We did it.

We successfully navigated our first ‘real’ vacation as a family of three – toddler in tow. I’m talking packing 38 airplane snacks, trips to the beach, pre-lunch ice cream runs, bags of crumbled seashell treasures – the real deal. It took a lot more planning, a little more navigating around nap times, but the memories felt that much sweeter with our little explorer.

We spent 7 days in Bonita Springs hangin’ out, wandering the beaches, and mostly listening to Addy tell us she just wanted to head back to the house to play in the hot tub (that’s how it works, right?). Truth be told, my camera was packed away 95% of the trip and I was ‘off duty’ as a photographer and gave myself space to just be. But I did pull it out here and there to capture a few special moments along the way.

Highlights included:

+ a night at Naples Bay Resort. Tyler and I snuck away here for a night and enjoyed the heated pools, generous happy hour, wandered the 5th Ave. of Naples + had the best Margherita pizza and tiramisu at Osteria Tulia.

+ exploring Sanibel Island. We strolled Bowman’s Beach in the morning before the crowds picked up +enjoyed the Island Cow for lunch (FISH TACOS were the name of the game!).

+ all the other little moments not pictured below : )

*(crooked photo credit: 100% Tyler) 😉