beach blanket baby

Grace really enjoyed the beach this year.  Both in the Outer Banks in June and this past week at Bethany Beach, DE.  This is a HUGE, major change from last year.  In the past, Grace has hated any form of water.  For over 3 years she screamed every time she took a bath for the entire length of her bath.  good times.  Last year Grace cried every time we took her down to the beach and pretty much cried every time she was in or near the pool.  It was not fun.  This year she did not seem as afraid of the ocean.  I think the sound and size of it was overwhelming for her little brain.

Even though she did not cry, Grace was not particularly interested in going in the water.  We would walk her down to the waters edge and she would pull away and avoid getting her feet wet.  This time was no different.  Due to how crowded the beaches are in this area, I brought my chair down to where the boys were playing in the sand and water.  After trying to get Grace into the water without success, I put her in my chair.  She sat there for a little while and then got up on her own and walked down to where Emily, John and Luke were playing in the surf.

And just like that, my little beach blanket baby became a water baby.  I could not believe it when she walked with Emily into the surf.  I had tears in my eyes.  This little girl just keeps on amazing me.

It was so fun to see her reaction to the water and the pull of the waves on her legs.  She wasn't quite sure what to do when the water began to recede.  I'm sure the sensation of the pull on her legs and the waters attempt to bury her feet was strange and probably scary.  However, she stayed in the surf for a little while and then walked over to me, put up her hands to be picked up and snuggled into my arms.


My sweet, brave, special little girl went in the ocean...