Our Florida Adventure. Events & Activities

Yes, our vacation was 2 months ago.  I have so many posts started and just never take the time to sit down and finish them and soon enough the content is outdated and the thought/memory/idea behind it lost.  I promised to wrap up this Florida trip so let's just get this done and over with.  To refresh your memory: Florida Preview & Travels with Baby.

(edit 11/30/12.  Jim pointed out that I reused a few pictures from my previous post so I switched a few out for new ones.  I know everyone needs as many pictures of cutie pie as possible!)

BEACH, SUN & SWIMMING
When choosing a place to stay I made sure to pick a condo that had easy beach access within walking distance and a pool close by.  I wasn't sure how Riesling would react to the ocean, but I knew she loved the pool.  It ended up working out perfectly.

We tried to do our beach time early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the intense sun.  It was a quick walk across the street to the beach so easy enough to just carry Riesling and a tote bag with towels, sunscreen, a few sand buckets and small bottled water and no big deal to trek back if we forgot something.  She was a huge fan of the ocean and the sand so no problems enjoying some family time.  The biggest issue was trying to get her to wear a sunhat.  It's a pain to get lotion all over her head & ears.  I used California Baby on her exposed arms, legs, most of her head and neck then tried one of those sunscreen sticks for her ears, cheeks, and smaller areas.  It seemed to work well.  She did get a little bit of a tan but no burn. (Sun is good for you it's the sunburn that's bad!)

We tried to stay at the beach as long as she would tolerate it.  Usually it was a nap that sent us back to the condo.  A sandy baby does cause some inconvenience for naptime, we just tried to just towel her off best we could and put her down in just a diaper for a short nap (she takes much longer and less frequent naps now but she was a morning catnapper back in September).  After morning nap we would try to hit up the pool to play for awhile and rinse off.  This required swimwear and sunscreen reapplication.  Nothing is fast with a baby around.

Thanks to a summer of swimming at home she was prepared for the pool and loved every minute.  When she needed a break Jim and I took turns sitting under an umbrella with her. After pool time she typically went down for a really long afternoon nap.  Jim and I took turns laying in bed with her (since we had no crib) and showering, making a run for ice coffee, and getting ready for our evening activities.

DINING OUT
I think this really depends on your baby.  Aside from the rehearsal dinner and wedding we managed to have dinner out twice.  We made a trip to the grocery store the first day and bought food for breakfast and lunch and decided to just see what happened as far as dinner.  The first night was not great but partly because of bad planning on our part.  It was later  in the evening, we tried to do a full dinner with drinks, appetizers, etc and by the end of it Riesling was fussy and miserable wanting to nurse and go to bed.  I ended up heading to the car and left Jim to pack up the rest of our dinners and pay the check.  The last night we were there we were smart enough to head out early and things went fine.  Babies at restaurants are not relaxing, even when on there best behavior. 

BOATING
The brides family was offering boat rides and tours of the area throughout the weekend.  Jim and I were big weenies and insisted on a life jacket for Riesling.  We were really polite about it and simply offered to take turns on the boat and staying on land with the baby but simply would not budge on letting her one the boat without one.  They ended up finding one at a second hand sporting store for under $15 so she did get to enjoy her first boating experience.   There was a moment during the low speed pontoon boat expedition that I felt a little silly making a fuss (especially since there was a 2 year old running around the boat with no life jacket on!) but I'm still happy with our decision.  Who knows what could happen.  She didn't seem to mind it anyways and ended up using it as a pillow for naptime.

REQUIRED  EVENTS

This was a big part of the trip since we were there for Jim's brothers wedding.  In addition to the wedding there was the rehearsal dinner and a day after brunch.  I tried my best to be conscience of her schedule and anticipate her needs before she had any breakdowns.  I also tried to limit the time she spent at any of the required events by driving separately from the larger group or leaving Jim behind to catch a ride with one of the guys so her and I could head back early for bedtime.  Of course I brought along extra toys to keep her occupied.

THE MAIN EVENT

Riesling was the cutest little flower girl ever!  I thought she would definitely cry and never make it down the aisle but she did great.  One of the bridesmaids carried her down with her and she looked adorable.  I didn't get any good pictures because I was too busy on standby in case she freaked out.  

She tolerated pictures for a little while but was due to a late start in the ceremony she was getting hungry and started to get fussy.  I haven't seen the photographers pictures yet but hope they got a few good ones of her all dressed up and innocent.

 Jim, Tim (the groom), and Miss Riesling

 Grandma & Grandpa

After pictures I found a quite place to nurse her and changed her into a comfortable sundress for the rest of the night.  She was a real trooper and lasted through most of the reception.  After dinner and the formal parts of the reception were through, I found a quite area of the beach and nursed her to sleep for a half hour or so but it was short lived....just too much action.  After some photobooth fun and a few turns on the dance floor we called it a night and made our way back to the condo. 

All in all a wonderful vacation!

Our Florida Adventure. Traveling with Baby.

I've been working on this long winded post for a month now.  I know it's outdated but I thought it might be useful to someone, even if that person is future me as reference.  

I was such a nervous wreck about flying and traveling with Riesling.  If it hadn't been for the obligation of Jim's brother's wedding there is no way in hell that I would have planned a Florida vacation with my 7 month old.  I had pretty much thought up every worst case scenario and tried to be prepared for it.  In the end everything was amazing and I wasted a lot of high cortisol levels for nothing.  But I guess it's best to be prepared....

I Love Florida!

FLYING
After some internal debate about cost, I decided to go with SouthWest airlines.  You can check 2 bags per person for free,  which is a huge bonus these days with the luggage costs most airlines charge.  They also allow you to change your flight date/time without any fees or penalties.  I thought worst case scenario if Riesling was sick and couldn't make the trip at least Jim could go and I could save my ticket for another time. The prices ended up dropping significantly so overall cost really didn't end up being much of a factor. 

Children under two years old are able to fly on your lap free of charge, but make sure you bring their birth certificate to verify the age.  They definitely ask.  You can also check a stroller and a car seat free of charge with your luggage or at the gate.  We brought our extra hand-me- down stroller and pushed it through the airport.   I was worried about checking the car seat with the luggage because they seem to toss stuff around without much thought, so on the flight there we checked it at the gate.  It was a bit annoying carrying it through security and dragging it around until we boarded, so we decided to check it with the luggage on the return flight.  It survived but my guess is the did not handle it with any extra care.  You can also rent a car seat from any of the rental car companies, but it costs extra and who knows how often or well they are cleaned.

As carrying on items I brought along her diaper bag, the GoPod, our Ergo, and a medium tote bag stuffed full of crap.  I definitely brought along a lot of stuff that we didn't use but who the heck knows what can happen once you're in the airport.  I had a few changes of clothes (including layers...it was very chilly in the airport!), extra blankets & burp cloths, plenty of diapers & toys.  There was enough room for the Ergo (when Riesling wasn't in it) and a small cooler bag in the tote bag so it wasn't like we had to carry a lot of items through the airport. In the cooler bag I put her breakfast, an empty sippy cup, a bib, several spoons, and a bottle with breast milk.  I did not expect her to take the bottle when she could just nurse on demand but I thought it would be nice to have 'just in case'.  I asked that the cooler bag not be put through the X-ray machine, so they hand checked it and swabbed it for gun powder or whatever they are looking for, with no problem.  Everyone at security was very nice and helpful.  They even have a separate family line so you can get through faster.  SCORE!

**CLAP CLAP**

Happy baby waiting for our morning flight

I tried to time it so that Riesling could nurse on the take off and hopefully again on the landing.   I had been told that some babies/kids have issues because their ears won't "pop" with the change in altitude and that the sucking helps.  She did nurse on the flight both times but really only because she was hungry.  She had no problem flying.  Not a single tear, whine, or whimper.  The worse thing that happened was when she reached over the seat and grab some guys newspaper.  He was nice about it so no harm done.  The hardest thing was keeping her occupied.   She did really great, but I will say that I'm glad it was a really long flight.

PACKING
I hate packing!  I have a tendency to over pack even when we're just going to Ohio or camping for a long weekend.  I have lists and piles of stuff everywhere for at least a week before the trip.  Then I have to try and streamline it down, sort through the mess, and combine all my crazy lists.  I really am my own worst enemy in this category.  I have been trying to improve and with a little extra preparation I think I did pretty well this round. We had a 3 suitcases (one per person) and a garment bag for the wedding attire.  I tried to divide things up a little bit thinking that if one suitcase got lost at least one person wouldn't be without all his/her stuff.  For  Jim and I it was your normal vacation packing.  We ended up wearing/using pretty much everything so I think I consider it a packing success.  I did bring along a pair of long pants and sweatshirt for each of us, which we never ended up wearing because the weather was so nice while we were there.

I pretty much packed every piece of clothing that fit Riesling at the time.  She grows so fast that I try not to overbuy in one size.  She had about 10 onesies, a few pair of shorts, 3-4 dresses, 5-6 pair of PJs, 2 swimsuits & a sunhat, plus some long sleeves and pants which she also never wore.  I brought 3-4 lighter weight muslin blankets, all the burp cloths we own, and plenty of toys.  I recommend bringing along toys that can be washed or wiped off.  We were in all kinds of weird places throughout the trip and everything always gets dropped or thrown, so it turned out to be a wise decision.

I wasn't sure if we would make it through the trip without doing a load or two of laundry so I brought along a few scoops of powder detergent I use.  I also had a few dishwasher tabs in case there were none in the condo (I wanted to avoid buying a whole new bottle), a bottle brush and free & clear dish washing detergent that I use on Riesling stuff (and ours for that matter).  For feeding I packed a few extra spoons and an extra bib & sippy cup, in addition to the one in the carry on. (See EATING for further details)

For a moment I had the insane idea to bring along the cloth diapers and deal with washing them in the coin operated laundry at the development.  Thank god I came to my senses.  I love our cloth diapers but did enjoy having a little break and being able to toss them away with no extra thought.  I bought 2 packs of chlorine free EarthBest's diapers on sale before we left, brought plenty in the diaper bag & carry on and packed the rest. I also brought a pack of swim diapers.  And don't forget the sunscreen!  Our condo provided beach towels, bath towels, and linens so no worries there.  I threw in a small tote bag and an old flat top sheet to use at the beach.   I am hating packing even more than before just writing all this down!

Just remember whatever you bring you have to load/unload at the airport, while carting your baby around.  Which bring us to....

TRANSPORTATION
We used a valet service in Philadelphia that drops you off and picks you up in your own car.  This avoided any shuttles, car seat installation or extra loading/unloading of luggage. It was slightly more expensive but well worth it.  I got some good deals on other areas of the trip so I didn't mind splurging a little.  They dropped us off right at curb side check in and helped us unload and the same when we arrived back in Phila. We brought our extra car seat base so we didn't even have to worry about removing one at the airport.

In Florida we rented a car from Avis.  The biggest hassle was dragging our stuff from baggage claim to the car rental area.  It wasn't far but you only have so many hand.  Jim looked like a pack mule.  We thankfully had no issue with the rental car or any part of the experience surrounding it.

 Da Da and Riesling at the beach 

EATING
The great thing about nursing a baby is you can do it anywhere.  I breastfed Riesling at the airport, on the plane, at the beach, poolside, at the country club, at the wedding (which was on the beach), and pretty much anywhere in between.  It can be a little difficult at her age because she is easily distracted but if she's hungry enough she will eat regardless of what's going on around her.  I find the most important thing is making sure I wear something that is comfortable and makes for easy access.  I don't use a cover up or blanket so I usually just have a burp cloth on hand to put over the top of my breast if it's exposed and quickly pull it down if she unlatches.  The only trouble I had was at the actual wedding.  She was extra hungry after patiently waiting around to be in some of the pictures and started violently pulling at my dress which ended up ripping the seam.  Jim said no one would complain about a little extra cleavage.

At this point she was also eating a solids twice a day.  Because of my incessant concern over food allergies, I didn't introduce any new foods for several days before the trip or during.  I bought a little stock of EarthBest's pouches in pear and banana and that was it.  Normal for restaurant or out of home outings that involve food I use a portable high chair with a tray but it was too bulky to bring along.  Of course most restaurants have high chairs but some of them are a little too big for my squirming baby, plus I wanted something to use in the condo.  So I bought a collapsable one that hooks to the table and packed it in pieces. This turned out to be a waste of space because we never used it.  Our condo had a glass top table and it didn't hook on securely so we just fed her in the stroller and used whatever was available at the restaurants.  

At the Country Club for the rehearsal dinner 

Where we nursed in the ladies room (quite lovely)

SLEEPING
This area seemed like it could be a challenge for some families.  I think the best option for most is to rent a crib.  I guess you could bring a pack n play but that just one more thing to carry around and risk getting damaged on a flight.  We are Ok with co-sleeping so I just planned on Riesling being in our bed and didn't give it much thought beyond that.  The only issue was during her naps one of us had to stay in the bedroom to make sure she didn't wake up and crawl off the side.  There was a TV in the room so one of us either napped with her, read or watched TV.

 Early Morning wake up call

Part II coming soon.....

My Best Friend's Wedding

Nicolette and I have been friends for over 25 years.  Crazy, right?!  It's almost mind blowing to me that two little gals in pig tails bonded over crayons in kindergarten and managed to stay best friends through so many stages of life.  We've been through so much together and I was so grateful to be such a special part of her big day.  

Me, Nicolette, & Riesling at the rehearsal dinner

We arrived on Thursday afternoon to a quaint little area of Mt. Pleasant, SC and beautiful weather.  Mt. Pleasant is just outside of Charleston and so picturesque.  We stayed with the family and other members of the bridal party at the Inn at I'On.  Highly recommended!  (It's a bit more expensive than your typical hotel but the rooms were really nice, clean, and a good size.  And the complimentary breakfast was made to order from a good selection)

The ceremony and reception took place right at a amazing spot right on Hobcaw creek.  The weather was absolutely perfect!  Any girl that has dreamed of the classic laid back, breezy, outdoor wedding is dreaming of this day and this place. And Nicolette looked absolutely stunning!!!

 I was a little occupied and didn't get many pictures of the bride and honestly these pictures just don't do the whole thing justice.  I can't wait to see her professional shots.

 Walking down the aisle with Dad

The newlyweds!

 Best Friends

Happy greetings from old friends

Of course no wedding day is complete without a few minor bumps, right?!  Well the bride decided to throw her back out hours before the wedding.  Good thing she knew a good chiropractor!!

Seattle. Part II

Considering that my trip to Seattle was brief and pretty much eventful, there is now reason for a two part series. I was mostly running short on time with a smidge of ADD setting in, so I cut it short tagged on a Part I to the title. I basically walked up, down, and all around drinking a bazillion cups of coffee from different little cafes and coffee shops.

Maybe I should mention that I was flying solo on the west coast, so browsing around with no purpose was just fine with me.

I also browsed through the Pike Place market...

And some lovely artichokes...

The flowers were abundant & absolutely gorgeous. I'm sure they would've brightened up the hotel room, but I felt guilty only getting 2 days of enjoyment out of them so I passed on buying any. It was really tempting, especially since the price was pretty darn cheap. I ended up with some dried strawberries, fresh roasted nuts, 2 apples.

The seafood was even more abundant, which is not the best thing for a girl with serious shellfish allergies. I'm surprised breathing as I walked by didn't put me into anaphylactic shock.

After an overpriced, mediocre dinner at the hotel bar, complete with the company of a 24 year Oregon kid telling me beer drinking stories, I ended the evening with a bottle of wine from the gas station next door. I know, I know...stop the excitement.

Seattle. Part I

I ventured out to the west coast for a seminar in Seattle. Not knowing when I'd have the chance to get back that way, I arranged to fly in a day early so I could spend the afternoon doing a little exploring in the city.

First (and only) impressions:

*They are not joking about the rain situation out there. I realize it has been extra rainy even here in Philly, but it was apparent that rain and drizzle are just part of Seattle. The air just feels heavy with mist and the local news uses the term "sunbreak" in the daily weather forecast. Not partly cloudy or periods of afternoon showers...."several sunbreaks expected in the late afternoon."

*It's a very outdoor friendly city aside from the whole rain factor. There were tons of people biking throughout the city which in most areas seemed to have separate bike lanes. There was a particularly large number of people running and biking near the water. And, the public rail line into the city is equipped with upright bike racks and easy loading.

Ferry-whistled was blowing, better hurry

*The rail system in general was great. My hotel was south of the city, closer to the airport. I just hopped on the rail line for $2.50 and was in the city in about 15 minutes. It was very clean, inexpensive, and runs every 2-10 minutes depending on the time of day.

*The city, at least the area I walked through, was clean and not over crowded. Cities in the northeast are just old, crowded, and icky. I did see some homeless folks lounging around, as well as several groups of young folk with those big knotted braids and hemp jewelry smoking these funny smelling cigarettes. The air felt clean and refreshing, which I think was a combination of ocean and mountains. It's was also quite hilly in parts making for good exercise.

Photo taken on Friday, around 6pm

Spirit of the Irish

Ok. I didn't really start my day with green beer and sparkling beads. I actually wore a lovely polyester scoop neck blouse, cream cardigan, and a handmade brooch that Jim bought me for Christmas.

Being a doctor is serious business.

I spent the morning soliciting myself to other professionals, attempting to convince them that I am not a crazy witch doctor. I am in fact an educated, well trained, and licensed healthcare provider. Breaking through that barrier of misconception is the worst thing about my profession. I hate it. It forces me out of my comfort zone. But, I'm determined to educate the community and change our current healthcare system, so I do it anyways. The weather was beautiful and, with one exception, everyone was actually extremely nice making for a somewhat enjoyable experience.

Driving around with my window down, soaking in the spirit of the Irish reminded me of my trip to Dublin nearly a decade ago....

I really loved visiting Ireland. I felt like it was just as I imagined. Jolly Irishmen hanging out in bars all day long and into the night with only one law enforcement officer in the entire bar district just hanging out on a corner as people roamed the streets signing and dancing.

The countryside is green, green rolling hills, filled with flocks of sheep, castles, and random waterfalls...

Charlotte

Aside from several minor travel disasters ( I'm just trying to forget it all happened!), my trip to Charlotte was a perfect weekend. My second set of parents, the ones who listen to loud music and call their daughter a boozehound were in town. Boy do they have some great stories...

Add in Nicolette's gentleman caller, Mitch, and I was the much needed fifth wheel for the weekend.

Friday night it was a Checkers Play-off game. Hockey is hard to watch. I suggested making the puck a fluorescent color so it's easier to keep track of what's going on. Craig was so excited to get his picture with one of the CheckMates.

Nicolette refused. She didn't want to have 'that dad.' I suggested pretending he was my husband instead of her dad, but she still wouldn't go for it.

Saturday brought perfect weather for an afternoon at the Carolina brewery. $5 gets you 5 tokens and a free little beer glass. It was a big menu. Mitch had trouble deciding. He needed some assistance from his BlackBerry...

There was a band.

Patio umbrellas.

And happy faces.

(I've heard that beer can have that effect on people)

Saturday night, we had a delicious dinner downtown at RiRa's Irish Pub. I recommend the Guiness BBQ burger. Other favorites for the night included the potpie and the green beans. We finished up the evening with more beers and a little hearted conversation about god and religion. Sunday morning the parents departed. Nicolette and I spent filled the rest of the day with a little time pool side, lots of girl chat, and dinner at Mac's BBQ.

Sooo good. Get the lil' pig with mac n' cheese if you're ever faced with the decision. Does every meal leave you with this face? I mean look how happy this guy is.

Timmer goes to the Philippines

(photo courtesy of lonelyplanet.com)

The littlest Robinson (ok, so Jim actually only has one sibling) is leaving for a month long trip to the Philippines. CRAZY! He'll be traveling with the New Jersey Rotary Group Study Exchange program. You'll find his impressive bio here. The group will be documented their experiences on the blog as well.

Bon Voyage Timmer! I hope you have an exciting and safe adventure.

Reno

I've always had a strong desire to relocate to the Northwest. I've not even had the opportunity to pay the region a visit, but every photo, movie, documentary, or article makes my heart flutter a bit. I think it's the overwhelming presence of nature. One of my patients, originally from Oregon, starting bringing me her copies of Sunset magazine, "How to Live in the West". I love reading through the pages of recipes, gardening tips, travel and leisure articles, and tons of beautiful pictures.

In an effort to de-clutter during these winter storms, I'm tossing a huge stack of magazines...Sunset included. I was able to minimize the stack to a small pile of articles and will be posting on the 'ole blog until the pile is also in the recycling bin.

Things to remember, as recommended by Sunset magazine, for a weekend to Reno....

River supplies at Wild Sierra Adventures or go with a Tahoe Whitewater Tour. Early May brings the Reno River festival with entertainment and fun kayak and raft competitions.

Arts district along the River Walk including Sierra Arts and Neveda Museum of Art.

Suggested restaurants include, Beaujolais Bistro, Chocolate Bar, Java Jungle, and Se7en Teahouse & Bar.

Ambitions

Resolution

–noun

1. a formal expression of opinion or intention made.

2. a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

3. the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure,etc.

4. the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness or purpose.

I'm not really in to making resolutions. It just seems too structure. Accompanied by too much guilt and negativity if unachieved. But I am into ambitions.

Ambition

-noun

1. an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment.

2. the object, state, or result desired or sought after.

3. desire for work or activity; energy.

Things you want to accomplish, places you want to see, small personal defects you want to work on. Ambition, aspiration, goal, aim, focus. Positives. I often reassess where my ambitions lie throughout the year, both professional and personal. Winter. depressing. cold. dark. You can get lost in there! No better time for a fresh look and what life is for me...

Be really aware of what I put into my body and what I expect out of it. Make healthy food choices. Try new recipes. Get back to my A. M. workouts and yoga. Find balance between stress producing and stress relieving activities

Make an effort to learn new things. Read more. New ideas and facts about chiropractic and health. I also have several seminars I want to attend in the upcoming year.

Spanish. This is like a thorn in my side. I really do want to learn to speak Spanish, but it's just not in my wiring. Even interacting with a Spanish speaking population 5 days a week has had little effect on my comprehension. I seriously considering Rosetta Stone.

Take more weekend trips.

Costa Rica aquí yo vengo

I want to go here. I have been looking for a way to dedicate myself to learning Spanish...I have a small fear that I might never come back.

NYC

Jim and I celebrating our anniversary with a trip to NYC. We had perfect weather that weekend (unlike our actual wedding weekend!) and enjoyed hours at Central Park, Wicked, and brunch with our dear friend Erica.

Jim's first trip to Central Park.

We stayed at the Bryant Park Hotel and were very pleased. It's very modern, which was a fun change from the typical Holiday Inn style we're accustom to. The location was great and there was a fun skating pond and little boutique type shops set up for the holiday season in the park area across the street.

We finished the weekend with brunch at Roberto Passon. Delicious...and really a great deal if you enjoy endless mimosas!