The week of September 12 Jeff, Hayden, myself and mine and Jeff's parents all traveled to the Florida panhandle. This is the third time Jeff and I have traveled to Beach Colony but the first time we have been able to stay the entire week. The previous two times we have been able to stay one night and then had to evacuate due to hurricanes. The last time we were there it was just the two of us and we were forced to leave to due Hurricane Ivan which made landfall at this very beach. There was catastrophic damage and many homes were swept right into the ocean. Our condo lost its pool which just opened back up this summer. This years trip was a success as we did not have to leave but yet we didn't have the best weather either. We had two days of sun without any rain and the rest of the time it rained at least part of the day if not all. We still had a nice time and my dad set foot into a mall which he hasn't done in many many many years. Granted we were only there for about 30 minutes but that was a big step for him.
Last year Hayden was only 8 months old and so the beach didn't leave much of an impression on him. This time at 22 months he was old enough to react. He liked the sand and building sandcastles with Peepaw and sitting in holes that Peepaw dug for him. He enjoyed getting in the ocean (past the breaking waves)with his life jacket and daddy holding on to him securely. He would even lay back and float. He didn't like the crashing waves. He was very apprehensive about them and I think to a kid that small the waves must have appeared huge and were very loud. We had red flag days all but one day which Jeff and Deanna loved to ride the boogie board on. Hayden on the other hand was quite unsure. By the end of the week he would sit where the water would come up in his lap and splash his feet in the sand while firmly holding onto someones hand. He certainly become more brave. At the beginning of the week he didn't want anyone to get in the waves and by the end he was instructing everyone to "jump in". What was a big hit was the showers to wash the sand off and the swimming pool. He liked jumping in and watching others jump in. He liked riding the boogie board in the pool as a motor boat and even Paw paw got in the pool and taught Hayden how to hold his nose and go under water.
Hayden did great on the 11+ hour car ride considering his age. He got upset once on the way down and once on the way home. On the way home he was so mad I wouldn't put his shoes back on that he threw up and we had to pull over at a rest area for a change of close and some fresh air to ride the car of vomit smell.
During the week Hayden was sleeping great despite a cold and cutting his eye teeth all 4 at the same time until mid week. Then he become an escape artist and mastered climbing out of his pack and play and refusing to take naps or go to bed. He was so out of sorts with being in a strange place, routine turned upside down, a cold from the snotty nose library girl, and cutting 4 teeth. Poor thing. We tried a variety of approached and resorted to him sleeping in the king sized bed with Jeff for the last two days. I was ready for the vacation to be over and for us to be back home, in the safe confines of his crib, back to a consistent routine (which he thrives on and apparently so do I). The ocean did manage to clean out his sinuses and his cold has essentially cleared up. Two of his eye teeth have broken through the gums (upper and lower left) but the sleep has not improved. First night we got home he manged to climb to the top of the crib rail and then plunged himself over. We heard a loud thump and went running in his room. He can definitely get out of is crib now too although it is not graceful. It is more like a thrust yourself over the rail onto the floor maneuver. We then spent Sunday buying a toddler bed for Dede and Papaw's house and looking for big boy furniture for his room at home. We have lowered the rail in his crib to allow for a less dangerous fall. Hayden is now demanding that we be in his room with him until he falls asleep. I am following nanny 911's approach and now am at the point I can stand just outside his door and that seems to work. We started off at the crib and now have backed our way out into the hall. I guess if this was going to happen I am glad it is before the new baby arrives. So now we will use Hayden's furniture for the baby and change Hayden's room to a big boy room. I am hopeful that once he gets back in the routine of things and is finished with teething this round he will routine to the wonderful sleeper that he has been since he was about 6 months old. Although I am sure the arrival of a new sibling will only throw his world into chaos once more. We started out taking 2 hours in Florida to get him to sleep down to an hour last night to a mere 5 minutes this afternoon which is allowing me to get caught up on the blogging. Hayden and the rest of us to miss one thing about the vacation and it's not the sandy beaches or the rainy weather but it is being surrounded by our family. We had a great time with the parents and the in laws which most people thought we were crazy taking a vacation such as this but we really did have a great time. We thank the Peepaw and Pawpaw for watching Hayden while he slept (which he did sleep, even if it was a struggle to initiate it) so that we could enjoy beach time, we thank the Grammy for all the cooked meals and diaper changes and bathes that she gave Hayden. We thank the Dede for the chicken and potato salad she prepared for a picnic lunch as we traveled and helping with Hayden.
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