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.

NO PRESCHOOL IN MAY

Yall! I am worn slap out.  I know I mentioned last week that Elle is out of Parents Morning Out the entire morning out but oh my lordy I am totally feeling it now.  Today is Thursday and our second week of no PDO is coming to end.  We have had fun but we have also used the time to work on some behavioral issues we had rearing their ugly heads. Age 3 is such an amazing age and amazingly hard! The whining was starting to take over so we have gotten to know our time out corner really well and I am thankful to say that us being hard on her is starting to work even though it is tough on us because we know what a sweet girl she is.

With all that being said I do want to share some pictures from the last couple weeks and last weekend.  It will be a big photo dump but oh well!

Elle wakes up very early every morning.  Doesn't matter what time she goes to bed or how tired she is. She is up before 7:00 AM every single day.  She recently discovered watercolors and we paint after breakfast now.

I have gotten creative in activities we can do to pass this time.  She really enjoys our mini vacuum.  I showed her how to look for dog hair and dust and suck it right up!

We spent this weekend at home doing some things that needed to get done around the house.  We need to run some errands Saturday morning so we decided to take Elle to Waffle House.  I had not been there in a very very long time.  It was still disgustingly delicious.  Their waffles really are good!

Coloring our hands.

Cheesing with Daddy.

Then it was time for a Lowe's run.

Our golf cart was pretty dirty and muddy so we thought Elle would think it was really fun to help Kenny wash it. We were right! She absolutely loved it and has told everyone she sees.

Scrubbin it down!

Getting pretty serious about it.

Monday morning I had a doctors appointment in Memphis.  Once Kenny and I were through with that we took Elle to the Memphis Zoo.  I took this wonderful zoo for granted when we lived there but at least it makes a really fun place to visit. We didn't spend too long there, just a few hours.  We let Elle choose what she wanted to do and what animals she wanted to see.  We did hit a snag when she wanted to play on the playground and didn't want to see any of the animals.  That was frustrating because we have playgrounds in Starkville.  We do not have hippos or grizzly bears. We let her play for a little while and then she was down for seeing some wild animals.

Riding the train around the Farm animal section.

Family selfie. Everyone is smiling. A rarity.

Looking at the Tigers with Daddy.

It really has been a great two weeks.  Frustrating at times but I am so incredibly grateful I get to spend my days with this magical little girl and watch her grow and shape who she will become.  If I don't say it enough on here.  I love you so so so so much Elle.  You too Kenny!

GRAMMA AND POP POP CAMP PART 2

Just a few more pictures from Elle's week at Gramma and Pop Pop camp.  Not too much more to report.  On Friday afternoon, Kenny and I drove down to spend the weekend with Elle and Kenny's parents because it was Mrs. Ann's birthday and of course Mother's Day. Kenny and his dad were supposed to sail in a Regatta but the weather ended up being yucky so we just hung around the house and relaxed for the most part.  Mrs. Ann took Elle to see that new Wizard of Oz Cartoon movie and Kenny and I went to see neighbors.  It was hilarious and nice to see an adult movie. Saturday night we all went out for hibachi to celebrate Mrs. Ann's birthday.  It was so good and Elle loves the theatrics of it all.  Seriously loves it.

Sunday we all went out for a Mother's Day breakfast at one of our favorite diners in Fairhope.  I love the pancakes there. Then it was time to drive home! We were so happy to have Elle back with us.  Even after having her home for a few days I am so happy to be back around her.  I missed her!

Here are a few more pictures from last week!

Elle has been asking for an umbrella and they found this one at a little shop downtown and she was so excited about it! It was the first thing she showed us when we got to Fairhope.

Ice cream at Mr. Beans.

Forget the spoon!

Another full fun day with Gramma and Pop Pop and another pass out in the car seat.

The Oz movie got out before our movie so we found Elle in the arcade.  Elle was loving all the noise and Kenny was reliving his childhood although you can't tell from this picture.

And I just had to include this picture.  I posted it on Instagram for Mother's Day and I just love her sweet smile.  Love her a whole lot and so happy she made me a mommy!