An Alligator with a Sense of Humor

Taken just outside of the place we stayed in Hilton Head.

xo

A Proud Mommy Moment

Want to know a secret? I'm not a big fan of the ocean. That whole wave in - wave out thing isn't quite what I'd like to feel when I'm standing in water. The truth is that I'm not much of water person in general and if I have to, I'd rather stand in a bathtub or a pond or a lake and even a river (water goes in one direction and one direction only).

But I've seen and felt myself how a mother's reaction can influence the fears and joys of her child and I didn't want PJ's first ocean experience to be led fully by my own uncomfortable feelings. Instead I was hoping for a more PJ-driven experience...and if he ended up acting like the whole water-moving-in-two-directions thing was lame - okay. If not - also okay (in fact, most likely even better).

So when we walked from the house we were staying in while in Hilton Head, along a canal sort of thing where a real alligator lived...

The house we stayed in. Pretty cool, right?

The canal the alligator lived in. Really cool!

a grand total of ten minutes to the beach....

Our little man, chilling in the Ergo.

I silently reminded myself to chill out and let PJ check it out without my hovering or pushing. So as soon as we were all at the beach, I put little man down on the sand, sat down next to him, and took a big breath.

First reaction: what's this?

Second reaction: what's that?

He watched the waves and put his hands into the sand for a few seconds and then he was off. My mom had to pull him back out of the water a few times - he was going to crawl to Europe. Of course, I had totally overreacted and little man was thrilled by the entire experience. Crazy kid. Crazy, ocean-loving kid.

"This sand certainly tastes good. Mom and Dad are in for a surprise when they change my diaper in a day or two."

"Parents who? This aunt and uncle rock"

Frankly, it was a proud mommy moment for myself. It would have been so much easier to hover and transmit my own feelings. But I didn't. And that is pretty cool.

xo

First Bike Ride

While in Hilton Head our little man enjoyed his first bike ride. It was a wild success and we are now trying to find a baby bike seat for our bikes at home. Funnily enough he made the "vroooom" sound almost the entire time, so I had a motorized bike!

Family Steinbach at the start of the ride. Zoom in for the most adorable face ever.

Second most adorable face ever.

Vvvvvrrrrrroooooommmm!

Uncle B rocking both the bike and the shades.

Aunt T showing 'em how its done.

Half-way through the trip, we met up with Grannie and Grandpa for some food, ice cream, and laughter. 

Grannie and Grandpa chilling under some romantic trees.

Grandpa and PJ goofing it up!

The greatest table in the place, just missing Uncle Frannie, Kiwi, and da-da.

Aunt T has the best taste in necklaces (that her older sister bought her).

Then we headed home the long way. Not the best decision, but da-da got us back on track.

Da-da showing us the way home.

xo

Meeting the Family (Part A Lot)

We are in week two of our amazing family vacation in the US...and I'm totally behind on blogging about it. Your complaints have been heard. So: the first week we spent an entire week in Hilton Head with my parents, sister and husband, and brother and girlfriend. They were really excited to see us all again.

They said.

But lets be honest here: they were stoked to get to know our little boy PJ.

Yes, that is my mother giving my baby boy ice cream. She's got the "grandmas spoil" thing down.

Grandpa helping our little man enjoy the good ole Red, White, and Blue!

My sister, Little One, her husband, and PJ (who is thinking, "huh?").

Kiwi helping PJ perfect his lady-gettin' skills.

PJ and his uncle Frannie, the most attractive men in Georgia.

And they know it.

There are very, very few pictures of us, the parents. But aren't we cute too?

Yeah, I take more pictures of him too.

xo