Successful First Day

After a wonderful night's rest with the waves crashing in the distance (Can you tell that I'm really missing the beach?!), we woke to Russ sneaking out for a morning run.  I mean, who goes running or does anything athletic while they are at the beach?  Obviously not me.  When Millie Janalee popped her sweet head up and enthusiastically said, "Hey Mama" I gave Russ what was sure to be the "stink eye" for making noise as he left us for the road.

It's really not too bad waking up to such a happy girl.  She put on her "haaat" before we walked over to Susu and Pawpaw's room for breakfast.  After breakfast, we all broke away to prepare for our first full day in the sand.  I loaded and organized our beach wagon and Russ ran to Winn Dixie to grab an air pump after I nearly passed out from trying to blow up the baby pool on my own.  Everything got loaded and a full day's food was packed and there was one girl ready to hit the beach...

I brought a fun surprise for all the little cousins.  We decided we pretty much needed to just carry Hughes down in his bucket while the girls played with theirs.  Ha!  But next year, he will have one and will be all up in the fun sand with the girls.

Setting up for the day takes a little time and more than one person since this girl is so mobile this year.  This is one big reason why we stay out all day.  Too much trouble to bring it all up for lunch and nap and then bring it all back down.  Who needs to do that when you can eat lunch and nap all in the same spot?!  I've never liked going up during the day.  That's a waste of sunlight and beach time.

Millie Janalee waited patiently as the guys and She She worked to fill her pool with water and get her little setup ready.  She was ready to play in the pool!  Once the initial setup is over, everything is a piece of cake.  And lots of fun!

It wasn't too long before she was ready to explore this sandy floor.  She walked around without a problem or complaint.  Then she decided she wanted to play in the "sommm".  She stood by She She's chair and picked up sand and poured it on the foot of her chair.  This occupied her for quite a while.

Until she found the water!  Blessed was the person who took her to the water, because they would later deal with the fit of cries when they got tired and made her come back to our spot.  Ha!  Uncie "Buckkkk" and Millie Janalee had a great time jumping waves and squealing.  The squealing came from Millie Janalee...not Buck.  And in case you're wondering why someone always has their hands on her when she's near the water - it's because when we let her go, she would literally RUN into the ocean.  Big wave or not.  It was only a matter of time before she went swimming with the little group of stingrays we kept seeing.  No fear.

After a full morning of pool time, playing in the sand, and salt water...a toddler will work up an appetite and be ready for a little shut eye.  Or they can at least be convinced a little easier that they are ready for a nap.  I propped Millie Janalee up for some veggie packs and Lunchable snack trays before bringing out the paci and wrapping her in a towel.  After a few minutes of rocking back and forth, those eyes did close.  And what can be better than a good, long nap on the beach?!  Not much.  While the babies napped, the grown ups got their sun and  had some fun.

Me and She She

My beach hottie!

Selah Grace sleeping in her little tent

Hughes didn't make it down to the beach to play, so his parents enjoyed a relaxed day in the condo with an ocean view.  That's not a bad way to spend week 5 of a newborn's life, is it mamas?  We came up at the end of the day to shower and get ready for supper.  That's when Millie Janalee got her "Huss" time.  We may have distracted her with snacks a few times so that Hughes could rest from the enthusiasm of his older cousin.  Ha!

Happy beach baby!

This face sums up his feelings when we came  up each day.  So long quiet naps and bottles.  Hello squealing and "patting" toddler!

Let's see.  I think this night Mama fixed dinner.  Bar-b-que chicken, crock pot mac and cheese, salad, and homemade ice cream was on the menu.  It was basically another family party in the condo.  You know.  The loud laughing kind I told you about.

Millie Janalee and Buck found their belly buttons.

Selah Grace climbing "Big Daddy"'s back

Susu introducing Selah Grace to the fun of headgear!

I would definitely go as far as saying Day One on the beach was a success!  Only leaving us wanting more and leaving our love tanks full from good family time.