Katie the Beach Bum

Our family returned from the beach yesterday after spending four days enjoying family time before John started his new job today. (Side note: Hooray!!! We're so excited that his commute is now only 10 minutes instead of an hour plus! He was home by 4:45 pm today and had a great first day.)

Katie had been to the beach before, but more as a passive observer than as an active explorer. She first visited the Boardwalk at 11 days old, but never woke up (not that she was very alert at that point anyway) or got out of her stroller:

When she was 2 1/2 months old, our family spent a week at the beach, and Katie finally made it off the Boardwalk. She still slept most of the time, but did wake up to enjoy the breeze and sound of the waves:

In November, at 5 1/2 months, we travelled to Sarasota, FL, where Katie again slept away most of her time at the beach.

Last Thursday, at 10 1/2 months, we decided Katie was old enough to roam the beach a bit. My mom had warned me that most babies don't like sand at first, but Katie had no problem with it, as you'll see.

First we put Katie in a bathing suit for the first time and lathered her with sunblock:Then off to the beach we went. I had a few toys for her to play with on the blanket, and she enjoyed that for awhile.

Next she tried to eat sand. Not a surprise, since she tries to eat everything else she finds on the ground. But sand apparently is not as tasty as dirt, dog hair, or leaves. She didn't try it again (at least for awhile).In fact, sand became a fun toy for Katie!

Then Daddy showed her the ocean.
Here's a fun minute-long video of Katie enjoying herself on the beach:

Friday was another beautiful day, so we returned to the beach. Katie enjoyed the Clementine I had brought along for a snack, though her desperation to eat it was soon apparent.

It got a bit chilly as the afternoon progressed, so Katie and I bundled up in Daddy's fleece together.