SUMMER LOVING

...had me a blast doesn't even cover it.  We all know time flies when you're having fun, but I find it hard to believe September is here already (where did August go?) and fall is around the corner threatening us with cascading leaves and mugs of hot chocolate.  Once Labor Day comes and goes, summer is pretty much over.  Just ask Starbucks.  Clearly they support this theory since they've already rolled out the Pumpkin Spice Latte.  However, before I officially embrace the joy of hoodie weather and warm beverages, it is only fair that I bid summer a proper farewell.

As I mentioned before, Madison loves the beach so there is no surprise in the fact we found ourselves making the trip more than once this summer to allow her the opportunity of wetting her feet at the Atlantic's edge.  She has developed quite the fascination with mermaids this year and thoroughly enjoyed pretending to be one.  At one point she even expressed to Allison and me that she often dreams of becoming a mermaid and watching her legs turn into a glittering fin.  Completely normal.  Right?  I think she may have watched too many mermaid movies.  Nonetheless, I'll pick her up belly down and hold her legs together while moving them up and down in a fin-like motion swimming her in the living room, down the hall and back again to shrieks of laughter and eager requests of "again Daddy, again".  And again.  And again.  And I do until my back hurts because one day I'm afraid I'll find myself wishing I had swam this little girl one more time mermaid-style around the house.

This summer marked the first time Madison swam in a pool (inflatable baby pools excluded).  Last year, she was too small and we weren't brave enough so this year we made sure pool time was a priority.  With floaties hugging her upper arms, I watched her jump in without fear and kick her legs when prompted.  I'm not sure if it was the comfort of my arm under her or the security of the tiny, inflatable life rafts around her arms or maybe in her mind she was a mermaid... in any case, she loved it.  Below is a picture of a night swimming session.  We're glowing because of an underwater light in front of us, not because I'm extremely pale.  I promise.  Okay, maybe I am a little pale.

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know our floors were finally installed after the Great Hot Water Heater Explosion of 2013 (more on that here).  Good times.  There were birthday parties to attend, a transition from the crib to the toddler bed, and a trip to the aquarium where Madison threw her first tantrum (in public, of all places) and we saw a glimpse of those "terrible twos" everyone warned us about.  The lesson we learned?  Do not take a toddler into a gift shop.  Crisis averted!  You're welcome.  We grilled a lot and laughed a lot as our little girl started picking up more words and forming more sentences throughout the last couple of months.  Also, Madison started preschool last week.  I still can't believe that sentence is true (more on that experience soon). 

 

It seems just as quickly as it came, summer is on its way out again.  Summer loving, it happens so fast.