Camping at Bodega Dunes

Today, I'm back with a few more photos from our recent coastal camping trip.

If you missed the first post with Sunday's photos + words, click here.  

Because we arrived so late on Sunday, we didn't get a chance to head down to the beach until Monday morning. 

These four photos were taken at North Salmon Creek Beach, just minutes from Bodega Bay.

It was a nice, flat beach with lots of surfers catching waves nearby.  And the weather was beautiful--sunny and clear with just a slight breeze.         

Noah loved the water (no surprise there!).  So much so, in fact, that his jeans got soaked in mere minutes.  Brian rolled up his pants and Noah continued to kick and splash and jump and laugh.
 

Speaking of laughing, at times, I could hear Noah's squeals of delight even over the sound of the waves crashing.

When the water receded for a few moments, Noah could be found smacking his hands on the wet sand.  (Isn't the reflection in the sand so cool?  Pure serendipity.)   

Awww...my heart was so happy watching Noah and Brian play in the Pacific Ocean. 

Later on that day after Noah's nap, we decided to let Spud Point Crab Company provide us with dinner.  I'm not used to camping so close to civilization where dinner is just five minutes away.  Talk about a treat.  We ordered sandwiches (crab for Brian and shrimp for me) and of course, clam chowder.  Everything was delicious.  Noah's favorite part?  The soup crackers.  Smile.  

After dinner, it was off to explore the sand dunes again--this time with a sweatshirt, hood up, because of the fierce wind.  As you can see, Noah loved running down the trail!

At one point, I was able to run up ahead of Noah.  I looked at him and said, "Come and get me!" and then took off running.  I could hear him laughing in the distance.  After running for about fifteen seconds, I turned back and this is what I saw: pure delight on Noah's face as he chased me.

I love, love, love our fun and happy boy!

When the sand dunes got too steep for Noah to climb, Brian picked him up and carried him--either in his arms or on his shoulders.    

Once we were back in the campground, though, Noah was off walking and running and saying "hi" to the other campers.


There were lots of "firsts" on this trip: Noah's first time in the ocean; his first time camping in the dunes; and his first time sleeping through the night away from home (thank God!). 

But there's one more first I want to mention: Noah enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate. 

While sitting in the trailer, Brian lovingly made me a mug of hot cocoa (thanks, babe!) and of course, Noah wanted to try it.  So, Brian poured some in a cup for Noah (watering it down considerably), and then prepared a glass for himself.  

Before drinking our mugs of hot chocolate, the three of us clinked our glasses together and exclaimed "Cheers!"   

It was a toast to one another, to our little family, and to great memories made on this camping trip.    

 

Dear Noah

Dear Noah,

You, my precious boy, are 20 months old today.      

I'm in awe of how fast you are growing up.  And how much you are learning.  

You're understanding us better and uttering lots of new words. 
    
I'm so excited to see you continue to learn and grow. 

But as your second birthday creeps ever closer, I feel myself clinging tightly to your little boyness.

I want to take in all the little things you do and say.

I want to savor these precious moments.
 
Because I know, all too soon, you will be a big boy.  Just like the wonderful boys I taught in my first and fourth grade classes. 

I also know that years from now, I will not remember these little things--they are so transient--and you will not remember them because you are so young. 

For these reasons and others, I am writing to you today.

I want to remember ...

• How you run your fingers through my ponytail as I'm carrying you around the house.

• How, at the top of the stairs in the garage, you hold your hand out to grab mine, so we can walk down together. 

• How you often say, "nah, nah," which in Noah speak means "more, more."

• How you love to play with my necklaces.  (Several of them have broken as a result, but I don't mind.  That's why I buy jewelry at Charming Charlie.)  

• How when you are finished with your milk cup, you throw it in the kitchen trash can.  

• How you blow kisses to me.

• How you come walking down the hallway after bath time, calling out, "Mama, Mama."

• How you blow your nose loudly into a paper towel just like daddy does.  

• How you walk in the door, returning home after running errands with daddy, and the first thing you say is, "Mama?  Mama?" 

• How you love to ride your Radio Flyer bike as fast as you can through the dining room, kitchen, living room and around to the family room.   

• How you say, "Yay!" followed by "Nah, nah" (more, more) after I've sung a lullaby to you at night. 

• How you admire yourself in your mirrored bedroom closet doors with a huge smile upon your face because you recognize that the shirt I put on you is brand new.  It's as if you're thinking, "Woohoo...a new shirt!  Lookin' good." 

• How you chime in, saying the word, "hush" when we're reading Goodnight Moon together.

I will treasure these sweet memories, these moments, my son.    

And years from now, I will remember, with tears in my eyes and a smile on my lips, just how wonderful it felt to be your mama when you were just a little boy.

Love,
Your Mama