Life in Florida is just...beachy!

Last year, Lillian went to the beach ONE time over Labor Day weekend. That was enough for her AND me! Nothing sends me into sheer panic faster than thinking of a baby on the beach, except for maybe the three S words: sand, sunburn, and saltwater.

One night while lying in bed trying my best to come to terms with the fact that we live in Florida, and therefore my daughter will have to eventually go to the beach, I came up with a genius idea...

we will bring Lily's little baby pool with us. How perfect is that? Fill 'er up with ocean water, and keep her in the shade. Best. Idea. Ever. And I have to say, it worked - the first trip.

She played in her little swimming pool the entire time. And when she wasn't in the pool, she was on the blanket as she hadn't developed and affinity for the sand yet (that's my daughter)! But like I said, that only lasted the first trip. By the second trek to the beach, Lily was shovelling fist full after fist full of sand into her mouth. This not only disgusted me, but freaked me out quite a bit. I was sure my daughter was going to poop sandcastles (and no, she didn't, you'd better believe I would have taken a picture if she had!).

Canyon & Lily's Nannie & Pop, and Grandmom & Grandpop join us whenever we make it to New Smyrna for the weekend. How much fun for them to be able to get back into the sand and build sandcastles with the youngest member of the family!

Lillian finally got the hang of playing in the sand, although I'm sure she snuck in a full hand fulls here and there when we weren't looking. By the time we left, we had constructed and entire village! Maybe next time her big brother will show her how it's done.

Needless to say, with the way out beach trips have changed since the addition of Lillian Grace, they have also gotten much easier on the teenage side. Canyon always brings a friend...lathers up, and they take off. Wherever they go, whatever they are doing...fine. As long as they are safe! They always return for lunch, cool off, refresh, and then take off again, returning just in time to help pack up and leave.

Nothing wears you out quite like a relaxing day at the beach. So nice to be in daddy's arms.