if it's the beaches

we just got back from a week long trip to the beach. it was just what the doctor ordered! thanks to the in-laws casey and i got some much needed time to ourselves with the perfect view.

i feel so blessed that we got to go when we did. it's only been a few days since we've gotten home, and i'm already hearing that this terrible oil spill is now impacting the emerald coast.

our trip was definitely an adventure. i've begun to realize that all hester family trips are an adventure at some point. the week started out with casey's mom and stepdad in destin and ended with me, casey, and webb in seaside.

when we started heading south, we were a little anxious about whether we had left at the right time seeing that webb dictates our schedule. this was the first trip that webb would take in his new car seat, that makes his head bob around when he sleeps, and it would be the longest span of time he would have to stay in his seat too. scary! well ... he surprised us and was a little angel. so content.

our halfway stopping point between nashville and the beach was durbin farms. casey had never been, but i had .. many times. it's north of montgomery and is a must for peaches and watermelon for the beach. these peaches make for the best daiquiris! (recipe to come later)

it took 8 hours to get to destin and i couldn't wait to take webb to the beach. his excitement was contagious!

a friend told me that i should definitely get a baby pool to take down to the beach. it was the best $12 i've ever spent at t.j.maxx. webb was so content playing with his sand toys in the pool. then we'd fill it up with a little water and he splashed around for hours. this little hat from target was the best. webb looked like "the skipper" one day and like he was wearing a bonnet the next. i was constantly laughing at him.

he loved splashing in the pool ... (it was his first time in one)

... and walking on the beach (excuse the rolls)

the highlight of our week was our seaside adventure. we rented a one bedroom cottage on a whim and it was perfect. this was the cottage ...

... and this was our view

i've been to seaside almost every summer since i was 16, stayed in seagrove and blue mountain beach, but never actually in seaside. it was a totally different experience being a part of the "seaside community" - inside joke. we want to go back every year! besides not having to move the car once, the westside pool was the best amenity this community had to offer.

i think webb was a fan too.

we hated for our trip to come to a close, but this little dude needed to get back to his own bed.