Our First Florida Christmas

After an absolutely fabulous Christmas weekend, I sat down to scan through the pictures on my camera Sunday night and accidentally formatted my SD card and deleted ALL of the pictures.  All of them.  Every last one.

Then I had what must have been as close to a mental meltdown as I have had since taking the Bar, all while trying to play it off and not act like a 3 year old in mixed company.

Then I found a link to a very highly reviewed SD card recovery software website and held my breath until I got home and downloaded it.  IT WORKED!  It's a Christmas miracle.  I am so relieved because, well, ya know, if you don't have a picture it didn't really happen, right?

Speaking of Christmas miracles, I've always been a softy when it comes to the Christmas story.  I cry at Christmas Eve candlelight services, can't even make it through The Grinch, and LOST IT at the amazing performance my brother sent Mom and me to last week. Let me just say this so as to not get way too emotional, having a son of my own has made me so much more in awe of God's gifts and grace than I could have ever imagined.  

On to our wonderful vacation.  We landed Friday, Justin picked us up and we headed straight to Mimi's house full of McWhorters.  It was fun to spend the evening with just us, Justin's family and Mimi.

Saturday we hit the ground running errands and to lunch at Bistro at Bell Tower, home of my favorite tomato bisque.  The boys hit the ground running to the golf course across the street from Becky's house. 

Everyone came over Saturday night for a wonderful dinner and then we let Hardin, Lillian and Cawley open their gifts from us and Mimi so we didn't have to haul them to Cathy's mom's on Sunday.  Mimi TOTALLY outdid herself, and the kids LOVED their gifts.  Cawley is definitely at the most fun age yet with gifts.  He hopped up and down multiple times in excitement saying "open it Mommy, open it!"  So fun!  H and Lil liked the mess almost as much as the gifts.   

Note Cawley IN the box :)

Hardin was so-so  when it came to strangers.  Flirting from a distance, but wanted me and Jason within arms length all night.  He loved Cawley and Lil of course, does pretty good with Cathy, and has really taken a liking (read: tolerance) to Justin picking him up.

We had a nice Christmas morning just us and Mimi, then headed to Terri's for another amazing meal and white elephant gift exchange.  Fortunately, Lillian and Hardin cooperated on napping at different times so we had happy babies that were well rested in the pack-n-play.

Hardin shocked us all at Terri's.  He was a little social butterfly!  He walked all around  talking to everyone who would play ball with him.  Sat right in Emily's lap and gave her a good long hug.  Loved playing with Mark and Beth, Cat's aunt and uncle.  And really loved exploring outside and on the dock.  I was so proud of him for being so independent and playful.  He seemed awfully proud of himself too! 

Christmas night was all well and good, until the SD card incident.  Whew.  We also took a walk to look at all the lights on McGreggor.  Hardin really liked that, but would have liked it more if I let him out to play with all the decorations!

It is also very important to note that H wore red socks on Christmas.  My mom searched for the perfect pair because she wanted to make sure we kept my dad's red sock tradition going strong.  Hardin, your grandfather would have gotten a kick out of your sweet red feet, and surely you would have laughed at the big old man in dress clothes and red socks.  We all sure did over the years.

He does this in the bath too... so funny!

Monday was the perfect Florida vacation day.  Becky ran and got us maple bacon glazed doughnuts (yes, bacon on a doughnut, and it's THAT good) for breakfast, we went to Sanibel Harbor resort for lunch on the water, and dinner outside at Christof's on McGreggor.   H loved running all over the pier.  Sweet boy even picked up a touch of pink on that white skin.

By the end of the trip Hardin had really warmed up to Mimi and happily followed her all around whenever she was trying to get anything productive done.  It was sad that we had to leave once he was comfortable with his new surroundings, but hopefully he'll remember more when we go back in July.

Both flights were uneventful other than our slight delay in coming home because of storms in Atlanta.  Oh, and the game-killer H on the way there.  A mildly attractive guy landed himself next to a very attractive girl with whom he was diligently trying to pick up.  H kept standing up and talking to her, reaching around the seat to laugh and giggle, etc.  Needless to say she thought he was much more charming than the guy did.  We thought it was hysterical, and I think the pretty girl thought it was a relief because she was playing it up big time.  We were lucky enough to be on a two seat aisle on the way down and the only two in a three seat aisle on the way back.  We were also blessed with a super cute little 8 year old behind us Tuesday that played peek-a-boo with H for the better part of the trip.

These were taken from my phone, all within about 20 seconds, if that tells you how busy he is!

He slept great except for the Saturday nap.  I used his fussiness as an excuse to lay my tired self right down with him and we cuddled up close and took a nap.  He did not like it as much as me, once settled he'd have done much better if I put him down.  He likes his space, that one. 

The only other thing I simply must share is about Hardin and the white shoes.  Saturday we were getting dressed, it was hot out and I had him in a jon jon so I was going to put on some brown sandals.  He had a FIT when I put them on.  An absolute fit, and picked up his white shoes and kept crying shoooooes, shoooooes.  Of course I happily threw some knee socks on him with the white shoes.  He was all smiles.  He did the same thing Monday getting ready for Sanibel.  This time Jason and Becky got to see it and now believe I wasn't just making up an excuse to doll him up.  He really does LOVE his white shoes as much as I do!

Oops, one more thing.  Hardin got three new molars for Christmas.  Poor boy has been drooling and chewing on everything.  His gums just look painful so I can't even imagine how they feel.  He's also got two more bottom front teeth pushing through.  When it rains it pours I guess, and I suppose I'm happy it's all at one time instead of dragging it out.