Rosemary Beach trip - May 2014

My family grew up visiting St. Simons Island for the past 20 years, so we decided it was time to visit the Gulf coast!  Robbie and I searched and searched VRBO around Rosemary beach and found a house close by in Inlet Beach to rent for the week with my family.  

We arrived on a Saturday and went to this super cute playground at Alys Beach.  

(Everything in Alys Beach is white!)

We had chairs and umbrellas set up every day for us at the beach.  Our house was a very close walk to the beach - and no stairs down!  That was very nice when pulling all the beach toys!

One morning the girls went shopping and had lunch out at George's at Alys beach.

Gates did NOT like the sand.  He spend 99% of his time on the beach in my lap.  

He did venture his toes in the sand long enough to snap a few pics…

Hawkins loved flying a kite with Daddy

Here is sweet Gates during dinner at Bud and Alley's in Seaside Beach

Hawkins could have stayed on the beach and in the sand all day long.  He just entertained himself and played and played.  We were so glad Robbie took the whole week off.  My boys got some great quality time with their Daddy.

Robbie took Hawkins out for a quick kayak ride

We got a babysitter one night and had an adult night out.

We went to the Calazo pool in Alys beach and then back to George's for dinner.

All the pictures below were taken by MPhoto during a family photo shoot taken on our last night there.  The weather was perfect!

We all loved our trip to the Gulf coast and can't wait to go back soon!  This might be an annual Gatewood family trip!  

Gates - 18 months

Sweet Gates, you are a year and a half old!

You are very independent and love to do things on your own.  You have been walking for awhile now, but you are so strong and stable.  You can run and go up and down stairs very well.

You can point to your nose, eyes, ears, teeth, hair, feet, belly button, hands and toes.

You are a little monkey and love to climb on anything!

You sleep from 7:30 or 8pm until 6:30 or 7am.  Sometimes you sleep later, but lately you've been waking up early.

You wear 18 month, 24 month or 2T clothes (mostly hand-me-downs!) and a size 5 diaper.  Size 5 or 6 shoe.

You are a slightly picky eater, but you are way more adventurous than Hawkins ever was.   You will usually put something in your mouth to "try it" but won't always chew and swallow something new.   I tend to give you the same stuff as Hawkins (grilled cheese, chicken fingers, etc) so I have to remind myself to give you different foods.  Lately, you LOVE pineapple and orange juice.

Your typical day:

Breakfast:  juice, waffle (If I am having a smoothie I make some for you - you love smoothies!)

Lunch:  grilled cheese or peanut butter sandwich, raisins, apple, chips or crackers

Dinner:  chicken tenders, raisins, apple

Words you are saying:  

Mama

Dada

Bubba = Hawkins

Nu nu = Honey

Be Da = Big Daddy

Ninu = Aunt Nina

Beau

Yay yay = Lady

 Belle = my parents dog

bye bye

me = please

dant tu = thank you

rock

Beebee = paci and/or blankie

I will ask "Who is ready for lunch?" or "Who wants to go outside and play" and you raise both hands and say "Meeeeee".  It's the cutest thing EVER!

You love your brother so much.  He is your "bubba".  He will hit you and you still go and hug him.

You are obsessed with your blankie and paci.  We try to keep them in the crib most of the time, but I just can't always deny you something you love so so much.  It instantly calms you down when you are upset and you get so excited when you see it.  Sweet boy.  

Gates, we love seeing you learn new things and say new words everyday.  You are so precious to us!