The Beach
Oh, what a glorious day for the beach. One of those days that I remind myself why I live in New England, even though the Money Pit cost more than a McMansion in most parts of the country and even though the weather SUCKS for a good portion of the year: I can get in my car and drive to a beach with a picture perfect lighthouse and soft sand and funny kids and hermit crabs and snails along the shoreline. (In the winter, I can pull my baby on his sled through beautiful quiet snowladen woods with boughs bending from the weight of the snow while my dog bounds happily through the drifts. And I can go cross-country skiing on a golf course.)
So, today, Kaitlin and her mom, Debbie and Abby and her mom, Amy joined Jack and I at Wingaersheek beach in Gloucester. Kaitlin and Abby are from our playgroup, and it's so great to have a group of babies the same age as Jack is and moms with similar interests and who are (phew) so NORMAL. Anyway, we got there around 11 and stayed until nearly 3 and Jack LOVED it.
[Am I gushing? I feel like I am, uncharacteristically, I hope, gushing. Everything was SO GREAT! I LOVE the beach! The weather was PERFECT beach weather! Gack. I need to stop.]
Anyway, Jack was pretty amazing. The beach at Wingaersheek is more of a tidal basin than open ocean, so there is little wake and few waves and you have to walk out for a LooooOOOOnNNg way to get to water over your head. In other words, great for little kids. Jack loved seeing the small waves break on the beach and he walked straight out into the ocean, completely excited and unafraid. When the water got over his legs, he walked with a goosestep, so that he could see if his toes were still there. He loved it. Every minute of it.
Kaitlin did, too. She is a beach pro, since her grandparents have a timeshare in Florida, so she was well equipped with sand toys. Kaitlin is also a very commanding presence for a tall, skinny, blond 16-month-old. She lets you know exactly what she wants and will not change course. She is a born leader and I told Debbie that I think that she will be the CEO of a Fortune 100 company.
Abby had a harder time. For the daughter of two athletes, she has a strange aversion to dirt. So, of course, she found the beach quite dirty. I am not sure what she thought of Jack, when, 2 seconds after we got there, had wet sand caked from his chin to his toes. Abby spent a long time at the water's edge curled up in Amy's lap (where it was clean). She came around and was her daredevil self by the time we were getting ready to leave, so I think that we need to give her another chance. Abby is the star of our playgroup: she is smart and sweet and serious and eats vegetables and follows directions and is perfectly well behaved. Sometimes, when Jack is stealing everyone's sippy cup and Kaitlin is insisting on whatever is of importance at that immediate time and George is a little cranky and Abigail is being decisively uncooperative and Kate is overtired, Abby will sit and gaze on all of the poor, badly-behaving babies with the serenity and grace of a good queen looking at her unruly and loveable subjects. Sometimes, I covet Abby.
But, About Jack
Amy and I carpooled to the beach today, and, on the way there, Amy mentioned how well-behaved Jack had been the last few times we saw each other. I crossed my fingers and held my breath and reluctantly agreed: he has been delightful. For the last several weeks, it has been a joy to be with Jack. He has a well-developed sense of humor, is very curious, and is astoundingly clever. Even though he can't talk, I am amazed and amused by the various ways he communicates. When Jack gets fussy, it typically only takes a moment to calm him. The only "bad" times are the hours between his afternoon nap and bedtime, and even that isn't all that bad. Naptime and bedtime are a breeze and he loves everything that we do.
Oh, joy, to be with a happy baby.
9:38:19 PM 
|
|
