The Davis Family: Michigan Vacation

We recently returned from an extended vacation home in Michigan. Emma and I went a week earlier than Jay since this will be the last time for a while that I will fly alone with the kids. I also wanted to go a bit earlier in order to enjoy camping at Mullet Lake and spend some time on the boat. We arrived in Michigan on a late Wednesday night and drove up north to the campground on Thursday afternoon. We stayed until Monday and had a great time on the boat everyday, swimming, eating ice cream, playing with Jasmine (the family dog that Emma LOVES), and just plain relaxing. Emma also got to see Great Grandma Charney a few times and show off her ever expanding vocabulary.

We returned to Auburn on Monday and Emma spent the rest of the week playing with Nana, Papa, Uncle Ryan, Aunt Becky, and cousins Darian and Kennedy. She was able to spend quite a bit of time in the pool over the 2 weeks and has really begun to feel comfortable in the water (at times a bit too comfortable). She loves to jump in from the side of the pool (or the back of the boat) and doesn't really care if you are there to catch her or not! We also traveled to East Lansing one day to visit with Great Grandpa Bill. I took advantage of the babysitters we had in all the doting grandparents and even got to go out for dinner with one of my best friends Aimee, who was in town from Milwaukee. It was SO nice to have an adult only, kid free dinner! We don't get to see each other enough!

Jay joined us on Saturday and we went to his mom's retirement dinner Saturday night and spent Sunday and Monday with his extended family including Uncle Seth, Aunt Jenny and Emma's cousins Kole and Sydney. This was our first time to meet our new niece Sydney who was 8 weeks old and she is absolutely adorable!! She is so good too - already sleeping through the night. She pretty much sleeps all day and very rarely cries. She is precious and Emma really was interested in her. I am hoping she carries this interest over into her new baby sister when she arrives! Emma and Kole got some good bonding time too, and seem to play together well. I think Emma was a bit mesmerized (as was her daddy) at how much energy Kole has! He is a typical toddler boy who runs at full speed all day long! Emma also got to spend time with Great Grandpa Jay and her Great Nana.

Thursday Jay and I had to leave to drive to Plymouth for the rehearsal of one of Jay's best friends Tony's wedding. Emma stayed with all of the grandparents. Friday Jay hung out with the guys all day while I got to spend time with my cousin Betsy. We went out for lunch and went shopping in Ann Arbor. It was nice to spend time together, which we don't get to do very often! We went to the wedding Friday night and woke up to drive to the airport Saturday, where Emma and the grandparents met up with us. WHEW!

Overall, we had a great time! The two weeks went by super fast as we were extremely busy with lots of traveling. We enjoyed the cooler weather and Emma showed off to all of her relatives. Everyone was amazed at her expanding vocabulary (she will copy anything you say now) and mom and dad were amazed that she learned everyone's names! After returning home she has asked for everyone by name including grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, great grandparents, and of course the dog too!

I am feeling pretty good and counting down until baby #2 comes. I actually was extremely sick the day of our flight home and was very nervous that I would have nausea for the rest of my pregnancy. It lasted a couple days and has since gone away - thank goodness! It must have been a stomach bug or something. I had an ultrasound this week and they confirmed that baby is in fact a girl. She kept sticking her tongue out at us! We could also see her hair so she will be like her big sister born with lots of hair. They estimated her to be over 5lb, which is over a week ahead of schedule! The time is coming!!

We also started potty training this past week, but that is a whole other blog post. Stay tuned....

Emma sporting her Dora boat coat with Grandma

A little scary Grandpa to leave Emma at the helm

Swimming with mommy

Emma sleeping in the motorhome with baby, Eddie, and of course Jasmine

She loved feeding the baby ducks!

Emma carrying on a Charney family tradition of taking her bath in Mullett Lake!!

Happy Fourth!

Posing with her cousin Kennedy

Do we have a Vegas Showgirl in our future? Lets hope not!

Her first Merry Go Round - of course it had to be at the Auburn Cornfestival!! Thanks Darian and Kennedy for taking her!

Emma driving her cousin Darian

Her first bite of an Elephant Ear with Uncle Ryan

She looks a bit tired posing with Uncle Ryan and Aunt Becky

Seriously mom, do I have to fish?

Emma with mom's cousin Betsy

Great Grandpa Bill with all of his granddaughters

Emma with her pal Benjamin

She took a big interest in her new cousin Sydney. Here she is helping Aunt Jenny change her diaper. Hopefully she is this helpful when her baby sister arrives!