We visited the 30a area on the Florida Gulf Coast for the first time last year in February, and we’ve basically been counting the days until we could get back there. It’s such a pretty place, and just seems so different than the east coast beach that I’m used to vacationing. The water is so blue and so clear and the sand so clean and white…it’s a small piece of paradise. We booked a condo just outside of Rosemary Beach, and even though the weather wasn’t the best for being out on the beach (especially for Aveline), it was still so nice to get away and spend as much time relaxing as our two little ones would let us.

We were able to get out on the beach all together on the first two days, where I promptly managed to get a sunburn. Ben and I tag-teamed on those days during nap time, and that two hours alone on the beach with a book and the sunshine were such a treat. We had rain for one day and then the other two days were too cold and windy for Aveline to be out, so that was the extent of my sunning for this trip.

On the days we couldn’t get to the beach, we would go out for breakfast and then come back to the condo so Avy could nap. Ben and Ayla would either go out for a bike ride then, or we would sit in the condo and read books or “play” games or with play dough. We had a beach front rental, so even if we couldn’t be out on the beach, we could at least sit inside and see it! Most days, we would go back out in the afternoons for a bike ride or a walk and get some smoothies and coffees, and find a park or playground. Rosemary Beach has a small little public playground tucked away a few blocks from the town center, but we often ended up at The Fonville Press in Alys Beach to play at their outdoor play area. Coffee and food and a play area…such a great idea, right? It was so cute to watch Ayla interact with the other kids and shyly trying to make friends with a few of them.

It was so nice to get away on a vacation, but Aveline was having a rough sleep week and Ayla was a little emotional and grumpy too, so it wasn’t quite the blissful time of rest and relaxation that you have in mind for a vacation. 😉 But I had to remind myself so many times that the point of this time away was to be together and make memories and connection, and it didn’t have to look like I wanted it to. So we just took it slow and did what we could and tried not to let grumpy, fussy babies ruin our coffee and breakfasts and outings. I’m just grateful we got the time away, even though I came home and felt like I needed a vacation to recover from our vacation. 😉

A few local favorites/recommends, if you ever visit the area:

Fonville Press, Alys Beach // a great spot for coffee, smoothies and food, plus a fun little play area for the kids
Amavida Coffee & Tea, Rosemary Beach // coffee and smoothies (the four-berry is delicious)
Black Bear Bread Company, Grayton Beach // a great spot for breakfast with house-made sourdough bread and pastries
Chiringo, Grayton Beach // fun spot for dinner…get the awesome sauce with french fries

We started Ayla on potty training last week and so far we have managed to survive. She’s done so well overall, but wow, it can wear a mama out! The constant on-edge-feeling waiting and hoping for the “mama, I need to go potty” and the minutes spent sitting on the bathroom floor just waiting for the magical tinkle tinkle sound can get a little dull and monotonous, if I’m being honest. By the end of day two, I was just feeling so…bored. And stir-crazy. We did end up making a venture out on day three for some grocery shopping and lunch, so I guess I didn’t follow the three-day method we set out with entirely. But it is so nice to have that first week behind us, and now to just continue on practicing and making it our new normal. My mom came up for the week, which was a huge help and honestly, it did all go really well so I can’t complain.

I did the three-day method with Ayla, and she caught on almost immediately. It did take her wetting her panties and leggings once in the morning before she would go in the potty, but after that, she did so well at remembering to tell us when she needed to go. I was pumping her full of her favorite drinks and snacks, which helped her need to use the bathroom more often, but ended up working against us by the end of the day when she starts complaining about her tummy hurting. Between the entire bottle of kombucha, endless snacks of cheese puffs and popcorn, and the lollipop/jelly bean treats she received after using the potty each time, her poor stomach was a little overwhelmed I think. Oops. I dialed it way back on the treats and snacks the next day. We still have yet to go number two on the potty, but I know that can often take a lot longer for kiddos catch on to. Hopefully she’ll get it soon…I am over those disgusting big-girl poopy diapers.

My dad and sister came up on Friday afternoon then, so we had the weekend with my family here to visit. We stayed in for Saturday morning for waffles and coffee and sitting on the floor watching and playing with the babies, and then Ben and I took full advantage of having grandparents in town and snuck out for a lunch date and coffee together. I was feeling so worn out from the week and just really tired of running to the bathroom and sitting on the floor to wait for the pee pee all day long. So it was such a treat to have a few hours out together to eat a nice lunch and have good conversation without interruptions. Give me food and wine and coffee and I am a happy, happy woman, hehe.

We all went out for a stroll at the Opryland Hotel than once the girls got up from afternoon naps, and it was so nnice to spend a leisure hour in the warm, summery atriums. (click here to read a little funny thing ayla said on our way into the hotel) We managed to get Ayla to go potty in a public restroom while we were there, so that felt like a nice milestone and accomplishment. We tried to get a few photos of the girls with my mom and dad at the hotel but Ayla wasn’t having it at first…makes for funny photos tho, hehe. My family stayed for Sunday morning and went with us to church and brunch before heading back to South Carolina. We spent the rest of the day taking naps and having the most chill Super Bowl party at home with early bedtimes for the girls and snacks in our pajamas. Such a nice weekend!

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave