Boys of Summer

Ok, just one boy really. Because that's all I've got, is just the one boy. And he is quite the boy of summer, determined to spend every last second of it outside, soaking up the sun and getting as many bug bites as he possibly can. (Don't worry, I'm freaked out about West Nile enough for all of us). It's been a pretty low-key summer though, spending most of our time at home, wandering the neighborhood and now being obsessed with the bike and the neighbor friends that go with it. We didn't do a summer vacation this year, which really is fine by me. I like the beach, and the sand/heat/humidity that goes with it, in short doses. Besides, our family vacay this year is actually this month and it's definitely not a tropical destination.

But since we are so close to the Jersey shore, we did one last day trip down with my best friend and Gabe's godmother Aunt Kelly.  We got down there early and set up on the beach. I forgot how much work it is to bring a child to the beach but luckily Gabe is finally old enough to pitch in. He carried his bag of toys over his shoulder and it was just the cutest. We are well on our way to making him carry everything.

I wasn't sure how the ocean was going to go. When we had hit the beach in June for a few days with my brothers, it was too windy to even bother with the beach. And the hotel pool was so crowded with rowdy, splashing kids (and questionable adult bathing suits) that Gabe was too scared to get in. So besides our nightly bathtub swims, we really hadn't had too much experience with big bodies of water this summer. 

The kid fell in l.o.v.e. with the ocean though, for real. He spent some times jumping at the edge of the water, while holding my hands, then really got into it. He laid down on is belly and would yell "Sim! Sim!" and put his hands and feet in the air behind him. His head would stick way up high when the little waves came in but he did get wopped in the head a few times and a few mouthfuls of saltwater. I thought that would be the end of it but nope, he kept going back for more.

His pediatrician recommended 15 minutes of Vitamin D before the rash guard went on. I'm paranoid about sunburn so Gabe will always be a ghost if I can control it.

 

 Why is he a teenager here?

 Oh there's my baby again!

This has Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition written all over it.

 

Deep thoughts by Gabe Handey

He had the best time. I had the best time watching him have the best time. Thanks Aunt Kelly for being our own personal photog and for taking us out for a day of fun. We love you and hope that you moving away will make us see you more...because we'll need to make appointments and whatnot. 

The rest of youse? Hope you had a fantastic summer. 

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Also, I wanted to both thank you for being patient with all of the recent reviews/sponsored posts/blog ads recently and give you a heads up that more are coming. I know they are kind of a turn-off and usually not very interesting but the Blogher network has had so many awesome opportunities to make a few bucks on these things that I just can't say no. Being on a hardcore budget makes me cry, so being able to finally (after almost 5 years of doing this) bring in some cash definitely makes me happy. Depending on the post, they might pay me 50 to 100 bucks a pop. You wouldn't turn that down, would ya?  So anyway, feel free to skip over any of them but know that I do use my own voice, my own opinions and I at least try to make them sort of entertaining.  If anyone deserves a funny review of soy sauce (or whatever) it's you guys.