little surfer girl

Dear Em,
All winter long I had a feeling that this would be THE summer. You know, the summer we would actually have fun at the beach. I've been taking you to the beach since you were three months old. For the first couple years, going to the beach meant holding you or wiping your tears when you had a face full of sand. Believe me, there were a lot of tears & a lot of faces (& mouths) full of sand.

I mean, we still went to the beach, but it mostly seemed like more work than fun. The biggest bummer was not being able to swim in the water. I LOVE swimming in the ocean, even with how cold New England ocean water typically is. Unfortunately, we mostly remained on the shore with only our toes & legs in the salty water.

This year I got to swim. WE got to swim, thanks to one amazing thing: the Boogie Board.

I don't really know, but I don't think most floatation devices aren't allowed to be used in the ocean. You love to swim in the pool with your swimmies, but I'm pretty sure you can't use those in he ocean. We've never tried a life jacket, because during my childhood I just felt like they were uncomfortable & wicked hard to swim in. So, swimming in the ocean was just something I didn't think was going to happen for a while.

And then I passed a bin of boogie boards at Five Below & thought, "why not?"

We love love love our boogie board. I pre-load you onto it (with you holding on both sides) & kind of carry you and it on my hip as I walk into the ocean. As soon as we get to where its deep enough, I place you & the boogie board on the water & slide behind you. And we're swimming!

We typically head for just beyond where the waves are breaking & have a blast. Sometimes we swim parralell to the shore, & sometimes we just play in the waves. You laugh & squeal in excitement & tell me you're a "surfer girl." It's so great to do something I love, & to share it with you.

Tomorrow night your Daddy & I leave to join you in North Carolina with my family. For us, Labor Day typically marks the end of summer, & I'm excited to extend our summer a little bit in sunny North Carolina. You better believe there will be lots of boggle boarding. I can't wait.

I love you so,
Mommy