ViSiTOrS

Last week we had my brother and his very very sweet girlfriend come for a visit. Craig has been here before but Kaitlyn hasn't, she's been to Haiti a few times but this was her first vacation to the caribbean and what an awesome first caribbean vacation it was. We did so much with them, of course the usual amazing beaches all around the island with a different one to visit every day but the main reason for coming those dates is because Craig's favorite show Top Gear was here!!! We got VIP tickets and went out to the Bushy Park track here in Barbados for an all day even on Sunday, it was so much fun, an awesome day for sure!! We also did some paddle boarding on the west coast and saw a few turtles who weren't shy to see us at all, Kaitlyn even touched one!! The water was so clear so the visibility was perfect for snorkeling and swimming with the turtles. Craig has his GoPro so i'm sure there will be a video soon of all that :) Gemma got to spend some quality time with Alicia and her boys who LOVE their Gemma, it was nice to have some time and do things with them without the little one. We went out on a double date one night, watched the sunset at the Cliff on the west coast and then headed to Lime Grove for some dinner, which Kaitlyn and I shared a pizza and big salad and we couldn't stop moaning over how good the food was lol! Another great night was an annual party some friends throw called Mix Nutz and it's a paint party so we wear all white and show up at midnight and dance around in paint and powder like crazy people.....so crazy I lost our keys to the car AND my iphone :( good thing everything worked out and everything was returned...PHEW!!! Mix Nutz is on my top 5 nights in Barbados ever, seriously SO MUCH FUN (except I lost all the pics on my phone). It was nice when Craig and Darin enjoyed "bro" time because Kaitlyn and I got to enjoy girl time...we chatted about a lot of things that I won't share but that make my heart smile so just know that :) We miss them and hope one day they can come back and visit. Until next time....here's some pics :)

1st MotHeR's DaY

Very late post but after mother's day that week went pretty quick, then my brother and his sweet girlfriend came the following weekend and we've been super busy up until they left yesterday.

Here's my little Gem, who's made me enjoy life even more than I have been all along, I thought it was good then and it was, because it's great now. She's tested my patience, pooped on me, spit up on me, woke me in the middle of the night, screamed in my ear but it's all worth it when she flashes that gorgeous smile my way. Thank you Gem for being such a great baby for my first time around this crazy block! Last year I was pregnant with you but didn't know so this day is so special knowing what I know now, I was a mom last mother's day and didn't know it.....love how life changes!

The bottom left pic is actually Mother's Day, we went to breakfast and then headed to the beach :) 

TiME fLiES

We've just passed the 3 month mark with G. In the last 2 weeks we've had a great Easter weekend with friends, been to the beach a few times in the last 2 weeks because we've had probably 4 holidays (haha, we have a lot of those here), and she continues to smile big and be happy 90% of the time :) We got her a little rash guard for the beach to help protect her from the sun (see pic below), it's so cute on her! I got a swim bottom for her also a few weeks ago that a friend brought but it's already to small and tight on her legs....she's a chunk! 

It's so fun being home with her all day, yea sometimes i'd like to leave but for the most part I love being home, I can't imagine missing all the things I see all day if I had to work....the moms that work must have a hard time leaving every day then every minute they're gone they can't wait to get back. Babies don't do much till 2-3 months and then maternity leave is over and mom has to go back to work when all the fun begins, to those moms....you're amazing in every way! I'm very thankful for this life i've been given and all these great opportunities that are so amazing, there's nothing better than being able to watch her grow and change day in and day out....one day she's on her back and the next she can roll over and the next she can grab toys and put them right in her mouth!! She's also laughed a couple of times but Darin can really get her going and it's so funny listening to how she laughs and watching her stare at Darin waiting for the next funny thing to happen.

G had her first birthday party to attend (Liam's 5th) and as it was her first, it was also our first...with a kid lol...we're usually in the adult side group with no kids and a beer or wine in hand watching all the crazy happen around us and not having to do anything about it, haha, not anymore! She had a great time watching all the kids run around screaming and playing with all sorts of toys, she just sat there and grunted a few times as she kicked her legs and arms while the kids ran by her. She'll be amongst them soon enough :) 

I can't help but be jealous of how my daughter gets to grow up, the older she gets the easier it is to bring her around places so we go everywhere. She's been to the beach more times than some people go in an entire year and not just a beach but the most bluest, turquoise beaches. I'm not sure how old I was when I saw a beach for the first time, but the first time it was a blue, turquoise, clear water beach, I was 18 years old. I moved to Florida when I was 11, but the beaches there don't count as they are brown :( I hope G appreciates all this one day and I hope she continues to love the water as much as her mum and dad do.

Craig and Kaitlyn come in 2 weeks and we're so excited!! Gemma and I also go back to Florida the end of June for 2 weeks and we can't wait!!

Gemma Loves:
-her play mat
-watching daddy make her laugh
-holding a blanket when she sleeps and likes it on her face too (that's my girl :))
-her BIM (barbados) cousins, aunties and uncles 
-sitting holding mommy's hands and standing, she likes to see what's going on around her
-the beach

Gemma Hates:
-again, STILL hates tummy time, a part of me doesn't think she'll ever like it

Gemma Stats
-next apt is @ 4 months and is the end of May....we think she's 12 + lbs so we'll see, maybe 13 by the time we go to her apt.