Delimpo Days: Mommy's Beach Memories

Dear Levi,
This beach vacation was special to me in many ways. A few years ago Daddy and I took a trip to the beach when we were pregnant with you. At that time, I felt a little sad when we left because I knew it was the last trip we’d take together before our lives would change. Little did I know that this beach trip would be SO much more exciting simply because YOU were there!!!!! And likewise, on this trip when we found out you were going to be a big brother…I again felt a little sad when we left at the end of the week because I knew it was our last trip together of just the 3 of us. I know in my heart though that the next time we go, it too will be so much more exciting because we will be a family of 4! You are going to make such a great big brother!

I want to share a few of my most favorite beach memories with you. One that I will never forget is driving beside the ocean on the way to our condo. You had been in your car seat for over 5 hours that day, so I let you get out and sit on my lap so you could see the ocean! As we drove beside it, the excitement in your eyes was unexplainable! You squealed with delight and shouted at the top of your lungs, “OCEAN!!!!” “WAVES!!!” “EAGLES!!!” It was hard to contain your little body to sit in my lap…I think I eventually let you stand on my lap so you could get a better view! It was neat to see your face when you saw the beach for the first time.

You instantly took a liking to the sand. I’m pretty sure it’s because we let you throw it and dig in it and do whatever with it...unlike at home when you are limited on what you can do with dirt and rocks!

You came alive on this beach trip. Maybe it was because you had daddy’s and mine attention for the whole entire week, but you showed us things you could do that we never knew you could! You have such an energy for life and that is always evident in the way you act. For example, when we would open up the condo door….you would sprint out the door, run down the hallway to the elevator and yell at the top of your lungs, “DUNGEON!!!” “OPEN!!” “DOWN!!”

I loved watching you and daddy play on the beach. You two are the best of buds! I had taken a book with me to read on the beach, but I think I ended up reading only a few pages because I enjoyed watching the two of you play too much to do anything else! My favorite was when you guys would run through the waves and punch them! Your daddy loves you and is so devoted to you. He not only wants to be your father, but your best friend. You are very blessed to have him as your daddy!

One of my favorite memories was getting to ride the carousel with you. Although you were a bit timid at first, you talked about that carousel ride the whole ride home and the days that followed! I knew how much you enjoyed the ride at that moment in time, even if you won’t remember it when you get older. It brings such joy to my life to see the joy you have in yours.

While it does make me a little sad that you won’t remember this trip when you get older, I want you to know just how much fun we did have as a family on this trip! We will continue to go to the beach with our family and I know that as you get older, it won’t be as cool to hang out with mom and dad!

But every year is another year of great memories and I pray that God allows us to have many many more. I also hope that someday you will do the same thing with your kids! Because it’s not about the money or the material things in life that will make you happy, but the time that you spend with your family!