Myrtle Beach

This past weekend we headed to Myrtle Beach with The Duprees and The Grangers. This trip was planned last year so, it came with big expectations.  Between our two families we had a full house of 10 (soon to be 12 as Amy and Erin are both pregnant!)  There was always a baby crying (usually ours), someone up in the middle of the night (usually us), and kids running and crawling everywhere (not ours!).  It was our first vacation as a family, and like most firsts, it was a learning experience.  We’re learning how to juggle our new lives as parents with our old lives as The Helfer Duo.

Although it wasn’t a perfect weekend, we wouldn’t have wanted our first beach trip shared with anyone else.  Or our hectic routine (or lack thereof) shared with anyone else.  We are truly blessed to have our friends and family to make these chaotic memories with!

James’ first beach experience was less than ideal.  In his defense, it was extremely windy.  So much that we couldn’t put the big umbrella up, sand was in the air, and the wind gusts to his face… well, let’s just say, he didn’t take it so well.  “Our little beach bum” made it clear to the east coast that he, in fact, DOES. NOT. LIKE. THE. BEACH. AT. ALL.

He did not like his toes in the sand.

He did not like the water.

He did not like the wind. (can you blame him?)

After I tried to calm him, Vaughn tried to hold him, and Justin tried to help him, James could only be soothed by one person: our baby whisperer, Mrs. Amy Dupree.

Back at the house, James again took to Amy.

 

And also spent some quality time with Aaron Dupree.

Emory and Mr. Lynyrd spent some quality time together.  (Emory used to call Lynyrd “LIzzard” and out of the blue has switched it to “Mr. Lynyrd.”  We’ll see what his name is next week.)

She has learned the key to Lynyrd’s heart: Carrots. 

Day two on the beach started off bad.  Inconsolably bad. So, James and I left the beach festivities for a nap and a full tummy.  Then we headed back out to give it one last try.  Glad we did, because third time was a charm.

He dipped his toes in the sand.

And in the water, too.

We kept it short and sweet given James’ attention span, but all in all he was a trooper.