Thought about our vacation....

Well, our first "official" family beach vacation was a learning experience, my dear Emma. It was the first time that your Dad and i have traveled that far of a distance with you and much, much was learned, lol. It was also our first time in a mini-van as a family. Your Daddy felt the need to rent one so we "could take ALL of our stuff". I truly didn't think that i would be able to or need to pack a mini-van full for two adults and one child, but i did it! I was prepared for every possible emergency: Too much poopy? I was ready with tons of diapers and wipes! Too much sun? Not possible as no one was let out of my site without first being bathed in SPF 50. Spilled food on clothes? It's okay, i packed enough clothes for 10 years instead of 10 days! Hungry? It's okay, i have a TON of snacks for all of us! Yeah, as you grow up you'll learn that your Mommy has issues about not being prepared. Huge issues, in fact, that will more than likely drive you and your Dad insane at times. :)

We left on a Thursday morning at 5am on our eleven hour drive to Amelia Island. You napped a lot of the way in the morning but i could tell that you were not comfortable sleeping that length of time in your car seat. You are the type of sleeper who loves to stretch out and you just can't do that in a car seat! The drive down wasn't too bad although at a rest stop, well, i was changed forever. We stopped to stretch our legs and do the potty thing...as i picked you up to get you back into the mini-van and to stop you from running out towards the street, you were not happy. In fact, you head butted me and your head landed on my mouth where my lip broke a little and then hit me in the face with your little arm. And i popped you on the leg. I was aghast after i did it. In fact, i was in tears. I didn't think before i did it, Emma. You, of course, screamed like i had beat you with a bat. I was upset with myself because, really, did you mean to do those things? Of course not. And i acted instead of stopping to think. You were upset about going back into the car and a little cranky due to waking up so early and of course, i was stressed about the whole driving to FL thing and thinking you were going to run into the street. Be that as it may, it was still no excuse for me to pop your leg. You and i then walked over to the bathrooms again and you calmed down after a diaper change and was back to your chatty self within 2 minutes but i was forever changed. I understand that sometimes, you have to get a child's attention~especially if there is danger involved like running out in front of a car. But, even now, i can't see any reason or nor can i excuse my popping your leg. You didn't even have a red spot on your leg, but i felt my heart tear....your Dad tried to tell me that it was okay and that i didn't scare you forever and that i needed to get your attention. He may be right, in fact i'm sure he is now, but i still wish that i could take that moment back. The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful, though....you watched dvd's on our new handy, dandy portable dvd player and munched on bagels with me. You also kissed me all by yourself for the very first time without me begging you....it was a huge, unexpected moment for me and i felt forgiven for my earlier actions.



Yep, that is you and the famous Mr. Cupcake, sleeping on the floor. Funny how you liked the floor better than the pack and play, eh? After about 5 days, you finally settled down enough to sleep better...but wow, it was a rough few nights for you and for us as we hated that you weren't sleeping as well as you usually do. Lack of sleep makes a cranky baby, lol....but it didn't keep you away from one of your favorite activities: chasing me around the table. You love to be chased and to chase me! It is so much fun to watch you run around the table as i chased you, Emma. You are so joyous when you run, so full of laughter when you think that we are going to catch you. We also used this activity to tire you out....and would chase you as long as you would run. Which actually was a lot of chasing as you don't tire too easily and running is a favorite activity of yours!

I do think that we've come to the conclusion that you may have been just a little too young to fully enjoy the beach and the pool. You are now 16 months old which is just old enough to do certain things, but not old enough to fully understand what is going on. I do think that our next vacation will be something along the Disney Cruise trip instead of a beach and i think that my planned vacation for you to meet my family in Spain may have to wait till you are around five or so. While your Dad and i love to travel, we do want you to enjoy it, too. But i am glad that we were able to see that you loved water and that you have no fear which put fear into me! You have to be the most fearless child i've ever seen, Emma. I wonder and hope that you will always be this fearless in life but that you will learn caution in doses. It's great to be fearless, but sometimes caution is a good thing, too. Yeah, can you tell i'm the Mommy?

We did leave early as there was a mix up by Amelia Island Plantation about our reservation. And the fact that well, we were ready to come home. I missed home. I missed having everything i needed and i think that you missed home, too. We drove home this time at night, thinking that it would be easier on you. It wasn't as you couldn't get comfortable in your car seat and would sleep a bit and then wake up. You were restless and i don't blame you. It's so hard to be in a mini-van for eleven hours no matter how nice it is. I was SO very happy to be home. We left FL at 7pm and we were home around 5am. You had finally fallen into a deep sleep so i took you and Mr. Cupcake and put you in your crib. I almost had to laugh at watching you spread out in your crib, stretching your little legs and hugging Mr. Cupcake at the same time. It was almost as if you were saying "ahhh, so good to be home!"....

....and i had to agree.