Sand and Water...The Beach!

Today we headed to Ft. Lauderdale, checked into the hotel, and drove to the beach. Gracie figured out first hand that sand and water make a beach. Here's how she would probably describe it:

1. The water tastes yucky.
2. The waves push you down so you have to hang onto Mommy and Daddy.
3. The sand gets stuck on your feet.
4. You can push a button to make a shower go on outside.
5. The water knocks over the sand houses you made with the bucket.
6. You have to go into a restaurant to find a bathroom.

Pretty much, she figured out after 10 minutes that she prefers the pool. In fact, we went back to swim at the hotel in the evening. Gracie is getting to be a daring little swimmer. In the pool, she counts to three and will swim between Mark and me. Tonight we stood about 8 feet apart, she pushed off from standing on my thighs, stretched her arms out under the water, kicked her feet like a bicycle, and would grab Marks hands to pull up her head. She stays under the water for about 5 seconds. She also jumps in and goes under to touch the bottom, lays out on her back if we hold her head, and loves to splash. In fact, the hardest part of swimming with her is convincing Mark that she is okay. He is so protective (and uncomfortable in the water) that he expects her to be scared, too.