First Vacation!

No first vacation trip can be complete without a first airplane ride included! I was really kind of hesitant about flying with a almost 1 1/2 year old at first, not quite sure how she was going to handle sitting still for so long and how she would react to her ears popping, but really, she did great! She slept most of the way to SC, and on the way back, fussed a little, but nothing crazy.

 

The first thing we wanted to do when we got to beautiful, sunny, SC was go to the beach! Ibou hasn't been to the Ocean for almost 15 years, and for someone who grew up on the ocean, I think he was really missing it. So, off to Folly Beach we went on day 2. (Day 1 was spent getting settled at the hotel and exploring downtown Charleston.)

 

 

 This picture was actually taken on the last day we were in Charleston, but it's one of my favorite pictures b/c it is amazing to see how little her little feet are and to know that they won't always be this little.

 Ah the Ocean! We had a great time!

 When the tide was low, there were a ton of little "pools" further up on the beach that were perfect for little ones to play in! We spent at least 20 minutes if not longer at a time playing in one of them with Sophie. When we moved on to head out to the ocean with her, we heard little squeals from other kids behind us. Come to find out, the spot where we were sitting was crab infested!! We were lucky that they didn't decide to pinch us or Sophie! They were adorable little blue crabs though and the kids had a blast picking them up and playing with them. 2 other little girls also found live starfish in the area as well, so we got to pet real starfish!!

 

 Sophie wasn't a huge fan of the ocean, unless you were holding her lol.

Once a wave got her, she'd scream and cry, but if daddy or momma was holding her, it was ok. She'd scream "weeeeeee!" lol. 

 I love my little family!

 We visited a plantation while we were there. You can't visit the south and not visit a plantation and because of the history behind it, and with our own personal histories, we felt it would be an interesting experience. Many slaves were brought here from many places on the west coast of Africa, including Senegal, which is where Ibou is from. Goree Island, which is where most slaves were shipped from is located right off of Senegal. So there is a chance that ancestors of Ibou's could have been shipped here many decades ago. Now me on the other hand, my paternal side of my family comes straight out of the south. My paternal grandparents were born and raised in Georgia, just like their parents, and theirs before them, and although we were not Plantation owners, my family did own slaves at one point in time. In other words, it was a humbling experience for the both of us and an amazing way to put things that we take for granted into perspective.

 One of the slave quarters. There were over 30 of them on the property at one time, but now only 9 are still standing.

 Going into one of the cabins.

 The house was a bit of a disappointment though. It's actually the 4th house built there and was built in 1936, so really it never had anything to do with the history surrounding it's lands. Plus the family is still living there that currently owns it, so you really aren't allowed to go very many places.

 She is so stinking cute!

 Random pic of us :)

And lastly, no trip to the south is complete w/out a trip to the Waffle House!!! It was her first time and she LOVED it! Ate 1/2 my pancake, some of Ibou's and 1/2 my hashbrowns. Next time this kid gets her own meal ;)