Gator Bait

Last weekend we headed to Ft. Myers, FL to visit MP's cousin Jessica, her fiance Aaron, and MP's Aunt M's.  Staying at Jessica's was better than any four star accommodations!  She was awesome - from all the little touches of well stocked guest quarters, including a great magazine selection (when's the last time I read a magazine...it was so great!), to the big stuff like a special trip to the grocery store to get all of MP2's favorite foods and having some toys on hand for him to play with.  Martha Stewart better watch her back.  

Anyways, MP and I wondered how the trip would go.  MP2 went to Morning Out as usual on Thursday morning, but we picked him up about an hour early to head to St. Louis and catch our flight.  Doesn't he look so cute sleeping in the car?  Yeah, this mean no sleep on the plane.  

So MP and I played Hot Potato with MP2 passing him back and forth for the duration of our two and a half hour flight.  I think I sang the Itsy Bitsy Spider about one million times.  He LOVED the airport - seeing all the airplanes, and he loved watching out the window at takeoff and landing.  He was such a trooper.  

The next morning while Jessica and Aaron finished out their work week, we were picked up by the Aunt M's and went to the beach by Margaret's place.  First we had time to take a walk around the pond in Jessica's backyard.  We'd been telling MP2 all about alligators, but luckily didn't see a single one in person on our trip!

Upon our initial arrival at the beach, MP2 was not so sure about the sand between his toes.  That apprehension lasted all but two minutes and from that point, he only had one speed - GO!  He loved the ocean, loved the sand, loved the boats.  I think he's a beach bum at heart!

 Thanks, Aunt M's for the pail and shovel!!  MP2 spent most of his time at the beach digging.  He had such a fun time.  MP and I could not believe the difference between our FL trip in August (which was SO much fun) and now.  Where has our baby gone, and where did this little boy come from?

At one point he took off running for the water (which was pretty cold) and waded around all on his own (well, I mean he decided when to get in and when to get out - we were definitely right there with him!  :))

We did not get nearly enough of the beach on Friday, so we headed back on Saturday (joined by Jessica and Aaron as well).  MP2 had just as much fun on the second day.  He loved playing with Aunt Mary!

 Posing for a photo, though?  Not so much.  Good work by Jessica though on reeling him in while maintaining a smile for the camera!  Glad to have one of the gang - Aunt Mary, Aunt Margaret, Jessica and the MP2 (Aaron, where were you?!)

 Fun with Daddy digging in the sand

 On Sunday, we stayed around Jessica and Aaron's house and enjoyed the neighborhood pool and park.

 MP2 made friends (okay, maybe a one-sided friendship) with Bella.  She was so sweet and patient with him.  Aspen was a little quicker in getting away when MP2 came around.

Thanks again to everyone for making our trip so so much fun.  We can't wait to come back (assuming our welcome is not yet worn out :))!