More Myrtle Beach Fun & Adventures at ECU!!

As I have finally uploaded the rest of my iPhone pictures, here are a few more snapshots of our time in Myrtle Beach.

Look at those little legs in the seawater!

Napping on the beach, such a luxury!

I just loved this one of them!

Possibly my favorite picture of Addie and Dave! Look at how tiny she looks in his hands!

"What are these things Mom?"

So after Myrtle Beach, we were scheduled to meet Grandpa Dave in Greenville, North Carolina, home of East Carolina University.  For some reason I thought it would be a great idea to take all of us to a football game...except we have an infant.  Who was barely 5 months old.  Possibly the stupidest idea I have ever had, but thank goodness Grandpa Dave was thinking.  He bought these adorable ear protectors for the noise, because ECU fans can get pretty rowdy.  Addie was pretty calm until they scored a touchdown, so glad we had the ear MooMoos!

Despite it being a rather ill-planned idea, we still had a great time.  Jason was in heaven being back at ECU and getting to watch the game in person.  For me it was special because I finally got to see where he went to college.  Jason met me while I was attending MUW, so he knew me and my college experience. He knew what my dorms were like, and who my friends were. In a way, he got to share that experience with me.  So I have felt I missed that part of his life, which may seem silly to others--but I always feel like I have missed so much of Jason's life before we met.  And when I finally get to see where he grew up or where he went to college, I feel like I know him even better. 

Anyway, I can't even tell you if ECU actually won that day--I think maybe they did.  I was too busy taking care of Addie so Jason could enjoy the game.  But after the game we took a tour of campus which was fun for me at least!

Oh one more important event happened this day as well--we got to meet up with our wonderful friends from SOS (Squadron Officer School), the Johnsons! Since we have left our SOS family, we have all wound up having babies! They had a beautiful little boy, Bradley, who will someday be Adelai's boyfriend!  It was good catching up with them, but it was much too short of a visit.  It is one thing, however, that I love about the military.  Wherever you go you always have your Air Force family to visit with!

Jason (holding my kate spade diaper bag!), me, Addie, Heather, Bradley & Bill

 Now for some ECU Pics! They are not organized well, but you will get the point!

Go ECU!

Adelai hanging out with the Gparents!

Grandpa Dave magically got her to nap amongst the madness!

There is a reason that ECU is deemed a party school...

Now this is tailgating!

The reason Jason and I met!

Jason's first dorm!! (I think..)

I hate that this picture is blurry, but I love it nonetheless. 

Merry Christmas!!

From our house to yours, wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Vacation: Myrtle Beach, part 1.

So, on to the second leg of our trip....MYRTLE BEACH

After visiting Fort Sumter and Charleston, we make the trek up to Myrtle Beach! Such a beautiful area, and it was a great time of year to visit.  As it was late September, it was still warm but the masses were not there.  Kids were back in school, so the off season was PERFECT for Addie's first vacation.  We really did not do a whole lot, except relax and enjoy being away from the Texas heat.

Jason's mom, Toni, flew up to vacation with us.  And to allow Jason and I to golf! You haven't golfed until you've golfed in Myrtle Beach! 

I want to go ahead and post a few pictures, but I have a few videos and photos I need to get off my iPhone that I want to share as well.

Adelai & Dad about to hit the beach...

"Oh no, where is he taking me!!!"

"Maybe this place isn't too bad..."

Loved this one of Jason and Addie!

First time in the ocean!!!

Look at that cute swimsuit & hat!

Getting ready to ride the ferris wheel!
I am thinking Addie has her reservations!

Grandma Toni and Adelai

Vacation: Charleston, South Carolina

I snapped this while walking back up to Adelai and Jason, I found it so sweet...

Well, as I predicted, school and life has gotten in the way of updating.  I apologize...but tis life!

So, here is the beginning of a series of posts about our wonderful vacation!

Jason, Addie, my Mom, and I left Wichita Falls on Sunday, September 18, 2011 to head to Plano to stay with Tori, Colin and Brendan before we headed out on vacation.  After two days of pure madness in preparation, where murphy's law hit the Merrills in every conceivable way.  First, I ordered a new golf travel bag from Amazon with two-day shipping.  Come the Friday before we were to leave, it still had not shipped.  Yet Amazon in its infinite wisdom would not let me cancel said golf bag order, so it arrived a week after we even left.  (Let's just say that it was returned with a strongly worded letter...) Then we found a golf travel  bag in Wichita Falls, got it home and it was covered in MOLD! Seriously.  So after taking it back and having to get the display model, as it was the only one left..we were finally set. Or so I thought, as a storm rolled in Saturday night, which caused a leak in our dining room.  Water was everywhere...only to us folks, I tell ya.  Only to us.

Anyway!!! We just happen to be visiting on Colin's birthday! So the 7 of us, naturally, had to celebrate Colin's birthday! We wound up going to Top Golf in Allen, and we had a blast.  This place is possibly the coolest golf driving range ever, it is hard to explain it, but needless to say we enjoyed ourselves.  And Colin had a wonderful birthday!

Tori, Brendan, Addie and Mom hanging out at Top Golf

On Monday morning, after a night of not sleeping due to a) Addie sleeping in Brendan's crib and Sly (their cat) constantly threatening to hop in the crib with her, b) excitement over Addie's first big trip and c) fear of missing our plane, we finally somehow managed to make it to Dallas Love Field.  Where all insanity set in.

Imagine me and Jason with Addie in hand trying to carry two large suitcases, her carseat, a small suitcase, a golf bag, a diaper bag, and a backpack with both of our laptops (as I am in school right now and Jason is in over his head in fantasy football).  We did not really think it through and thought Colin could just drop us off curbside.  Yeah, that did not work at all.   Colin had to park and helped us get checked in...thank God!

Getting through security with a baby was not as bad as I expected.  We got sent to the front of the line, and everyone was so helpful.  Except TSA decided to open Addie's bottles of breastmilk and proceed to spill some on their table.  I found this kinda funny, but the TSA lady was pretty grossed out.  It is what she gets for opening it...

One thing that was pretty fun was strolling through the airport keeping Addie entertained.  She was pretty happy watching everything.  And it was pretty awesome having everyone comment on how cute she is.  Something I know, but is still fun to hear everyone say it repeatedly.

Addie was not even bothered by the airplane.  As soon as we took off she passed out.  I was worried she wouldn't sleep on the second leg from Houston to Charleston, but she did:

Addie is a fan of Southwest Airlines and their free baggage allowance!
It puts her at ease and allows her to relax while flying!

We landed in Charleston and took off to see the sights! Our wonderful friends the Broussards were stationed at Charleston AFB, and were incredibly jealous we were visiting.  But Dallas was kind enough to recommend some good eats and fun places to visit! I am in love with Charleston and it would be wonderful if we could be stationed there someday--I doubt it will happen, but I totally get why Dallas wants to live there forever and ever amen.

Now for some pictures of Charleston to conclude this post about Charleston!

Fleet Landing, some of the best seafood I have had in forever!

Another pic of Fleet Landing..

Jason taking Addie up to the water fountain, she was pretty amazed by it!

Addie & Daddy!

Random Bird!

Uh oh! Whatever will we do with no lifeguard on duty near the water fountain...?

She looked so sweet!

Jason trying to stuff Addie into a cannon...

Addie thinking "Seriously Dad?"

Addie & Mommy

Arrrrgggh! Getting ready to see the ECU Pirates!

I felt horrible keeping a bib on her so much, but she was
beginning to teeth and was DROOLING everywhere!

At Fort Sumter...sorry her giraffe is in Addie's face..

Thought this was a pretty shot..

4 months already!

Addie turned 4 months today! It really is hard to believe that my little Bug has grown so much in the short span of 4 months.  It feels as if she just arrived, but at the same time feels like she has always been with us.  As though we cannot imagine a life without her...such a departure from just a year ago.

This week has been pretty good! Addie has been doing well with her reflux, and has been rolling over like CRAZY! She loves it and is pretty much rolling all over the house.  I am afraid she is going to be mobile wayyyyyy too soon.  School started back up and was pretty easy this week, so I am not stressed out too much.

We are gearing up for our vacation pretty soon, but we will see if Hurricane Irene puts a damper on our trip to Myrtle Beach, SC, and to visit Grandpa Dave and Grandma Toni in Chesapeake, VA.  We may have to change our plans and visit Seattle instead! I hope, for everyone on the east coast at least, that Hurricane Irene is pretty tame.

So, I started going through the pictures on the Hubby's phone.  Since I always have my phone in my hands, looking through the pictures on his feels foreign.  I feel like I am seeing completely new pictures even though I have seen them all...   His images are a little different, so here is Addie from her Daddy's eyes, or, well, his Blackberry. Happy viewing and happy 4 months to my Addiebug!

Jason took this beautiful pic of us meeting for the first time.

I actually remember taking this now, how I did this I have no idea
because my hands were still numb from the drugs.

I guess Jason was trying to stick his thumb in her mouth,
or she was trying to eat his thumb.  One of those scenarios...

This is my favorite pic of her while we were still at the hospital. So sweet!

One of the first days we had her home. Gosh she was tiny!

I am pretty sure that this was one morning before Jason left
for work and we had passed back out.  

One of the first baths Jason helped with!

Daddy's idea of a toy...

And she's 4 months old now!

I also found this on Jason's phone...our first babies.
He won't admit it but he kinda likes them!
I just feel bad because since we have had Addie, they don't get as much attention...