Jane's Water Fun...and The Sun

Jane wasn't terribly interested in the water either our first day in Cancun. She seems to be looking around and asking herself, "Why are we the only ones here?" Actually, the resort wasn't crowded during our entire stay. We were there in the off-season which meant it was a little hotter and rainier than usual but not really unpleasant. And I don't like crowds so I was happy as a clam...or a sea turtle or an iguana. (Look for future posts about the native animal life we encountered in Mexico.)

How do babies sit like this? I think I would get stuck if I tried, or at least need help getting back up. I need to do more yoga. Here is Jane, looking as cute as can be. I bought her no less than three bathing suits for our trip. (They were just all so cute! What is it about little girl's clothing?) Of course none of these bathing suits fit her. The only suit that did fit her was the one my mother bought her last summer. She didn't even wear one of the suits I bought because it was so huge. Still, I packed it because I was going to a foreign country and who knew if I would need a fourth bathing suit for my daughter because the other three were dirty or ruined and I couldn't do any laundry and they didn't sell bathing suits in Cancun, Mexico? (Sigh...) Now you know what it's like in my head when I am packing for a trip. Don't want to experience that again do you? Jason frequently has to remind me when we are packing that we are not going to the Gobi desert, that they will have stores and we can buy anything we forget. Did you know Cancun has a Walmart? They have Costco too! We can't even get one of those in New York! Sheesh!

This last picture is to prove that I did put a hat on my daughter whenever she would let me. (Actually, I brought six hats for her. Who wants to carry my suitcase next time? I never do. Hmmm, maybe that's part of the problem...) In my defense, I only brought one hat for Josh, completely forgot my own hat, and didn't even worry about a hat for Jason. Although that really is not much of a defense.

After several nasty sunburns in my youth, I have developed a healthy fear of the sun. I am always amazed at the people who bake scantily clad on pool chairs for hours at a time, their skin shining under a greasy coating of oil meant to intensify the sun's rays. I peer at them out from under my hat and sunglasses while I sit wearing cover-ups under a cabana, wondering how these sun worshippers dare confront the blazing glare. I am a little envious of them because after five minutes of doing what they do, I would be in the burn ward of the nearest hospital. I must confess that part of me hopes they will look like old, leather saddlebags someday. Then, my alabaster skin will be the envy of the nursing home...as long as my darn freckles fade.

Now don't misunderstand me. I don't hate the sun. I know it lights and heats the earth, helps things grow, cheers us up, yada, yada, yada. That being said, I do consider the sun a mighty and worthy adversary against whose powerful rays I must defend myself and my loved ones. To this end, I slathered Jane, Josh and myself with copious amounts of waterproof, baby sunscreen. We only got a few sunburned spots and I like to blame those on the days Jason put sunscreen on the kids, or on my back. Jason on the other hand, decided to only put sunscreen where he could reach with his hands and not ask for any help with his back. After a few days, his back looked particularly lobstery and plenty of aloe vera was required for soothing purposes. All in all, I think we came out even with the sun and I'm certain we will miss him greatly come February.