Dear Abigail,
What an awesome, fantastic, better than I ever expected beach vacation we just had!!! Let's start from the beginning... Or at least some back ground info. So, this is our 'annual' beach vacation with the gang to Destin, FL. I say "annual" with quotes because we didn't quite do it last year, if you recall, and instead all the adults left you kiddos at home while we ventured to the Dominican Republic - but let's not focus on that. SO, minus last year, we did our annual trip to Destin, and even stayed in the same house, which I'm pretty sure is going to be our go to house in the upcoming years as well - we love it that much. SO...
Friday afternoon Uncle Jaybee came over with all their bags and Daddy and him loaded up the car because The Clarks were all riding together!! Everything fit, for the most part, so we were ready to head out Saturday morning. And we did; however, less than an hour into the trip, Ellie said she had to go potty. Please keep in mind that any time Ellie says she has to go potty, you automatically have to go, as well, and vice versa. So, we started looking for a place to pull over. The Daddy's decided they'd just take you and let me and Aunt Steph stay all snuggled up in the way back, but, of course, when you girls returned NEITHER of you pottied... We knew it was going to be a long trip to the beach. We ended up stopping within the next hour and both of you did go and then an hour later, basically, it was time for lunch. After running around a Chick-fil-a, we hoped you were tired out enough to nap, and, well, you did, a little. I thought I might have to tape Ellie's mouth because she kept saying "Abby wake up!!". Despite what it seems, we actually did make it in pretty good time and really only the last 20 minutes were really painful. You decided you needed me to sit beside you and you couldn't understand why my pregnant bottom couldn't fit between the 2 carseats. With enough screaming, I managed to wedge myself in there, but let me just say, it wasn't a pleasant site, or feeling. So finally we made it to the beach, and you were SOOOOO excited. You were so ready to see the beach, but we had lots of unpacking and grocery shopping and getting things situated that we didn't even make it out to the beach that day! I felt real bad because we had promised you we'd see the beach, but don't fear my dear, we made up for it over the next 6 days!!!
That's right, we spent 6 days baking in the sun, running in the sand, soaking our toes in the ocean water - well, minus the ocean part the first couple days as that water was SUPER cold. No doubt Nemo was wearing his winter coat :)
The days, as you can imagine, all run together other than by the pictures I took because you have a different bathing suit on for each day!! Must be nice to have that many swim suits, huh...
While it's hard to recall the day to day events, there were a few common daily events. To begin, you, Ellie and Grant would wake up SUPER early, with you typically coming in third but only by like 20 minutes at the most. The first day Ellie was awake before 5 - bless her Momma and Daddy's heart. But she eventually slept in a little later. And I'm pretty sure Baby Grant watched the sunrise every morning. You, though, might have slept later than the typical 6:30, but if you heard the tiniest peep, or saw the slightest sunlight you'd immediately sit up in the bed and say "Do you hear Ellie? I need to find Ellie." And 99% of time, it wasn't Ellie that woke you up, it was just the morning and usually I would have been able to tell you to lay back down and you'd go back to sleep. Nope, not at the beach - once those eyes open you were up and ready to find Ellie. A couple of mornings I convinced you that Ellie was asleep and that you had to listen for her, but all that did was get you asking every 5 seconds if "That Ellie??". So, typically I'd send you out there to investigate and sure enough, you'd find Ellie. Long story short, Ryan got the point for latest sleeper!!!
While we're on the subject of sleeping, I might add that you did EXCEPTIONALLY well with going to bed and napping, especially considering the terrible terrible times we had leading up to the beach trip. Mommy and Daddy had one room and connecting via a bathroom was your room. You also had another door that lead into the living room/kitchen area. Do you see the trouble we feared. Oh, and you had bunkbeds in your room. Good times. So, that first night, we were a little concerned with how it was all going to go down because none of the doors locked and we just knew you'd be getting out of bed. And you did, the first night. So I held one door and Daddy held the other and we just waited, but only about 10 minutes of tears then you hopped in bed (a lower bed, thank goodness) and went to sleep. The next day the door leading to the hallway 'broke' and by broke I mean Mommy moved a dresser in front of it so no one could use it. Now you only had one door to escape out of. But guess what, you didn't need it. You didn't NOT ONE SINGLE TIME try to get out of bed after that first night. I'm pretty positive that sun and water wore you out but nonetheless, AWESOMENESS. Now, that doesn't mean that at 2 a.m. or 5 a.m. you weren't trying to get in the bed with us, but going to sleep - awesome. I cannot express enough of how worried I was about the sleeping disorder and how it turned out a million times better than I ever expected. Naps weren't AS awesome, but you did nap every day and for about an hour, which I'll take. Problem was you had to be watching either Mommy's ipod or Daddy's Ipad, but it only took you about 10 minutes and you'd go to sleep then sleep for an hourn if not a little more. So I'll take it (again, considering we weren't even getting naps a week prior to the beach...)
Every morning we'd wake up, get breakfast going whether it be cereal, smoothies, toast or our one morning of a eggs and all the fixins, and then start preparing for the beach. I tell ya, we got the 'going to the beach' thing down pat, thanks to all the Daddies. Between a beach cart and 4 pack mules, we were able to get things down and set up in record time, and sometimes all Mommy had to carry was your hand!! We were that beach some mornings before 9! And that includes 8 chairs set up, a tent set up, 2 umbrellas, coolers, corn hole boards, beach bags and tons and tons of beach toys!!! Pretty awesome, huh. I guess that's the bright side of waking up so early!
Here's you FINALLY getting to the beach. You loved the sand, but the actual ocean, well, not your fave. Here's you begging Daddy to pick you up because you were getting way too close to the waves.
You really didn't even like Daddy holding you and walking out into the ocean, but you'd do it. But, if those toes touched water, you were ready to get out!!
I have to say, it was pretty cold though, at least Sunday - Wednesday, in the ocean. I don't think anyone but the Daddies tempted to get in it. But the sand and the sun were warm and we had NO RAIN!!! So, we cannot complain!
Here are some highlights of your days on the beach. You loved making birthday cakes for everyone, but somehow Uncle Jaybee seemed to get the most cakes. You and Ellie and Ryan played really well together, sometimes not doing the same thing but still playing well and considering you all spent 6 straight days together, there were few 'arguments' between who's turn it was or who was playing with that toy first...
You and Ryan (and Ellie eventually) were being crabs, walking on the beach!
Here's Ellie pretending to take a nap. In hindsight, she probably was needing a nap as this was the morning she woke up before 5!!!
We had lots of activities on the beach other than just playing in the sand including long walks with Aunt Steph to find seashells and looking at sand castles, but the one thing that you LOVED to do, that surprised me, was throwing the frisbee! And I have to say, you were pretty good at it, although you often didn't understand the whole 'stay 10 feet away from the other person' concept... Here's Daddy showing you how to correctly throw a frisbee, cause, you know, he is an expert...
Here's you and Ellie playing (again, not understanding the whole 'stand back or you will get hit in the face' concept...)
And Ryan joining you...
The second day, Uncle Jaybee decided to dig you kids a big hole, with the intention of 'burying' each of you. However, you kids are much wiser than we give you credit and no way were any of you going in that hole. Well, we couldn't let the hole go to waste, so Uncle Jaybee took one for the team and you kiddos buried him!!!! There was a bit of confusion and some straightening out to do afterwards because you couldn't understand why it was okay to throw sand on Uncle Jaybee but not on anyone else. Nonetheless, ya'll had so much fun burying him! 
Even Baby Grant participated!!!!
Here's one of those times your toes touched the water. Not a happy look on your face at all...
playing playing playing at the beach!!!
oh, and Uncle Jaybee found an 'elephant trunk', or at least that's what he liked to call it. You like to jump off it, over and over and over again.
And then you just rolled in the sand. It was a lovely time trying to get you bathed off before going in the house, or just bathed period....
Oh, and while I'm sure you will yell at me later in life for having this picture of you, I HAD to let you know that this was a very common scene. And, what is so funny about it is that this same scene was on me 30 years ago (so I've been told). Pretty sure you're gonna have your momma's booty, sweetness!!!
I like the picture from the front better!
So back to the beach activities... As I mentioned, we spent each morning on the beach, having a blast. Here's you and Aunt Steph playing catch... 
Oh, and man alive, did we listen to Baby Baby 200 times!!!! Ellie loves it just as much as you, but I think you surprised Aunt Steph when you sang all the words!!! Here's you and Ellie (with microphone in hand) singing Baby Baby for the humpteenth time!
And I'm pretty sure Ellie's doing the 'rap' part of the song...
Did I mention, yet, that the 2 of you did EVERYTHING together, and if one of you weren't doing it, you would be within seconds of seeing the other person doing it. You guys copied everything the other did, EVERYTHING. For the most part it was cute, but there were times when we only had 1 of something and that would cause a few tears. Or the thing one of you were doing was super annoying, so when the other did it, well, it was twice as annoying... (like banging your cup on the table, or throwing sand, or, well you get the picture...)Again, though, considering the whole week we spent together, you girls did perfect, and we loved seeing you love each other so much!!! Here's a few pics we captured to prove the love :)
You weren't quite feeling the love right here, but Diva Ellie was ready to pose!!!!!
You finally gave in...
Another highlight of the beach was your 'special snack'. We forgot about our popsicles for the first couple days, but finally remembered and what a hit they were, for all of us!!!
I'm pretty sure you loved it!!!!
And on the last day, we remembered we had a kite, so Uncle Jaybee got to work...
Unfortunately, he was taking a little too long and you kiddos got bored, so you just rolled around in the sand, you know, cause that's what you do when you get bored on the beach...
Daddy decided to help out...
And eventually 'we' got the kite flying!!
You did an excellent job at flying it too!!!!
As you can see, the "beach" part of the Beach Trip was a hit!!! And you wanna know what's crazy, on Friday, at 4:00 in the afternoon, we FINALLY convinced you and Ellie to get your feet in the ocean and you both LOVED IT!!! We would all hold hands and jump the waves, just like I imaged you'd do one day. I just hate that it was the last day, in the last hour, but don't worry - we've got another beach trip planning out!!! :)
I'll continue with all our non-beach activities in the next post...
Love you Beach Baby!!!
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