1 in a Million (literally): Wasting away again...

As I have made no attempt to hide, it is common knowledge that adjusting to full time work with an infant who requires nourishment from my body every 2-3 hours while planning to start school in the fall and maintaining our household has been relatively difficult for me. I have wanted to do all things without a qualitative decline in any aspect of these activities, leading me to breaking points on a nearly daily basis. With the use of some significant coping mechanisms, I narrowly avoid those breaking points and move forward.

However, when God decided to add another stressor last week, I lost all ability to cope. When temperatures reached into the triple digits BEFORE the humidity was even considered, I found myself unable to cope any longer.

Thankfully, Nathaniel had good foresight and told me to keep some paid time off instead of using it all for maternity leave so that we could actually relax at some point this summer.

So, when the heat and stress became too much, I was able to call a time out and take a break.

The second part of this blessing was that my parents, similarly, had time and energy enough for us all to pack into a car and head to Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.

True, Atlantic Beach is more Redneck Riviera than paradise resort, but the sun, sand and absolute lack of demands, schedules, and additional stressors made it seem the most ideal place in the world. We were able to rent a newly renovated 2 bedroom condo at a complex we visited while Bobby and I were teenagers, which meant we were able to keep costs (and calories) well regulated by cooking our own food. Also, it meant that Mom and I enjoyed the water slide in honor of Bobby...

I got a tent-like beach shelter to protect my pale additions to the gene pool. Nonni and Papa got Auggi a bumble bee raft with a sun shelter so he could enjoy the water as well... all in all, it was a last minute perfect storm of factors that coalesced into the brief moments of regeneration which my body and soul craved so passionately.

I hope that Auggi is able to take sun and enjoys the water as my brother and I always did. I know he's going to be a hiker and outdoors man, as is his father... but, relaxing at the beach is a joy without parallel in the annuls of our Petro family history.

I think he's off to a good start, if this weekend is any indicator...

Not at the beach, but a picture too cute not to share... getting ready for family walking time...

Again, not from the beach, but too cute not to share... plaid shorts are SOOO in right now :)

"What is this 'beach' of which you speak...?"

On the way to the beach, decked out in cute beach garb from his Office Grandma...

Getting ready to beach comb with Daddy...

Auggi loves to "chat" with his Daddy... in fact, he does not carry on his "conversations" with anyone else for as long as he does with his daddy. Here, they are chatting about the flora and fauna at Atlantic Beach...

Family photo in the beach shelter... Mommy is still not at peace with her post partum body, so a smile in hiding is the best we're going to get for a family photo on the beach!