Sea Island 2012

Every year over the 4th of July we head down to Sea Island, GA----my favorite place in the US.  This was Savannah and Oscar's second year going and my 5th or 6th time.  It seems that every year it gets better and better.  The place is truly magical.  I love watching Savannah discover new things each year. Every year will only get better and more exciting for her as she is able to horseback ride, go to camp, attend tea parties, and so much more.

Our typical vacation day went something like this: 7am room service breakfast, Oscar went for bike ride while Savannah and I went for a run, beach club from about 10am until 3pm, rest time back in the room, dinner around 6ish, and finally bed around 9ish.  Oscar was able to go shooting and golfing and I was able to have 2 glorified back rubs (aka prental massages).  Overall, it was an extremely laid back, chill week.  Even the 6 hour drive there and back was surprisingly easy.  Savannah has improved by leaps and bounds as a traveler.  Let's hope she keeps this up.    

our first afternoon at the pool

awwwww, I love this place!!!

Bocce ball

playing in the sprinklers

shuffleboard

heading to the ocean

dinner at the golf club

our sweet family

she loved standing on top of the air vents channeling her inner Marilyn

heading out to the yacht club

the walk back to our room

more fun times in the sprinklers

her favorite spot was sitting right on top of the bigger water jet

listening to the bagpipe player at dusk

another day poolside

enjoying some nice refreshing sorbet

fun times in the hotel room

silly girl

vacationing is such a difficult job

last dinner at the luau 

my little beauty

Daddy and his girl

watching the 4th of July parade

I already can't wait to go back next year.  And yes, Oscar has already reserved our same room again :)

The Big Announcement of 2012

Yes, I am finally making it official.  The Alvarez family is expecting a new family member due sometime around December 21, 2012 (yes, that's also my birthday---just another exciting event to overshadow it).  We couldn't be more thrilled!!  

April 14--the test confirms my suspicions

12 weeks pregnant

15 weeks

16 weeks (we forgot to take an official photo)

17 weeks

I explained to Savannah that Mommy has a baby in her belly around the 14th week and since then, she is constantly wanting to see the baby.  Oftentimes she'll walk up to me and look up or down my dress/shirt/whatever in order to catch a glimpse.  She has even begun to think that she, too, has a baby in her belly.  Everyday I ask her what kind of baby does Mommy and Savannah have and she'll always respond with "Savannah have girl baby" but my baby's sex changes daily.

The big ultrasound was on July 16 so we can now confirm that Mommy has a baby BOY in her belly!

We are over the moon excited; however, I am a little nervous about the possibility of another wild child.  Let's all pray that the little guy is more mellow than his sister :)  Time to start shopping for blue!!!

Kickoff to Summer '12

Once again we headed down to Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms for our annual Memorial Day weekend get-away.  We arrived early on Friday and immediately jumped in the pool.  Savannah is absolutely fearless when it comes to the water.  She'll strap on her goggles, throw a floatie around her, and jump right in the pool.  I must admit, it is pretty nice to not have her attached to me for the first summer ever.  I may actually get a decent tan this summer :)  

We did manage to drag ourselves away for the nice, quiet, warm pool to try out the ocean.  Last year Savannah was less than thrilled about the beach but on this trip she loved it.  She couldn't get enough of the waves crashing into her.  She didn't even mind getting knocked over and splashed in the face.  

frolicking in the waves

"This is sooo much fun!!"

love that little hinny

such a beach babe

We actually did spend some time out of the water.  Savannah happily obliged with the daily short break (thank goodness!).  She also went and got a t-shirt tie-dyed from the jr. staff.  On Saturday afternoon we headed into town to do a little shopping and to eat dinner at High Cotton.  I think if I lived in Charleston I would probably be 200 pounds-----their food is just too good!!  

notice the gigantic lollipop....she carried this thing everywhere-----even to bed.

supervising the tie-dying

the finished product

the resident gator

Saturday pool time

all dressed and ready for dinner

she never cooperates for matching Lilly pictures

On Sunday we visited the SC Aquarium.  Savannah was so excited about seeing sharks that she sped through most of the other exhibits.  But once we got to the sharks, she was barely interested in them.  I guess she was expecting to see Bruce from Nemo so those little sharks did nothing to spark her interest.    

checking out the starfish and sea urchins

not impressed with these fish

the lemurs checking out Savannah

pretending to drive a safari truch

me with my sweet girl

It was another fabulous vacation in one of my favorite cities.  The weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and the scenery was beautiful.  To make it all even better, we basically stayed at the hotel for free.  Yes, I said free.  Gotta love American Express points :)  Looking back now I see that we managed to go through the weekend without taking a single family picture.  We've got to do better than that on the next beach trip.