This captures the intensity of Corbin Weeks on the beach. He would dive into the sand where the beach meets the water and come up with every body part totally covered in sand. Sand was in his ear, it was definitely in his butt crack, and he even tried a couple of tastes here and there. He had SO much fun at Seagrove. He met some lady friends (retired women) who just adored him and wanted to play all afternoon. One day we even coaxed him into a nap on the beach under the umbrella. It was such a nice getaway for both of us. Joi and Chip have a super sweet beach house within walking distance of the gulf. It was even warm enough one day for me to swim! Minus the occasional idiot college kid littering the beach with Corona bottles, it was gorgeous. The white sand and green water are unlike the gritty gray sand of the east coast beaches. I certainly enjoyed the lack of rough waves. On Monday we rode bikes fifteen miles on the paved trail that runs parallel to the shoreline; Corbin had the best time riding in the trailer. He and Chili Cat just enjoyed the ride while I pedaled so happily (haven't been on a bicycle in a long time). It was awesome. Going to have to invest in a trailer to hook up to my bike! We stopped for ice cream along the path too. That's the kind of ride I like. For sure.
Highlights include: daily beach walks, digging in the sand with Corbin, eating a gourmet grilled cheese at Seaside, drinking a delicious mojito, splitting my ONLY pair of nice jeans so completely that they had to be thrown away. Can we say "hello butt cheeks?!" I had a minor rip in them when Joi and I hopped in the truck to go to the grocery store the first night. The next morning when we went to rent a bicycle for Corbin, I test drove a beach cruiser. As I lifted my leg up to get on the bicycle I felt and heard the distinct sound of my Joe's Jeans splitting apart at the crotch seam. Oh well. They lived a happy and short (for their price!) life. Because those were the only pants I packed besides running spandex, I had to go shopping for a new pair at Ann Taylor Loft. They were decidedly much cheaper replacements, but very comfortable ;)
Yes, I violated the spending pact of the Weeks household. We have very much enjoyed our spring break.

Corbin was striking a pose on the white sand at Seagrove Beach in Florida. We survived two flights and a five hour drive. He was awesome! He did, however, have a massive meltdown at 4pm today begging for a nap! Sooooo, what is a mom to do? I let him nap and now here we are at 8pm with him totally wired! Ah, well, we're on vacation. Guess it doesn't matter that much about bed time. It's beautiful here. Joi and Chip's beach house is absolutely beautiful. I did a nice four mile run on the bike path and walked on the beach with Joi. Corbin and I played on the beach for a bit. He told uncle Chip that he wanted to take off his blue jeans and get in the water. It's obviously too cold, so, Chip told Corbin there were jelly fish in the water. Corbin didn't mention getting in the water again.

March is here and that means rainy days, daffodils popping up, pretty (but stinky) trees in bloom, and umbrellas! Personally, I detest umbrellas. I have pinched my fingers way too many times. Corbin, however, LOVES the umbrella his great grandma sent him. Hey, she earns that title "great!" He stood out in the rain on our driveway before church just saying, "mama, get your udrella too. you need a udrella." Too stinkin' cute! We have had a productive Sunday- went for a stroller jog in the pouring rain (Corbo was protected by his weather shield), made bacon and eggs, cleaned up the bathrooms, went to church, colored some Sesame Street pictures, and now C is napping. Hugs and love to everybody!

Lately Corbin's idea of play has become overtly boyish. It's challenging my abilities to be a good playmate. I try, but sometimes I just don't want to be the evil emperor Zurg who pushes Buzz Lightyear off the couch only to be rescued by Corbin (who I might add wears a Redskins football helmet armed with the hose attachment from his miniature shopvac as some sort of makeshift weapon). It's exhausting. Can't we just make some cute animals out of playdoh and call it a day?!
Speaking of playdoh, he's been hooked lately on demanding that I make a rocketship, the planet Saturn (complete with a ring!), and the moon all for him to quickly squish with his little fist. Such a stinker. I guess that's normal for a boy to want to destroy things, right? Anyway, I've sent this blog post's picture to most of my family members because I think it's funny and speaks volumes. We call it the nose-picking bandit.

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Corbin is learning to ride his big boy bike with training wheels.
He has mastered the tricycle; even riding it at night with a headlamp is no big deal.
We anticipate that by the end of Matt's deployment Corbin will be riding around the reservoir park trail easily. It's really exciting to be able to ride around the driveway on my bike while he rides his bike. I am so looking forward to neighborhood bike rides with him AND we've been talking about getting a full body harness for him either this fall or next spring (2012) to start introducing him to top-rope climbing at Pilot! If that doesn't make Pops want to move over here, I don't know what will. hee hee

Every now and again something happens that glaringly reminds me that family is precious. Family is dear. Though a lot of my family is far away from us, and we don't talk daily, I can still pick up the phone in a moment of crisis or joy and feel completely secure. 2011 is going to be a challenging year for the Weeks. Our youngest, sweetest family member will undergo a major skull-based surgery, and although life could be worse (as is always the case), the reality is stressful. We've had nothing but awesome support as we try to navigate this as best we can. We very carefully and purposefully chose the surgeon we're using (because he's arguably the best) and we have selected this summer because Matt will be able to be with us for the entire pre-op, operation, and post-op.
Knowing those things thrust us into a decision to raise funds right away when we discovered about three weeks ago that we'd have to appeal insurance's decision to deny us. Anyway, most of you know all the details. Corbin's deformity is visible on a daily basis and it is not easy. Approaching a surgery is not easy. Putting ourselves out there publicly to raise funds is not easy. It's vulnerability. But the most amazing thing is that our families and our closest friends haven't even blinked an eye. They're champions. They have reminded me of what is important in life and have encouraged me to let any neigh-saying folks roll off my back.
Just wanted to take a quiet moment on my blog to say that I love my family.

How did this little guy turn three last month?! I'm just obviously dumbfounded. Some rummaging through baby photos has given me the sting of nostalgia. Those baby moments sure do fly by. Sniff Sniff. See that sweet little ear?! I won't be kissing on that after this July. It will be a big ear. I have grown quite fond of his little peanut. Sweet Corbin had a visit to the audiologist today and the first thing he said to her was "I'm ready to have my ear fixed." She smiled at him and said, "well, I'm just going to check your hearing today. You'll get that new ear this summer." I thought it was pretty awesome that Corbin was able to vocalize his desire to have his ear fixed. It's a little sad that he thinks his ear has to be fixed, but that's probably my fault. Lack of vocabulary :)
We should have just told him the doctor was going to make his little ear match his big ear. After all, Corbin was created with one little ear and one big ear. He doesn't need "fixing," just some modifying. I love my boy so much and I am trying desperately to savor every day with him as he's speeding through toddlerhood. His hearing was normal today and he did so great with the three tests. He was able to repeat all of the words on the kindergarten list. The audiologist whispers the special words into a microphone outside the sound booth; Corbin hears the transmission through headphones and is supposed to repeat the words back. He sounded so sweet repeating: "playground, back pack, ice cream, hot dog, wish..." He looks so cute sitting there in the chair concentrating with big headphones on. I'll stop gushing now. One last thing- he totally embarrassed me at the playground after his appointment when he announced to the world: "I'm a weiner. I go in the weiner hole." WHAT?! I think I'll have a chat with the teachers at his preschool. Who's talking about weiner holes? We need to put a stop to that. I couldn't help laugh out loud and when I did, other parents joined in.