FLORIDA: PART II

I knew that a November Florida trip wouldn't exactly be balmy, but I wasn't expecting COLD weather! The strong winds and cool temps prohibited us from spending our days at the beach and pool ... but with two kids under three and two energetic grandparents, we kept busy! Our single packed sweatshirts were worn everyday!

Grandpa A rented a golf cart one afternoon and we zoomed around Amelia Island.

We found a little tree fort in the middle of the resort.

We went on nature hikes led by JP.

We danced our dinner off at an aviation themed restaurant.

We splished and splashed at an indoor pool.

For the first time, JP was allowed to pick out his own ice cream (hmm, I wonder who suggested this activity!)

We even let AA try raspberry gelato! She LOVED it!

We rented bikes one afternoon. This little gal was NOT happy with our idea at first ...

but JP was! Grandpa A got more of a work out than he bargained for!

Eventually AA enjoyed her ride.

FLORIDA: PART I

We travelled to Amelia Island, Florida for five days with Grandpa A and Grandma K. It probably wouldn't have mattered where we went ... as long as airplanes and grandparents were involved! We started talking about flying to Florida about a week before we actually went. Of course, JP has no concept of time, so he was beyond thrilled when our big departure came!

We arrived at the airport with just enough time to wear off some energy before the three hour plane ride.

It turned out that AA was the one who needed to burn off more energy than JP.

JP was set sitting next to Grandpa A with headphones and the new Cars DVD. AA sat with the gals ... after tossing the magazines on the ground about one billion times, eating a large amount of cheerios, reading Ten Little Monkeys more than ten times, and rearranging our bags and shoes she FINALLY fell asleep for the second half of the flight.

When we landed in Florida, JP's wish came true (wait, I think it was A's dream instead!) and the boys visited the cockpit.

Minus a major JP-meltdown in the airport before leaving Florida at the end of our trip, the kids did really well with flying. JP slept the entire flight home (the DVD player never came out!).

MESSY

No matter what kind of mess she makes,
this gal

is adorable!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We dressed the little monkeys in their Halloween outfits one more time
and we enjoyed a great night together!

The kids provided many tricks ...

and received many treats (which, of course, A and I are enjoying right now!)

The A's

and the J's.

We started our neighborhood tour in the wagon

but JP and AA quickly learned the ins and outs of filling their pumpkin buckets by foot.

After nearly an hour of trick or treating we returned home ... and JP handed out the candy to everyone else. He did a great job of sharing and telling "Happy Halloween" to each and every big kid!

PUMPKINS

We carved our four pumpkins this weekend. JP actually helped clean the pumpkins out
while AA spread the seeds around the floor.

JP kept busy by "makin' pumpkin soup"

and stopping from time to time to help mamma.

FREEDOM

I'm free.

Many months before I found out I was pregnant with JP in September 2008, I started taking prenatal vitamins. I cut down on Diet Coke; I avoided raw fish and alcohol; I stopped being crazy about exercise. I prayed that God would help me become a more healthy vessel. Of course, once I became pregnant I changed my ways even more ... no unpasteurized cheeses; no cold meats; no diet, fat free, or unnatural labels. I analyzed every morsel of food put into my mouth and every workout routine I endured. And so it continued during my breastfeeding days with JP ... which, ahem, led directly into my pregnancy with AA ... and then my breastfeeding days with AA. I nursed AA for the last time this week. So after a 3+ year hiatus, I am free.

No longer will I feel guilty when I have a cup of coffee in the morning (or two!) . I will go days without even thinking of a green vegetable. I will eat Baked Lays and Chobani Greek Yogurt. I will ask for the hot salsa at Chipotle without worrying how this will impact my baby. I will drink red wine and beer and a diet caffeinated soda with extra carbonation and not worry about baby brains or baby bellies! I will run 3 miles without staying well hydrated. I will dye my hair and whiten my teeth and take Advil without any guilt. I won't need to stay behind in the heated car nursing while A takes JP into a store during long car rides. I won't be hiding out in AA's nursery every four hours while company is over. No longer do I need to stress about finding time to pump between patients at work. I will enjoy the extra ten minutes at night as I no longer need to wash and sterilize all of my pumping paraphernalia. I am free.

But.

With my new found freedom, I carry a bag of new emotions. My babies are growing. My personal sacrifices actually never felt like difficult sacrifices at all ... they were simply maternal instinct. Most of my actions and choices were made without significant contemplation. I wouldn't trade my pregnancies ... or breastfeeding my babes for nearly the entire first year of their lives ... for anything in the whole world. The time went by too quickly ... and I'm already longing for those early days! My beautiful daughter would rather feed a small bottle to her baby than nurse from me!

FALL PHOTO SHOOT

When I was young, I dressed my brothers up like little girls and made them prance around the neighborhood. They happily obliged, as I always had a treat waiting for them at the end of our tour. Thankfully, my kids are too young to even need bribing! I dressed JP and AA in their Halloween costumes and we visited the local pumpkin patch. My mission was to capture an adorable fall photo. Let's just say that it was next to impossible to get both of them to look at me and smile! I kept snapping ... someday they'll come to learn how ridiculous I am!