Our Family Vacation

Last week (October 3-10) we took our first vacation with Dawson, and we had a wonderful time! Unfortunately we’re now back to the real world, but we took lots of pictures!
On Saturday, October 3rd one of our friends, DeeDee, was so nice to drop us off at the Huntsville Airport so our vacation could begin. You would not believe how much luggage we had tot take so we would have all of Dawson’s “necessities.” In January when John and I went to Fort Lauderdale we took 2 bags. This time, however, we took 2 suitcases, 1 duffel backpack, 2 carry-ons, the stroller, the carseat, and the carseat base. After arriving at Huntsville International and checking our bags we found out that what was supposed to be a 1 hour layover in Atlanta was going to be 5 hours due to a delay. Although we were concerned about Dawson flying and now the long layover, we really had no reason to be because he did GREAT! We could not have asked for him to do better. He even did surprisingly well eating his rice cereal in the Atlanta airport Chili’s that night. Dawson slept the entire flight from Atlanta to Tampa which was a nice break. We were excited that the particular plane we were on had personal tv screens that got ESPN. So we actually go to watch the Tennessee game in the air (even though they lost). Not to mention I was excited because we got to fly on one of Delta’s pink planes; it was painted pink for breast cancer awareness month.
We finally arrived in Tampa around midnight and my Dad and Logan were there to pick us up and take us to the condo where we were staying in Indian Shores Beach, Florida.
On Sunday John’s parents, Emily, and Drew flew down to spend a few days with us at the beach. Sunday we just enjoyed the sun on the beach. My parents brought a swing for Dawson to use on the beach which was great! We lotioned him up with 60plus SPF baby sunscreen, put him in a hat and under the umbrella in the swing and he was a happy camper on the beach the whole week. Despite all the sun protection by the end of the week we could tell he had a very slight tan line on his pale legs!
On Monday we were beach bums all day, but had dinner at the new Bubba Gumps Restaurant at John’s Pass with everyone. John and I have been to a few Bubba Gums before, but it’s still fun to look at all the memorabilia and use the “Run, Forrest, Run” sign when you need your server. We took several pictures here that you’ll see below. After dinner we walked around all the beach shops on John’s Pass. It was really fun for me to take Dawson to John’s Pass since I have been there so many times growing up.
Before we went on our trip I decided I wanted to rent a waverunner on the ocean while we were there since I have never done that before on the ocean. So on Tuesday, Dawson stayed with his Nana and Aunt Emily while John and I rented a waverunner. We had so much fun! I would rent one again. While we were out on the ocean we came within 5 feet of several dophins and had fun on the waves! That night for dinner we went to the Italian Villa and had the biggest pizzas I have ever seen (and good too)!!
Wednesday was a beach day again! My Dad, Logan, and John fished off the shore. Then that evening John, Dawson, and I went to dinner with John’s parents, sister, Drew. We tried a new (to us) place in St. Pete called Philthy Phil’s. Although it doesn’t sound appetizing, it was a fun little place with good food.
Thursday morning we were sad to say goodbye to John’s parents, Em, and Drew as they had to go back to Tennessee. We were glad they got to come though. That morning John, Logan, and my Dad went deep sea fishing with Hubbard’s Marina. They all came back with a lot of fish and some stories. We are planning to cook all they caught the next time we’re all together. They caught close to 50 fish and kept about half that many. While they fished Mom, Dawson, and I spent the morning on the beach.
That evening Dawson stayed with his Lolly, Pop (my parents), and Uncle Logan while John and I had a dinner date at a local steak house, Sam Seltzer’s. It was nice for us to get to have a date and for Dawson to spend time with his grandparents.
Friday was unfortunately our last day at the beach, but we had amazing weather again. The whole week we were there the area was experiencing unseasonably high temperatures. The temperatures were like they are there in July and August. It was nice though, as I don’t mind the heat at the beach. Friday I tried fishing off the beach with the net for bait and with the fishing pole like the guys had been doing all week. It turned out the fish were definitely biting that afternoon. We were catching one mackerel after another.
We stayed out on the beach as long as possible on Friday since it was our last day. For dinner we went with my parents and Logan to one of our favorites-Crabby Bills. After a great dinner we all had to sadly return to the condo to pack.
Saturday morning Dad and Logan dropped us off at the airport at 4am and we were back in Huntsville and back to reality by 10am. Unfortunately we returned home to rain and temperatures in the 60’s.
We had a GREAT vacation and are grateful to my parents for inviting us, letting us stay with them, and helping with Dawson. We’re also glad the Zorio’s came and thankful for their watching Dawson some as well! We could not have asked for a more wonderful first vacation with our son, and it was great that all our family got to be there too! We took a lot of pictures, some of which I’ve put below! Enjoy!!

Above: Our little family on the beach the last evening.

The three of us on the beach.

John and Dawson with ALL our luggage before leaving our house!

Above: Dawson and I in the Huntsville International Airport.

Above: Dawson fell asleep in his stroller while we

were walking around the Atlanta Airport.

Above: Dawson's beach attire.

Above: This is where Dawson spent his week.

Notice the cute sunglasses-his Uncle Logan wore

those when he was a baby!

Above: Dawson's first time sitting on the

sand in the ocean.

Above: Dawson at Bubba Gumps.

Above: John and I at Bubba Gumps.

Above: Me, Dad, Logan, and Mom at Bubba Gumps.

Above: Emily, Drew, and Dawson at Bubba Gumps.

Above: The whole gang at Bubba Gumps.

Above: Dawson wearing his Daddy's hat and playing

in the Exersaucer Lolly and Pop brought all the way from

Tennessee for him to play in.

Above: Dawson with his Grandad.

Above: Dawson with his Mommy watching the waves.

Above: Our little family one evening after dinner.

Above: All the Zorio Men. Left to right: Grandad (John's Dad),

Dawson, John, and Drew.

Above: Dawson with Nana.

Above: Dawson with his Aunt Emily.

Above: Dawson hanging out with Daddy in our condo.

Above: Dawson with Mommy.

Above: John and Dawson on the beach.

Above: Dawson's 2nd time in the swimming pool.

Even though it doesn look like it in this picture, he enjoyed the pool.

Above: John with some of the fish he caught on

the boat deep sea fishing.

Above: The first fish I caught off the shore.

Above: Dawson with his Pop, Lolly, and Uncle Logan.

Above: The last evening on the beach.

John's birthday, Dawson's Baptism, And More

A lot has happened since I last updated our family blog.

September 15-17 John went with a friend to Tunica, Mississippi which is about a four hour drive from our house. They stayed at the Gold Strike hotel which is owned by MGM Grande. John had a great time and wants to go back taking me next time! Unfortunately, no big winnings to report, but he did enjoy the trip.
On Friday, September 19th Dawson had his four month check up. He is doing well. At the appointment he was 26 inches long and weighed 15 pounds 12 ounces! The appointment went well except for the 4 shots he had to get at the end. He is growing and developing like he should, so John and I were pleased with our little guy!
That Friday we also decided to start giving Dawson rice cereal for dinner since he has been waking up every three hours through the night starving! This was his first time sitting in his high chair which you can see in the pictures below. We had to roll up blankets to put on either side of him because there was too much wiggle room for him right now. He did okay with his first time eating off a spoon and eating anything other than just milk, except for the fact that more ended up on the bib, high chair, and his face than in his tummy. Over the past week and a half, Dawson has started doing SO much better eating. He has learned to open his mouth when the spoon is near his mouth and although it’s still messy, it’s much better than it was! This is also helping him not to wake up starving so frequently during the night (which is amazing!)!
The weekend of September 20th I attempted to put Dawson in his Baby Einstein Exersaucer. I had put him in it about a week before, and his was about half an inch too short for his feet to touch the floor so he couldn’t play in it yet. It’s amazing how fast he is growing because when I put him in it again on the 20th, he can touch the floor. He loves to play in this toy now. John and I love it too as it allows Dawson to be up looking around like he enjoys without us having to hold him all day.
Last Thursday was my last day of work as I have decided to stay home and take care of Dawson full-time now. It was sad to leave because during the time I have worked there I have gotten to know a lot of the people there really well. I plan to go back to visit, of course taking Dawson with me (as requested!). Although, I was sad to leave my friends there, I am thrilled to get to spend more time with Dawson and John and be able to take care of everything around the house.
Yesterday was a big day for our family! It was John’s 25th birthday, and Dawson was baptized. My parents and Logan came to visit and help us celebrate the two big events. Dawson was baptized at our church, Asbury United Methodist in Madison, Alabama, at the 9am traditional service by Reverend Alan Weatherly. After church we came home and had a birthday feast of brushetta, tomato basil squares, lasagna, and an Oreo’s ‘N Cream birthday cake. Logan gave John the game Skip-Bo, so after lunch we played a few games before it was time for my parents and Logan to head back to Tennessee. John and I spent the rest of his birthday playing with Dawson.

Enjoy the pictures below!

John with his birthday cake.

Dawson's first day wearing jeans!

"You want me to what!? Eat off a spoon?!"

"I guess I'll try some rice cereal."

More interested in the toy than the food.

One of his first bites

Extreme focus on the spoon.

"I love this toy!"

This is fun!

Another picture of Dawson in the exersaucer.

Dawson's first time in the exersaucer.

Dawson on his changing table after a bath.

After the service where Dawson was baptized.

Lolly, Pop, and me with Dawson after the service.

Daddy and Dawson outside our house before celebrating.

Back at home before the birthday party!

Our family!

Logan, Lolly, and Pop with Dawson.

John blowing out his candles.

After a short nap in his swing. All

the festivities wore Dawson out.

Pop and Dawson.

John and I on his 25th birthday.

I think he looks so much older here than 4 months!

Thinking.

Four Months!

Dawson is four months old today! I can’t believe it. It really does seem like John & I just brought him home from the hospital a couple of weeks ago. Although, thankfully we are getting more sleep than when we first brought him home, even though he has stopped sleeping a long stretch of time during the night. That was one phase I wish we were still in, as he is now getting up 2 or 3 times during the night. He will have his four month check-up on Friday afternoon, which John & I are dreading since it involves a few shots. If he does as well as he did last time though, he will be smiling by the time we leave the doctor’s office.
Life has continued to be busy taking care of Dawson, and I have decided to leave my job in order to stay home with him full time. It was a hard decision to make because I enjoy my job, but I am so so excited to start being a stay at home mom! John & I are looking forward to life being a little less hectic!
The pictures below were all taken this week. Enjoy!

Dawson laying on the quilt Mamaw

made for me when I was little!

Dawson sitting in his Bumbo Seat after church.

He started laughing and throwing his head back.

I got out the video camera to try to record him laughing,

but he stopped laughing and stared at the camera.

Dawson sitting in the floor of his room.

Making faces for the camera.

Don't I look like Daddy?

Dawson LOVES to watch Bentley.

In this picture he looks like he's trying to kick her, though.

Bentley joined Dawson's photo shoot!

Dawson after church on Sunday. He stayed in the service the whole time and was perfectly quite. He was awake for singing at the begining, slept during the actual sermon, and woke up just in time for a couple more songs! Then he joined his friends in his Sunday School class, the Bugs.

Dawson in his diaper. Look at all those little rolls!

"Ready to Roll"

Dawson is now a professional “roller.” He rolls over all the time now. Thankfully he has finally figured out how to roll back over to his back from his tummy, which keeps John and I from constantly having to roll him back over. He’s getting a little more used to being on his tummy and doesn’t cry immediately. I even had time to take a few pictures (below) of him on his stomach before he got upset.
With yesterday being the first football game of the season, John and I were sad not to be in Knoxville at the game, and we missed all of you we normally tailgate with! However, we all wore our Tennessee orange yesterday. There’s a picture below of Dawson in his Tennessee onsie that Stephanie gave him! (Thanks, Steph!) John had to work during the game, but we recorded it and watched it last night excited to see Tennessee win big. Unfortunately, we are probably not going to be able to go up to UT for any games this season, but we are definitely supporting the Vols here in Alabama. We even have our Power T flag out front.
Life continues to be busy between taking care of Dawson and our work schedules, and it’s going by so quickly. I packed away a bunch of clothes Dawson outgrew and remembered how recently it was that those outfits were too big for him.
John’s birthday (the big 2-5!) is coming up at the end of September. We’re planning to have Dawson baptized on John’s birthday (9/27), and so we’re looking forward to all of our families coming into town to celebrate both events.
Enjoy the pictures below!

"Uh, excuse me! I'm trying to take a bath!"

Dawson's first time cheering on the Vols!

His onsie says "Lil Volunteer in Training" (Thanks, Steph!)

I got a little carried away with these picture as you can tell.

Dawson and Bentley looking out the window in his room.

Dawson after church this morning.

Dawson in the full outfit, matching hat and all.

He looks like he should be on the golf course!