It Runs in The Family

Spring Break ended yesterday and it is easy for me to say - MADDIE LOVES THE BEACH!!

We took our first vacation as a family to Amelia Island.  This is the beach that my family went to as I was growing up, so it was so special for me to take Scott and Maddie.  We left Tennessee on Saturday night and drove as far as we could.  About 2am we got a hotel room in Cordele - it was a little rough to say the least.  Scott put a chair under the door knob in case someone tried to come in and get us!  We had the plan to hide Maddie under the bed from the intruder :-) 

We got up early Sunday morning and finished the drive to Amelia.  I was so excite to see Amelia By The Sea!  We unpacked the car and headed out to lunch.  I needed some fried pickles, so we went to Sliders.  The weather was cloudy, but nice enough for summer clothes. 

After lunch we headed out by the pool.  I know people thought I was crazy because I had enough stuff with me to spend the week there.  Maddie loved being on her boppy by the pool.

It is a good thing that we went out when we did, because it started pouring about three minutes after this picture. 

For the next few days we rented movies and ate A LOT.  We found a great sandwich place downtown called Fernendeli.  It was so good that we ate there 4 times!  We spent a lot of time on the deck watching the rain.  Scott was so nervous about Maddie being close to the rails.  Every time I would put her out there he would come move her back - so protective!

On Thursday Scott went to play golf.  About 3 the sun came out and Maddie and I rushed down to the pool!  She LOVED it.  She immediately stretched out her arms and legs and started laughing and grinning.  We had about an hour before the sun went behind the building and we had to head inside. 

This is her in the sun - so cute!

Friday and Saturday were beautiful.  We woke up and got her ready early so that we could soak up the sun.  Scott had the great idea to take the chair part off of her stroller and take it by the pool.  It had a great shade that kept her face covered.  She played and played until we had to go in because she was so tired. 

Friday night we went to Brett's - my favorite!  There was a music festival downtown, so everything was packed.  Dinner was great and she was so good.  She just sat and played with her book and Sophie the Giraffe while we ate.  This is a picture of Maddie in her precious little summer dress ready to go out!

On our last day I snuck Maddie into her bikini.  Scott said that she HAD to keep her cover up on, but that did not happen.  She was so cute, and so many people complimented her bathing suit.

We went to The Surf on our last night.  It was yummy - good food, good music, and nice weather. It made me not want to leave.  After dinner I sat on the deck and rocked Maddie to sleep as the sun went down.  Scott and I watched the final 4 basketball games and packed the car so that we could leave as soon as Maddie woke. 

Amelia has so many of my memories.  I love that place.  It is such a wonderful place for families, and I hope that my family can make many more memories there.  Again, Maddie is SUCH a blessing to Scott and I.  Vacations will never be the same again, but it is so fun to watch her react to everything new in her life.  It makes me happy that she loves the beach as much as her mama, grandmamas, and great grandmamas!  She fits in well :-)