The first week in September, Christian, Grace, and I went on our very first vacation as a family. The plan was to take a cruise to Bermuda that embarked and disembarked out of New York City. An important lesson was learned. That lesson was simply, do not travel the Atlantic Ocean on a cruise ship during the peak months of hurricane season. Due to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Katia our trip was re-routed from Bermuda to the Bahamas. (We learned of our new itinerary from a lovely elderly couple that was having lunch at the table next to us on the ship as we were leaving port.) Regardless of the shift in plans we still enjoyed our vacation together as a family. 
Here is Grace in the car on the way to NYC on day one of her first big trip. A BIG thank you to my father-in-law John, who drove us to the port, and knew all the city streets like the back of his hand to avoid over an hour delay in highway traffic. 
As the ship left port, Grace LOVED the party that was going on poolside. Everywhere we went Grace drew a crowd. By the end of the week at sea more than half the crew members on the boat knew Grace and welcomed her by name. She loved her new found celebrity status.
The first stop the boat made was in Florida, however it was a rainy day, and we felt that Grace was too young to appreciate Disney, Epcot, Sea World, or the Kennedy Space Center. (Not to mention what the cost was to spend what would be only half a day there! Sheesh!) So we hung out on the boat and just relaxed for the day.
Our next stop was in the Bahamas on a private island owned by the cruise line. The ship dropped anchor while still out at sea, and we climbed aboard a little tender boat that was lowered down and took us right to the island for a fun day of swimming, snorkeling, and napping on the beach.
Here's our little set up on the beach. We brought our own little pop-up beach-tent for Grace. Below is the video of Gracie's very first time in ocean.
Christian rented snorkeling gear for the day so he swam out towards the coral reef and saw all kinds of brightly colored tropical fish and sting rays. He said it was amazing.
My Dad gave Grace the Tinkerbell beach towel. Super cute.
It was extremely humid, not to mention unbearably hot! Gracie did very well considering the temperatures, but we couldn't resist snapping a photo of our sleeping beauty with her cute button nose all covered in beads of sweat.
Here we are back on the ship just lounging in the shade. (I was one proud Momma to have Grace fully enjoy her first day at the beach, and return without an ounce of sunburn. I'll pat myself on the back for that one.)
Oh no! The ship was taken over by pirates! Actually this was in Nassau, Bahama at a T-shirt shop. I just thought it would be cute to put these guys in the blog, seeing as how we were at sea.
Speaking of the sea....
And SEE our adorable Gracie. Gotta love those crystal clear sea-blue eyes!
Hanging out on the streets of Nassau.
The pool deck of the ship.
Christian snapped this photo. I thought it was very sweet.
There we are!
Christian was at the spa and I couldn't find a pen to leave him a note as to where Grace and I went, so the "MacGyver" in me went into my toiletry bag to leave him a message in our room so that he might be able to find us. I thought it was pretty clever. (The lunch cafe was on the 12th floor)
This photo was taken from the back of the ship where one could see our wake.
The name of our ship and where we went.
Gracie the super cutie!
Back at the NYC port. A little sun-kissed, and oodles of family love.
We're already in talks for our next family vacation. I wonder where we'll go??? Hmmmm, we'll all just have to wait and see... or is that sea?
Here is Grace in the car on the way to NYC on day one of her first big trip. A BIG thank you to my father-in-law John, who drove us to the port, and knew all the city streets like the back of his hand to avoid over an hour delay in highway traffic. 
As the ship left port, Grace LOVED the party that was going on poolside. Everywhere we went Grace drew a crowd. By the end of the week at sea more than half the crew members on the boat knew Grace and welcomed her by name. She loved her new found celebrity status.
The first stop the boat made was in Florida, however it was a rainy day, and we felt that Grace was too young to appreciate Disney, Epcot, Sea World, or the Kennedy Space Center. (Not to mention what the cost was to spend what would be only half a day there! Sheesh!) So we hung out on the boat and just relaxed for the day.Our next stop was in the Bahamas on a private island owned by the cruise line. The ship dropped anchor while still out at sea, and we climbed aboard a little tender boat that was lowered down and took us right to the island for a fun day of swimming, snorkeling, and napping on the beach.
Here's our little set up on the beach. We brought our own little pop-up beach-tent for Grace. Below is the video of Gracie's very first time in ocean.
Christian rented snorkeling gear for the day so he swam out towards the coral reef and saw all kinds of brightly colored tropical fish and sting rays. He said it was amazing.
My Dad gave Grace the Tinkerbell beach towel. Super cute.
It was extremely humid, not to mention unbearably hot! Gracie did very well considering the temperatures, but we couldn't resist snapping a photo of our sleeping beauty with her cute button nose all covered in beads of sweat.
Here we are back on the ship just lounging in the shade. (I was one proud Momma to have Grace fully enjoy her first day at the beach, and return without an ounce of sunburn. I'll pat myself on the back for that one.)
Oh no! The ship was taken over by pirates! Actually this was in Nassau, Bahama at a T-shirt shop. I just thought it would be cute to put these guys in the blog, seeing as how we were at sea.
Speaking of the sea....
And SEE our adorable Gracie. Gotta love those crystal clear sea-blue eyes!
Hanging out on the streets of Nassau.
The pool deck of the ship.
Christian snapped this photo. I thought it was very sweet.
There we are!
Christian was at the spa and I couldn't find a pen to leave him a note as to where Grace and I went, so the "MacGyver" in me went into my toiletry bag to leave him a message in our room so that he might be able to find us. I thought it was pretty clever. (The lunch cafe was on the 12th floor)
This photo was taken from the back of the ship where one could see our wake.
The name of our ship and where we went.
Gracie the super cutie!
Back at the NYC port. A little sun-kissed, and oodles of family love.
We're already in talks for our next family vacation. I wonder where we'll go??? Hmmmm, we'll all just have to wait and see... or is that sea?
