Beauty and the Beach

Yesterday afternoon, Mom, Dad and I returned home after our Labor Day weekend trip to the Washington Coast – Copalis Beach, to be specific. It’s the same spot that Mom has been spending Labor Day with her family since she was about my age, so it’s obviously a special place for her.

Not surprisingly, she also wants it to be a special place for me. And after just one trip (unless you count this photo from last Labor Day), I think it’s a safe bet that it will be. To say I got a little excited by playing on the beach and seeing the Pacific Ocean is the understatement of the year.

Throw in some model rocket launches, catapulting objects from a homemade trebuchet created by my Grandpa, swimming in the pool, horseshoes, beach volleyball games, some killer bagpipe music and leisurely walks (that is, leisurely for me in the comfort of a backpack) on the beach, and you’ve got yourself a memorable family weekend.

Dad documented the events of the weekend with his camera, and he graciously allowed me to share some of them with you here. Enjoy!

With Mom leading the way on Friday afternoon, I glimpse the beach and the Pacific for the first time.

Effortlessly destroying a sandcastle as, for the first time, I feel big.

My Uncle P.J., cousin Jackson, Auntie Sarah and cousin Brooklyn.

"Hi Mom!"

After a hard hour of playing on the beach, I've earned these green beans.

It's 7 a.m. Saturday morning, and we're ready for a walk on the beach!

Nice and bundled up with Mom.

It's Saturday afternoon, and I'm busy eating sand and watching rocket launches. All in a day's work.

"Whaddaya mean I can't go out there by myself?"

As I tried to sit on the beach, I lost my balance and toppled over.
Dad had a choice of catching me or snapping a photo. Guess which one he chose.

Uncle P.J. shows off his excellent firefighting skills by carrying me to get a closer view of the ocean.

Then he helped me try to walk.

And that night, he played his bagpipes on the shore of the creek that cuts through the beach. Is there anything he can't do?

Mom and Dad had to bring out the big guns to keep me warm while we watched him play.

Sunday afternoon: More beach time!

Uncle Ben prepares to launch a tennis ball from the trebuchet.

The rest of the group eagerly awaits the next launch.

We also launched partially filled water balloons.
Here, my cousin Brooklyn tests one to make sure it's heavy enough to fire.

Meanwhile, I tried to eat everything I found on the beach, including this tennis ball.

Exploring the beach.

More exploring.

Watching the action from a safe distance.

"Get that camera out of my face!"

Family picture.

It's Monday morning and I'm again up early, so we go for a walk in my stroller.
From the look on my face, walks are serious business.

Enjoying Grandpa's favorite bench.

Cheese!

Apparently I'm going the wrong way.

Lucky Number 7

Gross.

Seven years ago today, my mom and dad got married. A fairly inconsequential day in American history, you're thinking. And you'd be right. But I can't ignore the fact that, if that day never happened, I wouldn't be here today. (Well, I still could be. But not without all four of my grandparents being more than a bit upset with my parents.)

So happy anniversary, Mom and Dad. And don't worry – I hear that whole "Seven-Year Itch" thing is just an urban legend.

Geez, again? Get a room!

On the move

Well, it appears that all my training for the Olympics has paid off. I'm now officially a crawler.

Over the last month or so, I’ve been working my butt off, trying to master the art of crawling, and I’m now proud to say that I’ve done it. Need proof?



Check out the speed! The power! The agility! The pajamas that Dad left me in all day!

Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that developments like this one often result in a mixed bag of consequences. As such, there are a few pros and cons related to my newfound mobility. Here's a quick rundown:

Pro: Because crawling takes so much effort, I tire myself out more easily, which means I'm sleeping better at night. [Editor's note: This is a HUGE pro.]

Con: Every electrical outlet and cord in the house is now within reach, so Mom and Dad can't put off baby-proofing anymore.

Pro: Freedom! Never again will I be limited to playing with whichever toy just happens to be placed directly in front of me. If I don't like what I have, I can hit the open road and find another toy to play with.

Con: Mom and Dad can no longer sit me on the bed when they're getting ready in the morning, since I'd just crawl right off the edge. (In related news, babies are awful at understanding their surroundings.) So I'm stuck sitting in the pack-and-play with just a couple of toys to keep me sane. I'm like Steve McQueen in "The Great Escape."

Con: If it's a stray crumb, scrap of paper, piece of dirt, or any other item on the floor and within eyesight, I'm tracking it down and it's going in my mouth.

Pro: We don't have any stairs, so there's no need for one of those baby gates that Dad would inevitably fall over.

Con: I'm getting cuts, floor burns and rug burns all over my hands, knees and feet.

Pro: This toughens me up. Or so Dad says.

Pro/Con: I've found that, the less I'm wearing, the easier it is to crawl. But that means less protection for my hands, knees and feet (see above con). So Mom and Dad's go-to outfit for when I'm at home is just a onesie and leggings. I have this listed as both a pro and a con because, although the extra protection helps, the outfit as a whole makes me look ridiculous (admittedly, the sunglasses don't help).

Citius, Altius, Fortius, Poopius

I’ve made it through week one of my first Olympic Games viewing experience, and I must say, it's pretty compelling. The pageantry, the drama, the raw physical ability – it’s like watching “Toddlers & Tiaras,” only with more crying.

And with all the praise and adulation that these athletes get heaped upon them, it’s hard not to want to be in their shoes. But I realized that if I want to be up on that medal podium some day, I’d better get to work. I’ve seen enough of those gushy human-interest pieces on NBC to know that the key to Olympic glory is starting your training at a young age (I hear those Chinese gymnasts are given stretching exercises in the womb).

Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered that, unbeknownst to me, I’ve already begun my training regimen. If the following photos are any indication, I’m well on my way to stardom in any number of Olympic events. In fact, it seems like the hardest task will be narrowing my considerable skills down to just one sport.

100m Dash

Basketball

Beach Volleyball

Equestrian

Fencing

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Swimming (the backstroke is my specialty)

Water Polo

Wrestling

I’m even well-prepared for the Opening Ceremonies and the medal ceremonies:

I’ll see you on the podium at the 2032 Games.