Dear Reese,
You are unsure about waterparks. I get it. It’s loud with the sound of rushing water and the radio playing and people everywhere. Poor darling, you were overwhelmed a few minutes in. On the whole, we live a quiet life up in Door County and it didn’t help that the timing of today had made it so you were ready for a nap.
I hate seeing your lip tremble and you started crying shortly after you were set down in the shallowest water. It didn’t help that I had just taken your binky to set it somewhere safe (and to gently reinforce that we don’t need it for playtime). I got down in the water with you, binky offered once more, but it was clear you just needed some time being held close.
In the end, all that loud was perfect white noise. You spent most of your first visit to a waterpark sleeping in my arms.
You were very cute in your suit though, honey. We’ll be back tomorrow afternoon and, hopefully, I can show you some fun in the water together. You love splashing and playing at bathtime so I think this is a matter of overwhelm. If not, we’ll explore other parts of the resort for our weekend away in Sheboygan.
Tonight you’re sleeping in one of the bedrooms next to me in the four-bedroom villa MorMor and Cappi got for all of us at the Blue Harbor Resort. Your cousin Kai, Uncle Wes, and Aunt Amanda are here too — Kai made tracks all over the waterpark while you snoozed.
We did some extra rocking to get you to sleep but I hope you have a restful night. You haven’t slept in too many different places before and while I know the learned flexibility is healthy, I get nervous being out of our routine at bedtime. It was such a hard-fought-for routine after those first few months of crying at length every evening.
Oh, one more picture to share. This picture of the two of you all bundled up as we were about to leave the park and walk you to the villa made me laugh.
Love,
Mama