Ce vs. The Family Reunion (Part 2)

Only one booster shot of photo cuteness in September. Totally unacceptable. Here are some more photos from the west coast Donohue visit.

Ce vs. The Family Reunion (Part 1)

Skype has been great for keeping in touch with far-flung family while living in the wilds of New England, but there is really nothing like meeting up in person to truly appreciate either the heart-melting toddler smile or the ear bleeding decibel level of a toddler meltdown. Cecilia’s godmother visited back in July (I know, I know, I’m behind) to witness firsthand the perils and pleasures of a manic two year old. Behold photos!

Ce vs. The Mud Flats

The Brewster mud flats are hard to describe, and even if I did, they are harder to really believe until you’ve seen it yourself. When it’s low tide, you can walk out two miles in ankle deep water. When it’s high tide, well, it looks like a normal old beach. Ce thinks its magic and I’m hard pressed to argue. One of our favorite summer activities has been to walk out onto the sandbars at low tide exploring tide pools, making sand turtles and chasing sea gulls. And let me say for a girl deathly afraid of just about any type of insect (or baby hermit crabs), she has a true love of jelly fish (baby ones, or whatever populates the Brewster flats) and will readily pick them up. Toddlers, go figure.

Sea Shore Baby

Let’s see. Ice cream, check. Skinned knees, check. Auntie Carrie’s, check. Zoo, check. What else did we need to do for Cecilia’s summer vacation? How about the Jersey shore? Can’t be a Donohue/DiLisi  without spending a summer day at the shore, right? We can now put a check against that one. (family trivia: Chelle and I had summer houses a street apart for a few summers)

A few weeks ago, we traveled down to Avon by the Sea and let Cece loose at her Aunt and Uncle’s beach house. She had a blast. She lounged in holes. She chased waves. She made Dad her waterboy. She got Daddy sandy (much to his dismay). She made lots of new friends. Usually by walking up to other people’s blankets, plopping down in their chairs or trying to sample their snacks.

She gave out kisses like salt water taffy. She bossed Lucy, the big golden retriever, around. She screamed like Vivien Leigh in the outdoor shower. She generally ran around like a banshee, or like a little kid at the beach, and then completely collapsed at the end of the day. Perfect for Mom and Dad. And I think perfect for her too.

A big thanks to Aunt Maureen and Uncle Rich for their gracious hospitality. And thanks to Aunt Annette for the parenting hack of using baby powder to get a kid sand-free.