A Very Different Panama City Beach- part 1

The last time I set foot on Panama City Beach, I was a Senior in high school. Several of my friends and I somehow talked our parents into letting us go spend the week there for Spring Break.  It was fun, but looking back, I wonder what my parents were thinking. Quinn went right before, and I mean like the weekend before, we started dating so his last time there was just as wild as mine.

This year, we decided to give PCB another go, but under very different circumstances. I traded my string bikini in for a very conservative one piece and Quinn's cooler of beer was now full of Capri Suns and bottled water. 

My little OCD boy lining up his animals in the room

The family vacation started off like most family vacations-chaotic. Trying get everything ready stresses me out, and getting everything packed in the truck stresses Quinn out. But we got it together and were on our way by 10:00 Sunday July 17.  We stopped in Tallahassee to eat and feed Levi. I noticed that nursing was really painful and told Quinn that if I made it through the trip, I may wean him when we got home. Later on I noticed white patches in his mouth and realized we both had thrush. Great-haven't even made it to the beach yet and already there is a problem.  I called nurse triage at SGMC and they were wonderful.  Called us in some Nyastin to a pharmacy there and we just kept on trucking.

excited about the beach

Not so excited about the beach

Before we could check in, we had to hit up the grocery store. Again, something very different than 10+ years ago happened. We weren't buying junk food and cigarettes. We were buying milk and gogurt snacks.  Finally, we made it to our room and didn't waste much time getting to the beach. Bennett has been to the beach many times and has finally gotten used to the water (he has always loved the sand) This was Levi's first trip, so we didn't know what to expect. Well, I was very suprised that he didn't like the sand more. He actually cried when I put him in it and didn't want anything to do with it. The water on the other hand, he loved. I had to muster up everything in me to take him out there in all that seaweed, but I did it and he loved splashing around and watching the waves. 

We went to Pier Park for the laser show that night. Everything was so crowded that we ended up eating a Buffalo Wild Wings of all places, but when your kids are hungry it's not wise to wait 75 minutes for a table.  Bennett had the best time with all the attractions. Again, Levi was in the sling so he was just along for the ride. About 9:30, the laser show started. I tried to record a very hilarious Bennett dancing to the music but I couldn't get the lighting just right. He had so much fun.  Levi went to sleep.  Walking back that night, we passed all kinds of young kids and college students making big party plans for the night. We were just ready to go to bed. 

watching the laser show with daddy

a very sleepy boy

One of Bennett's favorite parts about the trip was that we had a king size bed in our room. We told him he could sleep with us as a sort of treat. He has never slept with us at home, and doesn't even want to, so it was kinda cool to snuggle with him. 

Meeting Baby Tal

While we were at the beach, my sister in law, Deaven decided to have her first son, Tal Jesse Thomas. Of course, it was the one night that I left my phone in the truck so when we woke up the following morning Quinn looked at his phone and said "Deaven is in labor"  Being a man, he didn't know, or feel the need to know, any more of the details. Me, on the other hand, wanted to know EVERYTHING! I was so excited. First because someone I love very much is about to experience the best thing ever, second because babies being born is super fun, and third because that little guy is my newest nephew.  Deaven and Stewart were pretty good about keeping us posted, and we finally got the call that Tal made it here and was healthy and a cutie. 

I called Deaven and/or Mrs. Marilyn everyday to check on everyone. And let me tell you, that Deaven is a strong woman.  She had to have a dang root canal the day after coming home from the hospital.  You don't ever see that on Bringing Home Baby. Anyway, we made arrangements to go visit the following week.  We decided to leave Bennett with my parents for the weekend so I could focus on being a help, not a hinderence.  Levi went with us since he is still nursing.  It was only the second time I have left Bennett for more than a night, the first being when I was in the hospital with Levi.  It was hard on me, but he loved sleeping between Mimi and Papa.

When we got to Deaven's house, she was sleeping with Tal right next to her. I just get choked up when I see a new mama-it's such a sweet feeling to see someone loving something as much as you love your own.  boy let me tell you, that little fella is a cutie!  He has what I like to call "chicken hair," that hair that goes everywhere, and lots of it. 

I went up to help Deaven with breastfeeding, but she and Tal already had that figured out. I love seeing a breastfeeding mama. Don't get me wrong, if someone chooses not to do it that's cool. But I LOVE breastfeeding so I love sharing it with other mamas.  Quinn and I had so much fun watching Deaven and Stewart become parents.  And Levi loved meeting his new cousin.

So now that Tal is here, we get to anticipate the arrival of Quinn's brother's son, Aaron:)

Levi is 8 months old

Well, another month has passed.  I know everybody talks about how quickly times goes and how fast your children grow up, but Levi seems to be in turbo mode. I guess it's because we have Bennett to keep up with too, so we don't notice those subtle changes anymore. It's almost like a soap opera- you know, when the kids go upstairs and when they come down again, they've age about 10 years.  Well, maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but you get the point.

Levi is so stinking funny. He loves to laugh and to smile- and laughs and smiles at everything.  He also has a temper. Boy does he have a temper. We now have to take things away from him that may (um...WILL) end up in his mouth. And he screams-not a "you hurt my feelings" kind of scream, but an "I am so mad I could scream" kind of scream.  He has the cutest little mad face though, so I usually end up laughing at him before I can console him.  He is also into everything. I let him crawl around the other morning while I was taking care of Bennett. When I found him, he was soaking wet, with a huge smile and water droplets on those long eyelashes, next to the dog's water bowl. When I asked him what he was up to, he just laughed and laughed. I have a  feeling this is a sign of things to come.

Developmentally, he is a genius (of course) He is crawling everywhere.  He can get up on all fours but still prefers to army crawl himself around. He can go from sitting to crawling and crawling to sitting.He just recently started pulling up, but only attempts that when I am close by to save him.  He can say "dada" and "bubba". He can also say "mama" even if I am the only one that has heard him:) He loves to clap and play patty cake.  He also has learned to "motorboat" and thinks its the funniest thing ever.  He still only has two teeth, but another is bound to make its appearance any day now.



pulilng himself up in the crib

He is still in 6-9 month clothes and size 3 diapers. Sadly, I think he is starting to wean himself. He still loves to nurse, but only when he is sleepy.  He's too busy any other time. I am still pumping while I am at work and nursing when I am off, it just takes a little longer because he stops to look around. This may have a little to do with our recent run in with thrush, when nursing wasn't fun for either of us. But we are both healed, so hopefully he will regain interest.  No solids yet, but he does love his puffs and cheerios.  He eats a whole jar of baby food at each feeding, sometimes more, and loves the baby yogurt. That boy can eat!

He still loves his brother very much. Although now we have the challenge of teaching them both to share. All in all, life is great.



playing with his Bubba