Remember back in March when I was so excited to share that we were finally pregnant and then you guys gave me that huge honor of taking the sash and tiara from my Sherry for the Apartment Therapy’s Homies award?
Well…what fell in between the cracks?
Port St. Lucie.
I mentioned that we went. But then never edited or shared many photos of our trip. That’s called a blog FAIL. And my friend Austin who hosted us in Port St. Lucie back in March, may or may not be willing to commit first degree murder to see these photos. Of course, I remind her…the death penalty kinda hurts. And leaving Luke alone with two year old twins may actually be worse.
So I’m here to FINALLY share our trip. It will probably take me all weekend since there are 111 photos. I’m not even kidding. So the next few posts this weekend are gonna be all about our beach vacation that started off our summer. It was Will’s first toddler experience with the beach…(we went to on a family beach trip when he was 6 months old but he wasn’t sitting up yet!)…so we were definitely looking forward to it.
We headed out on our 8-10 hour drive with the car loaded with everything we could posssible need. I mentioned before some of the ways we travel with Will….it involves a bag full of snacks, a roll of paper towels (because you never know), a ton of different Baby Einstein/Barney/Veggie Tales videos, and of course, lots of comfort/distraction items – like a mini magnet board, his paci and Lovie, a bunch of Color Wonder pads and markers, interactive books and stickers, a few matchbox cars and some fun stuff like balloons, an extra long shoe string, a couple noise makers, and some fake cooking supplies.
We made it most of the way…and then called it quits around midnight – deciding that the beach the next day would be more enjoyable with at least 6 hours of sleep and a happy toddler. We found the cheapest hotel we could in the area…not exactly five star but it had clean sheets and running water. Jeremy said it looked like the kinda place horror movies are filmed. He was right.
Can you tell Will has no idea what is going on? Whenever he gets into a new situation – whether it be fun or not – he becomes completely stoic. It’s kinda hilarious.
A few hours later we arrived at our destination. Our friends Austin and Luke have the distinct pleasure of having very generous grandparents who let them stay in their Florida home (and invite friends to stay too). It was amazing to have such a wonderful place to spread out!
Pretty much the moment we arrived, we headed out to the beach. This is part of Jensen Beach Park…
Will loooooved it.
It was a little cold apparently… I wouldn’t know since I parked it on the sand 🙂
Will looks like he’s taking care of business here…but he’s really just cold. It was funny because even though he was so cold, he didn’t want to come out.
I should probably mention that this entire trip was with three toddlers.
Austin and Luke have two little guys – twins named Silas and Noah. They are so different than one another and so different than Will…it’s hilarious to me how diverse even babies are.
This is Noah…people often thought that him and Will were the twins and Silas was older (probably because Silas is bigger)…but we did get the whole “oh are they triplets?” too…
We tried to explore local cuisine a bunch but we also took in this steak house…can you tell the guys were frustrated? Yeah. The joys of three toddlers in one small booth.
Going for the getaway…
After a solid night’s rest, we starting planning out the rest of the week. This was the first time we had ever vacationed with Will and friends…so there is definitely a learning curve. I loved it…but it’s so different with family than friends…I should post about how we managed to do it sometime. And survived! And are still friends! And still have kids that we love!
I have no idea what is going on here…a little belly button play perhaps?
So basically that’s how we got there and what we did upon arrival. The rest of the time is jam packed too…so stay tuned!
Katie – where do you find your cute maternity clothes?! I am 25 weeks along now and am having the hardest time, probably because of my ever-growing body, the upcoming change of seasons, and the need for work and casual clothes!
On a separate note, I feel in my pregnancy the way you feel in your second pregnancy! I can’t say I have loved being pregnant because I have been uncomfortable, but I cannot wait for our little boy to be here!
By the way – I am originally from the Stone Mountain area but currently live on the Georgia Coast, so I love seeing your posts when you and your family travel to local areas! Brings back memories!
Ahhhh, love your vacation pictures (the most, kinda!). Especially the ones with a video at the bottom. 😉 xoxo
YEA! I’m from Port St. Lucie – I’m dying to hear how you spent your time in the area.
Haha! Also…..you never posted more pics of your sisters wedding…or did you?
Wow! The boys really do look alike, no relation though right? Maybe it’s those darling puppy dog eyes.
The picture of you and will at the hotel room is so cute….you look adorable with bangs!
Can’t wait to see the rest of your vacation.
Hehe love it. My BFF is due with twin girls just after I have my baby girl (or something- you know baby timing) and our older boys are going to be turning 3 (hers) and 2 (mine) right around the births. So of course all we want to do is hold each others’ sweet new babies, all 3… And yet the idea of four adults and five kids takes my breath away. Especially when the majority are infants! Vacations shall forever be changed. We may never speak to each other again, because there will be too much else to do when we are together!
Wow, Will and your friends son really do look shockingly similar! It looks like you guys had a wicked fun time though. 🙂
I can’t believe hwo much Will looks like Noah! So cute! My SIL is expecting fraternal twin boys in November so seeing two (PLUS ONE! SCORE!) little cuties is making me even more exciiiiteeed!
Love, love, love your beach photos! I know you offered tips on taking better beach photos before, but I would REALLY appreciate any tips on how you edit beach photos in PS. Your water looks so much bluer than mine ever does 🙂
I love the photo of the 3 of you on the beach! How do you always look so pretty in ALL your photos??! You’re the most photogenic person like ever!
Ahhhhhhh my old stomping grounds! Can’t wait to hear the rest, I hope you made it over to Downtown Stuart – it’s beautiful around sunset!
Oh yeah – there is no doubt about it – I am definitely better looking in photos than real life!
xo – kb
You know – I am shocked by how hard it is to find cute and affordable maternity clothing this time around. It seemed like last time things were way cuter. I usually shop at Target, Old Navy, Gap and Goodwill 🙂
xo – kb
I did do that one! Here are my pics and the professional pics 🙂
xo – kb
Wow! Will has grown a lot since then! Great pictures!
That getaway photo is priceless! The look on Noah’s face… he really wants to make a break for it, but he’s like, “Will! Quick! Get us some tunes, here!”
Looks like fun!
I was wondering — the Wayfair blog no longer has your picture in the sidebar with the other contributors’ pictures. Did you decide to stop writing for them?
So glad you’re coming back to this. My mother lives in PSL, and I never really know what to do with the kids there when I go. I’ve done the spray park, beach of course, movies at the mall, and I know the water park just opened nearby (which was probably after you left). But I’m looking forward to hearing what you did down there. Maybe any other restaurants you went to as well besides the Ale House. I never know where to go on a date!
For right now…I just couldn’t handle the work load.
xo – kb
Hey Katie, random practical question. We just got back from a beach trip and I love taking photos on the beach but I was so nervous abut ruining my camera with sand that I didn’t take it out too much. Were you nervous about that or just less clumsy than I’m afraid I would be? Any tips on that?
Well – I am often scared of the same thing. I only take my camera out during specific times…once upon first arrival after set up of all our stuff…once in the middle of playtime…and once to capture my ‘with-people’ shots…like Will with Daddy or Will with me or Will with friends or boys together shots. Also, I might suggest using a pillowcase to hold whatever your camera is in…so if you use a camera bag…put the whole thing in a pillow case. Ghetto? Maybe…but it works to keep the sand off the outside of your bag that could fall onto your lens 🙂
xo – kb
Good to know I am not alone! You got such lovely pictures of the beach and water. I kept mine in a gallon ziplock… Ghetto??? 🙂
Haha…is Will wearing a Bacon t-shirt? hilarious.
Yup – that thing is awesome, no!? A dear reader sent it all the way from the mountains to give to Will and I couldn’t be more grateful!
xo – kb
We just got back from visiting my aunt and uncle in Port St. Lucie/Ft. Pierce area. So cool! We went to visit them after a week at Disney.
Looks like fun!!