Home and Refreshed

Well, to my dismay, we have returned from the beach. I could live there in a heartbeat! It is my favorite place that the good Lord has created for me to enjoy! Now, don't get me wrong, I do love me some snow-skiing and mountains, but there is just something to be said about sitting in my little chair with my feet in the sand listening to some Michael Buble and the waves crashing in and sipipng on my Pina Colada (non alcoholic I add for all you skeptics : ). Oh how I long to return!

It started out rough. We left Sat morning and got on the plane and as soon as we took off Isabella started going NUTS with her ears! As much as we fly, she has NEVER been in such pain. I was a basket case, but once again, my amazing Kevin to the rescue! He rocked, walked and held her as she screamed, sweated and shook and cried in pain as I have never seen her do. He finally got her calmed down about the longest 30 or 40 min of my life! I reflected on it a lot this week on how it hurts so bad when your children hurt and there is nothing you can do to make it stop. I don't think you ever understand the pain your parents speak of until you are one. I thought of how our heavenly Father feels when we hurt and He cradles us in His loving arms as we walk through fires. So, anyway, we got her on an antibiotic and ear drops as soon as we arrived to help with the oncoming ear infection. She felt better through the week but never really was herself. We had to take turns staying with her in the room a lot so she could rest (she would take like 4 hour naps!!!) I took her to a Dr in Destin who was GREAT and he said that all looked clear by TUes and to carry on as normal. It was just her allergies. I am so tired of hearing this! I have an appt with her pediatrician on Monday to see if we can get to the bottom of these allergies. It is causing way too many issues.

Anyway. We had an amazing time. I ate enough for all of you reading this and then about 100 times more. I am pretty sure I have gained like 10 pounds this week. I am trying to eat salads and get back on healthier thoughts than fried seafood before my appt on Tues.

Isabella loved the beach as much as me! Kevin loves it too but if he had to choose you would find him on the slopes in Aspen. We had a MAJOR accomplishment of Bella learned how to swim this week!!!! You got it! "Ms Jody woud be so proud" she would say (jody Allison her swim teacher). She is not totally on her own but can go about 15 feet by herself. She smiles so big while swimming she swallows half of the pool comes up for a good cough and then is ready to go again! I cannot believe it! My internal thought was to have her swimming by the end of next summer (older threes) but this summer, NO WAY! She was so proud of herself! I will get the pics on later this week. My mom has them b/c my camera ran out of batteries that day...of coarse! But I am SO proud of my precious little fish! She may not be completely potty trained, but my goodness she can swim : )

Some quotes of the week of hers. She is learning that using her manners can get her about anything : ) so now everytime I ask her something in a yes or no form. She replies,
"no, but thank you though" and bats her little eyes with such satisfaction. She is a little con artist at many points b/c I just melt! and she knows it! There was a dead locust on the side of the pool and she proceeded to tell everyone laying out around us that it had just run out of batteries and just needed some new ones. She has moved on from not only calling me Elizabeth but to calling everyone else by their first name too as my mom is "Pam" and my dad is "Vance" etc. We had many threats of discipline and many follow throughs as well. I caught her letting her baby doll have it one time, "Now, make your choice do you want a spanking or do you want to obey?". The worst is the faces she makes and the firmness in her voice, do I really look and sound that bad??? She would strip down as we left the beach to NOTHING and it took all I had to get her in a cover up to walk through the hotel. She did not like the sand on her if she was not playing in it. so we would stand at the shower stations just off of the beach with her naked as can be just taking a shower. It was quite interesting how she would continue to ask stangers if she could use their shower when I would not turn one on for her...all in her natural state of coarse. I promise this girl would be naked all day everyday if someone would let her.

Well, that is all for now. I am getting BIG and only have 47 days to go!!! I pulled out those clothes from when I was pregnant with Bella that I thought, surely I won't wear those this time...oh but I can! OH MY!!! Can't wait! Miss Mary Kate is just over 4 lbs now and 17 inches long. And I sure feel like it too! Can't wait to meet her!

Here are some vacation pics. Of coarse I am having trouble getting the captions to go where the should, so here is a short description:

Brent and my hottie sis-in-law Meghan

One of the few family photos we got. Bella is in this weird stage of smiling silly. Can't get her to not. I know all kids go through it.

Bella playing on the beach

My mom and Bella watching the fireworks show on the beach. My dad and I wondered who was having more fun, mom or Bella? But Bella LOVED the fireworks she was ultra dramatic "it's gorgeous, it's beautiful, I just can't believe how wonderful!"...don't know where she gets it from :)

Dad and Bella, they had a great time together! She is Papa's little buddy!