Kennedy Easter Eggstravaganza

After changing clothes, we headed to pick up some last minute food items at the grocery for Mom and headed to their house for the Kennedy Easter Eggstravaganza. We only had less than half of our tribe there, but it was still great to see everyone and seemed like a lot of people!  Ryker got some quality time with Garyn, his 5-year-old boy cousin. He was in heaven! He is usually playing with girls, so this boy bonding time was great in his eyes. They were all about the boy stuff. Animals, cars, etc. Poor Gigi and her princesses weren't nearly as alluring. Grandma and Grandpa have 14 grandchildren. I am one of only 4 girls. The other 10 were boys. So far the next generation is following in our footsteps. There are 4 boys and 2 girls in the great grandkid set with 3 more boys due this year. Those 2 girls are so outnumbered! (Poor things!)  We opted to do the egg hunt indoors due to the wetness and rain throughout the day.  The kids could've cared less and loved searching the upstairs rooms for eggs.  Ryker was amazing this year and surprisingly found lots of the well-hidden eggs. 

Checking out his new kite from Nana and Papaw

Papaw showing Ryker how to use his new airplane launcher

"3,2,1...Blast Off!"

On our egg hunt

Garyn found some on the guest room's headboard too.

Natalie handing one of the eggs he found

Checking out all the eggs in Papaw's office

Ryker found the egg on top of the towels.  I think Garyn was surprised he didn't find it first.

Don't worry!  He found the one on the towel rack!

Poor Gigi fell down the stairs and spilled her eggs.  Ryker was kind enough to help her pick them up.

Sorting through his loot.

Yes, they were both eating as they went.

Uncle Dave and Ryker had lots of fun together roughhousing

Nana loves her boy so much!

Easter

We woke up early Sunday morning and heading out to church.  We had an amazing service that was all about how we are God's masterpieces.  Very moving and was so appropriate for some of the things God has been teaching me over the last year.  I love how He always speaks right to you!  Afterwards, we came home to see what the Easter Bunny left while were at church.

Ryker's basket and new dancing frog toy.

Checking out his loot!

Bubbles, sidewalk chalk, paint, AND candy!  It doesn't get better than that!

This is Ryker "dancing" with his new toy.  He was getting a little crazy by this point. 

Halfway There!

Saturday was the 20 week mark for this pregnancy!  It feels so good to be at this point in the pregnancy.  I'm so thankful for every week.  Friday morning as we were laying in bed the little man started moving around like crazy.  Robert was actually able to feel him moving which was great.  This baby wasn't nearly as active as early as Ryker was and I kept telling Robert it was probably going to be later when he felt this one move.  But, it was the exact same time!  Ryker tried feeling it and said he did, but not at the right times, so I'm pretty sure we're a ways off from having him feel it for real.  He was excited anyway.  He asks all the time, "What's the baby doing?" and "Is the baby growing?"  He's so excited to be a big brother and very excited about his baby brother.  I asked him on vacation about a couple of different names I like.  He liked one in particular and has not stopped talking about naming the baby that particular name.  Unfortunately, it is the same name I wanted to name Ryker and I didn't get my way.  I'm pretty sure it's a long shot this time around too.  However, Ryker told him, "I want to name the baby X.  Daddy, you're supposed to think it over."  It was too funny!  I swear I didn't tell him to, but I'm hoping somehow Ryker's influence will win Robert over.  Anyway, this baby is getting much more active and is so much fun to feel moving all around.  I finally fell like I'm at the point where I definitely look pregnant instead of that questionable stage where people aren't sure if you've just hit the McDonald's drive-thru one too many times or there is an actual human being in there. 

This is at 19 weeks 5 days, but it's as close to 20 weeks as we're gonna get!

Drive Home

We packed up and checked out of the condo and were on the road by 6:30am Florida time.  Unfortunately, we lost an hour coming back because of the time difference but we still made GREAT time!  We got home just before 8pm.  Robert drove most of the way and did a great job!  Ryker took 3 different naps and watched lots of movies.  He did really well for a 12 hour car ride.  Well, most of the time...

Other times not so much!  haha!

Here were are finally leaving Alabama.  I swear that state never ends!  I was driving us out of there.  Ryker needed to pee and we were all hungry, but I refused to stop until we were in Tennessee.  I got off on Exit 1.  There were 6 restaurants listed on the sign.  We get off the exit and it says McDonald's is 2.4 miles away!  We went ahead and drove.  As we're on our way, we see a sign that says, "Welcome to Alabama!"  I was like, "NOOOOOO!!!!"  Robert took over driving afterwards and said. "Don't worry, I got us out of Florida, I'll get us out of Alabama, and probably Tennessee too."  He thought was pretty funny!  ;-)

After unloading the car, we went to pick up Tucker at Nana and Papaw's.  I'm not exaggerating in the slightest when I say Ryker asked where Tucker was at least 100 times a day the entire time we were gone.  Much of those whiny pictures above were him saying, "I want my Tucker dog."  I never would've imagined he would be so upset over the dog not being with us.  They were both so excited to see each other.  They were running around playing.  They are best buddies!  Unfortunately, Tucker was filthy from hiding under the deck for 3  hours during one of the many rainstorms we had during the week.  Robert bathed him out in the driveway and we had to wait for him to dry off before going home.  We ended up finally leaving around 11pm.  After unpacking once we got home, it was a late night!  It was great to be back in my own bed.  I slept great!

Last Day

Friday was our last full day at the beach.  We decided to enjoy the entire day outside in hopes it would wear Ryker out enough that he would sleep more on the drive home the next day.

Strutting his stuff on the beach

Playing in the ocean with Daddy

He was really brave by today!

He couldn't get enough!

Our plan worked to a certain extent...he ended up crashing and burning on the way to dinner and slept through the whole thing.  It ended up being like a date for Robert and I which was great!

Photo Shoot

Nana wanted a picture of Ryker on the beach for her new built-ins.  We figured a photo shoot was in session.  I bought a new dress at the maternity store that day and was excited to wear it.  Robert even got to model his new shorts! 

Me and my baby bump.  I'm 19 weeks 5 days here.

Kisses for his brother!

Turns out, Ryker wasn't in such a mood for a photo shoot..just our luck!

LOVE this picture!

BEAUTIFUL!

We tried several of these...they didn't turn out quite the way I'd hoped...oh well!

Me and my handsome hubby

Someone else on the beach was kind enough to snap a few of all of us.

He loves riding on Daddy's shoulders.

Shopping

Thursday we headed to San Destin to the outlet mall.  We got some great deals and Ryker enjoyed some time on the playground and lots of treats!

They had a pirate themed portion that Ryker loved.  He was mad this treasure box wouldn't open though!

Steering the ship

If you can't tell, there is a lizard on the post.  He was quite interested in watching it.

Enjoying some gelato...YUMMY!

Carousel

Panama City Beach has an awesome outdoor mall/ attraction center called Pier Park.  We headed over there one night for the most delicious pizza ever at Redbrick Pizza.  It reminds me of the pizza in Italy-it's that good!  Anyway, we went back again Wednesday night to do some browsing at the stores.  They have a whole "fair" area with a carousel, etc.  We promised Ryker a ride on the carousel if he was good.  He was so excited!

Like I said, he was quite happy to be able to ride the carousel!

Watching the lights

Getting ready to take off

Robert kept messing with the settings on the new camera and this was about the only shot that was half decent.

And, this is what happened when we told him it was time to go home.  I think he thought it was like the one at the Children's Museum that we can ride over and over again.  He got over it eventually, but it was kinda funny...

Splash!

As the days went on Ryker got braver and braver when it came to the water.  Tuesday was when he first started playing in the edge of the surf by himself.  He rather enjoyed it!

Robert and I watching Ryker on the beach and enjoying a moment to ourselves. :-)