Ocean City

We left for Ocean City at 1pm so Dave could get some morning dissertation work done. I told Mia that she'd nap in the car and then when she woke up BAM! the beach! She continued to repeat this "BAM the beach" the whole day. We got on the road at 1:05pm, which is unusually prompt for us. It was a 1 hr and 15 min drive so when we got there Mia was still sleeping but she started to stir after we parked and Dave and I exclaimed "BAM, the beach" and she let out a huge smile despite her clearly needing more sleep. We got out of the car and were getting ready to walk to the beach when a passerby told us that they were telling everyone to get off of the beach because of a thunderstorm. We were so worried that we wouldn't be able to go on the beach and were sad about how disappointed Mia would be. Luckily, we had parked right by a nice sized amusement park on the boardwalk. So we started there (even though at first Mia kept saying she would like to ride these rides AFTER the beach).

First we rode the elephants, which went up and down

when we pulled the lever we are looking at in this picture

and then we rode the spinny balloons

It was spinning pretty fast but despite this look of terror Mia really enjoyed them (she has a thing for spinning, even on her own) and wanted to go on them again

Here we are spinning in a large teddy bear but it was so hot in there that we were both getting unsettled in the stomach so the woman let us off early.

On our final ride, a train that went above and around the whole amusement place, I saw people in the ocean and was so relieved. We immediately went out to the beach. At the first sight of sand, on the ramp from the boardwalk to the beach, Mia took off her shoes and sat in it. We have to walk further we told her and we insisted there was more sand up ahead. Although all she wanted to do was play in the sand, we coaxed her into the water.

Here she is with daddy, a little unsure.

Self photo of mommy hanging back with Gavin while Mia and Dave swim.

A family picture.

Mia crashed towards the end, which resulted in one sandy Mia.

visit from Charlie and Maria

Charlie and Maria visit!

Walking to the Walnut Hill (our neighborhood) block party

Mia on the bounce house slide

Mia enamored with Mickey who later gave her his business card saying, "maybe your mom will have Mickey come out for your birthday" in a very non-Mickey voice. Mia treasured that card saying that it was a present from Mickey. She even slept with it during naptime.

Little brother enjoyed the block party too

Later that night we went to West Philly's nicest bar/pub called Local 44. It was too far for Mia to walk but the double stroller would have been a pain in the restaurant so I put Mia in the Ergo on my back for the first time. She loved it and I was surprised at the comfort of the Ergo for even a 34 lb girl.

Dave holding a very sleepy Gavin while we ate (we think he was in his 3 mo growth spurt this day)

Charlie and Maria with Mia and Gavin

Charlie and Gavin

Dave and a smiley Gavin ready for the day