Edisto 2012

Oh how true this statement is!!  We just got back from a week long stay at Edisto Beach.  It was much needed for both of us and I can't believe it has come and gone.  I can't say we got a lot of rest and relaxation, because let's face it- we have a 2 year old.  :)  But we did get away from life and the stresses that come with it and had a marvelous time!!

Our beach house was ON the beach!!  That was a necessity because of our wonderful 2 year old!  I wanted to be able to come and go as we wanted.  So I searched and searched.  I knew most of the houses beach front were going to be expensive and we didn't have a lot to spend.  After looking for a few days, I decided we'd go after Labor Day because the prices were cut way down and since we didn't have any kids in school, we weren't limited.  I finally found a house that wasn't huge and expensive but nice and had enough room!  It was the perfect fit and we enjoyed it all week long!  The 1st floor had a very nice and modern kitchen, a half bath, dining room with a nice big table, and the living room.  The 2nd floor had the bedroom with the queen bed and a bedroom with a twin trundle bed.  The only full bath was in between those 2 rooms.  The washer and dryer was on that floor as well.  Then the 3rd floor had a half bath and a big room with 2 double beds.  I can see us renting this house next year!!!  Here are some pictures:

Looking into the living room

From the living room looking at the dining room and kitchen

What a wonderful view from our living room!!!

The kitchen with stainless steel appliances- we don't' even have that at home!  :)

The trundle bed

The queen bed

The full bath with a jacuzzi tub and separate shower, there were 2 half baths on each side- I for each bedroom

The 3rd floor doubles

Living room from the stairs

View from the 3rd floor

So, we left Saturday after lunch.  Check in wasn't until 4:00 so I planned the car ride after lunch in hopes that Bennett would get his nap in on the way down, which he did!  Check in was easy as pie thanks to Edisto Realty so we grabbed our keys and started our vacation!!  Most days were spent on the  beach but Tuesday and Thursday we ventured into Charleston, which was only an hour away.  Bennett loved the beach but after an hour or 2 he was ready to go back inside and relax, eat lunch, take a nap, and then go back out to play again.  I can't say he was the best sleeper on vacation but he did the best considering it was a different environment and such.  We planned our meals and only ate out in Charleston and then our last night in Edisto.  

Some of the things Bennett liked the most:

• finding seashells and throwing them back in the ocean
• playing in the outside shower 
• jumping the waves with daddy
• running around the 2nd floor
• taking a bath in the jacuzzi tub  (he was the only one who used the nice tub)
• playing on the playground in Mt. Pleasant
• watching the pirate boats float by (they were really shrimp boats but he associates every boat with pirates!)
• riding bikes with daddy
• eating at the table in a big boy chair without his booster seat
• chasing the birds and watching them fly away
• being spoiled every day by Grammy!!!

Those were the highlights from our vacation.  It filled my heart to watch him have fun every single day.  The weather was absolutely perfect and we all managed to come back without sunburn!  :)  I took a bazillion pictures so be prepared for picture overload!!

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 3:

Day 4:

Day 5:

My beautiful mother!!

Day 6:

Day 7:

I took way more pictures but those are the best!  I'm already looking forward to our vacation next year!!!  

2 Years and 3 Months

Wow, 3 months has passed since his birthday and his 2nd party!  Time is flying and it really hit me today as I was browsing through the birthday cards.  I was buying a card for a friend's little boy and realized that the next birthday card for Bennett will be for his 3rd birthday!  Then he'll be going to preschool and I'm sure he'll be graduating high school in the blink of my eye!!

So, what's Bennett up to these days?  A lot!!!  He's still busy, busy, busy and getting so smart.  Too smart sometimes (which isn't always a good thing for Mommy!)  :)  You can't really pull anything over him- he remembers everything you say and if he's missing something.  He's become very interested in his Duplos and loves to build things with Daddy.  He's infatuated with barns, and loves to point out all the "barns" while we are driving.  Some are barns, but most of them are storage sheds.  :)  But hey, that's imagination at work so I just agree with him.  He thinks Mrs. Bertha's house is a barn because it has a red roof.  If you ask him what lives in the barn, his reply is always a horse!  It's amazing the things he connects- like if we eat cake we have to sing Happy Birthday, or vice versa.  :)  Or if he has things in both hands he knows he has 2.  Or if Mommy and Daddy are dressed up we are going to church.  To think that he's been here for just 2 years and already catching on to things is just amazing.  He still loves to help.  While we were at a sick visit at his doctor's office one day, he saw the nurse coming down the hall with a  trash bag and ran to her to help her with the bag.  It was the cutest thing.  If he sees me picking up his toys he always comes over to help me.  Or if I'm filling up my water glass he likes to help me hold the glass under the water spout.  I just love my big helper!!  He's also very loving with is stuffed animals.  Yesterday we were upstairs playing in the loft.  His bedroom is right there so he was going back and forth putting his buddy in his bed.  He'd lay him down and tell him night night and then walk out the door, turn off the lamp and shut the door.  He'd come out to play and then tell me his buddy was crying so he'd open his bedroom door and go in and check on his buddy.  He did that for the longest time and it just melted my heart!!!  I love that he's so loving and compassionate!!

He's still a good eater, which I can't complain about.   He's still a not so good sleeper, which I can complain about!!  He'll go a week or 2 sleeping really really good, and then all of a sudden he'll start sleeping horribly for a while.  And when I say horribly, I mean getting up once a night.  I know, I know- it could be a lot worse.  I guess I shouldn't complain too much.  I'm not exactly sure why, but I'm thinking it's still related to his teeth.  His 2 year molars haven't come in yet.  I'm hoping that's the case and once they come in he'll go back to sleeping like a pro!  I guess we'll just have to wait and see about that.  It's been really tough for us the last couple of weeks though, so I'm crossing my fingers!!

As far as size goes, I think he's about average.  And that's just comparing him to kids his age.  He's wearing 2T clothes and in size 5 diapers.  Oh, speaking of diapers, we are in the process of trying to get him potty trained.  Yesterday he tee teed in the potty 3 times!!!!  That was a record!  Today he has done it once.  I went to target to buy him some big boy underwear and some pull ups.  I can't believe I actually bought him big boy underwear!!!!  He's going to look so stink' cute wearing those.  :)

I'll have to post pictures later but here are a few from the zoo last month: