I have to say that on this trip I feel like I took so many more pictures via Instagram than through my good Nikon camera. It was just easier and more readily available. Don't we all find ourselves in that picture situation these days?
Anyway - Patrick and I were desperate to get out of town for a little while because it had been a long year, a different year, and we were more than ready for our super summer! So a week before we left - we planned a trip to the Outer Banks. We were off to the beach!
I found a beautiful cottage - The Neva Midgett House. Despite the name, the house was amazing with a great location, great price, and amazing owners. The house is located in the little town of Manteo, NC and it is a historic home with my kind of antique design! We will definitely be going back!
The beach was only a five minute drive away - so you can bet that was the first place we went!
This was the best place to spend the beginning of summer, it wasn't packed at all! It was quiet, it was in the week and you all with toddlers know that the morning is the best time to be outside. They are up and ready for the day and the summer days are cooler at those times.
Don't you just wish you were here!?!?
Preston's water shoes...I die every time I see him in these. He LOVES his "wa wa shoes"! It's so important that these little guys wear these at the beach - that way they don't cut themselves on shells or burn their feet on the hot sand. Preston even uses them at the pool.
We found this pint-sized fold out chair for Preston a loooong time ago at Ollie's. Eight bucks. Totally worth it.
The most we stayed at the beach was about two hours. With a toddler it's hard to stay outside for too long when you are in the sun. We used the shade a lot, but it was hot. We kept Preston busy with a pool full of sand and water that he could dig and play in.
He was definitely scared of the ocean but I think if we had stayed longer he would have warmed up to it. But when those waves crash, it can be a bit intimidating to a kid who is only 30 something inches tall.
Because it was so early in the summer the water was cold. I never got all the way in or swam in it. To begin with, I'm not one to go out deep in the ocean. Not for me. I enjoy looking at it, getting my feet in the water, and searching for sea shells. Pat's the fish.
Preston was much more comfortable in his makeshift ocean right by the tent :) This Mom was too! I have to say, when you're with your kid at the ocean, you can get a bit nervous at times.
I didn't get too many pictures of Preston on the second day we went...let's just say that Preston was NOT feeling well.
When we went to the beach the first day, it was a great morning. We had a blast, Preston came back to the house and had almost a two hour nap. We were ready to go do more sight seeing! But our plans were changed really quickly when Preston got sick in the car. The poor dear. We were driving and he was really quiet...
Patrick and I both heard a little gurgle in the back - so I immediately took my seat belt off, turned around in my seat and caught...toddler throw up. I felt so bad for him, I can't imagine feeling that sick, and throwing up in the car while you are strapped in a car seat. I told him he was OK, I caught the brunt of the mess, we pulled over, Preston hung out in his diaper while we cleaned up the car.
We think it was a combination of heat and exhaustion. I am used to getting sick quite often, so thank goodness I knew exactly what to do and just tried to make him feel better as soon as I could.
Needless to say, Preston wasn't too excited to be back at the beach the next day, so we didn't stay long at all...maybe an hour.
Enough time to enjoy some strawberries on the beach, and then it was time to head back and enjoy the town of Manteo.
Gorgeous.
Relax - word of the summer.
We decided last minute to go to the NC Aquarium there on Roanoke Island. Luckily we decided well going last minute, because the aquarium was seriously small. It took all of ten minutes to walk through and it was eight bucks per person (Preston was free). But they did have a great collection of sharks and a room with some toys for kids to play with.
Preston loves his fish!
So after a lot of bike riding, beach going and throw-up catching - all in all I'd say it was a successful trip!
We seriously had a great time and made so many wonderful memories with our little family. It's another place that we can see going back to year after year.
We have two more big vacations planned for this summer and I can not WAIT to enjoy those as well!
PS - if you look back at my Instagram post from this trip - you will see the coolest bike seat on the planet . It's a front riding seat so the kids can see where they are going and feel like they are steering. Preston loved it and we are saving now to purchase one - thank you Val & Tim for letting us borrow it!!!!
Ibert Child Bike Seat
I highly recommend it!







































































