Another lovely day in Key West

Kevin had to work in Key West today so Ainsley and I joined him and spent the day bumming around. After dropping Kevin off at the Outback we walked over to the Publix to get a few things. Kevin and I have been discussing starting Ainsley on juice soon so I picked up the Gerber variety pack and some waters. We then headed to Old Town. I thought having a nice brunch at the Banana Cafe would be a nice start to our day. (blog post to follow).


Breakfast at The Banana Cafe

After brunch we walked over to the Southern Most Point and had our picture taken.



Ainsley and Mommy at the Southern Most Point

Then we headed to Ft. Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. I wasn't sure what to expect... So I didn't bring anything special... including our bathing suits, sunscreen, towels... etc.  Yeah... talk about not being prepared and having to improvise on the spot. 

First of all you have to pay per person to enter park. At first glance of the sign I thought we was going to be $7 because we were in a 2 person car.  (Sign said 1 person vehicle $4.50- which to me is a moped).  I only had $5! So I turned around in search of a Bank.  Which for the record I have yet to find a drive up ATM on that island.  So when I found a CVS with parking I ran in grabbed some snacks for me and cash back.  Now back to the Park (thank God the island is small and it only took me 15 minutes) I drive up and was told our fee was $4.50...  because it was only me (children under 5 are free) in the car.  Awesome!   

We drive around and there is a Civil War Fort (please someone explain that to me) and what looks to be the ocean? Great the beach!  Now I have never been a big person to just sit on the beach. Sand just gets everywhere. Nope... I am a chill by a pool type of girl!  And now that I have a baby that puts everything in her mouth... she'll have sand there too!  I didn't come prepared for this.  I only have a stroller and her regular things. (This is when I realized we left her owl blanket at the hotel).  

So I  go through her bag and take out what I know we won't need.  I grabbed my unbrella that lives in my car.  I looked at her toys and toss them back into the car.  I just had visions of her chewing on Sophie... dropping her in the sand... and putting her back in her mouth... Mouth full of sand!  Anyway... I try pushing her stroller through the sand... Yeah.... Impossible!  So I unload, fold up the stroller, and grab the baby and start walking!  All while I am loaded up like a pack mule!   Yeah... not so easy!  I actually thought to myself... this is something I can't do without a second person for help!  But if that's what I always thought Ainsley and I would never do anything sometimes.  

So we find a nice spot in the shade (since we have no sunscreen) and I start thinking on how can I improvise. I was fine sitting in the sand.  I roll up my pant legs to make capris and rip off her pants and toss on her hat.  I pulled out her changing table pad and plopped her down. Opened up the umbrella... voila!  Getto Beach Day!  

Hanging out on the Beach

She had fun playing in the sand. After a while I took her to the ocean. She was fine as long as I was holding her. She was so scared of the water when I put her down. When I pulled her back up she would cling to me.  It's the first time she has ever done this.  As sad as it made me that I caused her to be scared it made me feel good that she clung to me to protect her.  I actually thought "She loves me!".  I was able to get this photo of our foot prints in the sand before she freaked out and the tide washed it away. 

Foot Prints

We had a fun day.  We watched the cruise ships leave and the people on wave runners ride by.  I'm glad that I didn't let the fact that we were not prapared to go to the beach keep us away from having a great day!  Every once in a while I surprise myself in my ability to just improvise and go with the flow.  I have more photos on my camera that I will have to find time to load up.