Surf, Sand, and Sun

Our first beach trip of the 2009 season

Payton has been to the beach many times.  We have been for many walks on the beach and we spent a week at Ocean Isle last year.  Today was so special because it was our chance to see how Payton would react to the sand and the water.  Payton slept very late this morning, had breakfast and spent some time playing on our porch with his bubble machine.  It was a beautiful day here.  Perfect weather and low 80's so we decided to skip his morning nap-time and head out the beach.  We didn't pack too heavy because we had no idea how he would react.  Honestly, I expected it to be a short trip.  For example, Chad and I get very excited about taking Payton on certain adventures but once we get there we are more excited than Payton.  The playground for example - we load Payton in the wagon, walk to the playground, put him in the swing, he laughs and smiles, he slides on the slide, and within about 10 minutes he is ready to get back in his wagon and ride!  I assumed the beach would be the same situation.  I assumed that he would not like the texture of the sand and that the water would be too cold for him.  Well, my assumptions were all wrong!  

As soon as we put him down on the sand he was ready to go.  Within a few seconds he was starting to walk around and he wanted to play with the sand toys we had in his little beach wagon.  He stood close to Chad for a few minutes but soon he was sitting down playing with his shovel in the sand.

On Sullivan's Island, the water is pretty far away from the section of the beach where people set up their chairs, umbrellas, bocci ball games, etc.  Payton did not see the water.  He got mad when we tried to get him to walk to the water.  Eventually, we got him started.  Once he found the water, it took him a few minutes to adjust but he quickly learned to love the ocean!

He didn't know what to do as his feet started sinking.  He did loose his balance a time or two and fall forward or backward.  The first few times he fell down he did not like the water.  He got splashed in the face and most likely didn't like the salty taste.

After a few more falls, he decided to stay put.  He played in the water for 45 minutes.  He had a shovel and this water pail.  He would put the shovel in and out of the pail; he would fill the pail up with water and dump it out.  I found him 3 shells.  He would put the shells in the bucket and take them back out.  Occasionally, he would lay his shovel down.  It was funny to watch it float away.  After a few seconds, he would start to pick it back up and it had floated away.  He had to crawl in shallow water to get the shovel.  Just as he would reach for it, it would float a little further away.  Eventually he got in his little hands! 

He would play in one spot for so long that we would have to move him into deeper water.  The tide was going out while we were there.

The longer we played, the more comfortable he was in the water.  He just continued to play and play and play.  He would get sand on his shovel or his hand and study it for long periods.  His shorts, shirt, and diaper were soaked by the time we were finished.  

I commented on how impressed I was with his independent play.  He was perfectly content playing alone in the water.  Chad and I stood and watched his every move the entire time.  I was having a blast snapping pictures!  It was just so amazing to watch the entire experience unfold from his perspective.  I love to watch his little brain work and see what he is going to do from one situation to the next.  He truly amazed me at the beach today.  In the beginning, I was concerned he wouldn't like the chilly, salty water.  In the end, his toes were wrinkled from being soaked and we had to pick him up and carry him back to the beach.

Once we were back on dry land, he had just as much fun pushing (rather than pulling) his little beach wagon around.  He walked all over!  Two older children came over and asked to play with Payton.  At first, it was fun to watch him with them.  He loves playing with Calyn and Carson so I knew he would like being around these older children.  He led them around the beach, told them about the birds, and laughed with them.  Unfortunately, they started fighting, yelling, and using Payton's shovels to throw sand at each other and once they threw the sand at my stroller and beach bags.  Their mother was paying no attention to her fighting children so I had to ask them to stop.  They quickly left to play alone.  It was time for us to pack up and head home for lunch and Payton's afternoon nap.  Payton was exhausted!  He took a 3 hour afternoon nap!

I have had many trips to the beach.  I must admit that today was one of my favorite beach trips.  I have had fears of the day I would have to take my child to the beach - my family members can agree that I HATE greasy sunscreen and although I LOVE the beach, I HATE the sand.  I take frequent showers at the beach to get rid of sunscreen and sand.  I always questioned how I would handle it when I had a child who I had to lather up with greasy sunscreen and then dig in the sand.  The thought of a greasy child covered in sand used to really bother me!  You may think I'm joking or overreacting, but I can guarantee that the thought of what I experienced today was one of my top 5 concerns about having a child....maybe even top 3!  Crazy, I know but its the truth!  Today, I LOVED it!  I had the most fun!  I lathered Payton up with sunscreen, while he was crying.  He smeared the sunscreen on his changing table and I didn't care!  I sat in the sand and played in the sand.  I dug in the sand with my hands.  I showed him how to make a sandcastle!  I watched him cover his body in sand...even his face!  I carried his wet, sandy body right up against me all the way back to the water to rinse him off.  I cleaned up my sticky, sandy, wet child while sitting in the sand!  I have to pat myself on the back for this one!  I can't wait to go back to the beach with my toddler, covered in greasy, sunscreen and dig in the sand!  We might even do it again tomorrow!