Ocean City Family Vacation Photo Journal

There isn't much to say about this trip that can't be summed up in the many photos I took during the week... but I'm fairly long winded so I'll find things to say, I'm sure! 

If you read my post last summer about our Family vacation tradition you will know that there are few places in the world that I would rather be than Ocean City NJ. 

You would also know that our family is viciously protective of this tradition, and not doing it just not an option. 

For realz. 

This year was no different in that aspect. But I have to say, there were things that made it quite a different trip than those in the past; in good ways and bad ways. 

I have experienced all the life-seasons in OCNJ; child, teen, cool college kid, single young adult, newly married and childless, the mom-of-a-newborn stage, the mom with a kid in a cast stage and now the 8-month-pregnant mom with a beach-loving 2 year old and husbandless for the majority of vacation. 

It's been a wild ride. 

Because we are SO CLOSE to baby #2 and SO CLOSE but not yet done with the home project my dear, hard-working, selfless husband only came down for a few days before packing it up to go back to Hershey and continue to work hard so that we have a place to which we can bring our baby boy. 

It was sad and hard without him there. We missed him. I was sad knowing he was working hard, with many frustrations, that I was helpless to do anything about while I "relaxed" down the shore. It felt wrong, and it kind of took some of the joy of vacation away. 

I love my husband. I love having him with me. I don't love when he is stressed and tired and overworked. 

All of that to say, Vacation was great... but not as great as usual.

The highlight? Finally getting to see my water-loving baby girl experience the sand and ocean! There is no way to describe how great it was to experience OCNJ through the eyes of my toddler. 

If you remember, last year the poor thing was in a cast and couldn't really be at the beach or in the water at all. Bumma

I have an obscene amount of photos of her in the water because every moment was worthy of capturing. I'll save the majority of those for the photos albums I'll inevitably fill up and cry over one day when she is a teenager and doesn't want to go to the beach but wants to flirt with boys on the boardwalk. 

not on my watch, little lady. I was that teenager... I know the game. 

Suffice to say: Lucy LOVED the beach. The water was ice cold, but she loved it! As the week progressed her bravery grew and she didn't need to hold our hand. She would run in chasing the water and then run out allowing the new waves to chase her. It was glorious.

Those thighs though.

 She loved the sand (especially throwing it! gah!) And she wanted to be like her cousins and build sandcastles... which were primarily just little mounds of wet sand that she would just continually pat down, assuring me it was a castle. 

I can see it, can't you? She's gonna be a world-famous sculptor. I know it. 

I am overjoyed at how much she loved being down the shore. As I've mentioned, it is a very, very special place to me so it fills my heart to know it will be the same for her! 

Time with my siblings, nieces, nephews and parents was precious. 
Ocean city treats that one cannot be without like ice cream on the boards, salt-water-taffy, Johnson's popcorn, Brown's donuts and Mallon's sticky buns were all divine! 
A chance to read, sit, relax and just "be" was priceless. 

It really was a good week. 
I'm ready for next year... when the next life-stage will be experienced: mom with a toddler and a baby. yikes! 

Now, I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story :) 
Enjoy! 

Looking forward to next year when it will be another great week in OCNJ, and that little guy hiding in my belly will be crawling in the sand! :)