September 15

Florida Day 4
(read about our trip from the beginning here)

Daisy's new word for the day? "Outside". I was shocked and delighted today when we were visiting Aunt Gladys and Daisy scooted toward the balcony doors, saying, "Ah-dide! Ah-dide!" I love it! It's especially funny, because I remember when Caleb first said "outside". He said "Ah-shy", though, and said it three months earlier than Daisy did.

Eventually we made it outside and into the swimming pool.

As much as Caleb loves to swim, he spent the whole time sitting on the pool steps. Daisy was the more adventurous of the two.

She soaked up the one-on-one time with Daddy!

An added bonus was that the pool was a heated saltwater pool, rather than chlorine. That meant we could open our eyes underwater, no chlorine stink, no chemical concerns.

In the evening, Aunt Gladys suggested Chris and I take the kids to a nearby Italian restaurant. No, she still wasn't willing to risk going with us. Once again, though, Caleb and Daisy charmed everyone around us and earned compliments from the people at the table next to us.

Afterwards, we grabbed a pint of ice cream and headed to the beach. (We learned later that we chose a beach notorious for its illicit homosexual activity, but thankfully we witnessed no clandestine rendezvous. Just a pair of colorful blue parrots.)

Caleb was so concerned by our proximity to the ocean that he could hardly enjoy his ice cream.

We didn't plan dessert very well, and ended up using forks to eat the ice cream because we couldn't find spoons.

No one seemed to mind.

We also picked up a shovel and pail for each of the kids, under the premise that if Caleb had something to do on the beach, he would be less focused (and terrified) of the ocean. It worked for the most part.

Daisy was covered in chocolate, then sand. It was a mess, but I can't think of a happier mess!

Chris waded into the water, and Caleb looked up from his digging to shout, "Don't go in too far, Daddy!"

But this sand baby wasn't concerned about anything.

Woo, boy. My husbando is hot! He rocks that pink polo!

Chris fetched wet sand to help Daisy build her first sand castle.

This was as close as Caleb would get to the water, and even this made him nervous.

But Daisy was so happy to walk along the surf!

Oh, my. Can we talk about what a lucky mama I am?

Once we had dunes safely between us and the ocean, Caleb relaxed and was able to enjoy a little playground.

Even Daisy got in on the bouncing fun!

Read about Day 5 here.