Sea Island

After spending a week at the beach with Tim's family, we enjoyed five days on Georgia's coastline for a work retreat with Tim's colleagues. We experienced five-star accomodations and service, but that didn't stop Rory from dancing the night away under the vaulted ceiling of her room with her mommy! The Cloister at Sea Island gave us a taste of the high life, with formal dining most evenings and an array of activities during the day.
True, we did have to make many clothing changes throughout the day, which allowed Rory to run around naked a little more often than at home (that five-star service would have included cleaning the carpets had Rory had an accident, right?) Seriously, our room was one of the best parts of the trips!... It combined old-world interior design with new-world conveniences (ask Sarah about enjoying the television over the bathtub).
We did, however, occasionally venture outside our hotel room. In fact, Rory took her first bike ride. Unfortunately, the helmet kept slipping over her eyes, so I can't say it was her most enjoyable outing. The island was beautiful, but bloody hot in the high summer months, which meant that most of our time outdoors was spent ...
... at the pool (that's Rory's butt sticking up in the air in the center of this picture). The new "beach club" had opened just one week before our arrival and boasted three separate pools, beach volleyball (Daddy's team came in third place), a jungle gym, outdoor dining, and much more. On the days that daddy was holed up in the "lodge" with his work colleagues, Rory and her mommy hung out with all of the other families at the pool.
In fact, Rory had quite the possy of other one-year olds, including Andrew (foreground) and Jack (background with his mommy, Katie). Many of daddy's work-related activities were kid-friendly, including this Southern picnic (don't ask Tim about enjoying the bourbon sours).
In this picture, Rory admires Andrew's stylish hat.
Rory especially enjoyed the lion fountains.
Yes, Rory was treated like the little princess on this vacation.
But at night, when Rory was fast asleep, her parents would hand her over to a babysitter and enjoy their evenings with the other adults!

Great Exuma, Bahamas

As we did last year, we enjoyed a work retreat with Tim's colleagues at an exotic location. This year, it was Great Exuma Island in the Bahamas.
Although we knew enough to get Rory a passport, we admittedly couldn't have placed Great Exuma on a map before making the trek to this island paradise. We were treated to gorgeous views, turquoise water, and the best kiddie pools Rory had ever seen.
Rory and her Mommy really spent the bulk of their time at the pool. (Wouldn't you?)
Rory and her Daddy ventured down to the beach a few times, but Rory would prompty declare "all done" and point Daddy back to the pool.
Yeah, this kid enjoyed her stay in the Bahamas.

A big part of the fun for Rory was that there were dozens of other kids her age at the pool each day. Andrew was her favorite pool companion.

Andrew and his Mommy would join the O'Hara girls for lunch most days.
Here, Rory plays with one of the older girls, Hannah, who took a special liking to Rory (and vice versa).
The other big attraction to the pool were the cool turtles ...
... and cabanas.
Unfortunately, with all that time in the hot Bahama sun, Rory experienced her first sunburn. Ouch! (She also came down with swimmer's ear on the last day.)
So, Rory had to content herself with a few hours each day in her room. Fortunately, the blinds facilitated endless games of "peek-a-boo".
When Daddy was holed up in seminars each morning, Rory and Mommy would lounge at the pool and the seaside grill.
The activity and sea air gave Rory a hearty appetite!
Fortunately, despite the work-related nature of the trip, Daddy was able to relax as well. (Who couldn't here?)
The highlight of the trip was a beach barbeque ... island music, fruity cocktails, grilled lobster, cool breezes, dozens of beach-crazy kids, a hundred fun-loving adults, and all the milk Rory could drink!
"Smile Rory!"
That we were traveling with lots of other families (with young kids) made the plane rides and layovers tolerable for the adults and fun for the kids ...
... but the real trick was bringing our carseat on the plane, as well as plenty of videos!