(Disclaimer: I can't figure out why the color of my text is showing up grey. Has something to do with the copy and pasted stuff 
at the end, but I can't fix it and I'm sick of trying! I hope you can read it ok!)

Aubrey and I took a beach day on June 27! The weather here in SoCal was stunning and it was perfect for Aubrey's first time 
in the ocean. Aubrey has been to "the beach" many times here in SoCal, but usually just to walk or play in the sand or at the 
playgrounds. This day was the first time she played in the water and I wasn't sure how she would like it. She has a tendency 
to be a little hesitant in new situations, but if I push her, just enough, she almost always loves ANYTHING. I think it's all 
just part of being two years old. 
 

 
After settling on our blanket (this followed a great disaster in the public beach bathroom which I'll share on LAMomsBlog.com, 
soon) and a picnic lunch of sandwiches, Pirate's Booty, cookies, raisins and juice, I asked her if she wanted to go in the water 
and she said "no". Being the good mother that I am, I responded by picking her up, walking her down to the water's edge and 
putting her down. Luckily, she went nuts for it. This video is of her first moments with her toes in the Pacific. 
 

 
After this video was taken she couldn't get enough and I couldn't stop her from running, full speed, into the waves. It was a day 
of new experiences and discovery for Aubrey and a day of much needed peace and escape for me. It was truly one of the most 
joyful days of my life.
 

 
The afternoon reminded me of one of my favorite poems, by the great e.e. cummings. I hope you enjoy it too:
 

 
maggie and milly and molly and may
 

 
maggie and milly and molly and may 
went down to the beach (to play one day)  
 
and maggie discovered a shell that sang 
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and  
 
milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;  
 
molly was chased by a horrible thing 
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and  
 
may came home with a smooth round stone 
as small as a world and as large as alone.  
 
For whatever we lose(like a you or a me) 
it's always ourselves we find in the sea