Beach Baby

It's time for summer vacation. Charles and I visited my Grandma Wall in Oregon. We drove to Oklahoma City to fly out with Uncle Brian and Aunt Heather. The flights were uneventful and there was little turbulence. Charles decided it was time to dirty a diaper the minute we boarded the plane in Oklahoma City.

We spent a few days in Dallas. The Body Worlds 3 exhibit was at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry www.omsi.org). Everyone raves about it and with Brian & Heather working in the medical field it was a must-see. A European scientist discovered a way to preserve bodies through a technique called plastinization. You MUST check out this link, the bodies are amazing http://www.omsi.edu/visit/featured/bodyworlds/index.cfm. We hit the outlet mall on the way home and enjoyed dinner with our cousins and their families.

The next morning we packed up the rented mini van (now I really want a van) and headed for the beach. The first two days were rainy so we did indoor activities--outlet mall shopping and eating out. We found a few bargains and of course Christy and I ended up buying two pairs of capris each--we'll have two pairs of matching pants.

Charles wasn't too sure about the sand. He liked feeling the texture between his fingers. He also liked trying all the new foods--clam chowder, crab cakes, Tillamook ice cream... He's been awake in the night several nights in a row. Last night he was up more than he slept. He's definitely teething, but he also has been eating different foods and drinking different water. I think his system is off. I don't think his tummy is used to all this new, rich food.

We had our first dip in the pool. At first he wasn't sure and then he decided he did NOT like the water. We tried again the next night and Charles was a little less upset. The third time is the charm, he was actually laughing in the water. Christy and I got him to kick his legs and he even did it on his own.

Charles and I are ready to be home, see Daddy, sleep in our own beds, and return to our "normal" schedule. Our normal schedule, including bed times and nap times, is flexible but the routine is consistent. That doesn't work on vacation. We can't let Charles cry himself to sleep when we're in a hotel and surrounded with rooms full of people trying to sleep.

The weather has been beautiful. Grandpa, Uncle Brian, and Aunt Christy went salmon fishing and came home with two fish. The man cleaning Brian's fish said it was the biggest he had seen all season. The water was calm, but Christy still lost a battle with sea sickness!!! One day we even saw a whale just off the rocks in Depoe Bay. It jumped out of the water head first.

We had a bond fire and it was even warm enough to be on the beach without a sweatshirt. We grilled hot dogs (and argued which is better-- Hebrew Nationals or Nathan's) over a bond fire. Charles and I headed to bed but the rest of the group sat around for quite a while. Just as they were going to put out the fire, a group came and asked if they could have it. They had been watching us from the restaurant that overlooks the ocean. We decided our hot dogs were better than their expensive meal.