We had our first beach trip with baby this year. We took our yearly trip to the Outer Banks and I had such high hopes for Bonnie's enjoyment. Unfortunately she's still a bit young to really have a good time. I bought a baby float with shade so that she could spend some time in the pool (the shade was important since she's still too young for sunblock). The first day we all got into the pool (Johnathan, Bonnie, my brother, his wife and three kids 1,5,7 and my 9 yo sister-in-law), and thank goodness it didn't seem too cold. We blew up the float and put B in it. She was fine, didn't cry and lounged about. But she didn't seem to care either way and actually looked kind of bored. I think the fact that it was nap time and she had fallen asleep by the pool before I rudely woke her up to put her in might have had something to do with the lack of excitement. That was really her last time in the pool the whole week, other than one time her Grammy (I think we're trying that out now) tried to get in and apparently she shrieked because it was too cold. Pool time = fail
There's always the beach, right!? When we finally made it out there it was bright and sunny and WINDY. I bought a beach shelter to protect her (and me) from the sun. But it was so windy that it wouldn't stay straight so you couldn't see anything while in it. At one point I laid B down on a towel so I could get out and do something and when I got back in her little head was covered in sand, eyes too. She didn't seem to care, but I did! So I transferred to a chair under an umbrella but it was just so windy and slightly chilly and the sun just wouldn't sit still, I kept losing my shade. I eventually took B into the front seat of the Tahoe we had on the beach, fed her, and napped with her while everyone else stayed out and played. I will say she did get to see the ocean and I did stick her little feet in, so there is that. Beach time = fail
Now before you get all downhearted about my beach trip busts know that it wasn't all bad, just certain first time mom expectations were broken. The good things about the trip were many. Good food, good family, good times. And it seems like Bonnie grew up even more on the trip. She finally mastered rolling over on her own, and has been a rolling machine ever since. There was a hint that she was going to do it because while packing for the trip I had her in her pad on the bed and when I came back into the room she was on her tummy in our bed, but I think that was an easy roll. The true test was floor rolling. On one level it's awesome to see her develop and master something but it's a pain to keep her entertained now. She quickly gets tired of being on her tummy but when you roll her onto her back she rolls right back over again. And due to this new skill she has turned into a bit of a side sleeper, just like her mommy. But sometimes she rolls onto her tummy in her sleep and it wakes her up. We may need to get a sleep positioner of some sort, we'll see how that pans out.
Bonnie with Uncle J
Before learning to roll over
Hey, I've rolled over!
Rolling over is so tiring, Imma gonna lounge like Daddy
She's also chattering a lot more now and making mouth bubbles and squealing (sometimes in joy, sometimes in frustration). I've learned to prepare myself with a paci when I'm feeding her a sleepy bottle, because if the bottle finishes before she wants it to, there is audio hell to pay. So I try to quickly swap the bottle for a paci so she doesn't notice much. Oh and she's also learned new ways to pacify herself, like sticking her foot/big toe in her mouth. Gosh babies are so bendy!
One really positive thing from this trip is I learned her new schedule really well. It was one way when we were on leave together, but ever since she's started going to her Grammy's house during the week I've been floundering on the weekends trying to figure out her schedule. I've got it now, and that will make things a lot smoother going forward. She still naps best while laying on someone and that's probably not convenient but it does allow for some down time, and I'll take it! Bonnie and I shared quite a few 3 hour naps at the beach.
Our car was so loaded up with stuff that there was no room in the backseat beside her. On the way back home, near her bedtime she got really bored and fussy. I spent a lot of time turned around in my seat on my knees trying to distract her (uncomfortable was the word of the day). We had to stop several times to take her out and console her. It was so upsetting to see her red puffy face when we pulled her out. Sometimes I wish it was safe to hold babies in the car. When we still had 2.5 hours to go and she was sobbing we considered just pulling over and getting a hotel, but she finally fell asleep for the night, thank God! We learned two valuable lessons from that: 1) Don't go anywhere without Jacque the Peacock by her side and 2) Never pack so much that there isn't room to sit beside her.
Here is a video of happier car times:
She seems hungry all the time now, so we've decided to try rice cereal with her. The first attempt was last night, and I'm pretty sure she didn't swallow any of it. Not really sure how this is supposed to help with hunger :), but we'll keep trying.
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