Saturday at the Curtis Hixon Park

Every time that someone from out of town is visiting, I take them to Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa. This is one of the newest places in Tampa and one of my favorite parks in the City. It's modern and beautiful. University of Tampa, a must see in Tampa, can be seeing on the other side of the river. My dear friend Ana was in town visiting me and Emma for a weekend in February. We had plans to go to the beach but the forecast said it was raining and it was indeed raining in the morning. We moved our beach day for Sunday and spent Saturday in Tampa. Emma loves nature so this was the perfect opportunity to do something fun for her and at the same time show my friend around. The forecast was wrong and we had a sunny and warm afternoon. We miss you Ana. Thank you for the pictures of me and Emma. I LOVE them! Come back soon!

UT in the background

Mom, no more pictures please! 

Back to Busch Gardens with Emma

Every time I write a post about theme parks, I feel like I'm working on their marketing team. I just really like them and now that Emma likes Elmo, there is no better place for us to go. Unfortunately, I don't think that we will be going there in a while. I broke my tibia at the gym last week. I'm using crutches and this will be the case for at least 2 to 3 months. I'm very upset about the whole situation. We were going to Colombia tomorrow for 10 days and we decided to cancel the trip. It could be possible to go but I know that the best is to take care of this injury. 

Lory's Landing

Looking at the Flamingos

Snack time

The sunday before I got hurt, we went to Busch Gardens for less than 3 hours. It was enough time to catch the last Sesame Street show, ride the carrousel, look for Elmo and also see the birds at Lory Landing. Emma was very lucky because the park was almost empty and no kids were in line to meet Elmo. He played with her for a few minutes, she grabbed his nose and was not scared at all. She also had the chance to see Abby Cadabby and also grab her nose.

A Very Furry Christmas

Sesame Street Safari Area

Elmo's Trek House

At the Carrousel

We ended up buying more souvenir pictures

Emma & Elmo

Abby Cadabby

Her face after touching Abby's nose is why we keep going back

Safari of Fun Days with Elmo and Emma

I have posted a few pictures of previews visits to Busch Gardens before. I'm a big fan of having at least one annual pass for theme parks in Florida. We currently have the Busch Gardens and Sea World Pass. Emma's first trip to Busch Gardens was last month. She has been there twice since then. This time, we explored a new area of the park: the kids zone!! I never spent too much time here since my nephew was "too old" for Sesame Street when it opened a few years ago and my other nephew lives in California. Now that I care about activities with kids, our annual pass is great! We have more friends that also have the pass and they have kids that are about Emma's age. I was surprised to see how much Emma enjoyed the live show. We show her videos of Elmo a few times, but it was the sweetest thing to see her clapping and smiling to the Sesame Street characters sing and dance. I wish the show was a bit longer. They only sing 3 songs and then they go to the picture areas. We ended up buying 2 picture frames with the (overpriced but totally worth) pictures of her first day at Busch Gardens. Most of the attractions are for toddlers so I know that we will keep going back many weekends.

Capture the Colour

I found out about this contest on my friend's Andi's blog. I decided not to enter since I don't really have that much time to read other blogs and keep track on who was nominated or even have 5 bloggers to nominate. I still wanted to look at my old pictures and remember some of my previous trips. Here are some of my favorite pictures. 

WHITE

Kalapaki Beach, Kauai.

Every time I go to the beach I take pictures of the water bubbles. I do it as a way to remember what it felt like to have my toes in the sand. Kauai was our honeymoon destination in 2011. I have been thinking about it a lot since we spent 10 days in paradise exactly 2 years ago. Our second anniversary was in August and when I was there, I said that I wanted to go every 3 years to Hawaii. I went to Oahu in 2008 and at the time, it seemed reasonable to return in 2014. We have a few trips planned for the following year. Unfortunately, Hawaii will have to wait a little longer. 

BLUE

Kauai, Napali Coast

I'm obsessed with the beauty of Hawaii. The Napali coast is best seen from the air or from a boat. We did that, but we also drove to the end of the road and went hiking. I took this picture while we were doing one of the easy trails. The picture doesn't show how impressive the mountains are. I love how the horizon gets lost because the color of the ocean is almost the same as the sky. 

GREEN

Quito, Ecuador

This woman was selling scarfs in downtown Quito on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I got a few scarfs to help her and also because I wanted to ask her for a picture. She kindly agreed. I love how her daughter also smiled for the camera.

YELLOW

Tampa, Fl

One of the best things about living in Florida is watching beautiful sunsets. My favorite place in Tampa to watch the sun go down is near the Davis Island Yatch Club. The pictures that I've taken here are never the same because of the clouds and the boats.

RED

Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

I had the hardest time finding the perfect "red" picture. This old car was parked on one of the main streets in historical side of Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. Last year we went to Uruguay as a day trip from Buenos Aires. I loved the town. We took hundreds of pictures that day.

FYI: You don't have to be nominated so feel free to participate and spread the word. 

How to Survive Pregnancy (According to me)

One of the most surprising things that happen after having a baby is that you forget how miserable you felt while you were pregnant. When I talk about my 39 weeks of pregnancy I feel like I'm telling a story about someone else. Before I completely forget, I wanted to create this list for my friends who want to become mothers. 

• Maternity clothes are extremely comfortable. Accept your new body and love stretchy pants since early in the pregnancy. There is no need to be tight and uncomfortable. Some of them can be fashionable if you are willing to spend money on a pair of designer jeans. I never got a pair because I didn't know how big my butt was going to get. However, after the 3rd or 4th month the part of my body that really grew was my belly. 

• Buy comfortable shoes, I never thought I was going to love crocs. Your feet will get swollen. I never got a pair of crocs before. I wore them everyday the last month when the weather got too cold for flip flops. There are some prettier ballet flat like styles. They are really comfortable and wide enough to fit your new elephant size feet. My feet were 1.5 sizes larger while I was pregnant and now I'm a permanent half size larger. 

• Watch your weight. Its normal to gain a good amount of weight. However, the heavier you get, the more miserable you will be at the end. Try to gain what the doctor says its healthy. I gained 30 lbs and it was "normal" (up to 40 it's ok). I didn't have any cravings but I ate what I wanted!! I can't imagine how many pounds you can get if you get cravings. Many women lose weight at the first months because of morning sickness. It wasn't my case. 

• Morning sickness can happen at any time of the day. Mine was every day until I was 14 weeks, after 6:00 pm. At least I could work all day and come home to lay on the couch until I fell asleep. Iced lemonade and crackers helped a lot. I should have said no to many visitors or late dinners while I was pregnant and I didn't. All I wanted was to take it slow. You shouldn't feel guilty to say no. Pregnancy is exhausting and people should understand and respect that. 

• Get many pedicures and manicures because you will miss having time for yourself and I don't mean time to take a shower. After the baby arrives, you will barely have time to take a shower and that's if you are lucky. My first manicure was when Emma was 6 months old. Take as much time for YOU as you can. Go out to dinner with your friends, watch movies, go out of town often, and even take a babymoon. You can still do those things with kids but it takes a lot more time and effort. 

• The really restrictive diet begins when you are nursing because there so many foods can make the baby get gas (even if it never gives you gas). Enjoy everything you like now. It's a long list. I gave up dairy fro months just in case Emma's colics were my fault. I didn't have broccoli, cabbage, onions, or citrus just to name a few. 

• The pregnancy "glow" is a lie. I had acne the first months and I haven't had acne since I was 15!! 

• Get as many used baby items as you can from your friends and family. It will save you a lot of money. I will be eternally grateful to my friend who mailed huge boxes from Houston filled with her boys stuff. Most things are animal themed and can be used for boys and girls. I have tons of burp cloths that have cars or are blue. Really, who cares if you don't have a girly design if it will be used to clean up spit ups. Use the baby shower to get the most useful items. Don't add clothes to your registry. Most people buy the baby clothes that they like. Also, don't be shy about adding the most expensive items since many people like to buy one big gift as a group. If you don't get them as a gift, most stores will give you a discount on the items from your list. 

• Read the book "what to expect when you are expecting" in the month that you are. It's a LONG book but if you read it by chapters you will actually remember it. The movie doesn't count. 

• The nursery won't be used for a while after the baby is born. If you don't have it ready before the baby comes, you will not have enough time to do it. Also, it's fun to prepare for the new member of your family and to get dad involved. 

• Keep extra clothes (pants and underwear) with you and a few pads at all times. Nobody tells you this but sometimes accidents do happen. When you are pregnant you need to pee A LOT. At the beginning because of hormones and the baby pressures the bladder as it gets bigger. When you think it's bad, it will get worse. The accidents are not a lot but enough to be uncomfortable. Besides you can't really run anymore and sometimes there are lines for the restroom and nobody ever offers to let you go first. 

• It's a really good idea to take a birthing class and tour the hospital. You will be happy you did when the time comes. I had to go 3 times to the hospital because of my high blood pressure and it was easy to get in alone. I drove and waited until someone met me there.  This leads to the next item... 

• Pack your hospital bag, breast pump, and baby bag ahead of time and put everything in your car. The day of the first false alarm I had left my bags ready on the stairs. Emma decided not to arrive that day, but I also learned that at least someone other than your partner needs to have keys to your house. I never took a breastfeeding class and I wish I did. Breastfeeding is really challenging. There is a whole post about that coming. 

• Have a plan B. Ideally, contractions start when you are at home, but knowing that my sister's water broke at work I was terrified that it would happen to me as well. I thought of the many things that could happen and tried to have someone at work ready to call Andre, drive me to the hospital, and call someone to clean up in case my water broke. This never happened, but it gave me peace of mind knowing that someone was in charge while I was panicking or in pain.  

Last but not least, get dad involved. If you are single, get your friends and family involved. Don't try to do everything yourself including all the nesting at the end. I went to a lot of doctors appointments alone but there are some good ones that its nice to have someone with you. I went with my mom or sisters several times. They loved to come and see the baby or just knowing that they can help. The day you confirm the pregnancy, the first ultrasound, the day they check for the sex and when you hear the heart beat for the first time are special moments to share as a couple. I had 2 urgent appointments so there will be some scary moments too. Sadly i was alone during those. Also, you will get blood taken sooooo many times that it's nice to have someone for moral support. It's hard to believe that there is a human being growing inside of you. It's even harder for men, so help them out by making them feel important.

I thought I didn't remember but it looks like I did. If anyone wants to add anything to the list please do. When you are pregnant you can't get enough tips and advise from other mothers. Just for the record, you should always listen to your doctor. Every pregnancy is different and you should always follow their advise. 

Emma at the beach

Last Sunday, we took Emma to the beach for the first time. She LOVED it. She was a happy baby playing in the water. We went to Treasure Island, our favorite beach in St Pete. 

                               

                               

I got a tent to protect her from the heat and the sun. The 3 of us ended up spending most of the day under it. I also used baby sunblock for her delicate skin! (my mom asked if I did). We were lucky to find a few trees and a nice shade. It was a hot summer day and this tent was the best way to enjoy it.

                     

It was an "adventure" to get all set up but once we got comfortable it was probably the best Sunday of the year. I worked many hours for 2 weeks and it was our anniversary weekend. I really needed a break from the routine and I'm sure that Andre felt the same way. I can't wait to be back to the beach and I'm sure that Emma will continue to enjoy it more as she learns how to play with sand. 

I'm going to follow a good friend's advice and keep this blog open as a way to keep some of the activities that I enjoyed before becoming a mother. Motherhood is amazing but one thing that also happens is that the list of your priorities is endless. First comes the baby and your partner, your job, house work, and some social life to make you feel normal and after all that there is time for you and what you like to do. Please forgive my typos and lack of formatting since I will be using the blogger mobile app and I will have very little time to edit. 

Date at L'Eden

Last Saturday Andre and I had our first date after our baby was born. We picked one of our favorite restaurants in Tampa. L'Eden is a small French restaurant in Downtown Tampa.

I had a quiche Lorraine and Andre had the pecan chicken. I forgot to take a picture before I started to eat. We saved room for dessert, a crepe of course. This time I did take a picture before we ate it. The chocolate crepe was the best part of our meal. They added bananas because we requested it. This crepe reminded us of our trip to Paris 3 years ago. We started dreaming about planning a trip to Europe next year. We were only dreaming since our first trip will most likely be to Ecuador to introduce Emma to her father's family.

The chef/owner was cleaning tables and making coffee. You can see that he really loves this place and it shows with everything that they serve. He makes his own pastries. Sadly I never make it in the morning to try one of the freshly baked chocolate croissants. I'm jealous of those that work in downtown and can grab one every morning.

We don't come here often and we love it. After our delicious dinner we decided that we will come to this place as a ritual on Saturdays for lunch with Emma and then walk to the Curtis Hixon Park for a nice afternoon walk (before it gets too hot). There is a new downtown location of L'Eden and we will check it out next time.

Best Brunch in Tampa

The best Sunday brunch in Tampa is at Jackson's. I'm not into photographing food, so please trust me when I tell you this. Jackson's is located in Harbor Island, just across from downtown Tampa.

I don't go as often as I would like probably because it's a buffet and the mind set is that you "have" to be really hungry to go. Today, I finally convinced my sister, my brother in law, and my nephew to join me.  It was their first time there and they loved it. I'm sure that I will go more often now. 

Chocolate covered strawberries and bananas

There is something for everyone: omelet station, pasta station, sushi and fish, breakfast items, salads, entrees, fruit, and the dessert station with a chocolate fountain included. Also, the view of downtown is one of the best things about this place. All of this for just $20.95

Love the winter in Florida, 78 F in a January day!

Downtown Tampa from Jackson's

When I travel, I'm always looking for a nice place to eat late breakfast/brunch. I've never been to a brunch buffet as good as this one. If you go with a large group I recommend making reservations. There is usually a short wait for a table. 

Another Sunset from Cypress Point Park

Last weekend, we finally went to a nearby beach to take a few pregnancy pictures before it's too late. Our baby girl will be here in exactly one month (or hopefully less) and we were running out of time. Since sunset is now so early we went to Cypress Point Park located only 15 minutes away from our place. I have been there before to take sunset pictures with a photography group. I love this place because is next to the airport and is right under the flight path. All the airplanes landing in TIA make me dream about traveling. This is not the prettiest beach in the area, but it is a nice place to watch the sunset and take a nice walk by the water.

Here are some of my favorite shots. These were taken by Andre, my husband, and with the help of a tripod for the pictures of the 2 3 of us.