Day Trip to Charleston

     We took a day trip to Charleston, SC a couple Saturdays ago. It was a chance to show Francesca how close we live to the beach and a sort of last hooray before baby number two arrives. Still waiting on that one ... 

     We left the house around eight and got there around twelve. The trip is normally only three hours, but crazy traffic happens during the summer and especially on Fourth of July weekend. We didn't allow it to dampen our spirits too much and after driving around we found a free parking spot right next to a beach entrance. Score! 

      It was a beautiful super sunny day with huge cotton clouds filling the sky and the water was the perfect temperature. We set up camp and waded right in, cut into watermelon, dug holes and enjoyed the vitamin D that seemed to lift everyone's spirits. 

     We were content to leave several hours later, our ocean tanks full. After several attempts to find places to change we headed into Charleston and ate at our favorite restaurant, Hyman's and then took a jaunt around the City Market. Having had enough of the humid heat we packed up around 6:30 and made the shorter trip home. It was a lovely day and I'm so glad we did it!

38 weeks pregnant at this point!

Folly Beach, Charleston SC

     I have high hopes of being an adventurer and explorer, but by the time the weekend comes along a lot of times it's just easier to lay around and enjoy family, catch up on sleep, and keep the babies routine the same. It helps the craziness of Sunday seem more manageable, especially when the baby is well rested and happy. . . but by the time Monday rolls around, I always feel a little disappointment if we haven't maximized our time and "done" something. I try and temper that feeling with a realistic expectation that not every weekend will be full of crazy escapades, it's just not who we are 100% of the time and that's okay. But when it does happen it's hard to explain just how refreshing and fun it is.
     This past weekend was one of those times. I had mentioned going to Atlanta to Gray the night before, but we didn't have any plan. The next morning when the baby awoke Gray asked if I'd rather go to the beach instead. Um yes! It's a little embarrassing admitting this, but in the two and a half years that we've lived only three hours from the beach we had yet to go and enjoy it. . . By eight thirty the baby was fed, the car was packed and we were on the road.

     We got to the beach around noon and after conquering the parking situation we came face to face with beautiful ocean. We spent a good three hours enjoying the sun and watching Tobias marvel at all the new sights and sensations and when we had had almost too much we packed up and decided to head into Charleston for some grub. We found the downtown market on our way and moseyed around before eating at Hyman's Seafood, oh my word so good, and grabbing Chocolate Chip Tollhouse Pie from a dessert shop. Then we headed home around six and dreamed big dreams together while the baby slept peacefully in the back seat. These are the days I definitely want to remember.