Lowcountry ABCs

A is for Alligator. While visiting Matt's sister and her family this past weekend, we saw the alligator that lives in the pond just behind Erin and John's house. He is hard to see in this picture, but I didn't feel particularly inclined to get any closer for a better shot. If you look carefully, you can see his eye and snout poking out of the water (near the shore line, just slightly right of center).

Now I can handle this kind of alligator... You know, the kid-friendly, inflatable, non-living, pool-toy kind.

B is for Best Buds. Words cannot express how excited Ava gets every time she sees her cousin, Jack. Everywhere Jack goes, Ava follows. Everything Jack does, Ava tries. Ava always reaches out to hold Jack's hand and in return, Jack always gently leads her wherever she wants to go.

C is for Coligny Beach. Part of our trip was spent on the beach. Rough life, but somebody's gotta do it.

D is for Driving Around. I wanted a Power Wheels car more than anything when I was growing up. Whether or not I will get to live vicariously through Ava owning one is yet to be determined. If Ava is not the recipient/owner of a Power Wheels car at some point down the road, she can at least enjoy driving her cousin's jeep. Jack was kind enough to take Ava for a spin around the culdesac during our stay.

E is for Erin. Or, "Uh-In" as Ava says. Erin is the best. Anyone who knows her would agree. She is an amazing follower of Christ, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and more. We love spending time with her and we can't wait to see her again soon!

F is for Finny Finnster. Oh how I love him. I love his hair, I love his smile, I love his wit and most of all, his heart. He is beyond perceptive and to say he is adorable would be an understatement. Finn is a wonderful cousin to Ava and he is going to be an amazing big brother come November!

G is for Golf. A high percentage of Hilton Head residents live, drink and breathe golf. Well, we aren't HH residents and we aren't passionate about golf. We did learn however, that when your house sits on a golf course, it is a great place for little ones to stretch their legs and run (after hours, of course).

H is for High Altitude. Ava still loves being launched in the air by Matt. Being launched in the air on the beach just makes it that much better.

I is for I love My Family. Enough said.

J is for Jack. He is our first nephew, and one of the first people to steal Ava's heart. Speaking of hearts, Jack has one of the biggest ones I have ever known. He is adventurous, fun-loving, kind, and he is his dad's biggest fan.

K is for Kisses. No, we're not talking West Virginia cousin kissin'. We're talking sweet and innocent affection. Ava loves giving hugs and kisses and she was more than happy to dish out a few smooches for her beloved cousins.

L is for Leisurely Walks Down the Beach. Considering 2 of Ava's favorite things are walking and sand, it's pretty safe to say she had a blast at the beach. We spent a good portion of the day strolling up and down the shore while taking in the sights and soaking up the sun. 

M is for Mommy/Daughter Time. Originally, we planned to drive back to NC on Monday morning. My wonderful husband, wanting me and Ava to enjoy another day at the pool, decided to come back Tuesday instead. So while Matt worked diligently at Erin and John's house, Ava and I got to spend an extra day splishing and splashing with Erin and the boys. Words cannot express how thankful I am for Matt and how hard he works for our family!

N is for Naps. Or should I say, 'No Naps.' Typically Ava takes a good 3-hour nap in the afternoon. Not wanting to miss a minute of play time with her cousins, she did not nap as much as she needed to this past weekend. This was evident by her behavior one particular evening during our trip. I guess I can't blame Ava though... Look at those cute blond boys. Who could resist spending every minute with them?

O is for Observing the Big Kids. When you're the youngest one in the bunch, you spend a lot of time watching what the big kids do. Ava spent plenty of time doing just that, especially at the pool. Observe now, Ava. Next year, you'll get to show off your newly learned pool skills to your younger cousin!

P is for Playing in the Pool. I think Ava is part fish. She would have stayed in the pool all day if we would have let her.

Q is for Quick Lesson in Fly Fishing. Matt wanted to give fly fishing a whirl and John was gracious enough to let him try. What a natural, huh?

R is for Role Model. Jack has great manners and confidence. He is friendly, compassionate, loving and kind. Above all else, he loves God and I am so thankful that Ava has him as a buddy and role model.

S is for Splashing. Ava enjoyed one of the many water features at the Hampton Lake Pool.

T is for Tee-Ball. Since we decided to extend our trip by one day, we were able to watch Jack and Finn play tee ball. Unfortunately, this happened to be the evening that the whole, 'no napping thing' caught up to Ava. Therefore, Matt and I spent most of our evening dealing with a less than happy camper, rather than taking pictures.

U is for Uncle John. BREAKING NEWS! Ava. Loves. Uncle. John. Ava has always loved John, she has just hidden her affection for him until this past weekend. Within 24 hours of being around John, Ava willingly gave him hugs, kisses and lovingly called him, "Don."

V is for Very Sour Lemon. Every time we go out to eat a lemon slice comes in our water or tea. Every time Ava sees said lemon slice, she points at it and says, "Nana." I try to explain that the lemon is in fact, not a banana, yet my explanation seems to do no good. Even though she makes a ridiculous face, Ava seems to like lemons because she manages to eat the whole slice... every time.

W is for Waterfall. One of Ava's favorite things at the Hampton Lake Pool is the waterfall. She would literally tremble with excitement as we approached it while floating down the lazy river.

X is for X Games. Well, X-Games on a kiddie level anyway. Scooters and trikes and bikes! Oh my! The boys pulled out all of their ride-on toys and let Ava take a few of them for a spin. Kids playing in the culdesac while the sun sets after a fun-filled day. Can't think of a better way to spend an evening.

Y is for Yellow Submarine, or Baby Float. Her butterfly swimmies are great, but in order to venture into deeper water, Ava had to be in her float. Good thing she loves it because she spent plenty of time in it. 

Z is for Zonked. About 5 minutes into our 5.5 hour car ride home, Ava fell fast asleep. She has recovered and is already looking forward to visiting the Lowcountry again!