Along For The Ride

While on vacation: no work, no appointments and no going to bed at a decent hour, NO SCHEDULES, the exception of course is having a toddler. While there is no going to work and there are no appointmets, there is a loose schedule to keep and if you don't go to bed at a decent hour, the next morning could be less enjoyable than it would have otherwise been had you turned out the light 45 minutes sooner.

I wasn't shocked when I heard Pierce call out for me at 5:30, WIDE AWAKE but I was surprised, which made me thankful for those 45 minutes. Who needs to sleep in till 7am anyway? It doesn't take me long anymore to wake up, especially with P's lack of inhibition regarding normal 5:30am decorum. Who spins in circles and laughs hysterically as a response to "would you like some milk"?

After four small cups of coffee and watching CBS's Eye Opener, the morning reached a modicum of normalcy. By that time most of the house was awake and into their normal routine. Mama and Nana went for a walk on the beach, while Pierce and Daddy took their own walk. P was tired (from already being up for four hours) and was more interested in Daddy carrying him which I enjoyed (nothing like your son's chin pressed firmly on your shoulder and arm draped around your neck). He pointed at the seagulls (he calls them ducks) and clapped when they glided through the salty breeze. We watched overweight old guys with white chest hair diligently hunt for lost treasure with medal detectors and spied on the same unlucky or unskilled fisherman all while maneuvering through the morning shellers.

Ashleigh and I broke away while Nana and Poppy watched Pierce. It was fun to rehash the previous events and talk about upcoming activities for the week and remaining year all while being cognizant of the fact that we were alone, holding hands on a beach and the last time that had occured was three years earlier. We went for an impromptu drive up HWY 1 in CA, found a pull off and ran down to the Pacific Coast. Times are slightly different. We kissed and I told her I'd be back in 41 minutes after a five mile run (took 46, it's very muggy).

Activity of the day centered around two souped up seven speed bicycles (one with a baby seat on the back) and a five mile bike ride that had us stopping twice; once at the Sanibel Community Park and the other at Bailey's local Grocery for refreshments. Pierce's body language seemed to express that he was along for the ride, content to try just about anything provided that there were snacks and drinks along the route.

RC Otters was next on the route. We all piled in to The 2012 XLE Sienna and punched in the coordinats to Captiva Island because Nana had it on good authority that the aforementioned establishment was not to be skipped. After a bumpy start in the inside dining room, we quickly audibled and moved outside which made all the difference. It was there that Pierce discoverd his LOVE/INFATUATION for tarter sauce. His fried fish filets were merely a vehicle to consume as many tiny buckets of the heavenly goodness as possible. It didn't last long but it was a ravenous five minutes, over as quickly as it had begun.

Just about the time as the rest of our food had arrived a local guitarist playing for the evening entered his radar. He began to wave his arms high in the air like he was singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and clapping at the end of each song. He was tired of being in the high chair and wanted a closer look. While my locally caught and grilled grouper and crab meat would have tasted delicious while hot, it would've have been a poor substitue for me picking my son up, walking to the lower patio and dancing with him in front of the musician. His Mama tagged me out after about ten minutes and his Nana after that. We didn't plan on entertaining the rest of the restaurant but we did enjoy the moment, (not as much as Pierce loved the tarter sauce) because we're all making the most of our ride.