Saturday, July 5
Mom and Dad packed up all the stuff we'd need for a week at the beach into our new car. (Dad just bought an Audi A4 wagon last weekend...it's pretty sweet, I have to say.) Packing took all morning and most of the afternoon. Towels. Sheets. Groceries. Paper Towels. Cleaning Supplies. Beach Chairs. Bathing Suits. Babyfood. Bibs. Bassinet. Big Bro's Bunny. (That's a lotta "B words.") Sheesh, you'd think we were traveling to Patagonia for a month!
By the time we were actually in the car and driving east, we were all tired and ready for a nap. Big bro and I took one but Mom and Dad stayed awake and talked...and fidgeted with the navigation system on the new car.
We reached Topsail Beach sometime around dinnertime on Saturday. I was ready to get out of that carseat and stretch my legs! I got passed around a lot: Aunt Kim, Uncle Gilbert, Nanny, Papa Clyde, Cousin Tyler, Tyler's friend Ekwon, and Cousins Page & Andrew.
Here I am with Papa. I like his shirt. It says "Cast Your Cares Upon the Lord...Then Go Fishing with Grandpa." When I'm a little older, I think I'll take him up on that. (Come to think of it, though, he NEVER catches anything! Maybe he just needs a good luck charm...Rub the baby's belly...You know you want to!)
My Nanny spends time with Big Bro. What's that you say? She's HIS Nanny, too?!
Sunday, July 6
On Sunday morning, I saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. Let me revise that, I saw ANY ocean for the first time.
Boy, did I feel small.
I didn't go down the beach on Sunday. I mostly just watched the water, the waves, and the birds from the balcony of the beach-front condo. (Nice digs! Thanks to Uncle Gilbert and Aunt Kim for inviting us to join you guys!)
Mom, Dad, and Big Bro hit the beach while I took an afternoon nap. (I think Mom and Dad are loving the perk of having built-in-babysitting --a.k.a. Aunt Kim, Cousin Page, and Nanny-- this week. Hey, it works for me...though I'll probably be spoiled rotten before this week's up!)
Sunscreen?...Check! Hat?...Check! Wild and Crazy Fun Dad?...Check!
While I'm upstairs sawing toothpicks, my family poses for a quick pic without me. Come to think of it, I was here last year, but I was swimming in my own little "ocean."
My mom sure likes to hug on us kids. When we're older, it'll be SO embarrassing...
I'm hoping Big Bro will show me all his tricks when I get bigger. Jumping waves. Running at seagulls. Digging holes. Counting shark fins. (I kid! I kid! I threw that one in there for Mom, 'cause she's got this crazy thing about sharks.)
We all got cleaned up and drove out to Snead's Ferry for some authentically-prepared (read "deep fried"), just-caught, dee-licious North Carolina seafood. Well, I hear it's dee-licious. I'm still getting breastmilk and babyfood. Hey, that could be a blues song. "Woke up this morning / Et' breastmilk and babyfood / You know 'bout that babe / Got them ol' babyfood blues..."
Mom had fried oysters. Big Bro had fried shrimp. Dad had crab cakes. Good stuff, all the way down the table. Mmm, mmm. Can't wait until I'm older!!
Monday, July 7
The seventh of July was Big Bro's birthday. He's five years old now. While I napped in the afternoon (Is it just me, or am I missing all the good stuff?), Daddy took Merrit to his FIRST big-boy movie at the theatre. Popcorn. Candy. The whole deal. They saw a kids' movie called Wall-E, a Disney animation about a friendly little robot.
I just hung around the condo. With my main "competition" gone, I had all the attention to myself! I even got to play with Big Bro's big boy toys...here I am, messing around with his Leap Pad.
Sure hope that Leap Pad is drool proof...
I'm crawling really well now. My dad says that I have a "textbook perfect crawl." Alternating leg and arm motions. Quick. Efficient. Yeah, I should teach classes in this stuff...
Must be the salt air, but since we got to the beach, I've started pulling up on the edges of couches, chairs, and tables. I am getting stronger and more mobile every single day!
Later Monday evening, after dinner, the family had a little birthday party for Merrit. He got to open presents and Aunt Kim and Nanny bought funny hats for everyone to wear.
A gift from Mom and Dad.
...I'm related to these people? ...Should I be scared??
As rising seniors in high school, Ekwon and my Cousin Tyler really ARE too cool for the hats, but they're good sports 'cause they love Merrit.
Giraffe love.
My Big Bro, the birthday boy, with my--er, I mean our--Nanny.
Cousins Andrew and Page with angelfish and parrot hats.
People always tell me I'm intuitive for an 8-month-old, but I picked up on a vibe that Uncle Gilbert wasn't thrilled about putting on this sea turtle hat.
Tuesday, July 8
We spent some time on the beach today...FINALLY! Day Three of our beach vacation and the parental units finally get around to taking the littlest one down to the beach. What's a kid gotta do around here to put his toesie-woesies in the surf?
Mom and I right before she takes me down to the water's edge.
Here it comes, here it comes...
...Wheeeee, up and over!
I had a ton of fun watching the water come in and go out.
It might have been a little bit scary if I hadn't been right there with Mom and Big Bro the whole time.
Big Bro in a big hole.
Dad played in the waves for a while. He's a kid at heart. (Hey, it takes one to know one!)
On Tuesday, Nanny and Papa had to head back to the mountains. It was so great to get to spend time with them! I can't wait to do it again soon. I LOVE YOU BOTH BUNCHES!
Wednesday, July 9
Wednesday was another beautiful day for the beach. I joined Dad, Big Bro, Mom, and Cousin Page for some sandy fun in the sun, but we didn't take our camera down with us.
Mom did take some pictures of us just hanging around the condo, though:
Dad makes me laugh! How DOES he know all my ticklish spots?!
Remember that old trampoline game, "Break the Egg," where one person balls up tight in the fetal position and everyone else jumps like mad, trying to make the balled-up person "crack" open...Yeah, it was something like that...
Big Bro watched some movies on DVD today.
I went for a little walk with Mom on Wednesday afternoon and we took some pictures of the sand dunes behind the condo.
The sea oats and wild flowers keep the sand dunes in place and help protect the beach from erosion.
I don't know what these sweet little flowers are called, but they grow wild all along the dunes.
Thursday, July 10
Today was rainy and overcast. Here's what I did most of the day:
I mean, there are WORSE places to be than in a soft, padded Pack-n-Play with toys, blankets, and family members constantly leaning in to pinch your cheeks and gooch your ribs.
Everyone else played board games. Mom, Dad, and Big Bro are playing Blokus while Tyler and Ekwon are playing Uno.
Aunt Kim and Big Bro made up some kind of matching game using regular playing cards. (I wonder who's winning?)
Cousin Page finds a quiet spot to read her novel. Wait a minute...I'm in the building...that pretty much guarantees that it's NOT a quiet spot. Hey, I like to make my presence known. So sue me.
Every night, the "big boys" played poker 'til the wee hours of the morn. Sounds like fun. Too bad Dad didn't win me any "milk money."
Friday, July 11
Like every other day this week, Aunt Kim made a phenomenal breakfast for everyone. Before you know it, I'll be puttin' it away, too--just like my Big Bro.
While Big Bro was chowing down, Mom was getting me all suited up for the beach. Swim trunks, tank top, sunscreen. Then Aunt Kim played with me while Mom and Dad got their bathing suits on. I love my Aunt Kim so much! She always makes me laugh.
Dad's ready to go! C'mon, Mom, what's the hold up?!
Hit the beach!!
We rented beach umbrellas today and they were SO nice!
Having more shade freed us up to spend a lot more time down on the beach today. With the sound of the wind and the waves, the comfort of my mom's arms around me, and a full belly, I dozed off for a while...this may have been the best nap I've ever had!
Big Bro played frisbee while I napped.
Big Bro's footprints.
Saturday, July 12
We checked out of the condo at about 10:00am so most of the morning was spent getting stuff packed up and carted down to the cars. What was really, really cool though: We had access to the outdoor shower for the rest of the day. So, Mom packed a bag with clean towels, shampoo, soap, and a change of clothes for all four of us--and we decided to hang out on the beach for a few hours before driving back home.
What a great decision it was, because Saturday turned out to be one of the nicest days--weatherwise--that we'd had all week long! It was gorgeous. Not too hot. Breezy. Sunny. It was awesome!
Checkin' out the sand. (Look closely in the background; you can see Cousin Page, Dad, and Big Bro playing frisbee. I guess because so many people check in/check out of their rental beach houses on Saturdays, we practically had the whole beach to ourselves!)
Getting a little more adventurous.
Well, you're not surprised, are you? OF COURSE I was going to taste it!
Grainy. With notes of salt and coconut suntan oil. And a bit of a fishy finish.
I think it gives me a little bit of a sophisticated "five o'clock shadow" look. You think?
We had the most awesome spot!
And I had the best spot of all...snoozing in Aunt Kim's arms. Aah, what a life!
Meanwhile, on the other end of the beach...
Big Bro was ready to tear it up on his boogie board. With a little help from Dad, Merrit rode in on more than a few waves. He had a BLAST!
Hang Ten, Dude!
Even Andrew got in on the action!
After we cleaned up and changed at the outdoor showers, we climbed into the car for a leisurely departure from town. We weren't in any hurry to leave, really.
Here's the family wagon. Pretty sweet, huh? Mom, Big Bro, and I are just waiting for Dad to finish showering. With the doors open, it's not too hot, so we are just hanging out in our carseats...This is Mom's attempt to keep up from getting all sandy and sweaty again.
We stopped at Long Island Pizza. Here, Big Bro and I wait patiently. Mom and Dad shared what they said was the most amazing pie. Again, none for me. I had pureed green beans. Curses!
Merrit ate noodles. One of his all-time favorites.
Our waitress at the Italian restaurant suggested an unusual place to get dessert. She told us about LunaPops, where you can get a gourmet popscicle. Dad tried "Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie," Mom got "Ginger Lime Chile," and Big Bro chose "Strawberries and Cream." I really, really wanted a bite but Mom said, "No sugar for babies." Aw, c'mon!!
We had fun at the LunaPops store, goofing off and checking out all the unusual flavors. They had really unique combinations, like "Grapefruit Poppyseed," "Cilantro Lime," "Basil," and "Brown Sugar Mojito."
Well, that about wraps up this Topsail Beach travelogue. Hope you've enjoyed it.
Until next time,
Oliver William
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