8 Months!

Our precious girl is eight months old and I just want her to stop growing!!

Arden has been a little crankier than normal in the past couple of weeks. I am not sure if she’s cutting another tooth, or if her ears are still bothering her. We got back to the ENT next week, and I fear they are going to tell us she needs tubes. But at this point if they make her feel better, I’m ok with it.

She’s finally made it to 6-12 or 9 month size clothes! She can still wear some 3-6 months in dresses. She’s in a size 3 diaper still. And eats baby food and oatmeal at least twice a day, sometimes more if she seems hungry. She is taking less and less bottles, which worries me, but I guess she knows when she’s full! She has a 6 oz bottle about 3 times a day and a couple of 3-4 oz, depending on her mood! She really likes table food, and has tried bread, green beans, carrots and mashed potatoes. I am thinking of getting a food mill so I can just mash up whatever we are eating to feed her- but then again it would be hard to mush up tacos and chicken nuggets and I’m not ready to feed her hot dogs, I guess we really don’t have that great of a diet these days . . .on second thought maybe I’ll just stick with the jarred baby food, after all!

She’s really started babbling different sounds together. And just this week she’s started waving bye-bye occasionally. I can’t get over how she already tries to imitate Stratton and the things he does. She is very close to crawling and pulling up. She rarely sits still and likes to be on the move! I love this age, they just learn and grow so much- but I hate it too! She’s not going to be a sweet snuggly baby for much longer.

Gulf Shores :: Friday

We woke up to grey skies and wind. We were sad. I knew there was a chance of rain, but wasn’t prepared for it to be a complete rain out! Kristen and Ian were supposed to come spend the day with us, but considering the weather conditions and all the stuff she still needed to get done (they closed on a house this week and are moving on Sunday!) they decided to stay in Mobile. I was bummed, but completely understand!

We tried to just make the best of it and play on the beach in the clouds and wind, but then it really started raining and wasn’t much fun! Arden fell asleep in Jarrod’s arms not long after we got down to the beach so he took her up to the pool and they sat in the rain while Stratton played.

We decided to give it up and head in to take a warm bath! Stratton was freezing! (Did I mention he got in the POOL while it was raining?) Silly boy! He was turning blue! Then we got ready and went to Pensacola since we couldn’t think of anything else to do that would be inside. So, to the National Naval Aviation Museum we went! We stopped for lunch along the way at Orange Beach and ate at Hurricane Grill- which was fitting for the weather going on outside! It was SO windy! I couldn’t hardly keep the car door open to get Arden in her carseat! Crazy!

We had a nice afternoon at the museum. Stratton had fun getting in all the planes and seeing the helicopters.

 

Then we got back we got cleaned up and TRIED to take some pictures of the kids on the beach- EPIC fail. First off, we get down to the beach and I realize that my camera got left on and is totally dead. So all I had was my iphone! Then Stratton wouldn’t look at the camera, and when he did his eyes were shut! There was even a super nice lady on the beach that offered to take a few of the four of us, but of course Stratton wouldn’t cooperate! I think we are just going to start having family pictures without him!! (In his defense, he didn’t get much of a nap today. I keep thinking that the kid is almost 4 he can go a day without a nap! Well, that would be a no! Think Again!!)

 

After I got frustrated enough I gave up, we went to the Original Oyster House on the Boardwalk for dinner. It’s one of our faves! We did a little shopping while we waiting to be called. They have buzzers that reach all the surrounding stores on the boardwalk, so much nicer than having to sit and wait with 2 kids for 45 minutes! The food was really good and we got a chocolate chip peanut butter pie that was to die for!! Yum-O!

Stratton with the Dolphin at the boardwalk.

Then I took Stratton into Souvenir City while Jarrod and Arden waited (took naps) in the car. It was late, but Stratton had been asking to go to the store with the big shark all week, so I gave in since it was our last night! It was SO busy and Stratton wanted to look at everything- which took forever!!! He finally decided on some shells and a book about a shrimp named Sammy. Not too bad considering he BEGGED for one of these. . . .

. . . a hermit crab!! Ewwww. . . .NO WAY! He would have stood there and watched them all night I think?!!! They have some at school and so he is all about some crabs right now!

I am really bummed about leaving tomorrow. The last night is always so bittersweet! Jarrod has a plan to get on the road about 8am and drive home in one day. . . we will see! It just depends on how the kids do!

Gulf Shores :: Thursday

Arden was cranky this morning so she and Jarrod stayed in the condo while Stratton and I went to the beach and pool for a couple of hours.

We came back to the condo, had lunch and everybody but me took a nap. Then it was time for what Stratton has been looking forward to all week. . .the dolphin cruise!

The Cold Mil Fleet is such a great dolphin site-seeing cruise! I would definetly recommend it to anyone coming here. We've done it a couple times before and its great. They run two boats at the same time and cruise side by side which makes a huge wave that the dolphins catch a ride on to get from one side of the bay to the other. They jump and play and it's really incredible to watch! Stratton thought it was awesome! He was so excited and talked the whole time. It was worth it just seeing his reaction! Which was a good thing he loved it so much because Arden was fussy and cried just about the whole time. She just didn't have a great day today.

Before the cruise

Getting ready to see the dolphins!

It was pretty warm and still really sunny at 4pm so we tried to keep Arden in the shade!

Dolphins! (I'm not zoomed in, they were SO close!)

After the cruise we had dinner at Flippers, which is right there at the marina. Stratton must have been starving because he ate three big pieces of fish and a ton of fries! We got to eat outside again, it's so nice to dine outside without bugs bothering you!

Gulf Shores :: Wednesday

Today was another gorgeous beach day!

We got out about 9am came back in to the condo for lunch and a nap and went back out till after 6pm! Jarrod went and picked up pizza at our favorite pizza place here, Rotolos! Then we watched a movie that was on the Disney channel. It was such a easy, laid back day. . .

Gulf Shores :: Tuesday

It was a beautiful day today! I love starting out the day with breakfast on our balcony. Even though enjoying a cup of coffee while listening to the waves is just not happening anymore! With two kids there is something or someone that always needs attention!

Stratton caught a lady bug and didn't want to put it down. We he finally did, he "let it go" by tossing it over the rail! Poor bug!

We had fun on the beach this morning!

Arden stayed in the shade most of the time.

And then she fell asleep. I can't say that I blame her, it was so nice and breezy and perfect napping conditions!

After lunch in the condo we all took a nap. Stratton slept for over 3 hours and Jarrod had to wake him up! We had dinner at The Hangout per Stratton's request (the place with the big fan, as he called it)

Hanging out at the Hangout while Stratton played.

Listening to the live band.

Gulf Shores :: Monday

When we got up this morning (bright and TOO early again, I might add) it was really cool outside and after a look at the forecast we decided since today was going to be the coolest and cloudiest day this week we would do our Foley trip. The high today was just 70, so really nice but it was windy too and not too great for the beach. It's supposed to get warmer everyday- in the high 70's and they also took out any major chance for rain later in the week!

Jarrod did take Stratton down to play in the sand for awhile while Arden was napping and I took a shower. They came in and we all got dressed and headed to Foley around 11:30.

We had lunch at a little local place called, The Fish River Grill 2, in Foley and it was SO good. I had a seafood BLT: fried shrimp, bacon, fried green tomato, provolone cheese, lettuce and this amazing crawfish sauce. It was amazing. I also had their "sweet thang" for dessert which was basically a beniet filled with peach and apple pie filling. . . Heaven. I about died after eating all of this! Whew! Good thing we went to the outlet mall and walked the whole thing!

The kids were so good while we shopped. Stratton took a little nap in the stroller and then he walked for a while and Arden napped in it for awhile. too. The rest of the time they took turns in it. I keep thinking Stratton is going to get tired of the stroller and refuse to ride in it, but he still seems to be ok with it, so next time we will bring another one OR rent one that is a two seater, we should have done this from the start but didn't think about it till halfway through. On a side note, Jarrod left his phone at the condo. So we got seperated once and spent about 45 mins looking for each other. Not fun. What did people do before cell phones?! It was awful! we were both so frustrated!

Stratton rode the carosel for the first time.

We had dinner at Lulu's. Stratton got to play for a few minutes, but it was really chilly! I'm bummed that I have these cute outfits for the kids and its too cold for them to wear! We're sporting hoodies and jeans so far!

After dinner we went to The Track across from the port and Jarrod and Stratton rode the go-carts. I feel this is going to become a tradition!

It was freezing! Arden and I huddled together as we watched the boys race!

We got back, bathed the kids and they were in bed by 9ish. Whew! Busy but fun day. We've had some moments, don't get me wrong, but so far the kids have been pretty good. Shopping with Stratton was fun today. He kept picking out ugly flowery shirts and asking if Jarrod liked them. And the when we'd leave a store without buying anything, he'd say "Well, we just can't find ANYTHING!" Funny.

Tomorrow is going to be beach day, all day! Yay!