Tennessee

We just got back from Tennessee - I haven't been  there since I was in the single digits of age (I think). Obviously, I didn't remember much from way back when.

It was Caroline's 1st time on a plane! She did extremely well (both ways). I was a proud mommy. She did not cry.. she was actually really curious about what was happening around her. She was looking at everyone and playing with all her toys. I'll say it again and again......she's such a good baby.

We were up there for a wedding. Shout out to the gorgeous new wifey, Brittney. Congratulations to the happy couple!

I had a girls day out at a Spa. Oh. My. Goodness. I think I'm going to need to schedule a massage every 2 weeks now. Heavenly is the only way I can think to describe it. (I've had a professional massage before, but now I feel like I truly appreciate them).
Let me tell you how beautiful it is there You've got the city but then you've got rolling hills. You've got your country, in the middle of no where towns, but then you have busy streets with people walking everywhere. It's a sight to see. Everything was green. It even has a certain smell to it. 

I'm very happy that we were able to spend some time with my dad and Jimmie. Living way down here in Central Florida we don't get to see our family as often as we like. But, it makes the time we do get to see them that much more exciting. I missed my daddy.

We really enjoyed it... the whole trip. We met new people, had good food, good drinks and a real good time. #makingmemories Hopefully we'll get up there again soon!

Happy 1/2 Birthday!

Happy 1/2 Birthday to our Caroline Ann :)

6 whole months. 6 months old! I'm working on wrapping my head around it. I realize that 6 comes after 5 but really? It's already been 6 months? 

Our beautiful girl has made many changes and has grown drastically over the last months.

Watching her grow has been one of the most exciting things to see. To be able to watch her daily changes is such a blessing and then to see all the changes she has made over time just blows my mind. 

She's such a bright girl. Her smile is contagious. And she is so, so smart for being so little. 

Fun Facts About Caroline:

• Weighs 16 pounds & 6 ounces
• Is 26 inches long
• Holds things in her hands and passes them between hands
• Sits up on her own
• Rolls over from back to tummy
• Pushes up on her arms while on her tummy
• Knows how to push the buttons in her books to make sound play
• Has now been to five different states: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia & Tennessee
• Has been through security at an airport & flown on an airplane 
• Kicks her legs to music
•  Has tried a couple solid foods so far including Sweet Potatoes & Carrots
• Will smile back when you smile at her
• Talks to Mickey during Mickey's Clubhouse
• Wakes up smiling and laughing
• laughs when we sing "Sweet Caroline" to her
• is allergic to squash
• kicks her feet in the bath tub

 Something funny? Joseph and I just crack up every time. When she's laying on her belly, she will kick her legs (like she is jumping) and she will move her arms at the same time.. it looks like she's swimming.  

It won't be too long until she's crawling... we're not in a hurry though. She is going to be into everything. I know it. 

Time

Time is the scariest thing if you ask me. You have to worry about it passing by too quickly sometimes. You have to worry if there is enough of it. Then at times you dread how slow you think it's going to pass. It's not a fair "thing" if you ask me. Time scares me, mostly because of the uncertainty that goes along with it.

The future brings big changes for the Turner family. Changes that will bring growth and security for our family more quickly in the future, but for a short time period we will have a huge adjustment.

Even a short period can seem long when it comes to matters of the heart. It seems that when you're distanced from the ones you love that time has a way of dragging out each day until you're together again. This is what I'm dreading.

I don't want anything to be missed. Birthdays. Milestones. The little moments that mean so much. That's what makes me sad.

On the other hand, I'm excited. Because of the big changes that will take place because we make this sacrifice for a short period. Because of our family. And because of the opportunities.

If there is one thing I know for certain, the time we do I have, we will make the most of. Together.

Just things that are on my mind lately...

5 Months Old

Our little girl is Five Months Old now.

I think I've said it on every monthly post and I'll probably continue to say it on every one after this- time really does fly.

She's growing so quickly. She's so, so smart already. I'm loving every second of watching her grow. It's simply amazing to watch her figure out something new. You can just look at her and see the wheels in her head turning.

I feel like from 4 to 5 months has been one of the biggest growth jumps yet. She's changed so much since she was born, duh, but I (and everyone who is around her for that matter) can really see the changes.

I'd also like to mention that these pictures are becoming harder and harder to take. We only have the one picture in her "5 Months" onsie due to the fact we had a little drool mishap. AND she's a little wiggle worm- all over the place... tapping her legs up and down, putting her feet in her mouth, rolling side to side... it's eventful :)

Fun Facts About Caroline:

• she weighs roughly 16 pounds
• 25 inches long
• loves cuddling with her lovey. both the doggie & the lamb
• grabs her toys & reaches for them
• everything she grabs goes into her mouth
• eats rice cereal
• interested in the TV
• loves Baby Einstein videos & Mickey's Clubhouse
• laughs and smiles all the time
• enjoys playing with her feet and putting them in her mouth
• wakes up from naps extremely happy
• giggles and daddy when he sneezes
• focuses on what she is interested in
• in a new environment she looks around to examine everything

So blessed to be this beautiful little girl's mother. Words could never express how much I love her.

Mini Road Trip - Brevard Zoo

Joseph & I have a certain love for the zoo. We've been going to different zoos in different cities since we first started dating- it's kind of a thing.

 We now have a new member of the fam that we can interest in going to the zoo too! #heckyes

Saturday morning, she woke up, was happy & chatty and ready to go!

We road tripped it this last weekend over to Brevard County on the coast to the Brevard Zoo. The occasion? Caroline's 1st zoo adventure :)

Granted- she is only 4 months old, so there is only so much that she can appreciate. But, she surprised us with how much interest she showed.

Sunscreen, a portable misting fan, sunglasses and a hat- our girl was prepared. And thank goodness for that because it was a hot one. We went in the morning so we didn't get the heat too bad.. (ha, too bad).. it's Central Florida, it was still pretty hot. Didn't stop us though.

The macaws and the giraffes are what we think to be her favorites. It could have had something to do with their colors, shapes and patterns... just a hunch. With both of the animals she couldn't take her eyes off of them. I really enjoyed watching her face as she was looking at them #mommoment

She wanted to be carried the whole time so she wouldn't miss anything, but if she was in her stroller she was staring at the bright green trees as they would pass by.

It was a good time and a great memory. & she even got a souvenir- her very own meerkat.

 

Caroline's first zoo trip = success.

(PS. can I please make note of that last picture ^^above^^.... Joseph's twin, am I right?!)

Sun Princess

A trip to the Florida Panhandle during the summer months wouldn't be complete without a little water fun. Caroline had her 1st water & boat experience. She was made for it.

We had a morning full of fun in the sun (don't freak out, there was lots of shade involved for our little fair skinned, baby soft & sensitive girl).

Lathered up in baby sunscreen, face & body, her UV ray protective swim suit & her sun hat this little princess with ready & set for her first day in the water.

 Looking extra adorable in her infant life vest, she was immediately put to sleep by the vibrations & rocking of the boat.  I think she really enjoyed the breeze through her lite hair as we cruised around the bay and the bayous. She just laid there, basking in the sun (completely covered by the shade from her hat and the Bimini top on the boat).
When she was ready to wake up, she was lathered up again with sunscreen (for the sake of sounding repetitive, let me just go ahead and tell you this girl was smothered and covered with sunscreen.. no way our baby was getting burnt!) We then made our first attempt at making Caroline a water child.

Dipping her toes in the water didn't turn out as well as we had hoped. I think she was shocked. It was much cooler than her bath water usually is, obviously. After a little shriek and then calming down, we decided that dipping wasn't the best way to go about it. Mommy & Daddy then proceeded to sit down on the shore with the little babe on our lap and show what fun it was to play in the water. Kicking her feet in the waves and looking around at the scenery, she got used to it. Thank goodness. She started to enjoy it I think :)

What Caroline didn't like, was a wave that splashed up and hit her in the face. I think we all can relate. That was the end of that. 

We posted her up under a big beach umbrella on a towel for some down time. And then, another nap was taken. She was precious & SO easy.

She was smiley the whole time, playing with her Nonnie and Opa and taking in the new experience. She's definitely a boat baby- no better way to nap!

Needless to say, we will have a lot more boating and water fun in our future together. This Florida mom is so glad she liked it!

After a long morning on the water, it was only right that I get out of the shower to find this.....

& I smile.
I love my family.