Fun on the Beach

After New Orleans we headed over to Long Beach MS. We met our friends the Butterfield's and shared a rental house. You never know what you are going to get when you rent a house like that but we were pleasantly surprised at how nice the house was. The house was about a two blocks away from the beach which was so fun to just walk out the front door and see the ocean down the street. Jackson would run out in the road yelling "beach, beach" while pointing. I was a little worried to go this trip because I didn't know if we were going to be able to do much with Cole being only 5 1/2 weeks and not liking the wind. He did better then I expected and we were able to do everything that we wanted. The day we got there it was rainy and windy so we just chilled inside and didn't do much. The next day we spent at the beach, the weather was okay but we went down anyway! Jackson wasn't sure about the water for the first little bit and was happy to stand at the edge of the water with his shovel and pick up sand and throw it into the ocean. I was ok with him not getting in the water right then because it was still a little chilly. Cole was not having it our morning trip to the beach. With the wind blowing he was pretty fussy and Ross and I had to trade off taking him to the car or going on walks with him. Because our house was so close to the beach we were able to go back and let the boys eat lunch and take a nap. After they woke up we went right back down to the beach. Cole was awesome this time and slept for a couple hours in the stroller while we all played. That night we went to Darwell's cafe' (a diners, drive-ins and dive's place) for dinner. We sat outside and listen to a live band while we ate our food. The atmospheres was fun and the food was okay but my favorite part was watching a table of guys slowly get more and more drunk as they drank their moonshine! The next day we went on a Shrimping tour. We had a lot of fun on the tour. They took us out trolling while pulling a net behind the boat to catch the shrimp. While we were trolling the guide told us everything and more that we need to know about shrimp. Half way through the tour the pulled in the next and showed us the shrimp and other fish they had caught. I loved seeing the seagulls trying to get on the boat while the guy was talking to eat the shrimp. Jackson loved being on the top part of the boat and watch the dolphins swimming in the water. Cole wasn't a fan of the wind blowing on him and was getting hungry so I spent the last half of the tour inside the boat feeding and holding Cole. The boat was nice because even though I was inside I could still see and hear everything that was going on. After the tour we decided to go eat some fresh seafood. Both the Butterfield's and us are not seafood lovers but after being told how great the fresh seafood is we decided to give it a try. We were told to go to a place called Aunt Jenny's to eat. We ordered fried shrimp and shrimp creole. Ross and I both agreed that it was the best shrimp we had eaten before. Ross liked it more then I did but I would go eat it again, it didn't taste fishy at all. The next morning we packed up our stuff and headed home. None of us were ready to leave. As we were driving along the beach hwy Jackson kept saying "stop, play on the beach." I don't know if we will ever make it back down to Long Beach MS again but there will be more vacations to a beach in our future!

Our little crab friend we found. Jackson was scared of it "Shocker"

Had to make sure Cole was documented on the beach

There were Jellyfish swimming all around us

Jackson throwing the sand into the ocean. He did this most the time we were at the beach

Ross was so excited to find seashells with Jackson but Jackson didn't really care to do it so Ross went searching by himself

Jackson and Benson playing in the sand

Jackson thought this was the greatest thing! Ross would get so dizzy spinning him around and around.

Family picture at the beach

I had to put this picture up because I love how Cole is stretching and wondering why we woke him up to take a picture

Darwell's

The view of the beach from our house

Our cute little house

Jackson loving life!

Ha! It was way to cold for Cole to wear this but I wanted a picture of him in this outfit while we were there so I put him in it and took a picture and then changed his clothes

Cole and Jackson on the shrimping boat

On the boat

Dolphins swimming in the water

Pulling in the net

Our loot 

The segulls eating the shrimp

Jackson watching the water

Getting a close look at a shrimp

Jackson loved being on the boat

I don't know why he was doing this but I thought it was pretty cute

Jackson trying his first seafood. We had to bribe him with candy to try it lol He didn't spit it out but didn't want more either.

The light house in the middle of the hwy and the one that is on most MS license plates

Along the HWY they had carved all the dead tree's into stuff. I loved them and wish I had gotten a better picture of one.

Ross on his beach cruiser!

New Orleans

First stop on our vacation was to New Orleans.  Ross was at the AOA conference when Jackson and I went down there last summer with my mom and was kinda bummed that he didn't get to see it. So we decided to book a hotel the night before we were to go to the coast and check out the town. We had planned on getting up early and driving down so we would have time that day to look around but our car decided to over heat the day before sending us in a little scramble to try and figure out what was wrong and if we could still drive it down. Ross decided the car was safe to drive and so we got up early that morning and packed up the car and headed down out. We got in town late so we just got something to eat and then chilled in our hotel room. New Orleans really isn't the place you want to be with your kids after dark :) The next day we woke up to a beautiful RAIN STORM! We were pretty bummed because all the stuff we wanted to see was outside. The rain stopped around noon and we headed out so see a few things. It was still cooler and windy and we didn't want Cole out in that weather very long so we made a quick mile walk to see Jackson Square and eat beignets at Cafe' du Monde and called it good! It was fun to be back in New Orleans again and have Ross enjoy it with me. Ross loved being there and seeing the town. I wanted to go show Ross a cemetery but the weather was getting worse and so we decided to just head over to the coast. It was a quick trip with not much seen but I was glad we went down.

Jackson Square

Please tell me whats wrong with this picture!? I had to put this on the blog because 1- Where's Cole? We had Cole in the stroller right by us and I guess the guy didn't think he need to be in the picture and 2- Jackson pants are down!! haha I don't know why the guy or his wife wouldn't have told us!

Anther one with pants down up Cole got a corner in!

Enjoying Beignets 

"P" is for PASS

This week we found out that Ross "P"assed part one of his national boards. Can I tell you what a relief it is to know the score and that he passed. From what we've heard part one is the hardest test of the three he has to take. I'm so proud of Ross and all the hard work he put in studying to pass this test. He started studying in January and the test was in March. There is no way I could have put in the hours every day studying all the information. Ross got pretty nervous days before the score was released. We knew they would be posted on the 8th but Ross was checking on the 7th just incase they were posted early. After they weren't posted that day he stayed up tell midnight to see if they would be posted then.. he is so funny but I guess I can't blame him, it is the biggest test of his life! Ross was at the Redbirds baseball game with Jackson when the scores were finally posted. He called me and told me he and passed and that he was shaking! haha I'm sure he enjoyed the game a lot more after knowing he didn't have to study and take the test again!

Jackson and I made a sign for dad that came home to after finishing boards

Mr. Cole on some of Ross' books

Ross and Jackson at the baseball game

Another exciting event that happend last week was Ross taking his last final EVER! Its crazy to think about. All I know is Ross going to school. Now its just doing externs for a year and then getting a job. It will be so nice not having him studying/worrying about the next test that is coming up. I'm sure its better for him but it takes its toll on the wives too! I'm so proud of Ross and how well he has done in school and being able to make time to do things with the family and be a great dad. Love you babe

Cole's Firsts

In Cole's short life of six weeks he has done a lot of firsts. Actually everything in this post happened in the first three weeks of his life. Don't judge!! Jackson's first six weeks he saw the inside of our house and that was it! This time around I knew I couldn't stay cooped up in the house that long doing nothing. I was nervous taking Cole out so young but in the end the pros out weighed the cons. Me having postpartum and anxiety or taking Cole out of the house for a couple hours a day.
The first place Cole visited was the Zoo.. I know surprise huh We love our Zoo and every time my mom is here she wants to go there. Second place was the Botanical Gardens! The gardens are a great place to get out and walk around. My mom had never been there so it was nice to walk around with her. She appreciates the flower and plants more then I do. Both places Cole slept through but he was there and Jackson always enjoy going places and being outside!

Jackson loves to have Ross do airplane with him! You can see home much Ross enjoys it :)

Jackson helping Oma push Cole

Ross, Bret and Jackson looking at the fish at the Botanical gardens

Jackson's favorite person by far is Bret! He loves to be around him and Bret is so good to play with him and let Jackson be his buddy. We are lucky to have such good friends here!

 Oma and Cole hanging out

Jackson and Benson playing in the flowers

 

 Mr. grumpy Cole sleeping during our trip

 Cole's first bath!! I love giving babies their first real bath. Cole LOVED it.

After his bath was all done he decided he was to clean and left a present in his towel for us!