I loved that I caught this one. The running and pure joy as they took off to the water to jump and splash and play. Even the act of having my boy, the shy one, running to the water – and not away – made my heart do a triple-step (ok, ok, so I work out too much) of joy. I was SO excited for him.

Well, not 30 seconds later, this happened:

Oh to say he was mad, would be an understatement of the highest degree. He was SO mad! For the entire vacation, he stayed as far from the ocean that he could. He wanted water for sand playing? He would ask, no beg, us to get it for him. We went to the pool a few times, thinking well it is calmer maybe he’d get in. No such luck.

Well, we came home. Had a round of swim lessons. Have been back to the beach. Played with the cousins in the water..

Still not completely comfortable, but getting there, at his own pace. I am so thrilled for this movement towards being OK with the water from him. I have high hopes for more pictures like the first one, with a few bigger kids this time!

Beach Countdown = 4 days!!