Down By the Boardwalk...

Well, not actually by the boardwalk, but close enough!

Daniel and I took Foster to the beach for the very first time yesterday.  I am not sure if it is the fact that his mom was a swimmer, his dad loves the beach, he was born in Florida 7 miles from the shore, his laid back personality, or his impressive genes that had the greatest effect, but is was clear that Foster is a BEACH BABY!  He loved it.  Even though the water was cold he was a trooper...splashin' and playin' both in the tidal ponds and in the ocean.  He had salt water all over his face and even in his eyes, but that wasn't going to stop this little man!  When the waves would come he would grin and laugh.  He did decide that his appetizer of sand was delicious and would certainly have made it a main course had we not stopped him.  We only stayed an hour and half just to get him interested but not overdo it.  Although with as pale as Daniel and I are, we should have stayed all day! Now that we know what to pack and how to "take the baby to the beach," we are so ready to do it again.  Maybe next weekend!  Come down and join us!

Beeufort, not Bofort

As far back as I can remember, which unfortunately is no longer all that far back, Jaime and I spent our summers with our grandparents in Beaufort, SC. Not Bofort...the locals would kill you for such tyranny!  For, we are not in North Carolina folks! We always visited in July, during the Water Festival and my memories of this week are like no other.  My grandparents bought the condo on the Marsh when I was about 2 years old.  They had a small yacht and docked it as the marina next door.  During our week with Mommom and Poppop, we would spend the week at Bible School during the day, which I absolutely loved...making crafts, singing, eating snacks...what was not to love?  We went to the Water Festival Parade, where candy was thrown into the streets (what kid doesn't love candy?), spent an afternoon hunting for sandollars on Hunting Island, the most beautiful natural beach I have ever been to in the US. We stopped and ate lunch at the Shrimp Shack (AMAZING- buy the Super Shrimp Burger- You'll never taste ANYTHING like it!), took the dingy into the mud flats and crabbed by hand, steamed and enjoyed picking them with Poppop at the bar in the great room with newspaper underneath our feet, and so much of our time, we just spent playing outside on the live oaks and in the woods.  At night, Jaime and I would get to make large ice cream sundaes and watch movies that Poppop had taped (with commercials) from TV like The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and other favorites!  Jaime and I would always have some ridiculous BOZO SHOW prepared for both my grandparents and my parents when they came up for the pick up on the last weekend of the week we spent there.  We would sing and make queer jokes, and dance like idiots!  So much fun!  As we got older, I spent several of those visits without Jaime and instead took along my bestfriend at the time.  Michelle Roth accompanied me one year and Holly Hance late in High School.  I honestly have to admit that when I look back on those summer moments, I can't help but smile and hope that my own children will have even half as good memories of summers as I have! 

My point in giving this intense background is in laying the groundwork for how special it was to have recently taken Foster to see Mommom.  Poppop died when I was 18, so being there isn't quite the same, but even with a 9 month old baby in my arms, as I swung open that front storm door, I was immediately sent back in  to a time when life was just so simple and simply delightful!  This time, however, it felt even more special because Foster was getting to visit a place that resonates so deeply in my soul.  Of course he had no way of really understanding where we were or how special the place is to me...but together we were able to make new memories...ones that at least I will remember.

We spent three days with Mommom.  Jaime was there for the first night and Foster just loves spending time with his Aunt Meme!  No Aunt could ever love a nephew more!  Per Jaime's request we enjoyed fresh boiled peel n eat shrimp! Yum. Unfortunately no shell fish for F just yet.  The next day, Mommom and I took Foster out the the Shrimp Shack.  I'm telling you...there is nothing like it.  I dream about this sandwich in my sleep.  Think of the way a hamburger is made, and then imagine that the beef is shrimp, lightly floured and fried to a golden brown.  What, what???  AMAZING!  After lunch, we took him to downtown Beaufort to swing on the renovated playground.  So cute!  Daniel had spent the last two weeks in Scottland gallivanting around for the Navy and surprise...they were coming home early. Truly unbelievable.  So, the following day, Foster and I packed up and headed back to Fernandina to greet Daddy!  IT was so nice to have him back.

All in all, a short, sweet, and fabulous trip!  Can't wait to head back that way later this summer!

Foster Gets his "Sea Legs"

Today, I took Foster to see Dr. West for the 9 month checkup.  HE was so good and so smiley.  All the ladies working the hospital front desk were so in love with him and his grin.No surprise there!  He weighed in at 20 lbs. and 10.5 oz.  I wasn't too surprised that he was not all that much heaver than he was at 8 months, because all the crawling and walking with assistance apparently sheds baby pounds...only for the baby, unfortunately, not for the mama!  He is in the 50th percentile for weight.  He was 29 inches in length which puts him at the 75th percentile for height!  PERFECT!!!! Not too big, and not too small.  Again...no surprise.

HE was so good for both the iron check finger prick and for the Hep 2 shot he received!  Way to go Foster!!!

Also, this afternoon after his nap, he did some pack n play time, since we missed it this morning due to the appt.  When I went in to get him out, guess who was standing there waiting for me?  HE has had a few moments of pulling up, but this was the first time I have found him standing all on his own doing.  SO precious!  I got so excited and so did he!  What a big boy he is with these new sea legs!

9 Months of Mayhem!

Yesterday marked Foster's 9 month birthday.  I simply cannot believe that he is already 9 months old.  Time really does fly by, just as everyone said it would.  Next thing you know he'll be asking me to drop him off at the movies from a block away!

As a 9 month old, he is so sweet and so happy.  Everywhere we go people comment on his sweet demeanor and how relaxed he is..

Radio Flyer!

For Christmas, Foster's Nana and Papa Russell bought him his first official Red Radio Flyer wagon.  I love it!  The big wheels and the removable wooden slats are perfect, especially the big wheels for the beach!  We were not able to get it back to Florida with us after the holidays- we were packed up tighter than a lady leaving the country on vaca!  So, While Daniel visited his grandparents, he was finally able to pick it up and bring it home here.  He put it together for Foster, while we were away in CT, and it was ready to go when we returned.  Even Welli and Chloe couldn't wait to see F in his choice of transportation!

Where're all the Goodies?

Foster had his first official visit from the Easter bunny on Sunday.  He dressed up in his Easter Egg John-John that has planes on it!  Can you believe that one?  Thanks Mama Jill...what a find that was.  HE was such a good boy this year that MR. Bunny thought he deserved some treats, of course at his age...only Dad got to eat the chocolate.  Instead he got several new books, some chalk and an eraser for his easel, and a toy. HE was thrilled with it all.  Daniel and I both read his books to him and he destroyed the basket, pulling everything in there out and apart.  So cute!

Little Bunny Foofoo...

I don't want to see you, scoopin' up the field mice and boppin' them on the head...

Foster's First Easter- and such fun!

 The Easter Bunny visited Foster twice this year...

To Grandmother's House We Go!

While in CT, visiting the Allens, Foster and I also spent some time with Gigi and Granddaddy, Foster's great grandparents, and the Ruiz family (my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins).  These are my Yankee relations I referred to in the last post.  Mama Jill spent the day with us as well, while we visited the Retirement Community where my grandparents live.

It was so cute seeing them together.  Although Granddaddy gets very confused and doesn't really understand exactly who I am or who Foster is, he does have lucid moments and of course he was in love with Foster.  My Gigi could not stop

On the Road Again...

Just can't wait to get on the road again...can't wait to listen to the fussing and the whining...

Well, actually, Foster is a pretty good traveler.  OR maybe his mom is just that smart?