7 Months Old.

Dear Aubrey.

If you're lucky enough to be at the beach, you're lucky enough. We started this month with a family trip to Edisto Beach, South Carolina. Daddy has been going to Edisto with Mommy and her family ever since they met. At the beach, we all stay in a big house together and spend most of our days on the beach. Daddy plays a little golf and fishes with your Grandeddy, while Mommy likes to read and help MiMi find sharks' teeth. We packed several swimsuits for you and even bought you three different beach shelters for our first family vacation but unfortunately when we arrived, Hurricane Beryl was also visiting the Lowcountry and brought a lot of rain and wind. A couple days later, we were finally able to get your toes in the water and your diaper in the sand, but you weren't very excited about the loud waves and cold ocean. Luckily, Mommy also packed an inflatable pool, so you were able to splish and splash at the beach house, which you really enjoyed. You also really enjoyed riding around the island on the golf cart. You made your first trip, barefoot like your Mommy did in her younger days, to Piggly Wiggly. We ate a lot of good food at the beach, you continued working on eating solid food. You haven't mastered eating pureed peas and carrots as well as you have mastered sitting up, but you aren't going hungry. At this month's check-up with Dr. P., he was impressed with how much you have grown. You are very healthy and the height and weight of an average 10-month old. But there is nothing average about you. Still no teeth yet, but the signs are all there that one is coming soon. Hopefully those teeth don't interfere with your sweet baby babble talk. Daddy insists you said MaMaMaMa and you've gotten good with some other consonants as well. Just in time to celebrate Daddy's first Father's Day, you said DaDaDaDa. We also celebrated your dedication at church with family and friends. Luckily, we didn't see any of your friends at Bi-Lo for a Saturday morning shopping trip this month. Mommy and Daddy forgot to bring the diaper bag...and a spare set of clothes. We're really sorry about making you ride home in a stinky diaper. Itty Bitty Bookworm club started up again this month; Mommy takes you to the library with LeeLee and Austin. It was either there or in the church nursery that we think you caught a cold this month. Your sunshine was back after a couple of days of sniffles and coughs but Mother Nature delayed more of Mommy's outdoor plans. Miss Julia was going to take your picture in the same sunflower field where she took pretty pictures of Mommy while you were still in her belly. But it rained, so we had to take them inside. We will try to reschedule and go back out there soon but time is going by so fast. Christmas is only 6 months away! If we're lucky, the sunflowers will stay in bloom for a few more weeks. However, Mommy and Daddy are more than just lucky enough, at the beach or Bi-Lo, whether there's sunshine or rain, we are truly blessed to have you as our daughter.