Rosemary Beach, 2013

At the beginning of the month we packed up our stuff and headed west to paradise aka Rosemary Beach, FL.  We had not been to the beach since our Destin trip in 2011, so we were really looking forward to being back in the sun and sand.  Especially with our mini in tow! We were anxious to see how Carter would react to the sand and water: I said he would hate it and Matt thought the opposite.  

Packing for our trip was super stressful! We flew there and Carter sat in our laps so we only were allowed 2 free bags and we had to fit all of us stuff for 3 people in those 2 bags.  I think Carter's stuff took up more room than both of ours! Thankfully the house we were staying at had a pack-n-play, high chair and washer/dryer so we only had to pack a few outfits each.

We were so incredibly nervous about flying with Carter, but he blew us away and did awesome on the airplane! He slept some, played and ate a little, and crawled across our laps visiting everyone.  The most stressful part was checking our carseat and bags (we were 7 pounds over!) and getting through security.  We literally had to run to our gate and right as we got there Carter had a huge blowout so we had to stop and change his entire outfit.  Needless to say this was us once we got on the plane and seated

Matt ordered a Bloody Mary once the drinks carts came around, lol.  The flight was only a little over an hour and a half and was during naptime so Carter Man slept most of the way there.  I'm so proud of my little flyer!

The rest of the day Sunday we spent driving from Panama City to Rosemary Beach, looking for Chick-fil-A only to find one and realize it was Sunday, grocery shopping, unpacking, grilling and exploring the beach and our house for the week.  Stephanie and Robby decided last minute not to come so we were definitely missing them and our little Mason and Graeme.  The left side of this house was home for the week.  Notice our two little rentals cars...they were Yaris'...tiniest cars on the planet!! 

Monday we spent the majority of our time at the beach and pool.  Guess who was right about Carter's reaction to the beach....ME!! He hated it! He was fine as long as you were holding him or if he was sitting on a towel, but he did not want to be in the water or on the sand.  No sir.  This picture is so mean but it perfectly captures his sentiments about the beach

Little did we know that would be our last day at the beach.  Tuesday it started raining and did not stop for the remainder of our trip.  And not just sprinkling....it poured all day and all night for the next 5 days.  We were under severe weather advisories, our street was flooding and the wind was insane.  We walked down one afternoon when the rain wasn't too bad and the sand just felt like needles stabbing you as it hit your skin.  Awful!

So we spent a lot of the rest of the week inside just spending time together.  Matt was really happy because he said his idea of a vacation is inside and in air conditioning.  Haha!  True words from a guy who spends his life on the football field.  We did venture out for some shopping and ice cream at the Sugar Shak!! We even traveled to Destin one day to hit the outlet mall (with every other tourist in the state...that place was slammed.)

Carter loved hanging out at the house.  In the kitchen there was a really deep cabinet that he loved to crawl into and sit and play.  We affectionately called it "baby jail" since we could close the door on him.  He loved for us to open and close the door and play peek-a-boo.

So even though we were inside a lot and had a great time cooking and eating, resting, watching Carter entertain us, and going out to eat.  Since Carter didn't like the beach I guess the weather worked in our favor! 

Eating bacon with Dad

Celebrating the 4th

Making silly faces 

On Friday it actually stopped raining long enough for us to visit the beach again.  It was dark and actually did sprinkle on us some, but by that point in the week we were willing to take what we could get.  Matt walked Carter up and down the beach and he enjoyed people-watching and flirting with other little girls.  

That evening the rain held off enough for us to take some family pictures on the beach.  Carter wasn't smiling or being very affectionate, but I still think they turned out pretty great.  The overcast skies provided just the right atmosphere for great pictures.  

Thanks PawPaw and Nana for another great family vacation! The weather might not have cooperated but it sure was a great week spent with great company.  Again next year?!?