She really loved the beach....

...for the first five days or so.

On Day 6 she announced, "I don't want to go to the beach. No more "saulcy" water!"

She'd had it. Plus we were having issues. (No Lewis vacation is ever without it's issues.)  We (she) had a horrible bout with constipation that was not 'fixable' without an enema and very dramatic outcome. Horrible, I tell you. I was in tears.

No sooner did we recover from that traumatic event, then we were awakened to Gianna screaming in the middle of the night. Let me clarify:  Daddy was awakened to screaming.  The usually light-sleeping Mommy somehow entered a sleep deprivation coma that night and didn't hear her child calling out for her. I would normally feel very guilty at this point, except for the fact that my husband walked into Gianna's first stomach virus.  (Have I ever mentioned that I don't do vomit? I don't. I can't. They all told me I would be able to handle it with my own.  They were wrong. God's gift to me that night, was not being the one to enter that sick scene.)

Anyway, she was SUCH a trooper through that episode. Just a little clingy, which was fine by me. (Nice to have a cuddly child every once in a while.) A couple of days to lie low was not the worst thing.  We were in a beautiful condo with every convenience, and a heroic husband/daddy who was wonderful to us. Yes, us.  I got the bug next. I'm telling you, us Lewis girls seems to always reserve our illnesses for trips. Daddy always seems to reserve his upon arrival home. Yep....he got it too.

So add all that with a family reunion - (* the reason for the trip to begin with) and a strong willed two year old who was exercising her defiant muscles....it was an exhausting trip. We were happy to be together and away from our 'normal' lives for a bit and we did have many fun times and great memories, but there's no place like home. 

* Iain's family was all in Tampa, where his brother lives, because they were all going on a 7 day cruise.  We opted out - being that we are trying to sell our house and possible adopt again.  All I can say is - THANK HEAVENS WE DIDN'T GO ON THAT CRUISE!   

And I'd be remissed if I didn't mention the fact that my big girl slept by herself in a room on the other side of the condo - which she wanted to be pitch black at night.  "No mommy, please shut that door and you go down the hall."  I'm impressed. I'd have been a chicken.

Beachin' it

More pics from our coastal vacation.  These are for the grandparents.

There was a problem at work, so Daddy spent a LOT of time talking on the phone.  (Ugh.)

It's good to be loved.

Steals me heart...

My 'caught off guard' handsome hubby.

She's so happy here.  Here's the evidence

For the first beach post, CLICK HERE.

Shangri La Gardens - Part I

Gee whiz....who knew we had such a lovely botanical gardens just 30 minutes away? 

 I heard about Shangrila Botanical Gardens about a year ago and have yet to make the quick trip over to Orange, Texas to check it out....until today, that is.

We had a girls day with Gianna, my mom and me - and it couldn't have been a more lovely day.

I anticipated leaving really early (they open at 9am) but didn't make it there until 11:30.  The weather was perfect - warm and breezy, the azaleas were in full bloom, and the egrets were nesting.  What a perfect time to visit.

I thought it would be a great time to get some shots of my munchkin, but someone didn't have the same agenda as me.

Silly girl.

* * * * *

Oh, and they have an adorable hands-on children's section.  REALLY cute.

 Lots of super cute topiaries.

 Precious mural.

 One would imagine this would be an ideal photo opportunity....if they didn't have a two year old.

They even had these clever trees....

and if they had wine already in the bottles, I'd totally invest in a vineyard of them.

They even had Mr. McGregor's garden (you know, from Peter Rabbit.)

Adorable. 

 They kids could even water the flowers.

 I'm not going to tell you how many shots I had to take of my water-dumping child before I could get these two.  (It was getting close to nap time.)

I'll have to do this post in segments.  Suffice it to say, it was a wonderful little field trip and well worth your time.  Maybe we can get a little field trip for Munchkins and Mommies one morning.

It makes for an AWESOME afternoon nap for the little ones.

A Visit from Los Abuelos

Iain's parents traveled down to Louisiana from Kansas City to visit our family. They hadn't been here since Gianna was nine months old (we did go there last year, however).  It's different experiencing kids in their own familiar environment.  They were tickled by Gianna's antics and creative conversations and musical performances.  (And they were here when "poo-poo" was the word of the day - and they thought it was HILARIOUS.)

Their granparent names were going to be Abuelito and Abuelita, but when Gianna was little she called them Tito and Tita.  We just thought that was so cute....so that's who they are today. :)

 While Iain was working one day, Gianna and I took them to the Lake Front and they marveled at all of the beautiful changes.

Oh how we appreciate this little monkey...

 We did lots of playing at the house and Tito and Tita spend lots of time swinging our little monkey.

Gianna is very blessed to know all of her grandparents.

Gianna was sad to see her midwestern grandparents leave - and she's grieving having live-in playmates! (This kid needs a sibling!)  But alas! - We will be seeing them again at the end of May - in FLORIDA!  Yippeeee.

A new baby...

...COUSIN!

Iain's brother just became a daddy for the first time.

Their little bundle of joy is the most perfect addition to our family.

We are so happy and proud to welcome our very first niece.

And now Gianna gets to be a big cousin.

We hope we get to meet little Madeleine soon.

We would just hate to miss out on that 'fresh from heaven baby love!'

* * * * * * * * * * *
Now we just have to work on making Madeleine the big cousin....

....and Gianna a big sister.

Prayers welcomed!

Airport

Gianna and I went to the local airport which had just been rebuilt since the hurricane.

What an awesome place for a toddler to hang out!!!

Lots of walking, riding on elevators, plane and copter watching....

 ...and a long-awaited reunion with my brother who'd been working out of state for a few months.

 I need to remember to make another visit there - just for the fun of it.  Good way to kill a morning and occupy a busy munchin!

Granny Love Overload...

My Aunt Annie has lived in our town for the last 10 years.

Recently her sons beckoned her to come and live near them.

She just moved to Georgia near her oldest son and his family.

We are so happy she is near her children, but so sad that she's left us.

Gianna LOVES her.

She was kind of like a great-grandmother to her.

I used to bring Gianna over to my Aunt's house to visit and she'd called the gray-haired Calvery to come and see her great-niece.  When Gianna was first beginning to talk, she managed to learn the names of two of my aunt's friends:  Gussie and Ethel.  Gianna's names for them had us SO tickled.  Gianna's version:  Gukkie and Eppel

The week before my aunt moved, my mom had lunch for some of those sweet friends to say goodbye.

Here they are:

Gussie, Annie, Helen and Ethel

(Tell me those aren't the most classic granny names!)

These ladies are so cute and REALLY funny.

Gianna got some SERIOUS granny-lovin!

Here she is with Aunt Annie....

And here's Miss Ethel (a.k.a. Eppel)

And here's sweet Gussie (a.k.a. Gukkie)

Aunt Annie

Oh.  This was Classic.

These two 80+ year old ladies decided to play

Ring around the Rosie with Gianna.

Gianna was in heaven.

When it got to the part "and we ALL fall down." I was crossing my fingers...

...that Gianna would be the ONLY one falling to the floor.

*************

Playing with MeeMaw...

And a little conert, after which she instructs all the listeners,

"Ebbybody Clap?"

We sure will be missing our Aunt Annie!