Getting to Know the Gulls

So I grew up in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (if you don’t know where that is, look it up), where I was surrounded by abundant beaches. Naturally, I took it for granted and didn’t take advantage of it. So once I moved to Georgia, USA, I missed the beach like crazy. Upon hearing that my husband was going on a business trip to St. Simon’s Island (a beach!), Georgia, I made sure that Z and I were tagging along. This was Z’s first beach trip (February 2011…she was 8 months old), and I wanted to really remember it.

It was chilly that morning and I had lugged Z along in her stroller. I didn’t see any ramps, and the stroller was pretty loaded, so it stayed up and watched us go down. The sand was pretty damp that day so the Baby Bjorn baby carrier came in v.handy as you can see above! Z and I were mesmerized by the waves.

I try grilled cheese sandwiches and french fries everywhere I go. This one was delicious. The seagulls thought so too. We all disliked the salady leaf though.

In Karachi, Pakistan, my family always wears our shalwar kameezes to the beach, colourful kurtas with balloony pants, or slim pants, you choose. They are cottony thin and dry in minutes! Unfortunately that first day in St. Simon’s was pretty rainy and gloomy. At least my shalwar kameez dried pretty quickly.

I loved these inquisitive, friendly birds. Z loved them too. They weren’t afraid to come close.

Baby + Birds = ? (haven’t figured it out yet). I told you the seagulls didn’t like the salady leaf. That’s the weird looking lump above.

Z and the seagull aren’t friends…yet.

I was sad when Z kicked off her sock-boot (my mum bought them hand-knitted from Turkey!) as it got all soggy and muddy, but it looked so pretty and stood out on the dark, dreary mud that day.

I wish I knew his name.

Moist Mud = A welcoming canvas waiting for your thoughts…

So I totally overpacked (like usual). Did Z wear her hat? For a minute. As for the pretty head band, maybe a few more minutes. I loved the contrast with her hat and my hat. Why can’t people add more colour to adult accessories/clothes? At least Pakistan has got that figured out :).

The Sun. Finally. Came. Out and stopped being shy.

The seagull was never shy.

I wanted Z to enjoy the textures of the sand. She slept in it, rolled in it, played in it, and even ate it. Cleaning her up that day was a pain, but totally worth it.

The sun needed to go rest, as did we. By now, it was getting chillier, hence Z is wrapped up in a towel.

No caption does this photo justice.I love these sandals. They were bought on a whim in Puerto Rico on our ‘babymoon.’  Leaving the beach always makes me glum. All in all though, we had a great time and really got to know the gulls :).

“Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread and [sometimes] folded in? None holds them [aloft] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing” (Quran 67:19).