Heaven on Earth

UPDATE: I somehow missed the most magical + my most favorite picture of my baby!!

Ever. 

Ok back to the sequential order.

We woke up with the birds to watch the sunrise on the beach + have mimosas while she drank milk, not quite hungry enough + too sleepy to eat. There were some clouds at first + the most soothing ocean breeze as she chased seagulls + dipped her feet in the water. Watching the waves + looking at the scale of how small my girl was compared to this vast body of water, reminded me of how small we are on this Earth + in the universe. The sky + the sea are just a fraction of the land we inhabit + how lucky we are to have the time to witness it.

  Looking at these photos of my baby watching the magic of Mother Nature + reveling in all its glory, reminds me of how precious life is + how incredible it must look through her eyes. Waking up + watching the sun rise is a simple, beautiful pleasure I hope she will always enjoy as she grows older. Witnessing a brand new day begin is a gift not many people see or are able to have. Seeing all of this beauty helps me believe there is something more grand, way beyond our comprehensible knowledge.

Today is the 17th anniversary of my maternal grandfather's passing. I am reminded she is a part of his legacy + though he is no longer here to meet her, he is always here. When I look at her dark skin, it reminds of the genes she inherited all the way down from him, generations later. He loved his grandchildren + family so much + I like to think that is another trait she got from him. There is a lot I don't know about life but I do know that when she sees the sun shine or the stars sparkle at night, she sees him + he sees her. 

Deep Sea Baby

Of all of the things to do on the island, we thought dolphin watching would be the most interesting for her at this point. We took a boat ride to search for the local bottle nose dolphins out in the bay. We didn't know that there was a little fish presentation as well which is right up Pea's alley. She loves all creatures on land + by sea so she was front + center when the little show began. We saw flounders, sea stars, other fish I forgot the name of + dolphins but I am sorry, I was not quick enough to capture them on camera but we did get to see them. She was more interested in the fish anyway that it didn't matter to her. We have a local aquarium we plan to take her to but I have feeling she won't like it as much. 

(All ocean species were caught by a net + put back into the water once the ride was completed)

A pregnant female blue crab. Gag. It looks like an alien right? The black part is where she keeps her babies, some 2,000 eggs in which only 4% survive once hatched. Never knew that + the fact that crabs have paddlers + swim from side to side just like they walk. 

Not afraid of anything. 

A sea star, not a starfish, have eyes at the tip of each of their 5 points + drill holes through seashells over the span of one month to eat what is inside. There was a baby one as well that she got to throw back in the ocean.

obsessed