We just took our first long distance trip with Miss Charis and let me tell you what an adventure it was. Brad’s parents invited us to the beach with them this past week and it was so wonderful and such a blessing to Brad and I. This trip held many firsts for Charis as it was her first trip out of the state, first trip to the beach and the first car ride over an hour long. The way there was a little rough.
We headed out of town early in the morning waking Charis thinking that she would go back to sleep in the car…not so much. She was not so pleasant to be crammed in a car with. Every time we crossed a state line Brad and I would make a big happy deal about it and Charis was just so cranky and sleepy that she would scream even louder. There was some humor to this for us…somewhere. When we finally arrived Charis walked around for a bit just so happy to be out of the car. The blessing was though that she went right down for a nap that afternoon since she chose to only sleep for 10 minutes out of a 8 hour car ride (with stops included) plus she cried so much that even Brad and I were beat.
We were nervous as to whether or not Charis would like the sand. She does have some grass issues so it was pretty up in the air. She refused to put her feet down in the sand for a bit but then she warmed up to the idea with some encouragement, buckets and shovels. DaDa, Gpa and Uncle Matt made some quick sand castles for Charis to knock over and she was soon a beach baby. The first trip to the beach she loved the ocean. She would run, crawl and walk to the ocean just anything to get there. She loved standing in the wavesand kept trying to walk out farther. This only lasted for the first day but we were still thankful that she loved the sand. She greatly enjoyed the pool as always. She is quite the water baby!
Charis did warm up to her Uncle Matt and Auntie Becca and of course she ate up her time with Gpa and Gma. We missed having Uncle Matt and Auntie Ariana with us though.
It was a wonderful trip but Brad and I learned that when you take a little one along on a vacation it is just not so much of a vacation for the DaDa and MaMa. Gpa and Gma were wonderful to watch Charis and help out with her but there is just something about knowing that your little one is there. We cannot explain it but it is different. We loved our time with the family though and we look forward to many more grand adventures with them! Brad and I will just plan on making little weekend DaDa and MaMa getaways to enjoy the total vacation.
The trip home was much better than the trip over. Charis was a trooper and fairly happy. She is still working on getting back to the normal routine and catching up on her sleep. It was so much fun to see her enjoy the beach and her time with her family. Thanks again Gpa and Gma for a wonderful trip!