What a beautiful day at the beach. Seriously, we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. The sand was still hot, but the day in itself was just perfect. Caleb and I had an awesome day building stuff in the sand: sand castles, boat docks, river for the boat, and roads that lead to mountains from his sand castles. We spent a lot of time in the water as well. We went a little further out today, only because the beach is so shallow. You get in these areas where there are deep areas (waist high for me), then all of a sudden, you go up a little hill, and you're in calf deep areas. Just weird, but we enjoyed ourselves. He loved the fact that  mommy would get tossed down by the waves. He laughed so hard, and he would try to help me up, and of course, a small wave would me knock me down again.

We left the beach at around 5:30 this evening (we got there at about 10:45ish). Like I said, a full day. Zoe didn't like her neon pink hat (but then again she doesn't like anything on her head right now anyway), so Caleb enjoyed wearing it. Mom got a kick out of him wearing it because she just thought it was funny that this little boy was wearing a pink hat. Hey, if it's a hat and it keeps the sun off his neck and face, I don't care what color it is. LOL. Saved me from buying one for him. I did wind up earlier buying a visor for Zoe, and water shoes for mom and Caleb. Good thing too because the sand didn't cool down by the time we left the beach, so  the shoes came in handy.

We all got cleaned up and then went out to dinner to Pirates Landing Restaurant in Port Isabel. Good food, good atmosphere and right by the water. I saw it on the way in to going to walmart one evening. Thought it might be a good place to go, and it was. At least tonight. LOL. At 9:15 we stayed for the fireworks display. Not very much of one as it was only about 5 minutes long, but Caleb enjoyed it, and that's all that mattered.

After that, I dropped off Mom and Zoe so that they could get ready for bed, and Caleb and I went to a surf shop called Jaws. It had a big shark at the front door and in order to get into the front door, you had to go in the shark's mouth. He thought that was cool, so we did it. Bought a couple of cute T-shirts for the kids, and a shark toy for Caleb. On our way home (we walked), he said that today was the best day ever. That sentence made my night. I'm glad that he enjoyed himself, and I'm glad that he felt good.

Honestly, I feel like the best mommy ever and it is a really good feeling.

Caleb's Toddler Forecast: Sleeping

Didn't get to the beach today at all. By the time we got out of the room it was past afternoon and the sand was just too hot for any of us to cross to get to the beach. So, we had a pool day. Which turned out to be better in the long wrong. No salt air around us too much, no salt water, and especially, no sand. So, any sun we did get wasn't that bad.

Caleb had a good time in the pool and I spent most of the day in the pool with him. A few times I needed to get out to help mom with Zoe, but we had a good time playing together. I tried to get him to float on his back. The first time he had a meltdown, the second and third time was much easier, but he still felt uneasy. We'll eventually get there though. But I do think that it's time for him to learn how to swim. So, we might be thinking about doing that next year - along with Zoe.

He sure is enjoying his time here on the island. He's getting so much needed mommy time too, and it does feel good to spend some time with him. Thankfully, he knows that when I need to attend to Zoe it's only for a little bit, and then I come right back to him. This trip has been really good for the two of us, so I'm happy we're bonding. He just seems so much happier when he is around me full time. It's been nice not having to feel like getting on the computer when I'm at home too. That's going to change when I get home. Computer will be off during the day and we're spending that much needed time together, even if that means that my parents have to come over and watch Zoe for a few hours. I see a difference in him and I like what I see. LIke I said, he just seems happier.

Tomorrow is beach day again. Hoping to get there before the heat of the day. Tonight, we walked the strip and I bought me some water shoes. That will help if I have to make a trip to the room. LOL. At least I won't feel like I'm walking on hot lava balls. LOL.

Tomorrow hoping to take some more pictures of some beach time. Forgot to take some while at the pool, not that I would have gotten very many since I was mostly in the pool with him. But tomorrow will be good. Videos and pictures are my chore for tomorrow. Hoping to get some good castle building too.

Caleb's Toddler Forecast: Sleeping

Ok, so when I told you guys earlier that he had turned over a new leaf, it wasn't a fluke. It's for real.

He's been wonderful this trip. He made the drive well, he's been listening for the most part (only takes us a few times to get his attention rather than a million LOL), he's eating well, he's drinking well. Me likey that the good ol' boy is back in town. :)

He had his first full day at the beach today and boy did he have a good time. He enjoyed the sand, chasing the seagulls away from the beach, going in the water and jumping the waves, and looking for seashells.

We did have a bad moment earlier in the day. The tide is really low here (something I've never seen while on the Atlantic, and he goes out really far. He was only supposed to go to the edge and play, but he decided he was going to go out far like he and I did. He could easily stand and the waves weren't too bad, but the point is, he didn't listen.

So, I go out get him, reprimend him, he has a time out for 2 minutes, and we're back up playing. Later that day, I go out with him and purposely let him fall from the waves which knocked him under water. I immediately grab him, make sure he was ok (he was, he was laughing), and then did my teaching about why I didn't want him to go out by himself. It clicked. He never went out that far without me. LOL.  We stayed out there longer, and I held him while some of the bigger waves came in. He just really enoyed himself, and frankly, so did I.

I haven't been to the beach - the REAL beach - since living back in MD. It was good to be back. It may not be the ocean like I know it (we're swimming in the Gulf), but the look, the feel of it all, bring back memories of how things were at home.

We might just need to make this a yearly trip. :)

We left the beach around 5 this evening, got "home", took our showers, and I got Zoe down for bed. She was out in seconds.

Caleb and I went shopping at Walmart (like you didn't know that was coming) got a few things for the next few days, got Dinner (McDonalds is conviently in our backyard), and then it was bedtime. Everyone is asleep, and I'm the only up. And it's 10:40! I'm still on some sort of rush over the past few days, so catching up on some blogging, before heading off to bed. Tylenol PM is in my system and I should be asleep fairly soon after I close. Hopefully. LOL

The one thing that I can't just get over is how HOT the sand is here. I either forgot  from back home, or it's seriously over the top here because OH. MY. GOODNESS. I do believe I have burned the bottom of my feet. Oh, I had sandles on, but it doesn't matter. You sink in the sand here, and that hot 1 million degree sand hitting your feet seriously makes burning your finger on a stove or oven feel like ice cubes.

I have never felt anything so hot in my life.

I only felt this because we ran out of water in our cooler and I was going to get some. I couldn't go any faster on the sand becuase you can't get a good grip here. The vegetation around the paths are so overgrown, that you really can't get to it quick enough. Going to the beach we walked the same path, but it wasn't near as hot as it was later in the afternoon. I was seriously in tears on the way up to the hotel alley. A few choice words were spoken as well. I hurt. I couldn't barely walk at that point. And I still had to endure all that again BACK to the beach. Thankfully though, I took a few steps, got into the vegetation. Took a few steps and got back to the vegetation. Once the vegetation was gone, I just had to slow really down and shake my sandles every step I took until I got to the area where it wasn't that hot. When I got back to my chair, the bottoms of my feet, NO LIE, had a tan as well as a huge burn. Thankfully, I got into the water and went as far as I could until I felt cold water. That helped a lot, and the burn went away, but I still have the redness.

SOMEBODY (ahem Jordan - shakes finger), didn't warn me about how hot the sand can be out here in the south. I would have brought some tennis shoes.

Tomorrow, I at least know how to go back and forth so if I have to leave the beach for any reason, I can do it with minimal pain. While at walmart, I looked for some cheap shoes, but apparently, everyone had the same idea I did. They have to be restocked. LOL

We're all enjoying the beautiful weather, the awesome beach, the low attendance of crowds, and most importantly, taking some time for us.

Caleb's Toddler Forecast: Sleeping soundly

This morning, Jordan and Caleb went off and are enjoying the day with each other. I'm hoping that this will be a weekly occurance, because I think it will be good for them. If not, weekly, hopefully, more often.

I have a feeling what they'll be doing, but not quite sure until they get home. He seemed really excited about going though, so that's a good thing.

Caleb's Toddler Forecast: Off with Daddy

This week has been amazing. Caleb has been the perfect angel. Not sure what clicked with him, but he's been awesome. He's eating, he's playing with Zoe much better, he's sharing better! It's like a totally different kid. LOVE it. LOL

I'm hoping this trend continues too. It's nice to see him back to what I like to call, his old self.

Caleb's Toddler Forecast: Watching Clifford

I'm just now writing this, but Caleb is home, and I'm glad to have him home. He got home on the July 23rd, just in time for Zoe's birthday. He actually ran to me from the hotel (where we picked him up), but I think he had a little coaxing from his grandparents. LOL. But no matter what, I enjoyed it.

He was busy, had a good time, and I'm sure he'll be ready to go back again in October.

He's been pretty good since he's been home, but the last couple of days has been a little challenging. Whining alot, not liking the "no" outcome, and he's been talking back a lot. Sometimes I wonder if it's me because I just can't figure out why he's doing it. Am, I not giving him enough attention? Am I being overly hard on him? UGH. I just have no idea. I think a lot of it is, he's tired (like grandmama has been saying), because he gets worse throughout the day. I just can't get him to sleep though. I've tried every trick in the book. I've used different wording with him for naps. He just won't sleep. I think if he were to take a nap, he's feel better and he might act better, but until I can actually get him to sleep to test it out, I have no idea if he'd act differently.

I'm hoping to get some pictures up from his trip up within the next few days. I'll have to download them tomorrow when I get the camera from my in-laws. I'm sure they'll be some videos too.

Caleb's Toddler Forecast: Watching Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Caleb has had a restful few days. His grandmama hadn't been feeling the greatest, so he was spending some quality time with Paw Paw Tex around town.

Today is his last day in TX. He'll be making his way home tomorrow and be officially home Friday. I'm so excited. It's been a little more difficult then I thought it would be. I'm glad that he went, but it's been so quiet around here, it's almost eerie. But sooner than later, he'll be home and we'll get to hear the stomping, the screaming (good kind), the loud talking and my personal favorite, waking me up at 7:30 by jumping on my head. LOL. Nah. He doesn't do that anymore, but he does jump on me in the morning, if I'm not already awake.

Here's the email that we got last night:

Caleb played big time at McD's today; he got along really well with the other kids, and he is certainly not lacking in keeping up physically.

He ordered, by himself, chicken nuggets and apples for lunch. He cried when he didn't get the toy he wanted. It's hard to explain to a three year old the economical reasoning of a company offering only one of a number of promotional toys from a featured film once a week for the purpose of profit.

Tonight, we watched Disney's 1954 animation Peter Pan. He was into it.

Caleb's Toddler Forecast: Not sure. LOL

Yesterday he went to visit some of Jordan's extended family.

Here's the email that I received about the day:

Caleb enjoyed his Saturday. He hit it off with Melinda's granddaughter and her friend and had a fantastic time.
He was non-stop all day. His gear was in the happy position. No complaining except when I told him we needed to get ready to leave. He wanted to stay a little  longer.

Everytime the kids went upstairs Caleb would ask permission. Wow. Don't hear that from most children today.
He ate a really good lunch of baked chicken, corn and brussel sprouts. (No chocolate milk....but a slice of homemade chocolate cake for dessert!) He loved it.

A good shower from the skies made a puddle  in the front yard that he couldn't resist. He is all-boy.

Caleb was well-behaved. You'll can be very proud of him.

Caleb's Toddler Forecast: Getting some ice cream

Caleb called me this morning and it was so good to talk to him. Yesterday was a hard day for me for some reason. I just was missing him so much. Found out that yesterday, Caleb started to tell his grandparents that he was missing me, so we were both in the same boat. I liked hearing that he missed me, and it made me feel good.

So, it looks like it takes a week for him to really feel the missing stage. He only has a few more days and I think he'll do fine. They said that he starts to really feel it, then they'll come up early, but the plan is for them to start back on Thursday. I'm counting the days. Can't wait to see him, hug him and kiss him.

I  envision this great big homecoming where he runs up to me, but I doubt that will happen. LOL. It will probably be VERY nonchalent. LOL

Today, they are off to visit his great-Aunt and his great-grandpa. I'm sure he's going to have a good time.

Caleb's Toddler Forecast: Riding in the car

Apparently, Caleb had a good time, yet again. Woo!!

I got some pictures on Facebook, but there weren't too many of him smiling. He was concentrating on playing in the sand alot.

Email about yesterday's trip:

Great day yesterday at Lake Tejas. Many good changes since the olden days, and still nestled in the heart and beauty of east Texas.

Caleb enjoyed himself big time; played in the sand as much as in the water. He and I went out into the "deeper water" so he could see the sliders coming down "wet willy." Later that day he wanted to climb up the high tower which we did. Of course, he couldn't jump off but it was fun on the high tower.

Caleb wanted me to go down "wet willy' which is a really neat long slide. I obliged him but instead of swiftly sliding off into the water as I came down I stopped and my skinny legs were hanging over the end of the slide. Caleb was with Grandmama in the shallow end and he got a real kick out of this sight. He really laughed. It was sort of funny. I thought, "Man, am I that light that I can't even make it down this slide?" Then I realized it was my heavy shirt I was wearing that stopped me. Remedied that and made the next slide perfect....except for the water up the nose.

Caleb has a great imagination and it is delightful watching him play. He has the only cell phone I know of that can be used in and out of water. (Edit: It's his hand up to his ear)

Today, Caleb is going over to the family's friends house to play in their pool. He should like that.

Caleb's Toddler Forecast: At the pool