Alrighty, get ready. It's going to be a LONG post. I figured that since so much went on, I'll break it down for you.
Flying
Our flight into Baltimore left around 8 a.m. out of Hobby. Southwest was the only reasonable airline for our trip, seeing as we were checking two car seats, one stroller, and two big bags - and on Southwest our bags all flew for free. Traveling with two little ones can be done, it's just all about organization. We packed all the essentials: formula, diapers, toys, snacks, pacifiers and even a few surprise toys for the plane. We managed to get checked in and get to our gate with plenty of time for some breakfast. Little Jimmy is not one to know strangers, so he ate his pancakes quickly and then walked up and down the terminal talking to his new friends. As we boarded the plane, Jackson fell asleep and stayed that way most of the ride there. Jimmy, on the other hand, wanted to play and talk the whole time. The only meltdown we had was when Jimmy reached the point where he was so tired all he could do was whine. I put him on my lap and quietly sang into his ear and stroked his arms and he fell into a deep slumber. He slept so hard not even the rough landing woke him up! The flight home was much of the same, except instead of leaving early in the morning we left late at night. By the time we pulled into our driveway the boys were desperate for their own cribs.
I have to give a huge shout out to the wonderful staff at Southwest Airlines. Not only did they make traveling a breeze for us, they were incredibly patient and kind on both flights. They filled bottles, sippy cups, rinsed dropped toys and played peek-a-boo. They also had our stroller waiting for us upon arrival. It was fantastic service! And I also want to thank all of the patient, kind people who sat around us. We had so much help from complete strangers it restored my faith that there are indeed selfless people out there. God blessed us immensely on those flights!
The Beach
The beach is one of my favorite places to visit. We were blessed to have a condo right on the beach so the sound of the waves lapping the sand soothed us all to sleep every night. The boys were able to watch the people play in the ocean from our room and frequently we found little Jimmy, face glued to the sliding door, watching the waves crash. When he was ready to head down, he would look at us and ask for his "ocean lotion" (sunscreen). We would happily oblige and prepare him for a day on the sand.
Although little Jimmy had visited the beach before, he was only Jackson's age. We were unsure of how he would like the feel of the sand and how he would take to the chill of the Atlantic. It took some getting used to, but once he found his groove there was no stopping him. He would plant his bottom in the shoreline and let the ocean water rush over him while he dug holes. He also loved when everyone built him big sandcastles. Every day he seemed to get more and more brave, slowly creeping down further into the ocean and even trying to wander off to play with other kids. He refused a hat so we were forced to lather him incessantly with sunscreen, a task that proved worth doing as he received no sunburns.
Jackson spent his days on the beach nestled in his tent. The cool breezes and soothing sounds lulled him to sleep. When he was awake, we would take him for brief periods down to the water or let him sit in the sand underneath the umbrella. He loved the feel of the sand on his toes and often wiggled them in deeper.
Jimmy and I had our fair share of sunbathing and relaxing on the beach. Our entire group, 12 in all, had the perfect set up of chairs and umbrellas, mixed in with an amazing view. We would bring coolers, snacks and music. It was nice to enjoy a little time in the sun. Jimmy body surfed for most of the day with the rest of the gang, but I found the chill of the Atlantic to be not as inviting.
Dining
When you go to Maryland, you can expect to dine on some of the freshest seafood around. One night we had crabs - complete with mallets and lots of dirty fingers. Jimmy loved hitting the mallet on the table and filled his belly that night with fresh crabmeat and sweet corn that only the northerners can provide.
Some nights were spent dining in at the condo on delicious Italian food or greasy New York style pizza. The whole gang went out for dinner at Harborside, one of Jimmy and my favorite places in THE WORLD to dine. The Ahi Tuna and crab cakes they serve are out of this world. I could tell you all about how the meat is so fresh it falls apart the minute your fork touches it, but that would only make you jealous and me really, really hungry. :)
Little Jimmy also had his fair share of fine, diverse dining experiences. He tried lots of different kinds of seafood and often ate so much we all wondered how his belly could fit it. Mix a full belly and fresh sea air and you have a 16 month old who would sleep for HOURS.
"Button"
Little Jimmy's vocabulary grew even more during the eight days we were away from home. He added new names, places, verbs and concepts. His favorite word, hands down, was "button." Whether he was talking about his belly button, your belly button, the buttons on the remote control or the buttons that operate the elevator, he was constantly saying "button." We would pull into the parking lot and the moment he realized we were back to the condo he started screaming, "Button! Button! Button!" knowing he would soon be pressing a button with an arrow on it that would take us to our temporary home.
Family Time
Our trip met all of our expectations and even exceeded many of them. Oftentimes, traveling with extended family and two little ones can wind up being stressful and overwhelming. Ours was the exact opposite. The boys would nap for 3-4 hours during the middle of the day after exhaustion from playing at the beach set in. During this time, I caught up on reading and even napped myself. I had planned to work some of the time, but God smiled on me and we ended up in a condo with no wifi. I called into work a few times to take care of major projects but for the most part I was able to step back completely and relax.
We also got to spend some quality time with Jim before his departure for Singapore. The boys would sit in his lap and Jimmy would explore the beach with him. We had many laughs and shared many memories. It will be a hard year for the boys to be away from a grandpa they love so much. One evening a storm rolled in off the bay and as the rain pelted the windows, we gathered around for games. Little Jimmy sat at the table like such a big boy. I was so proud of how polite he was (he said please and thank you all week!) and how well-tempered he was, despite being pushed past his limits some days.
Just when I thought I couldn't love my kids and husband anymore, we share a fantastic vacation together. I have never been more proud to be the Mommy to such well behaved kids who are adored and loved by so many. We are thankful for the opportunity to travel to places like Ocean City and we look forward to visiting again in the future.
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