So...Many...BEACHES!
We've been trying to go to the beach as often as possible, since Bobby's looking into hopefully getting some summertime employment which would hopefully start ASAP. The nicer beach around here seems to be Carolina Beach. Kure Beach is nearby too, and it's a bit more secluded, but easier to park (and not have to pay). I love living near the beach! We haven't been able to go swimming in it yet, but it's nice to sit out for an hour (which is how long poor Cameron lasts out there, if he's not taking a nap, which he does sometimes).
Another cool thing about Wilmington is that they film a lot of TV shows and movies out here! I just started looking on FB for different casting companies, so Bobby took some head shots and full body shots of me to use. I wasn't 100% prepared, but they thankfully don't need to be professional, so these will do for now I suppose. :)
...have I mentioned that we love living out here?? haha ;)
3 Months- Cameron!
HAPPY 3 MONTHS, PAL!!!
I can't believe that our sweet boy is already 3 months! Man, was this a busy month for you, boy. You moved across the country and went on your first (3) plane rides! You slept 7.5 hours a few times, good boy! You also love giving and getting kisses. You love to eat, that's probably your favorite pastime. You went for your first walk in the park and spent some time away from your sister for the first time since we brought you home.
Birthday photo shoot at daddy's new school! There's a hall names after you ;)
HAPPY 3 MONTH BIRTHDAY, PAL!!! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
Our First Days in WIlmington!
We were so lucky with Allied Van Lines! They were great! They came that Sunday, so we only had one night of sleeping on the floor. Sadly that meant we had to wait around for them and couldn't go to church, boo! But we had a coupon for a free Papa John's pizza, so we ate that for breakfast/lunch (haha). The movers came around 1-ish, and took 2, maybe 3 hours to bring everything up. They broke the wheels off of our Walmart TV stand, so the dude gave us $20 to fix it/get a new one, yay! Not like we needed the wheels anyways really. After they were done, I was dying to see Wilmington, so we drove around campus and a little bit around town. Wasn't as nice as I thought, but we're not in the super nicest part of the city (it's nice, just not like WOAH nice lol). We had to eat, so we went to some Mexican restaurant, Costa, and man did BOTH kids throw fits. Remind us never to eat there
:::::edit from a year later::: we ate there 1 or 2 more times and the kids were awful BOTH times. Lesson not learned apparently. :)
Since we didn't have much time left in the day, we went to the beach the next day! It was chilly, but it's only April. We ate at one of the few places that was open, and then walked around on the beach. Oh it is wonderful to live so close to the beach again. It makes my soul happy, hahaha! Bianca LOVED it! She could have stayed there forever! Cameron thought it was ok. Wait until he gets to be her age, he'll love it just like her. We stuck his toes in for the first time, which was cute. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so we can go back!
We also have a playground at our apartment complex! It's a bit of a walk, but it's doable. And it's not that big, but it works for our kids. They get there energy out there and we get our energy out taking them up and down 36 stairs. Oh the glory of living on the third floor. :)
:::::edit from a year later::: we ate there 1 or 2 more times and the kids were awful BOTH times. Lesson not learned apparently. :)
Since we didn't have much time left in the day, we went to the beach the next day! It was chilly, but it's only April. We ate at one of the few places that was open, and then walked around on the beach. Oh it is wonderful to live so close to the beach again. It makes my soul happy, hahaha! Bianca LOVED it! She could have stayed there forever! Cameron thought it was ok. Wait until he gets to be her age, he'll love it just like her. We stuck his toes in for the first time, which was cute. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so we can go back!
Flying to Wilmington: Erika and Cameron's Story!
There's not much to our story, so I'll make sure there's cute pictures of our little boy in here. Cameron and I had a pretty relaxing time by ourselves in Altus. His mom would send me out to shop or to grab some food so that I could get out of the house, which was very nice. We played with the babysitting kids, watched TV, I cooked some yummy food (celery salad, tuna couscous, rice pudding) and I practiced carrying Cam around in the carrier some so that he'd be used to it for our long plane rides. Here's cute pictures.
Cam and I flew to Denver first (yeah...LOL). He was great on the planes! I had a bottle made for each flight, and he drank it and fell asleep. It was nice!
amazed at the lights above us
Then we flew from Denver to Charlotte, NC. I was assigned a middle seat for that flight, but the two guys (yeah, GUYS, ugh, good thing I had the bottles and didn't have to breastfeed. THAT would have been awkward) let me switch and have the window so I had a bit more room. I ate and we played a bit when we got to Charlotte. He loved rolling on the floor and playing with his basketball that Bianca gave him when he was born (aw).
Goodbye, Edmond :(
I didn't think I'd be this sad about it, but we have officially left Edmond and Oklahoma (probably for good). I'm really going to miss all of our new friends we made out here, it made this whole move out here worth it just for that. In the days leading up to the move, we just finished up packing, and I practiced carrying Cameron around in my wrap, since we are flying out to Wilmington. We'll be staying with Bobby's mom for a couple of days and then flying out there on Saturday April 13th while Bobby, Bianca, and his dad drive the car out there. I'm so sad to be away from them, but I've got Cam to keep me company out here. And flying with a baby that's just shy of 3 months is a lot easier than a big long road trip anyways. Here's our pre-move pics:
The movers were coming at 9-10am, so we made sure we had everything ready for them. They tried to get us to have a later pick up day, but our lease was up, so now they're taking our stuff to storage and then putting it on the truck out there. Hopefully they don't lose anything. I'm so scared of that!!! That morning was fine. Michelle from church brought us breakfast in the morning, which was so nice of her and so helpful!! But the movers came on time and they were out of there in 3 hours! Not bad! Then, the other Michelle, my VT, came over with some yummy soup for lunch! She's the best! :)
We took the kids to the park for a little bit so that they could get out a little bit. Then we went back home and put Bianca down for a nap and did some last minute cleaning. Michelle (lol too many Michelles!!!), Bobby's friend, came over to say goodbye. When Bianca woke up, we went over to the RS president's house for dinner- TACO NIGHT!!! It was very delicious and a nice farewell. We got home and all slept on our blankets on the floor (except Cam who still had his pack and play, of course).
The next morning we drove off to meet Bobby's parents halfway. I was going with his mom and kids to Altus while Bobby and his dad tried to fit the last of our junk in the car. We finally all met up at his parents' house later that afternoon. We had a couple of days to spend there altogether before they left to drive out to NC. We did some fun things, like hold Cameron up to the Cameron Dr. sign, Simba style.
The rest of the time we had in Altus we spent together. Bobby and I went on a few dates luckily, to the movies and to the carnival by ourselves, which was nice.
It was sad when it was time to say goodbye. Our move posts will be continued into two separate ones, Erika and Cameron PLUS Bobby and Bianca.
Then we realized that the carnival was in town! We took Bianca out by ourselves as a special treat for her. She got to ride the merry-go-round twice, once with each of us. She was so excited to choose which animal she wanted. That's all she talked about for the next couple of days.
