Taking a baby anywhere can be a challenge. There’s all the gear, the carrying, the not napping, the feeding, the planning. It’s so easy to say, “Oh, we’ll just do this or that later…when the baby is a bit bigger.” Goodness knows I’ve used that excuse for more outings than I can count.
But this time I said the opposite. My mom and I had been wanting to return to the beach we used to go to when I was a kid. We’d hoped to do it with my dad, but it was just too hard as the years went on and his list of challenges grew longer. We both had big hopes for this summer, but at one point my mom asked, “Are you sure this isn’t going to be too hard with Pink?” And for once I said, “No, but it’s worth a try!” Somehow a spontaneous call to the hotel had us on the road—and on the beach—in a matter of days.
As soon as the boys were loose on the sand, they ran wildly toward the ocean, never looking back. And as we reached water’s edge and set out our blanket, it was time to see what Pink thought of our little piece of heaven. She scooted her way off the blanket, into the sand, and her adventures began.
Sand was flying in the air, filling her hair and covering her legs. She shrieked in excitement, giggled with glee and repeated the fun over and over again.
What had I been so worried about again? Would she eat the sand? Yes, and she even seemed to like it. Would she sleep in a hotel room with all of us? Yes, far better than I did. Would all the work of packing, unpacking, repacking be worth it? Yes, to see those uninhibited smiles, to hear those sounds of pure joy, to smell the wonderful summer scent of sunscreen and ocean air, to taste the salt in my baby’s kisses, and to feel my sweet little girl all wrapped up in a towel after her first official day at the beach.
Sure, it might have been easier to stay home. To wait until the baby was older. But then I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to see Pink—in her own baby way—declare the beach her little piece of heaven too.
This post is sponsored by Disney Baby in anticipation of the work I’ll be doing as part of the Disney Baby blogging team—which kicks off very soon. I look forward to sharing these kinds of stories (projects/ideas/etc) with you over there too!
It is a lot of hard work to pack and prepare for a trip and sometimes I ask myself why am I doing this? But when you get to your destination and make so many memories that you and your children will always remember it is worth it:> Too many more adventures!
You do amazing things for and with your kids. You’re my inspiration!
good for you for taking the plunge!!! Although I guess once you take the plunge of even having kids, you might as well just keep diving in and making the most of it!!! 🙂
Yes! Next up, So Cal. Stay tuned for details…
It’s all so worth it once you get there. I don’t regret a single outing I painfully prepared for with my little boys! They grow oh so fast……
So true!
Our trip to the beach was a joy. To be able to witness and share in the excitement each child experienced was a dream come true for me. It has been many years since I have felt so free and so happy reclaiming my old love for the beach, the ocean breeze and the sun in my face. I’ll never forget this first of what I hope will be annual trips to a favorite place full of old memories and now new ones too!
Me too!
Oh how fun. I’m so with you that I’ve used that excuse more than my fair share – we still haven’t seen fourth of July fireworks. But there are times when it’s so worth it, and I’m so glad you had a blast at the beach. I’m still figuring out how and when I’ll get to the beach this year!
We haven’t seen fireworks either! Then again, there aren’t any nearby, but I was thinking this year we might need to add it to our list. I hope you get to the beach and soak up that summer sun soon!
We’re going to the beach with our “baby” (is 15 months still considered a baby?) next week! I can’t believe how much “stuff” I am planning on taking to keep us all comfortable, but I’m excited to see him “eat sand” and take it all in. I have “sheltered” him from taking many big trips this first year, but you’re right…it’s great to let our kids have adventures at all ages. We can be their memories until they can remember on their own. 🙂
As far as I’m concerned, if it’s your kid, 15 years is still a baby. Have such a great time with your adorable little guy and take pics (I failed at this) so you can help him remember later!
Beautiful post. Glad you ventured out to do this–both the beach trip and the blogging 🙂
Thank you so much, Aimee.