Anniversary Trip

I was a brave mommy and took a trip to St. Augustine this past week with Davey to celebrate our anniversary (4 years on May 20th!). Of course, I wasn't worried about Lailey - she was with her grandparents and had a blast, and I've got pictures to prove it which will come later. First, here are some of the highlights from our trip.

~Where we stayed~

The Peace and Plenty Inn

We highly recommend this little B & B. Go to their website if you're interested. The breakfasts were amazing, the atmosphere quaint, and it's very close to downtown. We pretty much walked everywhere.

{back of the main house}

{the inside of our suite}

{our room was in the old carriage house behind the main house}

~Where we ate~

On our first night there, we celebrated by going to a gourmet restaurant called 95 Cordova which was really great. When they handed us our menus, I wondered why they were so huge and heavy...then I opened it and discovered that it lit up! I was fascinated to say the least.

Yum!!! Filet mignon and Chilean seabass

{Getting ready to dig in}

~Where we went~

We hit a lot of historical sites because the city is full of history and we enjoy that sort of thing. One of the places was the Castillo de San Marcos, the original fort in St. Augustine. Here we are on the drawbridge.

Looking out toward the newly restored Bridge of Lions. The marble lions that stand on one side of the bridge are in storage until the construction is finished. They are from the same quarry as Michaelangelo's famous David, if I am remembering this correctly.

This is about 30 feet up with no railing.

Courtyard inside the fort

Davey's first pair of Chaco sandals. He's finally a convert. :)

Ironic that we didn't take any pictures of the oldest wooden schoolhouse in America, just the oldest outhouse.

Okay, goofing off aside, this next place was one of the most beautiful and peaceful places we visited.

Over 200 feet cross

Historic Flagler College, originally a hotel built by Henry Flagler for wealthy people.

600-year-old live oak tree!

Peacocks at the Fountain of Youth

This white peacock jumped up on the low roof

A little cardinal, a female, and a beautiful male - red, white and blue

I had to get the authentic experience while touring the Old Jail. I guess I look a little too happy.

Our our last evening, we at on the beach. Crab legs!

Happy 4th Anniversary to my wonderful hubby. I love you!

E-I-E-I-E-I-E-I . . . O!

Happy Summer everyone. It's officially here for me now. I've been enjoying everything more just knowing I get to spend the summer with my Lailey-Bug. Her little personality is emerging more and more, and it's so much fun to see her progress in walking. My hope is that by the time we go to Florida in 2 weeks for the annual New Smyrna Beach Akin Family Vacation (I am officially making that NSBAFV, for the record) Lailey will be walking most if not all the time. It's coming soon!

With Davey on the road, it's been just Lailey and me for the weekend (and Rudy too, of course). Last night I made pita pizzas and she loved them. I also discovered a new favorite of hers: blueberries. She was emphatically signing "please" over and over and over after I gave her one to try. She sure loves to eat. Today in a restaurant she was eyeing and signing "please" for food on other people's tables as we walked by! Well, at least we've got the please part down; learning not to ask strangers for food will come later.

About a week ago we finally made the transition to a "big girl" car seat. Lailey just hit 20 lbs. recently and was still happy in her infant seat, so that's why we didn't rush it. It made me a little sad to see her infant car seat get put away because she's growing up so fast. But she seems to enjoy looking forward, and she still naps very well in the car. I snapped this picture today when we got home. Isn't it sweet? Sometimes she'll say "puppy" and kiss them.

A new favorite thing is bubbles. She will stop whatever she is doing and say "bubble" with wonder and awe. It's sounds like "buh - bool." I love it.
And for my favorite video of the day, here is "Old McDonald" Lailey-style. I love her goofiness. She is becoming more expressive with singing and dancing all the time (can she help it?!?), and it makes for great blog material. I know this one will bring a smile to your face.

Night-Night Prayers

One of my favorite times of the day is when we say prayers with Lailey right before she goes to sleep. Tonight was one of the sweetest moments.

I like how she had to make sure to put in her own special requests. I didn't actually mean to interrupt her. I didn't know she was going to keep going!