Sea, ordered pizzas to go and then played outside while we waited.  Then we brought them back to the beach house and had a picnic on the screened in porch per Elle's request.  It was one of my favorite nights of vacation.  So relaxed and Elle and Kenny were dancing together while we listened to music.

Seasawing while we waited on pizza.

Elle really loves helping people cook in the kitchen so she helped CeCe make breakfast one morning. Her personal favorite, eggs and bacon!

Eating marshmallows at the beach.  Because who doesn't!

Dancing at the beach.  Because who doesn't!

Finishing up dinner out one night. A rare pic with Mommy so I included these!

Reading books with Nannee.

And then it was time to go say goodbye to the beach.  Vacation was coming to an end and we spent the  morning at the pool.  It was only appropriate that we bid farewell.  This time we were smart enough not to bring Elle fully clothed.

Carrying her shovel and sandcastle mold to make one last sandcastle.

One last golf cart selfie.

Toes in the water and sand.

Someone was sad and like I said before.  Tired of pictures.

LACEY VACATION 2014 PART 3

At this point I am not sure if I am even going in order of how our vacation went but oh well.  I am enjoying myself.

A lot of nights we ended up in Seaside for dinner.  We did some of the more casual options this year instead of making Elle have to sit at a table.  We went to Bud an Alley's Taco Stand and Pickles and we enjoyed a more relaxed atmosphere.  After dinner we always hit up the ice cream shop.

Elle sporting her awesome new shades that are way to big for her head.  We have a sunglass problem with her. They are either waaaay to small or huge.

On Tuesday morning we all went to Cowgirl Kitchen for breakfast and gave Elle the news that she was going to be a big sister. She really is so excited and I could not be more proud.  Once we stuffed ourselves we headed to the beach where I was excited to take our announcement pic to share for the entire world.

Headed to the beach.  Love this picture of the two of us.

And here is our announcement picture we took.  She looks super excited and proud to be in this picture but since she can't read she doesn't even know what this picture is about and we had to bribe her to sit down and take a bunch of really fast pictures before the water washed the letters away again. Just keepin it real!

Beach selfie.

Kenny cooking up this delicious salmon dish that we snacked on before eating delicious steamed shrimp from Goatfeathers.

One morning we took a break from the beach and went to some of the shops in Watercolor after brunch.  Kenny had to take a phone call so the girls took a cruise in the golf cart and we ended up at this pretty pond/lake/sound (I dunno) and had to take advantage of the photo-op.

LACEY BEACH VACATION PART 2

This post is mostly just some pictures from a day at the beach.  We had a cloudy and somewhat stormy day on Tuesday.  It never rained but we all managed to get sunburned, including Elle and I felt like a terrible mother.  It wasn't too severe but I should of been more vigilant with the sunscreen on a cloudy day.  

Elle gets so over me asking to take her picture.

But isn't she cute with her ponytail and her coverup.

On the golf cart headed to the beach.

Family Selfie.

CeCe and Elle doing some playing at the beach.

Nannee got in on the action too.

Elle loved when I made her a mermaid tail and asked me to do it for her every single day.

These pictures are from a different day but I had to include them.  I am telling you.  These sweet pictures of Elle and the ocean are so important to me.

LACEY BEACH VACATION PART 1

Alright just get ready.  I have a serious problem.  I cannot possibly choose just a few pictures and do one post on our beach vacation.  I just cherish the pictures too much and since I know I am not breaking any reader records I am going to do several posts on our wonderful vacation featuring lots of pictures of Elle looking all of three and a half and loving the beach in the most adorable swimsuits.  So here we go.

We always spend a night in Fairhope before we head to the beach to break up the trip and this time we were so lucky because Kenny's Aunt Sandy was coming to stay with the Lacey's and she got there in time for us all to have breakfast together. Elle and Sandy had not seen each other since she was a baby and I am so glad they got to spend a little time together.  Must plan more!

Aunt Sandy and Elle right before we headed out.

Upon arriving in Seagrove and unloading the car into the beach house Elle was just dying to get to see the beach.  So we took her for a quick hello.  

She was so incredibly excited!

Daddy and Elle going to put their toes in the water.

Elle quickly got soaked but had the best time.  We promised her that we would make a sand castle so we did!

Elle and Nannee cuddling and watching some toons on our first morning.

After a great first day at the beach we headed to Seaside for an early dinner at our favorite restaurant, Great Southern and then the theatre group was doing a very strange version of Cinderella in the Seaside Amphitheatre.  This is our third play with this theatre troupe and I can't say the adults always enjoy the plays but Elle goes crazy for them. She is still talking about meeting Cinderella.

A rare picture of the two of us.  And a small baby bump. 

Love this family pic.

Mom and Annie.

Elle meeting Cinderella from the play.

She was so excited to meet her because she really thought she was Cinderella and that pretty much made want to plan our Disney World trip yesterday.

I FINALLY GET TO SAY!

We are expecting a baby.  It's a boy! We will name him Kenneth Walker and will call him Walker. We were so excited to share the news with Elle while we were at the beach and now that the cat is out of the bag I can put it out on the inter webs.  

I can't share this wonderful news without  noting that it has been a long and somewhat difficult road to get this baby boy and I do plan to do a small post on the journey for memory and blog book sake.  But for now I want this post to only express the immense joy and excitement we are to welcome to our family.  We cannot wait to see what "boy world" holds for us since we have been completely immersed in girl world.  Luckily soooooo many of our closest friends have boys and I can turn for them for advice. 

I am 14 weeks today so Walker will be here in December. Scroll down for my first weekly update! We know that he is chromosomally healthy because we chose to the new Panorama test. That is also how we know the gender so early. The first trimester has been rough but not unbearable.  I was way more exhausted this time around but truly believe it has more to do with already having a child to look after. Zofran has been my best best friend. I have only thrown up a handful of times but wake up nauseous and go to bed nauseous. My appetite and food aversions are totally weird. I have continued to work out with my fitness trainer and that is exciting for me.  I am hoping to maintain some muscle and tone and bounce back quickly after delivery.

Elle is so incredibly excited to have a baby brother and talks of Walker constantly. In my weekly updates I plan to mention some of her weekly questions or thoughts about Walker because there have already been some doozies that I will always want to remember!

So now for our first weekly update!

14 WEEKS

How far along? 14 weeks exactly.  My What to Expect App says Walker is the size of a lemon!

Total weight gain/loss? I haven't weighed in a few days but last time I weighed I gained a 1lb from my pre-pregnancy weight.

Maternity Clothes? Yes.  I embraced maternity clothes very quickly this pregnancy.  They are just so much more comfortable than squeezing yourself into normal clothes that don't fit. I already have a small bump and maternity clothes help me feel pregnant and not just fat.

Stretch Marks- None.  I never had any with Elle.  Praying I do not get any this time either.

Sleep? Sleep is just a different beast now that we already have a three year old.  Sleep isn't great but it hasn't been for a long long time now. I would say most of my sleep issues come from having to pee, Elle waking up around 5 AM every single day and possibly some snoring happening in our bed.  I won't name names.

Best Moment Last Week? Telling Elle at the beach that she was going to be a Big Sis.  She is so incredibly proud and is ready for him to be here now.  I have to say I feel that way too!

Movement? Not yet.  At least I do not think so.  Sometimes I feel things that seem like a baby moving around but I am not totally convinced.  Now that we know he is a boy feeling him move is what I am looking forward to the most.

Food cravings? Pancakes have been my biggest craving with this pregnancy.  With Elle it was potatoes.  I also went through a week or so of eating Doritos that were refrigerated.  So good!

Gender? It's a boy! Kenneth Walker.

Labor Signs? None. I am already discussing with my OBGyn what we can do to prevent preterm labor this time.  With it being a boy and having Elle early I want to be more cautious since boys are typically a little weaker.

Belly button in/out? In and hoping it stays in. It never came out with Elle.

What I miss? Not feeling nauseous.  I always feel at least a little bit queasy. I am ready to feel okay again.  I also get really carsick.  Any long distance drive leaves me feeling pretty terrible afterwards.  And of course alcohol. I wanted some cool drinks at the beach last week and that wasn't happening.

What I am looking forward to?  Feeling Walker kick and move.  Going to the river with my bestie who I haven't seen in a while this coming weekend and we are taking Elle.  This will be her first time on a boat or a river and I am thinking she will love it.  

Funny things Elle has said this week about Walker:  "Will he come tomorrow?" "Is Walker still in your belly today?" "When Walker get big he's going to kick. A soccer ball." "I'm going to hold him ALOT!" "After he grows he will say "Where's my sis? " I love him!" "Will Walker come out of your mouth?"  She also likes to tell him good morning and give my tummy hugs and kisses already.