Your First Beach Trip

Dear Kate,

Last week we spent a whole week with family at the beach!  That's right - Mommy, Sister, Daddy (in the latter part of the week), Uncle Bub, Aunt G, John Michael, Em, Ash-ash, Clara Lee, you and, of course, Mimi and Pic-pic all went to the beach.  It was your first beach trip and Mommy was a wee bit nervous because most of the time 10 month olds and sandy beaches don't mix.  But you will soon see that was NOT the case for you!!!  

As a special treat, you got to ride down to the beach with Mimi, Ash-ash and Clara Lee.  Long story short, we traded you for Emily the week before we went, so you got another week at Mimis before the beach.  You live an extravagant life little one :)

Mimi said the ride down wasn't too bad, but you guys did stop half way and spend the night!  Apparently Clara Lee made it clear all the things you wanted and did not want on the ride.  And you weren't super cooperative with going to sleep in the hotel that night, but after a little rocking, you were out.  I finally got to see you on Saturday after our long drive in and I got to see all 3 of your new teeth!!  

Saturday wasn't too much to talk about other than unpacking, getting situated and prepping ourselves for a week of beach!  But Sunday rolled around and you better believe we headed that way!  Aunt G and Uncle Bub were on the ball and had everything down at the beach and set up by 9:30 that morning!  Which, of course, is about your nap time!  But we headed that way anyway and about 15 minutes into it, this was you...

Ahhhh, it must be nice to nap on the beach... 

While it wasn't too long of a nap (about an hour at the most), you did get one and that was key because you woke up happy and ready to play!!!  You loved the sand (I know, right?!!) and even loved the little swimming pool we brought down for you to play in.  We made many trips into the ocean to wash off and you always loved those.  A couple of times I had to chase you down the beach you were crawling so fast!!!  Most of the beach days run together, but over all, you were great on the beach, considering you are just 10 months old and not walking!  Here are some highlights of our days on the beach, although Mimi and Ash-ash took way more because my hands were normally filled with you, or at least chasing you.  Hopefully they will send me their pics soon and I'll post those... (hint hint Mimi and Ash-ash!!!)

Pic-pic loved putting your feets in the ocean and you loved touching those waves with your little toes! 

 There were more naps...

 And a happy baby afterwards!

 And one 10 month old that loved playing with that sand.  This included eating it, doing face plants into it, and crawling everywhere!!!

An excellent idea by Ash-ash was bringing this little pool.  You loved playing in it and we filled it with ocean water so you had your own little ocean.  You loved crawling in and out and in and out, which is where multiple face plants came into play :)

Like I said, I hope Mimi and Ash-ash have more pics, specifically of you in the ocean with me!  Your sister and Clara Lee both loved it when you'd get in and Abs would insist that you 'were ready to go under', but I decided to just do that in the pool.  I didn't want to ruin a good thing (you liking the ocean and all)! 

Now, don't get me wrong.  Everything wasn't super hunky-dory.  After about an hour of beach playing, maybe a little more on some days, you (and me, too!) were ready to head upstairs.  Some days were longer beach days than others, some days you ate lunch at the beach and took a bottle, but some days we came in for lunch, took a bath and had our afternoon naps inside!  And speaking of naps, you had your own special room at the condo!  You got to sleep in Mimi and Pic-pics closet!!  It was perfect.  Completely dark, away from the living room (and this loud family!), and your pak-n-play fit perfectly.  You had no problems with going to sleep or sleeping through the night.  As a matter of fact, Mommy is going out today to look for black out curtains because you would sleep 'till 8 some mornings!!!  Well, there was one night, the ONE night that Daddy and Mommy were 'in charge of you' that you decided to wake up at 1a.m for and hour plus then at 4 for an hour plus.  And it happened to be our last day.  We were a little disappointed in that, but we survived and haven't had an issue since.  It was actually kind of nice because the opening ceremony to the Olympics started right about the time you woke up, so I got to watch most of it!!  

You also loved going inside and outside and inside and outside, onto the balcony.  You helped the big kids play Ocean Bingo, too...

 One morning, we got all the grandkids ready and took pictures of y'all with Mimi and Pic-pic.  It was interesting to say the least, but nothing that I didn't expect.  Well, other than our cameras fogging up for the first 20 minutes because of the humidity!!

 Finally the camera worked but it was still hard to get 5 kids, 2 adults, the wind and my camera to all work together!!! But you all were still cute as can be!

 You played a little beach volley ball while we took some pics of others...

 And we tried a sister pic, but clearly you both were done!

 We cooked most nights, but one night Mimi and Ash-ash convinced me to go to dinner with them.  The plan was to go to an early dinner, drop me, you and sister off and we'd be in bed early while everyone else did souvenir shopping or whatever... Well, we didn't sit down until after 7 and somehow we ended up at the souvenir shop at 9!!!!!

 But you were a trooper and were all smiles (or tongues) the whole time!
It was a fun, fun week and we were back at home by Saturday night.  Thanks to Mimi and Pic-pic for bringing our family all together for an awesome beach trip!!  I can't wait for the next one (hint, hint Mimi :)
Love you beach bum!!!!