Summer Vacation Part 1: North Carolina

It has been a CRAZY two weeks. We started our trip in NC visiting family.  We landed at RDU pretty late, got our rental car, and headed straight to Mt. Gould to hang out with family.  Sweet Clayton was a TROOPER (that's actually a huge understatement).  Luckily our family had everything set up for us so we were able to go straight to bed when we arrived (at 1 am) instead of having to unload and set up a crib, etc.  That was AMAZING!  The first night was ok... but the second night... that was ugly. 

Our 6 month old was trying to adjust to a new place, in a different time zone, while teething and with an unexplained cough (maybe he picked up a little something from the airplane???).  Poor baby would not sleep.  We tried for hours but eventually handed him over to family and went to get some sleep.  God bless my family!  Mike and I were going on about 3-4 hours of sleep from the night before and just couldn't handle our screaming baby any longer.  It was rough.  I cried. 

My family took shifts rocking him in the recliner in the living room and basically, that's how he slept all night!  I have new respect for those parents who go through this every night.  I'm incredibly grateful for how well our baby usually sleeps.  Given the fact that he didn't sleep or nap well, he was surprisingly happy during our stay at the river. 

We had a WONDERFUL time at Mt. Gould, as always.  I'm so happy Clayton got to meet most of his extended family.  Now, here's the story in pictures:

HOW ELSE DO YOU TUMMY TIME ON AN AIRPLANE? 

HIS HAT IS STILL A LITTLE BIG. 
BUT IT GETS THE JOB DONE. 

HAPPY TO BE WITH HIS JUJU!

RIVER SHENANIGANS... JET SKIING... SWIMMING... ETC

GOTTA PROTECT THOSE BABY BLUE EYES!

WE LOVE THIS PLACE. 

CLAYTON'S FIRST TIME IN THE CHOWAN RIVER! 

As usual, I was having too much fun to think about taking pictures!  I wish I would've gotten a picture with the whole family!  Maybe I will remember next year! 

After 2 nights at Mt. Gould, we headed to Topsail Beach for a few days.  It was HOT at the river but the ocean breeze at Topsail was AMAZING! 

AS SOON AS WE GOT TO TOPSAIL WE WENT
STRAIGHT TO THE OCEAN!

CLAYTON'S FIRST TIME AT THE OCEAN! 

TOES IN THE ATLANTIC!  

NOT SURE WHAT TO THINK JUST YET. 

WE WERE SOOO HAPPY TO BE HERE!  

GETTING SOME LOVE FROM PA!

JUST HAVING A LITTLE SNACK ON THE BEACH! 

WHAT YOU LOOKING AT MOM? 

OUR FRIENDS DACIA AND NATHAN CAME TO VISIT! 

HE LOVED THE SAND!  IT DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER
HIM THAT IT WAS ALL IN HIS MOUTH (AND EVERY
OTHER CREVICE ON HIS BODY).
HAPPY LITTLE BABY!  

THANKS FOR COMING TO VISIT GUYS! 
WE LOVED SEEING YOU! 

WE VISITED GRANDPA MADDEN ON HIS BOAT
IN WRIGHTSVILLE (AFTER STOPPING FOR
TROLLEY STOP HOT DOGS)! 
THIS IS MOM'S OLD COLLEGE STOMPING GROUNDS!
IT FELT KINDA GOOD TO BE BACK! 

IT WAS A LITTLE TOO WINDY FOR A CRUISE
BUT GRANDPA LET HIM PRETEND TO DRIVE. 

 We had absolutely perfect weather the whole time we were at the beach.  We had one stormy/overcast day but honestly, we loved it!  It was so refreshing!  

JUST A PERFECT SUNRISE! 
(PHOTO CREDIT TO DACIA... I WAS STILL SLEEPING)

AWESOME STORM IN THE DISTANCE! 

NOT A BAD PLACE TO TAKE A NAP! 

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL EVENING WALK
ON THE BEACH! 

NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE THIS BEAUTY!

WE STUMBLED ACROSS A TURTLE NEST EXCAVATION! 
THERE WERE A FEW EGGS THAT DIDN'T HATCH SO
THEY SHOWED THEM TO US BEFORE THEY MOVED THEM
TO ANOTHER NEST. 

THERE WERE 2 BABIES THAT HAD HATCHED BUT
COULDN'T MAKE THE CLIMB OUT...
THEY GOT RELEASED IN THE OCEAN THAT NIGHT! 

BEAUTIFUL CAROLINA SKY! 

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS IN THIS MOMENT! 

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE (THIS TIME, I WAS UP TO TAKE
THE PICTURE). 

We owe a HUGE thanks to Mike's Aunt Paula and her husband, John for letting us stay at their beautiful beach home!  My soul was so happy in this place!  It was likely the most restful part of our entire vacation.  Absolute perfection.  

We spent the last few nights of our time in NC at Pa and JuJu's house just relaxing, enjoying time with family, doing laundry and re-packing for week 2 of vacation.  

GOT LOTS OF FLOOR PLAYTIME

I LOVE WATCHING MY MOM WITH MY SON. 
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING. 

SWEET (WET) BABY KISSES

LAINEY IS THE BEST BABY ENTERTAINER EVER! 

THESE 2 HAD A GREAT TIME TOGETHER

SOMEBODY LOVES IT AT PA AND JUJU'S 

JUJU AND HER GRANDBABIES

THE WHOLE FAM! 
WE LOVE YOU GUYS AND MISS YOU SO MUCH ALREADY!
COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL WE SEE YOU AGAIN! 

Well, that was our NC trip!  It was a whirlwind... it always is.  We had so much fun and even though it was a little difficult to bounce around from place to place with a 6 month old, I would do it again in a heartbeat.  After an AWESOME week in NC, we flew from RDU to Syracuse, NY for a week at the St. Lawrence River with Mike's family.  Separate blog on that trip coming soon!  Stay tuned!