"Be Our Guest"

Wow! Finally I have some time to sit down and recall the time since I last blogged. Thankfully you haven't gotten too much Ollie withdrawals since I posted some pool side pictures on Facebook, and e-mailed most of you a hilarious cackling video! If you need some more one on one interaction feel free to e-mail, call, text, Skype, Face-time, or visit- like my dear friend Laura did, the beginning of this week! Laura and I are "foodies" so we had an amazing culinary visit! Not only did we cook up a storm, but we also went to an amazing local burger joint and THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY!! Thanks to Laura I posted a couple of pictures of my personal favorites! She has an amazing food blog: http://myediblebucketlist.com/ and will post in detail about our culinary adventure, so check it out!

garlic sauteed local shrimp with saffron zucchini quinoa 

my new favorite- I've been making multiple times a week- Kale Chips!

We also did a little beaching and a little shopping! Below are some shoes that I HAD to get Mr. O! Aren't they cute?! Teeny little loafers that fit in the palm of my hand! I sent the picture to Mark, and he said "WHY are you getting him shoes?! He can't walk!" I mean c'mon Mark they're cute! (Noticed I flipped over the price before I sent him a picture!) Also on the subject of shopping. While we were in Fossil a guy that worked there stopped in his tracks when he spotted my cute baby. He said "Owh Mye Gawwwsh he is tooo cute! Look at his little mohawk!!! Oh my Gawd is THAT natural?" Me: "haha yes, it just grows that way!" "ughr thats what I'm tryin to get goin with my hair!" Haha too cute! Until next time! Much Love! <3 

                  

Happy 5 Months Ollie Finn

I can't believe it's been over 5 months since this wittle bebe was in my belly! He has grown so much! Florida is treating him well and he seems to be enjoying his little life! Squealing as a type! He can now sit up long enough for me to take a picture ;)) He's doing really well with this, and we are practicing often. He still hasn't rolled over, what a chub! When he was 3 weeks old he rolled over once! I couldn't believe it! But he hasn't done it since! Packin too much weight now ;) 

Mr. O loves a good swing! I thought he was too little at first, but now I'm so glad we tried! Because he love love loves it! We should have know this, since he would take 4 hours naps in his infant swing, miss those days! His other favorite activity is blowing loud wet raspberries! He often combines his two favorite activities. This week we went to the grocery store, as usual. He was in the baby Bijorn carrier, he loves facing outward and interacting with all the people, smelling all the veggies, and listening to all the sounds! He was so excited he made loud raspberry noises the INTIRE time! And I take a while in the grocery! Everyone would know when we were coming down the isle. They would turn, see Ollie and then start laughing! What a mess!

        

It has been a lot warmer lately. I posted a picture of our forecast! Be jealous! We love being outside and playing! We have been going to the farmers market and we also found a fish market on the bay! I got to have some mommy time, I found a Pilates studio about 10 minuets away. I think I'm going to start going once a week. It's during night time routine: when Ollie is fussiest, I'm cooking, bathing Ollie, feeding Ollie, trying to get him to sleep... etc etc. So it's extra nice to be out of the house during this time! ;) Marky is so sweet! <3 Mark loves his job and comes home with millions of stories about every person in the "office". He has a 50 min commute, but only has to work 4 days a week. And best of all he has GOATS at his work! One year they had to cut back on maintenance so of coarse they got some goats to cut the grass. Speaking of maintenance at our townhouse everything is done for us! Men come on our porch and blow once or twice a week, they also come and get the trash from our side "yard"! We don't have to do anything! Spoiled! Wanna hear some downsides so you can stop being so jealous? haha ok! Our water is nastay!!! Even with the Brita! Brita sucks! & I have 5 mosquito bites and it's Jan! Also pretty sure there's squirrels in our attic, and there are about 2.5 million squirrels in our plantation! Least fav animal on the earth!! & we miss all of ya'll guys!!! Till next time! xoxo

When I grow up I want to be a snowbird!

"Wake up you damn snowbird!" This is what a lady from a 901 # said to me when she called me... I thought for sure she had to know me, because in fact I am a snowbird... So I said "who is this?" But it turns out she had the wrong # after all! So strange! 


We've met so many friends since our last post! Wednesday we went to Kindermusik in Jacksonville! It's a 8 week mommy & baby class where we sing, play instruments, and act silly! It was so nice to meet mommies & babies our own age! All the babies were so cute, and we can't wait to see them again next week! I was definitely still on a social high after our 50 minute car-ride back home & what do you know our neighbors were outside. I debated getting out  of the car because I've been so scared they have heard Ollie's screams this past week... I've never shared walls and don't really know the protocol! But I got out of the car and they immediately walked towards me and introduced themselves. They were so incredibly nice and invited us to a meet the neighbors cocktail that night. So naturally I made Florida orange cupcakes and dressed Ollie like an old man. There was no one at the party under 60 so we got lots of attention. All the old men were fascinated in Mark's work & all the ladies wanted to know every detail of Ollie's little life. They were so cute! I'm so glad we got to know everyone and now Ollie and I have some walking buddies! 

In Ollie developmental news: His first tooth made an appearance! I hate that he had to start teething so early... but what can you do? He "crawls" like a crab. This is what we are calling scooting on his back! haha. We're convinced if he let us put him on him tummy more he would be getting around that way! He is loving peek a boo! He is so so so cute! I lay down with him to play and he helps me by pushing my arms together to hide my eyes! Every time! He's so silly! He keeps me laughing. He loves to scream at the top of his lungs, just for fun! He loves the sound of his own voice... I can't imagine why ;) He loves to be outside taking in nature. He responds to the wind, birdies singing, & trees moving <3 

  

Our 1st Weekend :)

Yay for 3 day weekends! We had the perfect weekend: a day of the city, a day of the beach, and a day to be a bum! 

First off, Friday, we went to the largest city in the U.S.: Jacksonville. We had a great time! Of corse I found an amazing outdoor mall with all the necessities- Baby Gap, Urban Outfitters, Williams- Sonoma, West Elm, California Pizza Kitchen, & Cheesecake Factory! We walked around, shopped, ate some pizza, stalked people with babies... just kidding ;) That comes a little later when I really get desperate for human interaction. 

A day at the beach :) There's nothing better than the beach with your babes! We greased up the monkey and packed a picnic lunch. The process of preparing for a "day" at the beach took forever! We had the stroller loaded down with anything we could possibly need! When we arrived at our perfect spot Mark started to set up the umbrella, lets just say we will need a tent next time! I have seen little baby tents so we'll have to check that out. After chasing a few seagulls with Daddy, playing on a blanket with Mommy, and dipping his toes in the cold water Ollie was ready to head back! Maybe next time we'll get Mr. O to take a nap on the beach :))

& for our lazy day- we went to the park in our neighborhood, rested, and read books in the sunshine! Mark watched Ollie while I went for a manicure. :))))) Hope everyone in Memphis is doing well! I miss ya'll so much! <3 

Ollie the Explorer

Hi! We've been here about 5 days now and have done lots of exploring! 

We've grocery shopped at Publix, Harris Teeters, Target, & Walmart and I still haven't gotten everything we need! Phew! 

We went to a swampy park in our neighborhood... 

We went to the historic downtown & the bay!

We also checked out the local Library to see if there are any activities for us. We have a choice of "Making Sense of the American Civil War" or "Beginners Genealogy"! "So many activities!" Don't worry we're starting a Kindermusik class next week that is sure to bring lots of fun and friends! The weekend starts tomorrow so check back to see all our fun! <3 

We HAVE Arrived!

Yay! We arrived in Florida! How was it like getting here with 3 cars, 5 1/2 people, a crib, rocking chair, toy chest, activity jumper, stroller, pack n' play, bumbo, boppy, bath tub, door jumper, play mat, and oh yeah- OUR stuff!? Surprisingly not too bad :) The best decision was leaving Memphis at 3:30am. This gave Ollie about 4 more hours of sleep in the car. We stopped 4 times in 12 hours... not too shabby. Unfortunately you can't tell a baby "we're almost there!" even though I tried. Towards the end of the trip Ollie needed constant blaring high pitched Baby Einstein music, goofy faces, squeaky toys, and car seat shaking. Twice I thought he was asleep, so I asked Mark to turn off the annoying music- instantly Ollie wailed... lovely. Around 4:30, our new time- eastern, we arrived at our new home! Swimming pools, movie stars- this place is niiiiiice. We live in fancy shmancy resort area. I'm thinking they are going to come evict us at any moment because I can't believe we can afford it. But we pull up to the guard shack- Samya, Mark, Katherine, & Ollie in car 1. The guard gives us directions to our townhouse. "Go straight through this gate, take a slight right, turn right over the small hill, you will come to a T in the road go left, go over the bridge and take your second left, you'll pass the players club then you'll turn right, after that keep right and your villa will be in the left." Mark pulls away... ummmm where do we go again? Jeeez needless to say we got a 20 minute tour. Our "villa" is 2 stories and has 3 bathrooms!!! Yahooooo, I'm going to be spoiled. Everything in it is brand new! The softest towels I have ever felt, shiny silverware, bowls with the price tags on them and the list goes on and on! We are on the marsh side on a beautiful golf course. We do have beach access within our community. Outside of our little resort community are stores such as: "gourmet gourmet, dome healing center, plastic surgery spas, personal training facilities, plae (people laughing and eating)". Bahaha... between that crowd and the snow birds I hope we can make some friends. There are also an endless amount of traffic circles, or as our gps likes to say: "rowund abowts". Mark treats these as mini nascar tracks... Thanks to Mark's amazing family!!! We couldn't have done it without them! We're so so lucky! The last thing I have to add is Mark's idea... READY??? & THE OLD PERSON OF THE DAY GOES TOOOOO: a very determined walker, excuse me marcher, with a very large stick that walks straight down the bike lane line swinging his huge stick with great enthusiasm. ;))