Beach day

Growing up in the midwest, beach vacations were a special treat. Especially in our family because most of our vacations were spent at Maidstone,
we didn't go to the beach all that often. Now anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm a happy, happy girl whenever water is near. Lakes, beaches, whatever. So the best moment of any beach vacation was the first moment I stepped onto the beach, feet sinking into the sand and the salty, ocean breeze blowing in your face...seriously, this is bliss!! This was always closely followed by the first time you stood in the sand and let a wave roll up the beach and over your feet, then as the wave rolls back out taking the sand with it and sinking your feet into the wet sand. These moments never get old, but what I never considered until today is the FIRST time you have these particular moments. The sights, smells and sounds must be a little overwhelming. So, I took the nugget down to the beach today, and while I'm sure he has been on a beach before, he just started walking during the winter, so he has never walked himself onto a beach. The whole experience was comical, first he wiggled his little feet a little in the dry sand on the top part of the beach, then as we walked closer to the water we hit the wet sand and it started all over again. He felt the sensations, considered the positive and negative, and decided this was awesome and then we moved on. Then I totally blew his mind by pulling the shovels out of the bucket and starting to play in the wet sand. He was tentative at first, then as you can tell by the picture, he totally committed to play time on the beach. I will have to say though, that the best part was when we actually walked to water's edge to clean up a little before heading home. It took a little convincing to get him close enough to let the water touch his feet, but once we did and the first wave rolled up on his feet it, literally, took him out at the ankles. It was like he was so shocked by the sensation he didn't know what to do, so he just fell backwards with the natural flow of the water looking completely awed by what was happening. It took a couple waves, but once he got the hang of it, the nugget officially fell in love with the water. I anticipate a fun summer with much beach time, but am slightly concerned his love might cause me some stress as he heads for the water like a bull to the cape time after time. But really, who could blame him?