On The Move

Slowly, but surely, files are being organized and uploaded. I just recently put a few videos online for family and even in the month that has passed since these were taken, Samuel seems so much bigger and grown up! It's crazy how fast they change!

Here are a few videos of Sam over the last month or two...

Here's the boy enjoying his time at WDW...

 

On the beach...

 

Samuel and James racing across the bedroom (before our household goods arrived). I was so bummed when I realized the video had been cut short due to my phone running out of memory. Nevertheless, I love it...

   

Just days before turning one, already tormenting the pup...

 

Lastly, an afternoon with my boys. Samuel's ultimate goal was to get to his bookshelf. He loves pulling every book off the shelf...

 

Oh, sweet Sam. Seeing these makes me realize I need to get on the ball and record more footage. Before I know, he'll be talking. Crazy!

I'm Baaaaaaaack...

After being off this blog (and many other computer related things) for over a month now, I'm hoping that now that we're settling in, I can get back into the swing of things. I don't even know where to begin with this blog post, as I just now realized that the last time I posted anything was mid-April. Wow!

Well, to put it lightly, things have been a bit crazy around here. We enjoyed visiting with both sets of grandparents while still in GA, then had the movers come, then headed down to FL for an amazing vacation, then headed to our new home in El Paso, TX, and have since been trying to unpack and get settled. For those that know us, you know that with any move, it takes us for-EV-er to unpack and make it feel like home again. So it comes as no surprise that we've been here about 2 1/2 weeks and yet our couch is still covered with framed pictures waiting to be hung up, two rooms have yet to even be touched so they're piled high in unopened boxes, and the rooms that are unpacked are only really semi-unpacked since nothing is hung up in there either. Yeah, I know. We're pokey. We both get so antsy and would rather put that off and explore the area. So sure enough, we've gotten well acquainted with the area and what there is to do in El Paso, but our house looks like the movers came last week -- or 2 days ago.

Anyways. Wow. The middle of March. So much has happened! Did I mention that Samuel turns ONE YEAR OLD later this week!??! What?!?! Not only has it been hectic around here, but our little miracle is almost ONE?! Oh, and he's a walker now. It's craziness. I really would like it if things would slow down, if just for a few days. I'm loving it, though. During our time at Walt Disney World, Sam decided that he wanted to start talking a little. He discovered the word, "Yeah" and "Dad" and let everyone around us know that he knew those words. During shows, he would happily say, "Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah," over and over with a grin on his face, ha. Lately, he says "Dad" over and over when he is happy and excited, but says "Mom" over and over when he's sad and lamenting. While trying to unpack, we would typically put him in the pack-n-play so he wouldn't get himself into any trouble and he would hold onto the railing and cry out, "Mommmm mommmm mommmm," over and over reaching out for us. Okay, maybe that's another reason why we've been slow with the unpacking process. How can you let that go on? Those plates can wait...holding this growing boy can't...especially not when he's crying out for me! Ha. Sweet, emotional, Sam...

A lot has happened over the last month and while I would really like to document all of it -- especially Sam-milestones -- I doubt I'll remember it all. So, here are a few things that happened and/or thoughts over the last month...

Sam has decided that pureed foods are for the birds and that he's a big boy now and requires finger foods *only*...

The little man walks and tries to run wherever he goes...

He gives a big cheesin' grin that melts our hearts when he gets really excited and shows his front teeth while huffing and puffing through them -- a lot like his Aunt Deb did as a kid...

Sam knows the words yeah, mom, dad, and okay. Occasionally, we'll hear what sounds like another word, but never in repeat, so I'm sure it's a fluke...

He apparently has a thing for foods that are a tad bit spicy, as he LOVED my enchiladas, bbq baby back ribs, and seasoned chicken breast...

Living in the desert isn't as bad as I had imagined. Sure, there's sand and SCORPIONS (!!!!), but the heat is not bad at all considering how dry it is! You won't even hear me complain about it being miserably hot when it's 95+ out...

Walt Disney World is as magical as they make it out to be...

Oh, and while some may say Samuel is too young to get things like WDW, they're wrong. He totally got it. The look on his face when he met Mickey was PRICELESS!!! Can't say the same about poor Handy Manny, though. Sam completely ignored him and continued on with his meal when HM came to our table, ha!

I feel spoiled by the house we're renting here in TX and feel blessed that we found it...

Surprises come at the best of times. While remembering Jordan's 6th Angelversary on April 21st, I was gifted a beautiful bracelet by my Face2Face girls. It was such a wonderful surprise that made saying goodbye that much harder...

Texas really IS that miserably big when you're driving across it -- it felt like the drive would never end!

Key West, FL was different than I had imagined, but beautiful just the same...

After how horrible this most recent Military move was, I have no interest in doing it again for YEARS to come! Our claim just seems to keep getting larger and larger...

Samuel and I could live on the locally made fresh tortillas. Yum!

Best one yet, Samuel is apparently an adrenaline junkie. He slept through some of roller coasters that he was allowed on and appeared to be absolutely unamused by the carousel. Crazy child!

Okay...I suppose that's enough. While I'd love to bombard you with a ridiculous amount of pictures before I leave, there's no way I could even get through them all. After all, there were over 900 taken over the last month due to our vacation. So...

Here are a few from various events...

Samuel's 11 month chair photo didn't go so well. He wanted nothing to do with it, but since the movers were there that day and about to pack up his room, this is all we got...

Saying goodbye to Ms. Nikki at the church nursery in GA was a little emotional...
(We missed you, Brandi!)

St. Augustine rocked!

Samuel Moore DDS...

By the time we got to Daytona Beach, I felt like we were retracing my 3rd grade vacation -- first, St. Augustine, then Daytona Beach...ahhh, memories...

Upon arriving in the Keys, we stopped for dinner at a restaurant that had high ratings online. Samuel was very into the live band, as the song kept mentioning his name. Every time he heard his name, he'd turn around and stare at them, ha...

Yes, chocolate dipped key lime pie really is that good...

(Thank you, Ali, for the recommendation!)

Our little butterfly...

Self-explanatory...

The poor guy. It was so miserably hot and humid, we left his shirt unbuttoned...

Loved seeing this...

This is that cheesin' grin...

Beautiful...

Walking the 7-mile bridge...

Blurry, but says it all. On our way to Magic Kingdom while on the monorail...

Apparently, the parade singing, "It's the time of your life!" is soothing...

A first for Samuel and his momma...

Nope. Won't even wake up by the Main Street Electrical Parade...

Enjoying our time together...

Who remembers Pete's Dragon?!?! James had never heard of it, but I grew up on that movie!!!

Loved this place!

And so did he. This is Sam at the Nemo exhibit, but it pretty much sums up his time at WDW...

Okay, so I suppose by some standards, that was still a ridiculous display of pictures. Sorry about that -- got a little carried away. Lucky you, that's as far as I've gotten in the uploading process...

It was a great month to say the least. I hope to at some point go in more detail about our time in FL -- more for my own memories than anything else -- but we'll see if that ever happens. We had a lot of priceless moments with sweet Sam over the last month, and I can't describe to you how blessed I continue to feel each and every day that he's here with us. To think that he'll turn one in just a few days is hard to fathom. How have we had him in our arms for that long?!?! It has most certainly been a year of joy with that little man!

With that, I'm finally off to bed. Much love to you all!

Our Babymoon...

So with an unexpected day off, James and I decided to say screw it to the plans of laying low for the entire pregnancy and instead, we got out of town for a couple days! We needed this little getaway and while telling one of my sisters about such plans, she got super excited and reminded me that this was our so-called Babymoon. I hadn't even really thought of it in that way, but I suppose that's exactly what it was -- one last getaway before a hopefully healthy baby boy!

While making plans for our little trip, we fully intended on taking the basset with us -- what's a vacation without Obie?!?! However, much to my surprise...bassets (or any dog, really) are not allowed on the beaches in Destin, FL. So much for that idea! I guess if we want to take Oba with us to the beach, we better head back to the west coast! A beach hound banned from the beach -- such cruelty...

So instead, we dropped Obadiah off at the local doggy hotel and headed on south -- just the two of us. I must admit, a long drive without the cries of a basset is just a little odd. I missed his pathetic ways, but knew he would be well taken care of where he was staying, so all was good.

After 3 1/2 hours, we were in Destin -- soaking up the fresh air and ocean breeze. For so many years, I was not a fan of the beach (I can't stand the fact that sand gets into everything!). However, I have definitely grown to love it -- the fresh air, the sound of the waves crashing in, and the relaxing nature of it all.

Being that I've been on modified bedrest (if you want to call it that) for the last several months, my endurance level is crap. Upon arriving in town, we stopped at the local outlet mall (James and I both love shopping at those), but didn't end up lasting long. I took several breaks just to sit and veg between shops. In the end, the only thing we came away with was a pair of GAP pj's for Sam. I don't know about you, but I love GAP pj's for little kids -- they make their chunky little tummies that much cuter.

After some gelato and shopping, we headed to the beach to watch the sunset. While we were hanging out, I couldn't help but think of how we were doing the same thing while pregnant with Olivia -- only we were in Hawaii at that time...

With no one else in the area that we were at, it was so nice to spend a quiet evening with the hubs...

Officially 29wks...

Soon after this, we were both starving so we headed to a place recommended by a friend for dinner -- definitely check out Cantina Laredo if you're in Destin! Great Mexican with a nice atmosphere. After living in the South for 7 months, it was nice to try a flour tortilla that didn't taste like it was fresh (or not so fresh) out of a store-bought bag. I'm not sure that they made their own at this particular restaurant, but they were of much better quality to say the least -- everything was for that matter. Yum!

We spent Saturday morning wandering around different beaches, shops, a pier, etc. Gotta love the colorful nature of beach towns...

Not to mention the peaceful nature of a beach at 8am...

When we settled down at one of the beaches, it was great to have it almost completely to ourselves. I guess most sleep in on a Saturday morning -- fine by me!

This was about the time when I locked away the nice camera and brought out the point-and-shoot. I'm not quite brave enough to face sand/waves with that puppy just yet...

I was a bit paranoid with the waves crashing in on Sam. Between my lack of balance these days and the forceful nature of the waves...I was a bit cautious...

With this being my first time to the Gulf, I couldn't get over how clean/clear the water was, not to mention how white the sand was. Loved it!

Big preggo belly...

Beautiful...

After a morning on the beach, we headed out for lunch at McGuire's Irish Pub -- another place recommended by a friend. Great burgers, beer (for James, obviously), and quite an interesting feel to the restaurant --there were dollar bills stapled everywhere.

The entire ceiling was full...

This is what you get when you use no flash...

Okay, not sure why these are turning out so grainy via Picasa...

Immediately following lunch, we headed out for a dolphin cruise. I don't know about you, but when I think of dolphins, I think of Ace Ventura -- more specifically, I think of Jim Carrey talking like a dolphin...good times...

As we left the harbor...

It wasn't long before we saw those cute dolphins...

James is a bit braver than I am. He wanted to jump in and swim with them...

Upon seeing these guys, James quoted Finding Nemo..."Get in my mouth if you want to live..." Ha.

So sweet...

As we were heading back to the shore, James and I agreed that at some point, we'll have to make another attempt at getting out there and swimming with them (preferably trained ones). We tried to do that while in Hawaii, but apparently preggos aren't allowed in the water with them. Perhaps if Sam makes it, we can wait a few years and try to do it with him...

Outside of James' comfort zone, I asked another tourist to get a picture of us...

This guy was there when we left the harbor and apparently never moved, as he was there when we got back, too.

We spent the rest of the afternoon/evening walking the harbor, beaches and ended up at PF Chang's for dinner -- not exactly a local must-have, but we love that place and haven't been in a very long time. Once we got back to the hotel, all I wanted to do was crash. I could barely move. That was one very long, full day for this preggo.

On Sunday morning, we had fully intended on spending another hour or two at the beach before heading back home, but I was too tired to do much of anything. So instead, we went to the beach for about 30 minutes before getting back on the road.

The aftermath of me turning my back to the water and getting my shorts soaked. James caught me laughing as I was walking back. So much for feeling clean on the drive home...

James was smart enough not to go any further than that...

Love the hubs...

So long, Destin. We loved your white (clean) sand, clear water, and fresh air!

Since James wanted to be back in the early afternoon to get a few things done before the work week started, we quickly soaked up the ocean breeze one last time and got on the road. Overall, it was a nice little getaway that I'm glad we were able to take before the end of this pregnancy! Hopefully, we can take Sam there in a few months. In fact, I might have to search for a dog-friendly beach so our entire family can go. Good times...