Trip to the Caribbean

I wanted to share some photos of our trip to the Caribbean two weeks ago. We were on St. Vincent for business checking out this location.

As you will see the beach has black sand. To my surprise the sand was just as soft as white sand has a smooth light texture.

We spent a day boating around the Grenadine islands (part of St. Vincent). There are 32 islands in total and also to my surprise we weren't the only people out there. There were many sailboats and large yachts hanging out on these small islands enjoying the CRYSTAL clear BLUE water. And there was civilization on these small islands. I guess I need to get out more.
I think this is where we stopped to snorkel with the sea turtles. We stopped for lunch at Union island. Our captain had called in the order prior to our snorkel excursion and it was ready when we sat down...now that's service!
This was my favorite island, Mayreau, because of its clear water with no coral. Don't get me wrong, I like the coral but you can't stand on it...they are very sensitive about you not touching the coral. If anyone has some extra pocket change there is a resort on this little island for sale for 5 mil. Just tossin' that out there in case you know.

Fun on the boat with Lisa

Chad and II must give Chad a big pat on the back for making it happen with his business. This is a nice way to make a living.PS - No this is not the place we stayed. This is more like the look of our vacation on the 5 year plan...in my opinion.

Ahhh, now let's reel it back in to reality. We are not in the Caribbean anymore.

Back in the pre-Summer days I used to post many pictures like this. So in an effort to broaden my horizon I will share with you a sweet moment of a man and his best friends. That Lucy is a mess. She will literally lay on Sampson's head if it means getting more love and attention.

This weekend we were going to go to warm up in the greenhouse at the Biltmore Estate but instead we ended up at the Tavern at the Biltmore Park.

A few more new things that Summer is doing:

Wearing big girl pajamas - I feel sad that she is growing up but relieved that we have made it past snaps. That girl can wiggle!

Yesterday Summer said Mama for the first time.

Today she has said Mama about 50 times. I would say that is a pretty quick learning curve.

Summer Marie_9 months old

Summer Marie Martin is 9 months old!

9 Month Stats:

19 lb. 6 oz.

28 1/4 inches

50% percentile for both weight and height

One more month has gone by and I can't seem to slow things down. Summer is growing and developing so fast I can hardly keep up. Now she is crawling full speed, pulling up on everything, trying to climb, eating the same meals as us (blended) and can say "hey."

We go to the doctor next week and I will update you on her size then.

Here are her official 9 month photos. As you can see she is no longer the easy photogenic baby smiling at mommy. Now I see the back of her head most of the time. She won't sit in the chair long enough for me to snap a photo nor will she allow the "9 month" sign to be near her without eating it.

Summer's first Grandparents Camp week went great while we were in the caribbean. When I returned and saw her there was a big smile but that was it. I had to talk myself off the ledge and kept repeating "don't get your feelings hurt Jana." I am glad they had such a good time she didn't miss me.

Here are some photos that show her prissy personality.

I love these eyes and how she stopped for just a moment to let me take this picture. You can tell she is about to be on the move.

Loving Lucy through the window

I have begun to notice a trend in some of Summer's behaviors. Here is what she is up to at 9 months old.

Climbing

Slobbering / spitting

Look Mom-no hands! This takes major concentration.

Disclaimer: The ONLY time Summer is crawling around the house in a diaper is for the few minutes that I take these monthly photos. I don't want yall to think she is a ragedy Anne with no clothes.

Summer @ Mimi & Grando's house

Mimi and Grando have been emailing photos of what they have been up to while we are away.

They went shopping and got a sunhat.
They went to Chick fil A and Mimi let Summer hold a french fry. She better not have let her eat it!
Then she got to play with Grando with all the big kids.
She learned to read
Overall they have had a Lot of Fun!

**NEW POST BELOW**

First Vacation away from Summer

The heartbroken parents leaving their sugarplum baby for the first time overnight.

HOWEVER...we can relax knowing she is in great care.
Interesting arrival - a tourist got her rental car stuck on a huge curb and Chad had to help lift the car up and over.View from our room today in St. Maarten...tomorrow a new adventure in St. Vincent begins.

Aaaahhhh! I am breathing.

In Motion

The days this week have FLOWN by...except today. It has been 100% busy from the second I got out of bed at 5:30am when Summer woke up 30 minutes early until midnight. Gramma has been with us this week and she has been so helpful. She will be going home tomorrow ready for a week's worth of hibernation and rest after playing with Summer.

Now that Summer has mastered crawling she is on to the next challenge...standing up without support! Let's just say she tries it numerous times throughout the day and has many red marks to show for it (they go away within hours).

Mommy's little helper unloading the dishes! Look Mom, I'm standing!
Holding on with one hand
Crawling all over

And now she can even stand with her NEW bike from Aunt Kiki. Have I mentioned that she will be walking by 10 months?

Week in Review

We have had an adventurous week. Summer has started crawling "for real" and I have been surprised at all the things she can get into.

Showering while she is awake isn't an option anymore as she won't stay in her bounce seat so I got the bright idea that I would take a bath and put her in the tub with me. So I dressed her in her new pink polka dot bikini. Let's just say this probably won't happen again. Not a very effective way to get clean.

We packed Daddy's bags and sent him off on a snowboard/work trip. Summer is using anything and everything to pull up on and get to a standing position. In 2 years she will be hitting the slopes with Daddy. Caribbean here I come! Chad has a business trip to St. Vincent and I get to come too! The temperature there is in the 80's, ahh. I got excited just unpacking my sundresses. I am really hoping that the beach will be secluded and noone will see my big white self. But, oh well, I am on the beach in the caribbean...who cares:)
Quick background: Sampson eats his food in such a rambunctious manner that it scares Lucy and therefore they can't eat side by side. Therefore Lucy eats in the kitchen and Sampson eats in the garage.

Summer LOVES to get Lucy's food bowl and bang it on the floor as it makes a LOUD noise. This drives the already scared Lucy bonkers. Here Summer is playing with Lucy's bowl while Lucy observes through the window outside.However Summer doesn't discriminate. She is now headed to the garage to get Sampson's bowl. Finally I pinned her down and got a photo of those 2 bottom teeth.

It brings a smile to my face to share with you Summer's first curl! May there be many more to follow.

One on One with Jana

It has been one of those days where I have to interview myself at the end just to make sure that indeed I actually survived.

Jana, did you shower today?

Ha, yeah right...no

Jana, what is your technique to mask your unshowered self?

Lots of eye shadow and blush. Yes I probably looked like a clown today. Oh yeah, and I dress up. I actually wore a cute pink skirt just to hang out at home with Summer. (eye roll)

So would you say you had a meltdown at some point?

I think it was when my kitchen looked like this

that I realized I was in trouble. But the true meltdown came at the end of the day when I was ready to relax and there was that darn roasting pan that is too big to go in the dishwasher and requires SO much scrubbing to get the caked up rib grease off it. I like to think this was a calm meltdown. Without raising my voice I told Chad if he ever needed this pan again he could find it in a trash bag in the garage.

And did you go through with putting the pan in a trash bag in the garage?

Yes I did Jana, yes I did!

Now folks, if you were able to follow along in this interview between Jana and Jana then you yourself might have some crazy genes. If you don't get it then you should pat yourself on the back and call yourself normal!

And here is my sweet sugar plum who cut both of her naps short today making mommy tip off the edge!