Exposure Is Key - Blackberry Edition

Dear Addie,

This past weekend we were invited to the O’Brien Family Farm in Coats, NC, for a bit of fruit & farm education and some all-you-can-eat, I mean pick ;) Blackberry picking. Something none of us had done before, so, with comfortable shoes, clothing, and a little sunblock, we were excited and ready to try something new as a party of five!

Exposure is key summer - blackberry edition! Let’s do this!

Knowing we would be a little ways from home, I tried to think of every possible scenario and packed accordingly. Luckily for us, I was on my “A” game that day as you were soaking wet upon arrival and needed to be changed immediately. Addie, there was a time in my life when something like this happening would have stressed me out, but now if diaper changing a human larger than myself in awkward confined spaces was an Olympic sport, I would be a gold medalist—just saying.

All fresh and clean, we were ready to hear all about the farm and the instructions for the day. After some education on our surroundings and the farm's history, we were directed to wash our hands, and seeing there was only one sink was your cue to be a little sneaky. Wasting no time and taking full advantage of the hand-washing distraction, you took off like Julie Andrews, running and twirling through the hills in The Sound of Music. Unfortunately, you were no match for Dad, who channeled his inner Usain Bolt to reel you back into our group. Nice try, Ad. Now hands washed, all harnessed with buckets (this was legit), we were ready to start.

I must admit I was utterly naïve to the whole Blackberry game. I literally had no idea there were so many different varieties! A pleasant surprise for my taste buds and tummy as I was pulling a 2:1 ratio - two for me, one for my bucket for about a solid hour. A luxury to visiting a farm that does not use insecticides. But I digress.

As we were all inspecting and looking for the perfect drupelets (how adorable is that name, by the way, for the little balls that make up the berry?), you took pleasure in a more sensory fashion, squishing them between your fingers and flinging the reminisce into the bucket. It was not the most delicate approach, but it was all good, baby girl; you were enjoying yourself.

With your hands stained with evidence of our blackberry exposure fun, it was time for us to head back home with our haul of berries, and oh, what a haul it was!

Addie, we got to try something new as a family this weekend, and once again you showed us how you are rocking right through this exposure is key summer!

We were so grateful for this experience and very proud of you! Keep it up!

Love,

Mom