Pumpkin Patch Fun

This is Emma's first Halloween and it was my first time visiting a pumpkin patch and a corn maze. We have other friends that have kids and we are learning new things everyday about what kids like to do. We went to Sweetfield Farms located about 40 minutes north of Tampa. We will be back next year, I'm sure that Emma will enjoy it more. 

Like always, we end up using our phones and the last 2 pictures were my favorite pictures of the day. 

What we learned on our 1st trip with a Baby

Our last day in Canada was spent traveling by car to buffalo and then flying to Tampa. Emma was so good at her flight that the people sitting behind us said they didn't notice that there was a baby in front of them. She slept most of the flight. We got upgraded to first class thanks to the random seat assignment from AirTran and probably good luck that the flight was full to sit Andre and me together with Emma. I can see that she is going to like traveling and I'm more than happy to say that we had an amazing time with her. It was exhausting and by the time I was done with the cycles of feeding (milk), applying sunblock, feeding her solids and keeping her entertained it was time to start over again. I have to admit that the first night I was so tired that I told Andre that I don't like traveling anymore. I was wrong because as soon as we came back I started to think where we would go next. It is a lot of work traveling with a baby, but it's not impossible. I'm not ready to go alone with her on a trip just yet but I'm sure that I will get there.

For our next trip I'm ready to do a few things different:

• Keep my ID and phone in a separate bag than the baby bag. I have a small cross body bag that I take to theme parks and it is perfect. We have been to Busch gardens a few times and that way I can keep my things separate from the baby things. Diaper bags get heavy and things get "lost" in them. 

• Clorox wipes are still coming with me even if I embarrass those who travel with me. Changing tables are not the most appealing places to lay your child. I became an expert on changing diapers on my lap or using the stroller. This is only OK for wet diapers. 

• Keep clean toys in separate bags. I used a few zip lock bags to help me during the trip and I would clean them at the end of the day. Airplane floors are probably never cleaned. Next time I will take less plush toys and more plastic ones that are easy to clean. 

• We took a portable bed rail to install in the hotel bed. It was the best way to be safe when the 3 of us shared a king bed. I requested a crib once and it was not that great. They are metal and extremely cold. Sleeping is a privilege these days and if she gets cold is another reason to wake up. 

• Most hotels have microwaves if you request one. I had no idea you could get one. At the end of the day we sterilized her bottles and pacifiers. 

• Take at least 3 outfits a day. I took 2 per day and I was running out of clean clothes by the end of the trip. 

• There is baby food everywhere but babies are picky with new flavors. Take enough food even if it means a heavy bag to check in its worth it. I bought a few things in Canada that according to me tasted better than the ones Emma eats but she hated them. She now wants to eat what we eat and it was difficult to find something that she could eat. She can have fish or chicken or veggies but they are mostly too seasoned or cooked in ways that she is not used to. As gets older this will get easier. 

I'm sure that as we travel more often I will add more lessons to my list. We have a trip planned next month and I am more prepared this time. 

Canada Day 4, Sightseeing in Toronto

Since we only had one full day in Toronto, we decided to buy tickets for the double decker bus. We followed the tour from our hotel towards the CN Tower and the waterfront. The bus tour included a free boat tour. I'm a big fan of doing this kind of tours when the time is limited. It is flexible and they follow the best routes to show you the most popular places.  We needed it because Emma is heavy and that way we could also take a break while doing some sightseeing. It was the best decision. I feel that we saw a lot more of Toronto than if we tried to take the subway or any other way of public transportation to the tourist places. 

When we were on the boat it was the first and only time that I took my camera out this day. I was more concerned about the baby's sunblock, hat and food than to take pictures. Maybe I just need to go back to my point a shoot camera otherwise I will just have iphone pictures. 

Toronto Skyline

Emma fell asleep on the boat and we took the tour bus back to Dundas Square. It was almost 5:00 PM and that was one of the last full tours of the day. We were able to see all the stops included in the tour. I decided to stay on the bottom level to let Emma sleep comfortably. After having a late lunch/early dinner, we walked back to the hotel. I was exhausted from the day. It sounds silly but I was exhausted physically and also mentally. I'm Emma's favorite person (which I love) but this also means she wants to be held (by me) most of the time. A 20 lb baby is heavy enough to leave you exhausted at the end of the day. I think that I did a good job keeping her out of the sun, taking naps, drinking water, eating solid foods and also drinking her bottles. Traveling with her was a challenge and we didn't get to see as much in one day. However, I'm happy with what we saw and for our first trip, I think we did great! She was a great tourist. I'm really proud of her. 

Canada Day 3 - Toronto & Niagara on the Lake

When we were on our way to Toronto from Niagara Falls we made a quick stop at Niagara on the Lake. This was probably my favorite part of the trip. We didn't plan to come here but we wanted to see Lake Ontario and a friend recommended that we ate here. We were full but we still wanted to see this place. It was beautiful and we had a nice break at a park looking at Lake Ontario for the first time. Emma still hates the car seat and she was very happy to take this long break. 

As soon as we got close to downtown Toronto, we got stuck in traffic for at least one hour. Emma was not too happy but we finally made it to our hotel. After checking in, we walked towards Dundas Square. This place reminded me of Times Square, only a lot cleaner and more organized. We were starving and didn't know what to eat. We ended up eating at the Hard Rock Cafe. I have to admit that it was good. I had a salmon with vegetables and everyone else got hamburgers. We wanted to try something Canadian (which I still don't know what it is) but we were tired and hungry. 

Happy Tourist

This day was Andre's birthday. We had plans to go out that night. I didn't do my homework of reading the travel books that I got. I even forgot to pack them for the trip. I also forgot his birthday card. On the good side, I did not forget ANYTHING that I needed for Emma. This is a clear example of how my brain decided to prioritize my new life. I'm happy that I forgot about something like where to go out instead of her bottles. Since I didn't know where to go, I remembered that the Yorksville area looked very nice from the few things that I saw when I read about Toronto. It was really nice, the problem is that they close everything very early. It's a shopping district and by 8:00 PM on a Saturday nothing was open. I was expecting restaurants or bars in the area, but it was dead. We walked towards the metro again and ended up having gelato instead of a drink and calling it a night. I was worried about Emma and wondering if she was having a rough night again. As we suspected, she woke up while we were gone and she was upset. Unlike the night before, she fell back asleep. We could have stayed out longer but we were tired. We definitely don't have the energy to stay up at night and keep up during the day. 

Canada Day 2 - Niagara Falls

For a long time, my dad has been saying that 2 of the places that he wants to see in the US are the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. My parents are retired and they usually spend 3 months in Colombia and then 3 months in Tampa. They travel often and enjoy seeing new places. They are over 70 and enjoying life, except this year because of Emma they are staying in Tampa. I love traveling with them, so we decided that our first trip with Emma would be to Niagara Falls, Canada via Buffalo. The Grand Canyon was another option, but considering the longer flight we decided Niagara was a good start. I didn't care much about seeing the falls. It's one of those places that I didn't have at the top of my list of places that I want to see or in my bucket list. They were more beautiful than what I expected plus I was really happy to visit a new Country for all of us and I was extremely excited about visiting Toronto. 

Since we decided to go to Niagara, I knew that me and the baby would not be going on the "Maid of the Mist". Andre wanted to go but he was getting sick and didn't want to get wet. My parents just decided not to go. If I ever return to Niagara, I would definitely like to see the falls from the boat. The mist was so much from the sidewalk I can only imagine how it is when you are in the water.

My favorite sight was at the top of the falls. Seeing all the water before dropping was really spectacular. We stayed in that area for a while admiring the force of the water and feeling that the trip was worth it. 

My dad's dream and our first family trip were really wonderful. We spent the night in Niagara. Andre and I drove that night to see the falls illuminated. We didn't even realize that less than a block from our hotel there was a nice place to watch the falls and fireworks. Emma was very upset when we got back to our room. My mom was babysitting but we have some (serious) issues with her only wanting me at night. I didn't know they were so bad until that night. The following day was Andre's birthday and our plans to go out in Toronto we're not looking that good. 

Canada Day 1

We planned this long weekend trip at least 3 months ago. Less than 2 weeks away from our departure, Emma got really sick. I was really close to canceling this trip several times. I was really happy that our plane tickets were from southwest and you really never lose the money with them but we were definitely losing the hotel money because I prepaid to get a better rate. That week was probably the worst week I've had since Emma was born. We took her to the doctor and she had some tests doen. When the lab results came back (a week later) they showed that she had salmonella. She was already doing really well when I heard back from the doctor telling us that she needed to test her blood. Since there are different bacterias that cause salmonella, some of them need antibiotics. In order to determine that, Emma had to have a blood test. I consulted with my uncle who is a pathologist and he said she was most likely ok, but she really needed the test. Apparently, when doctors say results take 48 hours, it could turn out to be over one week turn around. As a bonus that same week, she also got pink eye probably from the doctor's office. Another week passed when I received a call from her doctor saying that we are still waiting for test results!!!!! Basically, while we were in Canada, I was anxiously expecting a phone call from her doctor. I'm happy to say that she never called. I'm glad I didn't cancel the trip. 

We planned this trip because one of my dad's dreams was to travel to Niagara falls. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to take our first trip with Emma. A relatively short flight to Buffalo and a short drive to Niagara and Toronto made it a perfect long weekend trip. Also, having my parents around would be really helpful with Emma. We took advantage of a Southwest Airlines sale and purchased our plane tickets for less than $200 round trip. 

Our flight was delayed for 2 hours in Tampa but we used the time to eat lunch at the airport. Emma had a perfect flight. She took a nap at the airport and didn't even cry during the 2.5 hour flight. Her ears were OK. On our way up, she ate and on the way down I gave her he pacifier and made sure that she kept it in.  

After getting the rental car, driving towards Canada, and crossing the border it was time for dinner. We drove by the falls on our way to the hotel, but decided to have dinner and go to bed early. We were all exhausted after our first air traveling experience. We ate at an Outback steak house located outside our hotel. We were surprised to see that the prices were double of what we pay in the U.S. and that there is an additional sales tax for non-Niagara Falls residents. As we discovered the rest of our trip, Canada is very expensive. 

Hello Canada!

Emma did great during her first flight and also during take off and landing. Having 4 adults for one kid was a great idea! I'll write more updates later. 

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. 

Coming up: Canada

After months of staying at home we finally have a trip coming up. Andre, Emma, my parents and I will be flying to Buffalo, NY and driving to Niagara Falls (Canada) and Toronto. Canada will be a new Country for all of us and the first international trip for Emma. 

I'm a little nervous about traveling with a 7 month old, but I'm so excited about seeing a new Country. I need to do some research and find out how everything works. I only know that Emma will fly on my lap and that I need to give her a bottle to help with the ear pressure at take off and landing. 

Can anyone give me some advise? I know that everyone does this but I'm new to traveling with kids. I don't even know what are the rules about liquids or how many personal items I can take with me. Other than that, we are ready to go!!!! 

My baby girl is 7 months

As a working mom, I am away from my daughter so much that leaving her even for an hour a day to go to the gym makes me feel like a horrible mother. Going away for longer, like a weekend without her is not even a possibility right now. I enjoy every second that I have with her. I have been back at work longer than what I stayed at home during my maternity leave. I don't pump during the day anymore. I'm only breastfeeding in the morning and at night. Emma finally likes formula and I don't feel like a cow 24/7. I still don't sleep the whole night and I don't know what to do so I gave up and now Emma and I share a bed after she wakes up at midnight. I know, I know I shouldn't do that but I need my sleep. I never thought that I was going to be so attached to Emma. I knew I was going to love her but its more than what I ever imagined.

Tomorrow, I will start going for one hour to the gym after work twice a week. Andre will pick Emma up and I will get home just in time to bathe her and put her to sleep. I still have several pregnancy pounds to lose and I will be a bridesmaid in a month. I have some extra pressure to look good. I have been working out but without a routine I end up skipping workouts and losing my motivation too often. 

I have a few posts that I'm writing to help my friends with their future pregnancies and babies. One of my closest friends had a baby last month and giving her advise has given me some ideas of things that every new mom should know and that nobody tells you! Hopefully I can help by sharing my experience. 

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.