We had a wonderful week at the beach...the most relaxing place on earth, in my opinion!
Here are a few reflections...
- It was the rainiest beach trip I ever remember. We did get a couple of hours outside each day, but it also rained a lot everyday.
- If you have been through "big things" in life, you quickly learn the difference between big things and little things. Rain at the beach is definitely a little thing. It did not ruin our fun.
- We decided that all of the rain was Jesus weeping with us. While our trip was full of joy, there was also deep sadness without my dad there. I've taken a beach trip with my dad every year, so this was my first time to experience the beach without him. We decided the weather was representative of our hearts...the sun and the rain...the joy and the sadness...missing my dad, while still celebrating baby Palmer's first family trip to the ocean.
- I don't know what to call it, so I'm calling it "elevator syndrome." You know the people. There will be an entire empty elevator, and they enter and stand right next to you. So strange. Well, those same people exist on the beach. There will be an entire football field length of empty beach, and a family will plop down right next to you. Maybe it is just me that finds that strange. Come on people. There is a whole beach, spread out a little!
- Since this was my first time taking an infant to the beach, I wanted to be prepared. In the end, I found that all you really need for a new baby is 1) a good hat that stays on without much effort and 2) a baby carrier (we took a baby bjorn). Seriously, everything else just falls into place.
- Beau was pretty simple too. Beau learned after the first day that he had to head straight to the bath each time he came in from the beach. Now, these were not long, drawn out baths, but he did have to get all the sand rinsed off before sitting on the furniture, taking a nap, etc.
- Yes, Beau took a nap every day at the beach. We found a pretty good routine. Each day when Beau was ready for a nap (usually by 11 or 12) I would take him up to the room, give him a quick bath, put clean swim trunks on him and feed him lunch, and put him down for his nap. Then Raleigh would come up to the room with Palmer. Raleigh graciously stayed in the condo with both boys while Beau napped. Then he would bring them both down (weather permitting) for more beach time. Beau would get a second bath before dinner each night. Keeping Beau on somewhat of a schedule (while of course being flexible) was great. Having an afternoon nap allowed him to be a pleasant dinner guest each evening.
- Even at 30, it is fun to build sand castles and dig holes in the sand.
- One day I realized that Beau was wearing 12 month swim trunks and Palmer was wearing 6 month trunks. Hmmm...Beau is 3 and Palmer is 3 months. I think Palmer may catch up and they may end up sharing clothes before too long!
- These are my initial thoughts! See you next year beach!
