Michael did an expert job in packing the car - thanks to the use of his parents' roof carrier and the engineering skills he learned while obtaining his MBA at Georgia Tech. He was even able to see out of the rearview mirror as we drove!
We headed out around 9 a.m., as scheduled so that Libby could get her morning nap in the car! Of course, it didn't last very long- maybe 45 minutes max. But the trip down actually was quite smooth. We made a stop in Augusta for lunch and popped in on our friends, the Craigs, for a few minutes to introduce Libby to them and let her stretch her legs. Sadly, we did not get to see Emily, their youngest daughter whose baby was born just three days before Libby! And she has another on the way! (We do not.)
We tried to see our friends in Charleston, Katie & Matt Parry, but our schedules were just not working out this time. Katie is pregnant and I hope to see her before her baby arrives in late December. So, on we traveled to the Isle of Palms, specifically Wild Dunes. We got there, got unpacked, fed Libby and rushed her out to the beach before it got too late!
She was a little tentative about the water at first, but by the time we got her out to the water the next day, she was pretty fearless! Crawling towards the waves and wanting to walk in deeper and deeper. However, she had the MOST FUN playing in the sand.
We had a ball watching her and playing with her and our backs were sore to prove it! (That'd be our lower backs from bending over to assist her walking endeavors.) She also had a great time in the pool float we borrowed from the Arnold's. She had fun in the big pool and tried so hard to get her little feet to touch the bottom of the baby pool. They sort of did close to the sides.
We had a number of visits from friends, too! Brooke Willis and her boys, Brody (2), and Luke (4 months), came over from their vacation at Folly (they actually live in the Augusta area.) Ann Prochazka, one of our long-time friends from Charleston, came with two of her grandbabies, Annie (7), and Violet (4). And Richard Ryan, Katie Parry's dad, came to visit us one evening, too! We also got together for dinner with one of my dad's former co-workers and her husband and while we were out, saw a great Charlestonian, Joe Griffith, Sr., with some of his family. Mr. Griffith used to have an amazing Christmas party at his house downtown where they had a great view of the Christmas parade each year. The view inside was pretty incredible, too - a Christmas tree that was in the middle of a giant spiral staircase that went all the way to the ceiling. I think it was three stories high - but at least two - that had a miniature train around the bottom that was always running for the party. Another friend, Maegan Bell, brought her little girl, Addison (2), and hubby, out with her when she came to take pictures of the family on the beach. We took them on Friday night and of course, that was the day it rained off and on - and poured right as picture time arrived. Maegan helped us choose a quick location and we managed to find the one hole in the rain to do possibly the fastest photo shoot ever.
Miss Baby had an amazing time with all of her grandparents and I think us, too. She loved seeing other little kids, including two little girls in the baby pool who swarmed her and backed her into a corner because they thought she was so fun and cute - and she completely went with it, charming them even more! Little kids sure know "their kind."
Of course, Commissioner gained many new admirers as always. She got pretty sick on Friday, but seems to be in much better spirits today. Just a bit tired! I don't think that she got much napping in!
We also had my family birthday party, with the perfect cake of funfetti with rainbow chip icing - and let me tell you, 29 candles is a lot to try to blow out in one breath! I got everything I asked for - including a massage I got to enjoy at the resort. It was just wonderful. Also last week, Michael and I got to have a date night while the grandparents babysat Libby. We went to dinner and then to see "Dinner for Schmucks." We laughed pretty hard - but the best line was from a guy in the row in front of us, who suggested that, "This movie is pretty far-fetched." Umm, yeah. Ahh, but we do love Steve Carrell and I also love Paul Rudd.
We really did have a great week all-around. Each couple took turns making dinner and breakfast and the food was delicious as usual. There were six people around to help with Libby's nearly boundless energy and it was awesome. She got a lot of practice with her walking, crawling and pulling up! She's really fast with the crawling now and can pull up with her hands flat against and upright surface - like the stove! She was also standing in her crib when we tried to put her up for a nap after we got home, so I had to lower the crib again. It's officially at the lowest setting. My baby is growing up too fast! I loved watching her with her new friends, her daddy, and her grandparents this week - and her dog, too!
She's so happy and funny. Miss Baby has also started doing a fake cough to get someone's attention - including Commissioner's! She continues to amaze us all.
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