I have a soft spot for anything nautical inspired (think stripes, Sperry’s, flags, boats, rope, anchors… everything) so when I saw this adorable dress I knew it was the perfect excuse for a maritime adventure! After leaving it hang in the closet for several months, we finally woke up one Saturday morning and decided it was the day Emerson would become a sailor. The marina on lake Red Rock was the perfect spot to explore on this particular cloudy morning so we began our day hiking down to the water. The docks were lined with majestic sailboats and I attempted to capture my adorable tot admiring each one while gazing into the water in search of fish and peeking through the planks of the dock. We were having a great time; although, I was growing frustrated by the slowness of my camera in comparison to the speed of my daughter. I was just about to give up on getting even one great photo of her next to a sailboat when a voice called out inviting us aboard their vessel! We were thrilled to meet some very nice people who entertained our fascination with their boat and proclaimed Emerson official first mate! She had a blast taking the wheel and examining every thingamabob and gadget within the Sun Dance. We waited around in hopes that the sails would catch some wind but eventually had to part ways in order to keep the youngest passenger from going overboard (too much excitement!). We arrived home just as a furious squall blew in and were immediately thankful for both the rain and the fact that we were no longer at sea!