Last week, Chris and I took a trip to Anna Maria Island for our baby moon. As we were on the beach, I realized we've taken a whole lot of trips for weddings, to visit friends and - of course - Kenya - in the last two years, but we haven't actually been on vacation just the two of us since our honeymoon.
Ah, how it will restore your soul!
We arrived early (early!) Thursday morning and stayed through Sunday evening. The weekend was full of reading (Beneath a Scarlet Sky & The Orphan's Tale for me, Beneath a Scarlet Sky & The Nightingale for Chris!), tons of long walks on the beach and great seafood. I'm still thinking of the salmon!
We held hands. We talked about life. We didn't talk about schedules or logistics or grocery lists. We watched the sunset on the beach. We slept for 10 hours each night. We dreamed about our future. We talked about baby names and whether we think it will be a boy or girl. We talked about our fears, our worries and our hopes.
It was dreamy.
I tell you what, after a long winter, the beach sure will rejuvenate you.
I also rocked a bikini, which was very unexpected. I purchased a one-piece ahead of time and had just told my sister I didn't think I'd ever been a woman who wore a two piece while pregnant. But then, as I packed, I decided to throw in my bikini. Why not!? The stakes seemed low enough to wear it with just Chris.
After the first day, I decided to take the plunge and throw it on. Y'all, my confidence skyrocketed in that thing. I felt so beautiful and sure of myself. I felt empowered - like I'd come out of hiding since the first day. I felt free. I highly recommend it.
For those who are interested in Anna Maria, we stayed at The Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club. The rooms are all suites, so you'll have two bedrooms and a kitchen, as well as a pull-out couch. It would be great for a group of friends or a family, though it's in somewhat of an odd part of town. It was far more space than we needed!
If you're interested in booking, we got a great deal through Expedia, which has up to 10% cash back on Ebates. The Expedia rate (for late February) + the cash back through Ebates made it much more affordable. After we completed the trip, Ebates deposited cash back into my account, which made that beach-side salmon feel much more affordable! :) I mostly recommend the resort (again, the location is a little odd!), but highly recommend booking trips through Ebates.
And now, we're just 53 days away from my due date. Crazy!