A boat for the boy…and a trip to the lake!

Since we were up in Grayling, Gramma Marsha came over to visit. She also brought Owen a gift—a blow up boat, complete with leg holes and a horn! It was perfect, as we were planning (hoping!) to take him to the lake (for his first big water experience) that weekend.

What was funny, though, was me reading the box: “For ages 6 months to 12 months. Up to 20 pounds.” 88| That meant we had better use it that weekend, otherwise he would be too big! (Yes, he is only six months old…but remember, he weighs as much as a 12-month old so he was already at the max weight!)

So just in case the beach thing didn’t work out, we had a photo op at home beforehand:

So then it was off to Houghton Lake to see Rose and Jim at their cottage. They have lake access just down the street, so we all walked down there, cameras and towels and boat in hand, boy in the stroller, hoping for it to go well.

Things started off well, but then he wasn’t anywhere near the water yet.

Unfortunately, it was windy, which made the water a bit choppy.

And the water was cold, so it took about five seconds to register that he didn’t like it so we pulled him out.

But we still wanted to try the boat. And this picture pretty much sums up his entire first lake experience:

So much for my grand visions of a nice and warm day, with the sun having warmed the first two inches of CALM lake water, with us sitting next to the boy IN the water, watching him play and kick. |-|

Then it was off for a pontoon ride around the lake. Rose and Jim didn’t have a baby life jacket but they did have a kinda small one—which Owen didn’t really like, either (but then, he was hungry—so once the bottle was finished, he was much happier). That said, his helmet was really in the way:

…so we eventually took it off—and once the helmet was off and he relaxed a bit, things were better:

…and he eventually fell asleep! 🙂