Making Memories...

Well folks... it seems as though we have a beach baby on our hands. That really does not come as a surprise to us, I suppose.
We really wanted to take a family vacation, but couldn't figure out where to go where we could drive with Madison. We knew we didn't want to fly with her yet, so choices were limited. We decided that we were going to Gulf Shores and then couldn't get a late notice reservation, so we just decided that we'd stay home and keep playing. That's actually been really fun! :-)
Then my parents called, said that they were hot and were driving to Galveston and wanted to know if we wanted to go with them. Let Madison experience the beach for the first time -- Yes, please. Grandparents are going too? Double yes, please!

My family moved to Texas when I was very young. I had a set of grandparents in Arizona and one in Iowa, so trips like these never happened. We were lucky to see them once a year. All of my aunts, uncles, and cousins lived far away as well, so my siblings and I never had the opportunity to get to know them or really see them. I feel like we missed out on so much, so I am PRO-memory making with family.

So we hopped in and headed off. Madison was perfect on the way there and lost patience in the last 2 hours on the way home. We totally understood and were very patient with her and it all ended well.

So Madison's favorite part of the beach was the sand, the waves, the hermit crabs, getting muddy in the sand then running into the water to wash it all off, collecting shells, letting the waves splash on her....She loved EVERYTHING!! She was happy just being there. Before it was over she'd crawl in head first and then belly flop right into the wave. She roll around, laugh, and then would come out high stepping just to do it all over again.

One of my favorite things is how Madison would sit on the balcony and watch the waves from our condo eating snack and just look at the water. She'd come running out yelling, "water!" then she's sit and relax. Now if you know Madison then you also know that she doesn't sit still -- ever!

Madison also calls Grandpa and Nana by name and when she needs them she'll go looking calling out their name from room to room. She'd wake up and say, "Mama, Dada." We'd let her come up into bed with us for all of 2 seconds before she would head to the door to leave saying, "Nana, Grandpa."

Those are good memories. Grandparents.

It was a short trip, it was a fun trip, it was a trip where memories were made.