Emerald Isle (part 1)

After we got back from California, we spent a week at home working, doing laundry, and repacking to head to North Carolina for a week with Chris' family at the beach. It was a slightly more relaxing trip because we drove and therefore were able to pack less efficiently and more comprehensively. Eleanor also had more consistency in going to bed (mostly) on time and getting most of her naps in, which made her a happier person all week. In addition, we did the same thing every day (go out to the beach), so life was a bit more predictable for her. We were especially looking forward to this vacation this year because when the family went last year, I was 39 weeks pregnant and we didn't end up going because we were worried about me going into labor (which I ended up doing 4 days later). The last time we went to Emerald Isle, NC was in 2012 and our family has grown since then with the addition of Eleanor, a brother-in-law, and a soon to be sister-in-law.

Eleanor loved the beach. We had heard from other moms of babies that sometimes babies are hesitant of the sand and water, etc. But she seemed to love it right from the get go, so that made the week a lot more fun for all of us.

Again, since there are too many pictures to upload at once, I'll split this into two posts...because who wouldn't want to see a lot of this?

The family before one sister and brother-in-law arrived:

The first day we were there, Ashleigh and I jumped into the ocean after a family walk along the beach because I hadn't actually gotten in that day yet. I have a rule about getting in the ocean every day I'm there (since you usually have to shower anyway).

Most of our time was spent down at the beach playing in the surf, the sand, and with sand toys:

It was a week-long battle with sand. Everywhere. It was on Eleanor, in her mouth, in our bed, in my hair. I didn't get clean until we got home.

Eleanor's favorite activity was walking with her walker down on the packed sand. She flew all over the beach with that thing and then would just shout when she got stuck (either in the soft sand or the waves carrying away her walker).

We also took lots of outdoor showers, enjoying the afternoon breeze to clean off.

That was what the majority of our week looked like...more pictures soon!