It’s another slow and lazy vacation morning here at the lake. I promised you a recipe, but then I had too much fun editing my vacation photos. (Recipe really coming tonight!) We had another gorgeous sunny day out on the lake yesterday.
We’re staying in a house that Casey’s parents rented, down a canal just outside the main lake. It’s nice being here during the week because there is almost zero boat traffic, and the water is perfectly calm. We have a great pontoon boat that is sunny up front, and nice and shady in the back.
When this trip was first planned, I was really nervous about how it would work with a baby. I didn’t feel comfortable taking Cullen into the deep water off the dock, so we’ve been cruising down the canal to a little beach so he can play in some shallow water. (Sorry to those of you I scared with pics of him on the boat. He’s wearing a life jacket when we’re actually boating out on the lake – most of our pictures have been taken while the boat is parked at the beach!)
We got sort of a late start yesterday, and as soon as we got to our beach spot it was Cullen’s naptime. Dad was nice enough to hang out in the shade and let Cullen snooze on his chest for almost two hours.
While the rest of us played in the water and enjoyed the sun!
Even though it’s 90 something degrees here, it doesn’t feel as hot or crispy as I thought it would. It’s only in the 60’s back in Seattle, so we are definitely not used to this.
Once our little swimmer woke up, I sat in the shallow water with him so that he could stand in the sand and splash!
He’s not quite sure about the water. He likes splashing, but he doesn’t last more than 20 minutes or so. Still just a minnow, I guess.
Pasty white Seattle ghost family. We are all covered in something like 70 SPF!
We stayed at the beach for a few hours, just alternating between swimming and hanging out on the boat. Cullen changed out of his wet clothes and was much happier.
We had planned to boat over to a restaurant on the far side of the lake, so we all buckled up for a long breezy boat ride. Captain Casey took the wheel.
While Cullen passed out for an afternoon nap. Poor little guy was just being swallowed by this giant life jacket. He could barely sit up in it since it was so bulky.
We ended up stopping by the marina for more gas, and we asked them if they might have something that fit him better. PINK! He’s much more comfortable now.
After almost an hour on the boat, we got to the restaurant only to find they were closed on Tuesdays. OOPS!
It takes a looooong time to get our pontoon boat across the lake, but at least we all got to enjoy some time out on the water.
Cullen was a good sport – it was a long day out on the boat. He was ready to crash almost as soon as we got home.
I put him to bed while my in-laws picked up takeout. Casey and I shared delicious veggie fried rice…
A few different vegetarian sushi rolls – sweet potato tempura, spicy tofu, and green goddess rolls…
And simple avocado rolls. Yum.
We finished our evening around a bonfire, making s’mores and talking until well past midnight.
Cullen didn’t get the vacation memo, so he was ready to start the day at 5am. Ouch. Looking forward to more relaxing this afternoon!
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Looks like you’re having a blast! CJ has a hard time with the life jacket too. They are so bulky!!
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Looks like you are having a great time in GA! I used to live about an hour from Lake Lanier and went there a bunch! Would it be possible for you to do a post sometime in the near future about flying with Cullen now that he is older? We are planning a trip to California (from North Carolina) in September and my little guy will be 6 months old. It will be our first flight with him and a long one at that! Any advice you could share would be awesome! :)
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What a nice relaxing time with family! :) Enjoy your vacation.
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Glad you’re having good weather! Having less boat traffic is great. :) Having easy access to healthy takeout while on vacation = win!
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Bummer that the restaurant was closed! But that takeout looks delicious. Now I want some sushi!
(Also I must register my envy that you evidently were not afflicted by stretch marks from pregnancy! I look like I was attacked by a tiger — my bikini days are OVER. You look great!)
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Emily Malone Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 7:29 am
No stretch marks, which is amazing given how gigantic my stomach was. I definitely got lucky! I still think perhaps my bikini days should be over, but I didnt get a new suit in time for this trip. Cullen keeps trying to rip my top off! :)
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Regina Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
You look like such a fit mama! You look fantastic! I’m 8 months pregnant and I hope to look that good when our so is 8 months old (or ever–haha).
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Jess Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Your bikini days are not over! You look amazing in that photo. If you didn’t have a kid in your arms, no one would believe you had a baby!
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A) You look phenomenal!!!
B) Cullen is going to be so mad years from now when he sees the picture of his pink life jackew! Ha!
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what kind of life vest is the pink one? we are having trouble finding a smaller one for my niece. she has the same problem…they just swallow her and she cries and hates life. she’s sidelined from the boats until we find her a better coast guard certified vest.
I get the going slow and shallow water, but unfortunately it’s the other boaters you need to worry about :( every lake has the bad boaters who don’t pay attention.
one thing she does love is this: http://www.target.com/p/swimways-baby-spring-float-with-canopy-colors-may-vary/-/A-13839727?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Google_PLA_df&LNM=%7C13839727&CPNG=sports&ci_sku=13839727&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw=
not sure if you’ll be around water at home, but these are great!
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Emily Malone Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 7:31 am
Totally agree! Especially since there are a lot of drunk boaters. No idea what kind it is, but it’s thinner and zips up the back – a little less bulky.
That is very similar to the raft we have for the shallow water!
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Leanne Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Pretty sure they carry those Sterns baby life vests at Wal Mart…. :-)Once kiddos are older, try out Puddle Jumpers (also carried at Wal Mart). They are coast guard approved and our daughter loves hers.
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JenG Reply:
June 28th, 2012 at 5:23 am
Thanks Leanne…i’ll tell my sis-in-law to try Sterns.
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You’re on my lake! Isn’t it beautiful! With this heat in Atlanta, the lake is the only place to be. Enjoy your vacation Emily! Looks like your having a great time with your family!
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Pasty white Seattlites indeed. My goal for the summer is a darker shade of pale… I went to the beach week before last- (Dash Point Pier) between sunblock and being covered up and such (it is the Puget Sound) The only part that got burned is my right foot with a flip flop strap… ROFL! It’s hilarious!
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That third picture is my favorite! And look at those guns, hot mama! ;)
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You DO look amazing! Maybe get a halter to keep Cullen from pulling your top off but you can’t let that bod go to waste! haha
I just had my second baby and despite stretch marks I think I’ll def bare the bod again. Stretch marks are never as bad as we think they are and if you get fit, they REALLY don’t matter. Besides, no one else cares, it’s only in our head. I have friends who have stretch marks that say they’re too ashamed to wear a bikini again and it’s a shame because they look amazing and the stretch marks are hardly noticeable and not ugly AT ALL.
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i’ve been looking into baby life jackets for a trip we’re going to take later this year – did you like the second one that you guys got for him? what’s the brand?
i can’t wait for Wes to get some water time too! he loves floating in the bathtub, so hopefully he enjoys the lake too!
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Girl you are looking smoking!!!! Totally envious! :)
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Hillary Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 10:02 am
AGREED!!
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Adorable photos! I totally see why you would rather spend time one those verses posting a recipe :) Why does eating food near water make food taste so much better?! Enjoy your time relaxing, your family is adorable!
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I love the picture with Casey and Cullen napping! So cute!
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You look amazing! I had a little guy four months ago and feel like losing the baby weight is impossible. How did you do it?
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Looks like fun! Do you know where you purchased your white cover-up/sundress? I’ve been looking for a cover-up like that with no luck.
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Thanks for giving me hope that one can look awesome after giving birth! I don’t plan to get pregnant for a few years and am already concerned about losing the weight(trivial I know).
Glad you are enjoying your vacay! :)
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Love the pink life jacket! He’s gonna love those pics when he’s older ;P
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Pasty white is beautiful! And smores are my favorite dessert – glad you guys are having such a good time and the weather is behaving itself!
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So much fun! I love the photos. The one of Cullen trying to snooze in his oversize life jacket made me laugh out loud. Enjoy the rest of your vacation! :)
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Emily! I love your minty green swim suit! Where is it from?
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Ahhh, looks like such a glorious vaca!!!!! Sooo glad to see Cullen out on a boat! We are sailors and I have been SO nervous about taking him out (he is 8 months today).
We have a life jacket already (just like the pink one but it is blue) and when we put it on him at home he did NOT look happy:( I think babies definitley love being on the water, Cullen sure looks like he enjoys it. I hope my little guy likes it too, you have mellowed me out a little about it, thanks:)
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We’re headed to dale hollow lake friday (kentucky/tenn border) and it’s supposed to be 106. I have a feeling we’ll be cruising around on the water just to get some relief.
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Wow, looks like a great trip! And 60 degrees in Seattle? Burrr. :D
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Your bikini days definitely DO NOT need to be over – smoking body! You all look so happy & healthy :)
Oh, and of course you have a life jacket for Cullen – we all know your a good mama!
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Liz Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 9:11 am
Um, you’re, not your ;)
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So much fun! You look amazing!
What type of lifejacket is the pretty pink one? We cannot get W to wear a lifejacket. He screams his head off and it’s illegal here for him to not wear one on the boat. I’m desperate to find something!
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Your baby is super cute! Pink life vest and all :)
Quick question, did you use vegetarian marshmallows for your s’mores? If so, can I ask where you got them?
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Holly Reply:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:17 am
I get vegan marshmallows from Whole Foods.
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What a cute litte nugget Cullen is in that vest! I just love lake outings in the summer… Brings back so many memories!
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Cullen’s quite the good little out-and-about napper! I’m impressed and scared to try it with my own little guy. Maybe it helps that you’ve been doing it somewhat regularly since an early age?
Love the pink life jacket. When faced with the choice of a pink or [ugly shade of] orange water bottle for my son, I went with the pink. His favorite bouncy seat at daycare was also pink :)
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Y’all need a Puddle Jumper! They are Coast Guard approved and super great at keeping the kids up in the proper position. They are wonderful and have changed our (water) lives!
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Leanne Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
I second the awesomeness of the Puddle Jumper but think they are for kids a little bigger than Cullen(I believe 30-50 lbs).
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Cullen looks like he had so much fun on the boat!
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I noticed in the picture that the pink life jacket has the name “Stearns” on the front and you can find Stearns life vests/jackets if you google it.
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You look great! Your white dress is so cute; can I ask where it’s from?
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Looks like a fun vacation! How do you get your hair in a neat bun like that?? Every time I put my hair on top of my head, it looks like a disheveled birds nest!
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Whitney Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
agreed! We need a bun tutorial :)
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Sarah G Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
I third this request. I’ve been meaning to ask for months now.
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Sharon Reply:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:07 am
I would love to know, too! :)
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Ah! I need that pink one! Looks so much more comfy than those bulky ridiculous one. C is rocking the pink, too. Love it!
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Emily – you look fantastic! Who would have thought you just had a baby? You are def the hot mama at the pool (or lake)!
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Where did you get your white dress/cover up? Its adorable and I need something for a trip to hawaii in 2 months :)
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Beautiful! Nothing better than sun and water for a wonderful vacation! Enjoy yourself!
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You look amazing! I am so jealous of your family/lake time. I just moved to NYC and definitely am in some need of relaxation! Happy vacationing!
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LOVE the picture of Cullen in the pink life jacket! Too cute! It is in the low 70′s today in Seattle but we are supposed to get rain tomorrow so enjoy the warm sunshine!
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ahhh I’m so jealous. That is a perfect vacation! Hanging out on the water, good food, a campfire! Enjoy it!
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As if you didn’t already know, your family is PRECIOUS!
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You definitely give hope to us ladies that you can still have a smokin hot body after having a baby! How are your arms so buff? Do you work them out or is it just from lifting Cullen?
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emily you look incredible! and more importantly happy + healthy. cullen is such a ham , what a beautiful baby boy!
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Looks like you guys are having so much fun! I live in Atlanta, and love going up to Lake Lanier. Cullen is just too cute in the water! Hope you guys have a fantastic rest of your vacation :)
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What a lovely vacation! Hope you all continue to have fun – you deserve it!
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cullen looks like one happy little guy…so adorable!
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Cullen napping is so adorable! How on earth do you get him to nap out and about like that? My guy is almost 5 months and it’s starting to feel like I can’t do anything because he doesn’t nap well out of his crib.
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I know this is besides the point but you look fantastic! Enjoy that well deserved vacation!
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What a fun vacation! It looks like you are having a blast! I’m so glad Cullen is getting some sunshine and time in the water.
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I already commented about this on your previous post, but you look AMAZING, Emily!! So fit and strong also!
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How on earth do you get Cullen to fall asleep out in the open like that? Share your tricks! We just got back from vacation and my little one really won’t sleep unless he’s in the crib or pack n play.
I also LOVE your mint green bathing suit! Would you mind sharing where it’s from?
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So so cute!! And you look FABulous my dear! Super cute bathing suit!
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You look fabby! I would love to read more about what you’ve been doing aside from running to get back into shape. I am 7 months post partum and still working on my tummy :)
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