Florida Trip!

We had a great trip to Florida last week!  I was really excited for Reid to experience the beach!  

 This was Reid's first time leaving Texas!  We were crossing into Louisiana in this picture.  He looks so excited! :)  He did SO WELL in the car.  The "see and say" toy in this picture was what did the trick!  He loved it and played with it almost the whole time!   

                                   This was Reid's first time in a hotel. :)  We stopped in Baton Rouge.  

 He took a few naps in the car on day 2!

Here are lots of pictures from our time in Florida...

We are ready for our first day on the beach!

 The weather looked kind of iffy at the beginning of the week, but luckily we were still able to spend a lot of time outside!  There was a great breeze and it felt wonderful out there!  

Reid didn't really like touching the sand at first.

He loved playing with toys on the beach blanket!

He didn't seem to mind the sand on his feet though! 

The waves were really rough the first couple of days.  They weren't allowing anyone in the water.  Alli and I got scolded by the police that were driving up and down the beach for having our toes in the water.  

Reid had fun walking around the restaurant while we waited for our food.

We brought a little baby pool to set up by the porch!  I think he thought it was a bath tub.  

Daddy and Reid are looking at the water since we still weren't allowed to get in.  

More fun on the blanket! 

Just having some goldfish on the porch...

Walking around Rosemary Beach...

I was so excited about his little monogrammed swim trunks! :) 

Silly face!

Serious face...

Reid is starting to get interested in climbing.  He climbed onto the chair by himself and was really proud!

Walking in the sand...

Happy boy!

Alli and John pushed Reid around Seaside! 

Mom and Dad

Family picture in Seaside

Love him. :)

Later in the week we were finally able to get in the water!  Reid LOVED it.  We took him to the first sandbar and he was laughing so hard when the waves came towards him!  We had so much fun with him out there!! :) 

Posing in Daddy's sunglasses...

More sweet faces...

Little beach bum :) 

John gave Reid his first taste of popsicle!  I am thinking I need to get him some!

Reid loves his Auntie Alli! 

He also loves his Uncle Thomas!  

We carried him around the condo in this bag and he thought it was the greatest thing!

Family...

 We had a photo shoot with Reid on our last night.  I couldn't narrow down the pictures! :) 

We drove all the way back in one day.  11.5 hours in the car and he was still smiling when we crossed into Houston! :) 

We had a wonderful trip and made lots of memories!  Thank you Mumsie and Popsie for a great vacation!  Also, a big thank you to Mumsie for making Reid so many cute summer outfits! :) 

What I've Learned...

My first year of being a mom has taught me so much.  There's no way I could write it all down, but here are some of the things I've learned with a few recent phone pics spinkled in! :) 

*I've learned to slow down and "stop to smell the roses".  There is very little that truly has to get done every day.  Nothing is more important than being with Reid.  I have to remind myself sometimes that time passes way too quickly and other things can wait.  I love watching him see something for the first time.  Recently we were at the park and there was a bird sitting behind her beautiful speckled egg in the playground mulch.  She was right by us on the swings just tweeting away.  Reid was fascinated with her and I kind of was too.  Before becoming a mom, I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but I loved sitting there and watching this bird (this is coming from someone who is normally terrified of birds!).

 I thought Reid looked so cute in his Noah's Ark outfit.  On this day we took him to the church nursery and it did not go well AT ALL, so we left early and went to the park. ;)

*I've learned that comparison steals your joy!  It is so easy as a mom (especially with facebook and blogs) to compare yourself to everyone else.  Instead of trying to be the perfect mom, I just try to be the best mom I know how to be for Reid!  

 Reid loved looking in this big mirror at the playground! 

*I've learned how much I love being a boy mom!  I LOVE having a boy and think it would be fun to have a house full of boys someday!  I also love dressing a boy!  Girls clothes are absolutely adorable, of course, but it's fun to shop for a boy too!  I've definitely saved us some money because cute boy clothes are much harder to find!  

 Just playing with the wipes...

*I've learned that babies grow up faster than I ever could have imagined!  Everyone tells you how fast time flies, but I never really understood until I had a child of my own.  I am SO SO SO thankful to get to be with him every day and watch him grow right before my eyes!

 We were at La Finca with some friends and Reid was being so shy and snuggly!  This was the start of his cuddly phase and I'm still loving it!  

*I've learned that I cannot do this job alone.  I need the love and support of my husband (he is SO helpful), the encouragement and involvement from Reid's grandparents, other mommy friends who are going through this same stage of life, and most importantly the grace of God! 

 Crazy hair after his nap...

*I've learned that while all of the baby "stuff" is so fun and can definitely make raising a baby a little easier, most of it isn't truly necessary.  Really, a baby just needs his mommy!  I laugh when I think about everything I obsessed about needing and trying to make perfect before Reid arrived.  I guess nesting is just part of it (especially with the first).  

 Just being adorable on his birthday...

*I've learned to appreciate everything in my life so much more.  I know what's really important now and don't focus as much on "keeping up with the Joneses".  I just find myself stopping throughout the day and thinking, "I'm just so thankful to have a house to live in" or "I'm thankful to be able to go to the grocery store and buy food for my family".  I know that sounds silly, but there are so many people all over the world that can't say the same thing.  I'm grateful that being a mom has made me so much more content.  

 Dressed in turtles from head to toe on our wagon ride to the mailbox!  

*I've learned to appreciate my own parents so much more.  I realize now more than ever all of the sacrifices they made for us throughout the years to give us such a wonderful life.  I love them so much!

 Poor baby got his first real bruise while learning to walk.  I know this is the first of many!  

*I've learned that babies are all unique and develop in different areas at different paces.  It's easy to worry and compare your child to others, but it's so much better not to!  

 This is before our first swim class at Houston Swim Club!   

*I've learned that sometimes it's better to just put the camera down and be in the moment.  I often find myself thinking, "Oh I should go get the camera," (and I usually do), but sometimes it's better to not obsess about getting the perfect picture and just enjoy what's happening.

I'm sure I will be adding to this list as time goes on! :)