(pictures to come)
Wanting to beat the crawling madness, avoid paying airfare for a two-year-old, and get a break from the endless winter this year we booked a trip with Brandon's parents down to Cancun, Mexico. Ah, paradise.
We had done a similar trip a couple years ago pre-baby, so this time we were a little nervous as to how our trip would be different. Which it was - but it was great!
We left the last week of February and came back the first week of March. At first we thought it would be the tail-end of winter and wouldn't really be a break. Little did we know that winter was going to creep into May this year. It was a tremendous break from the craziness of life.
We flew on a direct flight down and even though this was Xander's 7th flight of his life he was getting a little more antsy so we a little worried how he would handle. I'll be honest - it was a bit harder. He kind of hated being restrained the whole flight and wanted to sit by himself. I can definitely see the advantage of buying a seat for a baby - even if you don't have to.
When arriving in Mexico we made our first parenting decision - and we failed. The shuttle drivers were so kind and pulled us in front of like 15 people who were waiting there before we were and put us on a shuttle. We hauled our car seat all the way down there simply for this ride. We got in the shuttle - they threw our bags in the back and other people started packing in. While this was going on we began to crack out the car seat. The shuttle employee came back and told us in broken English that there was no room for Xander to have a seat and we'd have to carry him on his lap. Ugh. If we were stronger/more protective parents we probably would have protested and waited. We didn't. We held Xander on our laps and took the 45 minute drive to our hotel. Luckily there was no incident. Hey - we all survived childhoods without seatbelts/carseats etc... don't judge.
The hotel, the Playacar Palace, was tremendous. All you can eat/drink/do/relax. Perfect. Best part - my endless supply of chips and guacamole. Oh yes, I took advantage of that. Every day. Sometimes twice a day. The resort was beautiful - right on the beach and our room overlooked the pool, beach, and ocean. We did so many things through the week - but mostly spent a lot of time at those three places - the pool, beach, and ocean. I have to say it was so nice of Brandon's parents for not only paying for our stay but being there as baby sitters and company for us. What a treat! Thanks Nonnie and Poppie - you are the best!
One day for a small trip we took a shuttle over to Cozumel - an island just 30 mins off of the shore of Mexico. The resort chain we stayed at allowed us to go from resort to resort enjoying the different amenities. Brandon and his mom snorkeled. Russ and I relaxed. Baby, swam and slept. I ate chips and guacamole.
Back at our "home" resort we spent some time on the beach - giving Xander his first taste of the ocean (which he didn't like - too loud and scary) and his first taste of the beach...literally (actually, he was good not to eat it...I think). He loved the sand. We obsessively lathered him with sun block and covered him with a hat and sunglasses. If you see a picture in the sun without that stuff it was probably because we quickly removed it just for picture purposes.
We spent lots of time at the pool just hanging out. Good thing Xander couldn't crawl yet - although we knew he was getting very close and spent lots of time in the room practicing his crawling and spending time with family. We also spent a lot of time in our room while our baby guy napped - but that was also nice, taking our own naps, reading, and talking. His nap schedule, which really was just forming, stayed right on and regular. He was actually almost like clock-work, sleeping through the night, taking naps at the exact same time. It was really convenient. He was such a good trooper to let his dads get some r & r and enjoy their chips and guacamole.
One day we rented a car and went to Coba - one of the more recently uncovered Mayan ruins. It involved some mild hiking through the jungle to see a few ruins. Not as cool as Chitzen Itsa, which we visited last time, but still cool it its own right. We were able to climb the tall pyramid and see over the vast jungle of the Yucatan. Very cool. Xan had a good time and fell asleep. Standard fare for the little guy. We almost took him to the top, and probably could have, but were a little nervous since we had already been neglectful parents once on the trip. The worst part of the ruins is they didn't serve chips and guacamole.
We got the royal treatment back at the resort. Endless food, manicures, pedicures, massages. More chips and guacamole. Ahhhh....so wonderful. So relaxing. Brandon and I even had a romantic dinner on the beach.
The hardest times we had were eating. We wanted to enjoy the buffet but Xander generally wanted nothing to do with that. He didn't eat anything himself that didn't come in a bottle (see previous posts related to trouble eating solids). So we generally entertained him by giving him a butter knife or spoon (no, the knife was not sharp) that he liked to shove in his mouth to chew on. He was content for a short period while we ate fast or took turns.
On the last day Brandon's mom wanted to get some pictures done by the resort using some resort credit we had. So in Mark fashion we all were adorned with the same shirt and posed in various ways for the camera. They actually turned out quite well. Of course I got my first parental scolding from a stranger who thought our light toss of Xander into the air was abusive. Meh. Good thing she didn't find out how we got him to the resort! Actually it made me quote mad. Mind your own business, B#*@%. Yes, that is essentially what I said...actually it was, "Well thank you, I appreciate your nosiness." Luckily we were leaving the next day.
Then on our way home. We packed up our bags, held our baby on the shuttle :0(, and headed back to the airport. Good news is the plane was less full and we had a separate seat for the baby. He liked that much more. We arrived home just a couple days before we had to turn around and head to California to make our family official.
Thanks Russ and Donna for such a great memorable trip. We loved it!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
8 - a whole new world
(pictures to come)
About two weeks into his eighth month (about 7 and 1/2 months old) he began crawling. Our life has not been the same since.
I mentioned in my last month post that he was beginning to make the signs of crawling. He could whip himself onto all fours without any problem and then he would bounce. That was about it. I worked hard to try and make the 7 month goal - but failed. But it only took about a week after his 7 month birthday that he began to venture beyond the bounce. He took a couple steps.
A week later he was mad crawler. We quickly baby-proofed the house and got ready for the new phase of our lives!
At almost the same time he began crawling he was pulling himself up on anything and everything. He acts as though he just wants to pull himself up to see what could be on top, or on the other side. He is so curious!
I also saw him pull himself up in his bed which prompted the lowering of his bed so he won't fall out. Now we are usually greeted throughout the night, or in the morning, by him staring over the edge of the crib at us. So cute.
Two other big things this month. One very important and exciting moment. On March 11th, just a few days after we got back from Mexico, we hopped back on a plane for what we hope to be our last plane ride for a while. We headed to California to make our family as official as we are allowed now. Our adoption became legal, real, recognized by the government. What an amazing thing. As we were walking into the building I thought to myself that not only is this moment making Xander our son, officially, but it is legally connecting mine and Brandon's relationship. Other than joint bank accounts, mortgages, and car titles we are not recognized as a pair. But now we are Xander's parents. Whether or not the state of Utah accepts it. A very happy day. Welcome to the family, Xan.
While we were in California the next thing happened. I was driving up the freeway with my cousin Missy and her daughter, Tessa, when Xander popped my finger into his mouth as he does constantly and I felt something sharp! Sure enough...he had teeth. We knew they were coming soon, but this was the first time we noticed them for real - and they were already through. The bottom two teeth had broken through and sharp! It wasn't more than a couple of weeks later when we got home that he cut two more teeth - the top two! Now he is a four-toothed little man!
What a difference a month can make. We came back from Mexico, Adopted our son, he crawls, pulls himself up, and cut four teeth. Wow. Of course all of this leads to the oh so fun - life is too exciting to sleep - phase.
Ever since he started this fun he has been waking up multiple times in the night. We think it likely has to do with him not eating solid foods well since he just can't get enough food in a liquid diet to help him sleep through the night. So until we get that mastered we are going to be up, and up, and up. I'm tired.
Now that he crawls he takes so much more energy. He is all over the place. His main motivation for going form here to there is something he shouldn't have. Usually that thing is a dog ball or toy which he grabs and then promptly puts into his mouth. Which is swiftly followed by a "icky, ca ca, dirty!" and I pull it from his mouth. Over and over and over and over. It is so cute though when he sees something he wants, shouldn't have, or gets excited about. He makes a slight giggle sound and crawls at a super-sonic pace to that object. Then it goes into his mouth. It is quite cute.
Well that about wraps it up. Just to make sure I get all the highlights here is the rundown
About two weeks into his eighth month (about 7 and 1/2 months old) he began crawling. Our life has not been the same since.
I mentioned in my last month post that he was beginning to make the signs of crawling. He could whip himself onto all fours without any problem and then he would bounce. That was about it. I worked hard to try and make the 7 month goal - but failed. But it only took about a week after his 7 month birthday that he began to venture beyond the bounce. He took a couple steps.
A week later he was mad crawler. We quickly baby-proofed the house and got ready for the new phase of our lives!
At almost the same time he began crawling he was pulling himself up on anything and everything. He acts as though he just wants to pull himself up to see what could be on top, or on the other side. He is so curious!
I also saw him pull himself up in his bed which prompted the lowering of his bed so he won't fall out. Now we are usually greeted throughout the night, or in the morning, by him staring over the edge of the crib at us. So cute.
Two other big things this month. One very important and exciting moment. On March 11th, just a few days after we got back from Mexico, we hopped back on a plane for what we hope to be our last plane ride for a while. We headed to California to make our family as official as we are allowed now. Our adoption became legal, real, recognized by the government. What an amazing thing. As we were walking into the building I thought to myself that not only is this moment making Xander our son, officially, but it is legally connecting mine and Brandon's relationship. Other than joint bank accounts, mortgages, and car titles we are not recognized as a pair. But now we are Xander's parents. Whether or not the state of Utah accepts it. A very happy day. Welcome to the family, Xan.
While we were in California the next thing happened. I was driving up the freeway with my cousin Missy and her daughter, Tessa, when Xander popped my finger into his mouth as he does constantly and I felt something sharp! Sure enough...he had teeth. We knew they were coming soon, but this was the first time we noticed them for real - and they were already through. The bottom two teeth had broken through and sharp! It wasn't more than a couple of weeks later when we got home that he cut two more teeth - the top two! Now he is a four-toothed little man!
What a difference a month can make. We came back from Mexico, Adopted our son, he crawls, pulls himself up, and cut four teeth. Wow. Of course all of this leads to the oh so fun - life is too exciting to sleep - phase.
Ever since he started this fun he has been waking up multiple times in the night. We think it likely has to do with him not eating solid foods well since he just can't get enough food in a liquid diet to help him sleep through the night. So until we get that mastered we are going to be up, and up, and up. I'm tired.
Now that he crawls he takes so much more energy. He is all over the place. His main motivation for going form here to there is something he shouldn't have. Usually that thing is a dog ball or toy which he grabs and then promptly puts into his mouth. Which is swiftly followed by a "icky, ca ca, dirty!" and I pull it from his mouth. Over and over and over and over. It is so cute though when he sees something he wants, shouldn't have, or gets excited about. He makes a slight giggle sound and crawls at a super-sonic pace to that object. Then it goes into his mouth. It is quite cute.
Well that about wraps it up. Just to make sure I get all the highlights here is the rundown
- Got a visit from the Roarks where they watched our little guy twice! So nice!
- Got to visit the zoo and the park again. Usually not a super exciting thing but since this winter is going to stretch well into May before we get spring any day we get out of the house is monumental
- He is now pretty good about holding his own bottle...although sometimes he misses:
- Still working on the solid food. We feel like such parental failures being that he still is 99% on the bottle. Our friendly little parenting book tells us he should be up to three "meals" a day at this point. Ha! He is lucky if he gets one every other day. To be fixed ASAP.
- He is just the cutest guy with such a great personality. He is always happy and inquisitive. He is so good and so easy.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)