Day at the Beach

When you've been cooped up in the house for the better part of a month even a trip to Wal-Mart sounds like a day in the park. It even felt like that when I ventured out alone the other night to pick up a few necessities while remembering what it was like to go any where without a tiny tot in your arms or in her carrier (not that that isn't wonderful; it's just different). So when the weather folks said it was going to be a beautiful weekend here in Tampa Bay I told hubby we MUST spend a day outside and there was only one destination beckoning me: the beach. I'm not talking about a full day baking n the sun clad in bathing suit (heck no - not just weeks after giving birth because strange things happen to your body). A perfect day would include some time strolling along the water and getting sand stuck between my toes. Better yet, dipping Olivia's brand spanking new toes in the Gulf of Mexico and watching her reaction. This is exactly what we did after enjoying lunch at a little pizzeria with umbrella-protected tables on a boardwalk. After taking in the views and too much pizza we drove across the street to Sand Key Park, just south of the Spring Break soaked Clearwater Beach.

There were two no-nos in mind at the beach: trying to drag the stroller through the sand and sunburning our newborn daughter. The simple solution was to try out the baby sling gal pal and multi-talented Lorie Jewell and I made just a week or so before Olivia arrived. (OK, she really made it. I picked out the fabric, cut out a couple of pieces from the pattern with Lorie's guidance and stitched a seam or two). Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to see a sleeping Olivia fit snugly in the sling as if still inside the womb. She barely opened an eye while transferring her from the car seat. I made sure the cute paisley fabric covered her tiny parts while David and I walked the beach and admired the gazillions of tiny shells under foot. Once we hit the rocks it was model time. Under the bright sun, we birthed Olivia from her makeshift womb, slipped on her tiny sunglasses to protect those bright eyes and David started clicking our camera. The modest waves were enough to keep you paying close attention as the water pulled out from underneath you. Carefully watching what was happening, I swooped down with Olivia's little legs in hand and briskly dipped her little tootsies in the salty water. Immediately it came. A little squeaky shriek and one certainly not filled with delight. But as quickly as this sleeping beauty awakened she quieted and really didn't have much to say the couple of other times I submerged her feet for the sake of a Kodak moment or two. After, I snapped a few images of her Daddy and we tucked Olivia back into the sling, I wore her back up the beach. She didn't make a peep and didn't open her eyes, just quietly breathing while the waves swooshed next to us. It was truly the perfect day.