Bikini vs. One Piece

Bathing suit season has never particularly bothered me. I was a lifeguard for several years and sitting nearly naked on an elevated lifeguard tower gets you accustomed to being in a bathing suit...in front of people...while sitting on an 8 foot pedestal.

Want to know what is NOT fun about bathing suit season this year? Trying to hold, feed, corral and apply sunscreen to a rowdy infant who thinks the sand is amazing, beer cans are toys, and anything on the beach is edible. 

I decided before our first beach trip back in April that a one piece suit was necessary. The thought of having to bend over, play with and hold Barrett seemed less than desirable while sporting a midriff-bearing bikini. Bikinis are made for leisurely beach trips were tanning and drinking are rampant and flipping from back to stomach is the only stress of the day. And you can focus on sucking in and keeping everything in place. 

This is not how I would describe a beach trip with a baby. The only time I considered my tan lines was when he was napping. 

The plus side to all this? I found the cutest one piece (that cost a small fortune), Mr. B is a beach bum in the making, and has Mom's skin tone which equals tan! He has no fear of the sand or water and carried on about his routine as if we were at home. 

Cute and functional one piece. 

Here are some of the essentials we packed for the beach:

• Sunscreen - apply to naked baby, pre beach time for best initial coverage.
• Baby swim t-shirt for additional sun coverage 
• Shade in the form of umbrellas or tent (preferably the latter b/c of standing room)
• Back up pacifier (sand really sticks to these)
• Portable, battery operated fan
• Pouched baby food (anything that is hands free for everyone b/c of the sand)
• Cooler (for baby food, of course)
• Low, plastic beach chairs (metal gets HOT)
• Inflatable baby raft
• Inflatable baby pool
• Blanket or sheet for putting over the sand and under the shade
• Wagon with good wheels that will roll on sand
• Towels, and extra towels
• Bath toys (after all they are made for the water)
• Wipes (not just for diaper changing, but for getting sand off everything)
• Napkins, paper towels, or something of the sort

Mom car loaded up, down, and sideways.

Our travel companion snoozing away.

Beer at Eddy Teach's first. Check in later.

Pool time with Dad!

"How does my hair look?" -B

Nap time in the pop up shark tent. 

Or nap time on mom. Bikini was a bad idea. 

Nap time under the umbrella. See cooler, wagon and stuff. 

Play time at the house, in the drawers with whatever is accessible. 

Boating!

The Mom Mobile.

I love cars; it's one of our indulgences in life. When I got pregnant I was happily driving a 2011 Acura TSX. A compact, four cylinder sedan with a zippy, responsive gas pedal and agile steering, it was the perfect combo of practicality (28 mpg) and sportiness. But I knew my sedan days were short lived. 

I began researching SUVs right away - Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Edge, Acura RDX, Toyota Highlander. The World Wide Web is an amazingly useful tool thanks to ad agencies like mine. Endless pictures, 360 views of interior and exterior, tech specs and reviews. 

By the time we went to test drive vehicles I already knew what I wanted - the new Ford Explorer. Dad protested until he drove it and experienced the convenience of the many features. We ended up buying the white, mom-mobile from my Uncle Butch. They found the exact trim line I wanted with my required accessories and the right color. Great experience, we will be back, maybe sooner than we thought. 

After two months, we may actually need a bigger car. Two adults, one baby, five nights = endless amounts of shit. 

I don't even know what I packed for myself. But B has 4 rompers, 5 onesies, 3 pairs of shorts, 2 pairs of pants, 8 pairs of socks, 3 bathing suits, 3 pjs, 2 pairs of shoes, 6 bibs, 3 burp cloths, 3 blankets, 5 bottles, 1 spoon, 4 bowls, formula, baby food, sound machine, monitor, humidifier, nose sucker, boogie wipes, bouncy seat, lobster high chair, wagon, stroller, baby carrier...You get the point. Endless. Amounts. Of shit. 

I hope I packed shoes, but they have Target everywhere. Luckily, we have wine, liquor, and a giant caterpillar that rattles, squeaks, crinkles and twinkles, courtesy of Aunt Andi.