July update

Our 4th of July was very quiet but nice. Since we had just seen my family in Gulf Shores, we stayed in MN. We had a busy day on Friday by running errands, having Annie's ears pierced, going out to lunch and then walking through the MN Zoo before they closed. On Saturday, we watched the Apple Valley parade - it was quite a show! I am not exaggerating when I say that the parade lasted over 2 hours and was constant with floats, bands, etc! Olivia loved it and had a great time, despite her face in the photo....

Duane and Olivia decided she needed to have a lemonade stand so she set up shop in our driveway. Duane reached out to our neighbors and had a pocket full of quarters to make sure she had customers - she had so much fun! While waiting for customers, she kept herself busy with a squirt-gun fight with Duane.

My month was busy with travel - I had trips to Philadelphia and Las Vegas. Duane did a great job of holding down the fort here in MN. I wish I could provide more details about our month but honestly, I can't seem to remember much about it?! This summer is definitely going by too quickly!

7 months old

Oh Annie - you're 7 months old?! How did this happen? Our little lady had a great month. She has done really well with sleeping through the night - although she's not a good napper at school. Annie is eating really well and will eat almost all the food we give her. She developed a sudden aversion to avocado, though, so I need to start sneaking it into other foods. Nursing is still going well and I think I am staying level with Annie's daily intake and the freezer stock. We gave her puffs for the first time and it was so funny watching her try to gum the first "solid" food. She can't quite get them into her mouth yet on her own but she can sure eat them!

We also took her into Claire's for earrings! On July 3, we were out and about and I decided we should do it. Annie did great and didn't start crying until they had moved onto her 2nd lobe. She cried for about 10 seconds and then was smiling through her tears at the lady who did the piercing. Olivia watched the whole thing and was so sweet about it.

Toward the end of July, Annie started waving! It started out as her whole arm robotically pumping up and down but now she's a little more in control of her arm and hand. No matter what - there is nothing cuter than seeing her big, gummy smile and her wave!

Gulf Shores Vacation

Just because we have a new baby in the family doesn't mean we won't vacation! (I should put that word in quotations because traveling with a 6 month old is no real vacation....) The Potter family and the Meyer family met in Gulf Shores, AL on June 3. Our flight to New Orleans was great - both girls were wonderful travelers. Unfortunately, the drive east took longer than we thought it would so we were a little worse for wear upon arrival. We made it, though, and Olivia demanded to be taken out to the ocean immediately! Alex, GG and Liv headed to the beach. From what I heard, Liv went nuts - she was kicking the water, yelling, screaming - just beside herself with excitement! Our condo was perfect and we had plenty of space. That night, the Potter's were exhausted from their drive south and the Meyer's were exhausted from our day of travels so everyone slept really well.

The days to follow were perfect! Our mornings were started very, very early thanks to two beautiful little girls by the names of Olivia and Annaliese. Liv would start her morning with some TV and breakfast and then suddenly, "let's go to the beach!" My dad, Duane, Alex and Giesla would pack up everything we needed (there was a lot of stuff!) and then haul it down to our spot. My mom and I would lather up the girls in sunscreen and then double check we had everything for the next couple of hours. Beach time until lunch and then we'd head back down!

breakfast in MSP

yum - rice cereal!

Annie's way of saying - "leave me alone, Grandma."

Annie's 1st dip in the ocean

Hanging out with Grandma and Papa

Olivia can always make Annie smile

Papa entertaining Annie at Lulu's

thank goodness for Chew Beads!

checking out the scenery 

Liv's snacking, Annie's napping

another dip in the ocean - she loved it!

not sure about her first taste of avocado....

On Wednesday of that week, Alex and GG headed back to Indiana. We were sad to see them go but they had to head back to the real world. We had a wonderful time with them, but it's hard not to! (even though Alex is a vegetarian....ha! gotcha, Al!)

see what I mean? She loved the beach!

ferris wheel ride

smiley Annie

water spout!

snoozing in the shade

child+sand+bucket = happiness

happy baby after her snooze

on our last full day in Gulf Shores, Liv and the boys did a fishing excursion. They saw dolphins, crabs, squid and all kinds of fish! They had a great time! 

Me, Annie and my mom stayed at the beach. Annie and Grandma snoozed in the shade!

family picture near Sea N Suds

the girls with their grandparents

Before we knew it, it was time to say good-bye and end our vacation. By the end of the week, Annie was not sleeping well so Duane and I were kind of ready to get home and get her back into a routine. It was still sad to leave the beach! The drive to New Orleans went a little better and we had some time before our flight. We were bad parents and took our girls to the French Quarter.... The beignets were worth it!

Thanks again to my parents and Alex and Giesla for making it such a wonderful trip! We appreciated your help with the girls so we could have a little down time. I even came back to Minnesota with a tan! As my parents were driving back to Indiana and we were heading to the airport, my mom was texting me potential places for Summer 2016 back in Gulf Shores! :)