Memorial Day Weekend

Our First Family Beach Picture















Snoozin' On The Beach



















Enjoying The Waves



















Back At The Condo



















Will vs. the sand: Who Will Win?















The Girls On The Beach















You Are Here














Hello, everyone!

We hope you had an enjoyable Memorial Day holiday! Sounds like many people across the country got a taste of the heat!

We took our yearly trip to the beach in Florida (Destin / Ft. Walton Beach) this weekend. We had a great time! We left Saturday morning and stayed through Tuesday morning. We met up with Andy, Kathy and Will Flanigan, who live in Nashville. Andy is a friend I've known longer than not (I think I met him when I was four?). Kathy is his sweet wife (originally from Americus, GA), and Will is their going-on-two year-old son.

Andy and Doug talked shop (building / architecture / real estate, etc), while Kathy and I swapped "Mommy" experiences, etc. It is always good to catch up with them.

The beach was wonderful. It wasn't TOO hot this year. The waves were a bit green, though, from the seaweed washing into certain areas near the beach. No problem-o, we just walked a little further up the shore to jump in where the water was more clear.

Will enjoyed the sand, but somehow got some on his face, which led to more on his face, which didn't seem like it would've been too fun to me. He is a sweet little guy! He has the longest eyelashes this side of the Mississippi!

Ava stayed under a beach umbrella for the majority of the weekend (avec 50 SPF sunscreen). I joked that the ocean, to Ava, is the world's largest sound effect machine. Every night, at home in Marietta, GA, little Ava goes to sleep to the sound of ocean waves. Needless to say, she slept for her entire experience on the sand. :-)

Poor Will had a stomach bug of some kind, and ended-up getting sick on Saturday night at a restaurant. This bug was then passed on to Andy, who got sick on Monday night. Last night, when we got home from the beach, I also got sick. I'm hoping Ava bypasses the bug entirely??? So far she seems to be doing well.

While at the beach, we got news that Molly (Flanigan) Carris (Andy's next youngest sister) had their first baby, a girl. Zoe Faith Carris was born on 05/29. She looks like such a sweet little thing! Molly and her husband Rob live in the Chicago area. We can't wait to meet her one of these days!

Ava had her two-month check-up today. I was dreading the immunization shots I knew she would be given today. She cried (delayed reaction at first) when given each of the three shots, but her crying didn't last too long. She settled back down and is now sleeping as I type this. She is 11 lbs. 8.8 ounces, 22 inches long, with a 16-inch head. This puts her in the 75th percentile for weight, 25th percentile for height and 75th percentile for head circumference (big brain!). The nurse said not to worry about the height, as babies go through growth spurts at different points. I thought it was interesting, as both of my nephews have always been in the very top percentiles (105th...no joke) for height and weight. She is doing well developmentally in all areas, from what the nurse could tell.

Well, I dread going back to work soon, but also think it will be good for all of us. I think I will get more done (in general) when Ava is in day care, Ava will get to interact with other kids. My official return-to-work date will be June 21st.

Summer is almost here!

I hope you found a way to beat the heat this weekend!

With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava