Maui 2010

As promised...some pictures from our trip. (I went a little overboard with the pictures.) Sorry for the delay. Things have been a bit out of my control for the last few weeks. Damn morning sickness.

Thanks again for all who offered their advice regarding traveling with a toddler on an airplane. I was a bit nervous about how Grace would do but luckily, thanks to you, we were prepared. Grace did fantastic! She even took a 2.5 hour nap ON the plane. Here is a quick list of what we brought with us (some of you have asked me for this) to avoid a meltdown at 30,000 feet.

First and foremost, we bit the bullet and bought Grace her own seat which was the best thing we did. It was worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY of that six hour flight!

Second, we stock piled the diaper bag with all of Grace's favorite foods and a few new fun things for her to try. A friend recommend a lollipop! Grace had never had one before so that kept her busy for a good 20 minutes! Brilliant! Grace also tried Vanilla Wafers for the first time en route to Maui. She loved them!

Third, we packed an entire carry-on bag FULL of books and toys for Grace - some new and some old. She received her very first My Little Pony (thanks to Grandma) and that was a BIG hit! She also LOVED LOVED LOVED crayons!

Here is Grace in her "I'm Going to Hawaii" outfit. Can you see the palm trees and pineapples on her pants?

Nap time on the plane! Unfortunately, I was dry heaving (under one of Grace's blankets for privacy) into the vomit bag the airlines provides. That was a first I care to never repeat!

Upon landing, Daddy surprised us with leis! He really is the greatest! (Can you see Grace's shirt? It says Aloha! Thanks Grandma!!)

Grace woke up EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. between 4:30 and 5:30...A.M!!! Day 1 we hit the beach before 8 am - still in our PJs. Here are Grace's first moments on the beach.

I quickly came to the realization that we needed reinforcements. Bathing suit, sunscreen AND DADDY!!

Back to the beach we went!

Not the biggest fan of swimming in the ocean myself, I was super impressed at how much Grace LOVED the ocean. She liked it way better than the pool. Even after she was rocked by a few "big" waves!

What a trip to Hawaii without appreciating the flora and fauna, right?

The whales were hoppin'! Luckily, I had whale watching "to do" while I was balled up on the couch dealing with ALL DAY morning sickness.

Back to the beach...

or the pool! Just GET ME IN THE WATER!!

Grace loved her new Princess float.

Couldn't keep her out of it....land or sea!

Traveling with a toddler is fun. Don't get me wrong. Giving Grace the experience of flying and the ocean...it was priceless. But vacations are supposed to be relaxing, right!? Well, with Grace's early wake up calls and my morning sickness episodes, Court and I got little time to recoup or recover. Wonderful, amazing Court picked up all my slack. He cooked all our meals. Went to the grocery store. Looked after Grace. Cleaned up. We now clearly understand while some families choose to travel with a nanny.

We only went out to dinner a few times - when I was feeling up to it. We discovered that Grace loves Mahi Mahi and ice cream!

More beach shots!

She loved digging in the sand

and getting really dirty!

Below are some shots of one of the VERY few dinners we attempted eating out. If you can believe it, we were in and out of this restaurant, Joe's, in less than 30 minutes. Grace ended up having a meltdown and I ended up vomitting. That's how fast and deadly a toddler can strike.

I know I sound like a broken record but I hate HATE dealing with morning sickness especially on vacation!

Good bye Maui! See you next year...with two kids in tow! (GULP!!!)

Sometimes...You Just Know!

{Although posted on February 17, I wrote this back on January 11...when I knew!}
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I just knew. There are somethings you just know. Call it a woman's intuition. Call it being psychic. Call it what you want.

I knew.

I knew even when it came back negative. Four times in a row. FOUR TIMES! You are wrong. Thanks for playing but No. You. Are. Not.

But I knew. I had to be...

Last time I was a bundle of nerves. Might as well have called me Columbus because I felt like I was diving off the edge of the earth and falling into an abyss. Sure it happens everyday. But not to me.

I felt full. Bloated. Twinkly. Kind of like last time...but just a little different.

And then there were two...

Let the "games" (aka morning sickness) begin!

Don't worry it has!

Yes God, It's Me Katie

Everybody needs a little time away

I heard {me} say

From {my blo-ooog}

Even {bloggers} need a holiday

Far away

From their {blo-oooggs}

Hold me now ...

Thanks Chicago! I couldn't have said it better myself!

If you didn't notice, I took a little blogging hiatus. I wanted to disconnect while away on vacation. Sorry I didn't give any warning regarding my disappearance. I didn't think announcing my two week absence from my home over the Internet was the best idea. Regardless, we still had a little "trouble" around the house while we were gone.

First and foremost, Grace's tree was destroyed while we were gone! Someone drove into our yard and ran down her little tree. Can you EVEN believe that?!

I was/am heartbroken.

Secondly, upon our return home yesterday, we had no electricity or heat. Strike that. We had no heat and SOME electricity. Yes, you read that correctly...SOME electricity. In some rooms, the lights worked and in others they didn't. In the kitchen, the lights only had about half power and the appliances (stove top, freezer, refrigerator, oven) didn't work.

STRANGE.

It took most of the day calling electricians, the power company, etc. to sort it all out but we were able to get everything back up and running before dinner time. Heaven forbid we miss a meal around here!

While our vacation was great (more on that and pictures to boot in a later posting) it is good to be home. There's just no where like Home Sweet Home Place!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Is it me or is this guy a complete asshole? Obviously, he doesn't have kids.

We have a few adventures coming up that involve taking Grace (13 months) on an airplane. While she has been on airplanes before, there is a big difference - a Grand Canyon sized difference - between traveling with an infant and traveling with a toddler. So I've been told.

I am hoping to prevent a meltdown worthy of being posted on the Internet by a perfect stranger (although to my "mom" ears, the tantrum in that video didn't sound that bad) so I' opening it up to you favorite readers. Besides an extra pair of clothes, some diapers, toys and a few snacks, what else can I bring to prevent a toddler meltdown, or more accurately, a mom meltdown, at 30,000 feet?

High Chair Happenings

With each day, Grace gets more and more independent - particularly when it comes to meal time. And by independent, I mean messy. Naturally.

Grace vs. Ravioli

Ravioli wins!

Grace vs. Oatmeal

Grace WINS!

"Dangerous" Discovery

There are few places in America where delivery pizza is NOT available and for almost the last three years, I have lived in one of those places. For THREE ENTIRE YEARS, I have not had one of those go-to-at-the-last-minute -- just-pick-up-the-phone-and-voila-you've-got-dinner options - you know, for those days where you just can't get a meal on the table? Until now. Yesterday, I discovered that we now have a Pizza Hut and it DELIVERS!! This could be dangerous.

The Barn is Back

I'm still not in love with the layout but I think we're getting somewhere...maybe...you think? I've been focusing on the layout over the content lately because - well - I don't have much to say.

Perhaps it's a case of writer's block? I'd like to blame it on the gloom and doom of winter but I can't. It's been 50 degrees out and nothing but sunshine. Rough.

Perhaps nothing notable to say? Well, I could tell you about...

• what I made (or didn't make) for dinner this week,
• how I employed a new toy organizer system (and found the one of my dreams - yes, my dreams now include toy storage systems),
• how the dogs are "retaliating" from being left at home last weekend while we were in Seattle by peeing five minutes after I've let them in from a potty break (FUN) and
• the four, ENORMOUS, painful, inexplicable pimples that have broken on my chin.

But really, who wants to hear about any of that?

Instead, I will end the week with something that made me smile. And who couldn't use a smile?