Pure Bliss...at a little beach called Pawley's Island

To say that we had an amazing trip is an understatement....our week in South Carolina was perfection at its finest!  What else can you expect with amazing girlfriends, their terrific husbands, the most adorable and well-behaved (most of the time that is!) bunch of babies that ever existed, and wonderful grandparents (we all love Grandma Rose and Doc (aka Papa Smurf))!  Not to mention a beautiful stretch of sandy beach, weather that couldn't have been more perfect, one big tent with lots of chairs, sand toys, beach blankets and sweaty, smiling, sandy babes passed around for all to love on. 

Mia and I flew up early since Daddy had to work and was going to drive up to meet us on Sunday...it was my first solo flight with Mia and I wasn't nervous since I figured she'd eat and then sleep the whole flight.  Boy was I wrong, she wanted nothing to do with napping and instead wanted to make friends with everyone around us on the plane ~ she started this new head tilt thing and was just laughing and talking up a storm!  When we landed, Aunt Katie met us at our gate and off we went to the Litchfield Inn....where we enjoyed a fun girls' weekend with one of mommy's dearest friends, college roommate, and all-around amazing woman (we love you Aunt Kates!).
 

Over the next two days, the rest of the group arrived and by Sunday evening, all the pieces of the puzzle were in place....and so the fun began!  We didn't do anything super exciting or out of the ordinary....the days were lazy and fun, full of chasing toddlers with magic telescopes and tutu-ed bathing suits, running after birds and a rare horse, cuddling sleeping babies, enjoying a few adult beverages....followed by nap time back at our respective 'homes' and dinners by the marsh, family photo ops, lots of laughter, hugs good-bye and "see you in the morning, can't wait to do it again tomorrow"s!

The many faces of Mia (with her new straw hat!)

Rylee Roo and Dennis....our roommates for the week! :)

Sammy & Stella loves...

Daddy's Girl at heart!

Many "firsts" during our trip....the new head tilt, her first taste of fruit (apple cinnamon oatmeal), taking a bath in the big tub, sitting in a big girl high chair at restaurants (and screaming so everyone knows I'm there!), and enjoying her new friend, Sophie the giraffe.

Momma Love...

The best part of the trip was Mia really getting to know and spend time with her aunts, uncles and cousins....hearing Rylee's morning song of "Baby Mia" and referring to Mia as her sister, Jake playing with her on the living room floor, kisses from handsome little Sam, and lying cheek to cheek with Stella...brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my heart.  My girlfriends truly love Mia like she is their own and I feel the same about their babes....I got to know them a little bit better and see more into their day to day lives, which I will cherish forever.  It was also nice to get to spend quality time with these women who although I talk to on a daily basis, it is not the same as long chats in adirondack chairs on the patio! 

We were sad when this trip came to an end, but we look forward to seeing ya'll at the beach next year!!