OBX 2008

Owen's footprint in the sand

We just got back from spending a week in the Outerbanks! This year was probably the best so far! It's so hard to come home and get back to reality. Every year we go down and every year since Owen has been born, we have had a different experience with him. When Owen was 16 months old, he was fearless. He crawled as fast as he could to the ocean, we literally were running after him to stop him and for what ever reason, he loved eating the sand! The following year Owen was 2 and wouldn't even touch the sand with his toes! He screamed and hollered to get off the beach and the pool wasn't any better for him. However, by the end of that week, he finally got comfortable enough at the pool to play on the steps.

This year has been a completely new and exciting experience for little Owen. He loved jumping off the side of the pool into whoever would react fast enough to catch him. He played motor boat with his dad & uncle. And we even got him to practice doggy paddling (with a lifevest on). Almost everyday, I had to bribe him just to get out of the pool. And he loved the beach just as much as the pool. Everyday, he begged us to take him to the beach to build sand castles and play in the water. The only problem with that was we were on the sound side and the beach was a long enough distance away that I refused to walk to it being 7 months pregnant and feeling like a giant whale. So we would drive and I have never hated sand as much as I do NOW! I didn't know how hard sand is to get out of a car. I now have a clear understanding why my husband would rather pay someone to try to get it out instead of attempt it himself. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE! At least it was with the vaccum I used.

All fussiness aside, we have made some beautiful memories for our family and I can't wait to go back next year and do it again. Here are a bunch of pictures of our trip. Enjoy!