Today we went to the beach on Sullivan’s Island. It wasn’t Tony’s first time on a beach but it was definitely his first full throttle beach extravaganza. At first he was hesitant, but his apprehension soon melted away when we demonstrated the fact that all of the pleasures of puddle jumping and more could easily be his. All he had to do was give in, give in to the feeling! WOO-HOO, WE’RE AT THE BEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Once we splashed around a little and assured him that it was okay his shorts were wet he remained in a constant state of wonder, amazement, and happiness.

Whitney, Tony and I splashed around in the small tidal pools and then waded through the calm creek-like expanse of ocean until we got to the sand bar. Halfway across the sandbar Whitney picked Tony up. He wasn’t complaining, but our feet were certainly feeling the heat and we didn’t want our little Tony to get hurt. Soon we arrived . . .here it was, the mighty ocean. Whitney held his hand while I jumped in the surf, sat down, lied down, anything to help him shed any possibly remaining dou bt. He thought twice about the incoming swells, but once he felt them and he knew Whitney wasn’t going anywhere he was thrilled. Each wave elicited a squeal of joy. This sublime happiness overcame any unpleasant sensations caused by salt water attacking his eyes and nostrils. He even stuck his tongue out and dipped it in the ocean to taste the saltiness.

Tony had so much fun that it was a fight to pull him away from his newfound friends (beach and ocean.) He was literally kicking and screaming while Whitney and Marlaina tried to strap him safely into his car seat.