In the City

We decided to do a little trip to Oklahoma City this holiday weekend so we could get a few of the big items we need for the baby in the oven. It's about an hour and a half drive to the city, and always a struggle to figure out how to get down there and back and manage a nap around 1:00. So I decided to book a hotel for Friday night. We drove down Friday morning, did all our big shopping (futon - check, nursing chair- check), had lunch, went to the hotel and let Lucas take his nap. He woke up and we went swimming at the hotel pool. Then Texas Roadhouse for dinner, and back to the hotel for the night.

Saturday morning we went to the Science museum. It was really cool! They had a whole kids section that Lucas was able to run around in for awhile. It had an amazing water table with boats, a tractor to get into, and all kinds of activities. A lot of them were way over Lucas's head, but he still enjoyed everything. I'm pretty sure Ben had as much fun as Lucas. He is a science geek at heart, and loved showing Lucas all the exhibits, especially those related to his degree in physics. We didn't even get to the second floor of the museum because there was so much to do! Definitely worth the time going, and I think we will be back!

The trip was a successful shopping trip, and a fun family mini vacation. Just getting out and doing something different is needed sometimes!

On the Road Again...

Is it really May already? This year is flying by with alarming speed. But I'm so excited because Lucas and I are flying to visit my parents on Friday! We will be with them for two weeks. It stinks leaving Ben behind, but he is really busy with a new class right now, and will hopefully get lots of flying hours in while we're gone.

I was thinking back on how travelling with Lucas has gone since he was born, and realized just how many trips he has gone on. He has been on six roundtrip flights, and two cartrips over 9 hours each way. That's a lot in less than two years! I guess that is the way it goes with a military family. I'm glad that I have had the opportunities to travel with Lucas since he was three months old because it made it easier for me. I never stopped doing what I wanted to do because I didnt think I could handle it with him. There have been difficult flights, and cranky car rides, and moments of embarrassment and despair. But there have been weeks full of fun, laughter, family, and new adventures. I wouldn't trade those times for a few bumps in the road.

So I decided to write out a few tips for travelling with babies and toddlers. These have helped me thus far, and maybe they can help other mamas!

All Ages

• Gate check your stroller and carseat. There are several reasons to do this. One, it keeps everything mobile as long as possible. You aren't lugging around your baby, diaper bag, and carry on. It can all go in the stroller until you are almost ON the plane. Two, I'm scared of how... exhuberant? the luggage handlers are. If they drop it, throw it, or smash your carseat too hard, it no longer keeps my baby safe in an accident. Same reason you can't use a carseat after an accident. They can only take so much force. Last reason to gate check, on Southwest, you can ask if it is a full flight. If it isn't, you can bring the carseat on the plane and your baby has their own seat! Even though you didn't purchase a seperate ticket. Obviously there are no guarantees, but it's worth a try! We fly Southwest a lot and Lucas has gotten his own seat 3 or 4 times without buying one!

Infants (0-7 ? months)

• Get used to nursing in public as soon as possible! I bit the bullet when Lucas was less than a month old and never looked back. It is scarier in your head than in reality!
• Try to nurse on take off, but if the timing doesn't work out, don't stress it. One time, Lucas was hungry and cranky 10 minutes before boarding. I was like Really? Can't you just wait and do it on the plane? But for some reason, my infant didn't understand the whole "wait for it" concept. A fussy baby is never a good travel companion. Feed them if they are hungry.
• Let them sleep. Enjoy these months when they will happily snooze through anything.
• Accept help from strangers. I cannot tell you how thankful I have been towards helpful strangers going through security lines with me. I have travelled a lot with Lucas by myself and it is always a struggle in security. Random men and women have lifted my empty carseat onto the conveyor, helped with my stroller, and just told me that if I needed anything to let them know. This is beyond helpful. I hate being the annoying person taking a long time in a security line, and for other people to show that they understand and are willing to help means makes me feel so much better.

Movers (8- 12 months)

• This was a TRICKY stage of travel for us. Lucas was old enough that he didn't want to be held or constrained for a long time, but too young to engage in a lot of books, shows on my iPad, coloring, etc.
• I found that short flights, with a hour or two layover, worked better than a nonstop flight at this point. In the past, I would always take the nonstop option. But the chance to get off the plane and let Lucas move and explore was much more convenient than a longer direct flight.
• Bring distractions. New toys, books, snacks, etc. But in the end, do whatever works. Lucas once sat and lifted and lowered my armrest on the plane for half an hour. Whatever keeps them occupied!

Toddlers (12 months and beyond!)

• Use the iPad. Lucas is obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I usually let him watch two to three episodes a day, each are about 25 minutes long. I lost count of how many times we watched MMCH when we were driving to Syracuse this Christmas. 12 hours in the car. Divided by 25 minutes. You do the math, I don't want to know. My brother in law, who was in the car with us, could quote the show by the end of the trip. But Lucas was happy so we all were happy!
• TRY to work around naps, but embrace the inevitable. I try very hard to keep Lucas's nap schedule. He only takes one nap a day, normally from 12:30 or 1 to 3 or 4. That is a big chunk of a travel day. So if it works out that we can travel in the morning and let him nap in the car on the way from the airport, wonderful. If not, we work it out. It's just one day. If the nap doesn't happen, or is short, oh well! Life goes on!
• Sit near other families with kids, if you have seat options. They can entertain each other, and the parents won't be as upset if your kid is throwing a fit. But on the other hand, try to avoid small babies. I once sat infront of a toddler when Lucas was an infant. I wanted to duct tape that kid's mouth by the end of the flight. :) Let's hope karma doesn't catch up with me and my toddler for my trip on Friday!

Fishy!

I have been thinking about getting Lucas a fish for awhile. He loves seeing them at the zoo, other people's houses, Disney world, and where ever else he sees them. So on Monday morning we went on a fish finding trip. This is what we came home with! A white betta fish, as yet unnamed. Possible names include Sheldon, Bazinga, and Bubbles. We will keep you updated.

Lucas loves his fish! Each morning he wakes up and runs to the "fish house" to say hi. He goes to check on it throughout the day and loves feeding it. He says "night night fish!" Before naps and bed. It is adorable watching him with the fish. The best part? No potty training or taking the fish for walks! Haha.

Bad Blogger! And Pregnancy Update

Sooo... Confession time. I am a bad blogger. I have the best intentions, often thinking of things I want to make sure I write about. And then, Lucas goes down for his nap, I finish eating my lunch, clean up, and start reading a book. Or watching a show on my iPad. And then I fall asleep. At least I can blame my exhaustion on my pregnancy! I am 16 weeks now. Good grief, I can't even believe I'm that far already.

When I announced I was pregnant, people told me that this one would fly by. At the time I was just trying to keep whatever I had managed to eat from making an appearance, so I could only hope that they were right. I'm still dealing with nausea, but it is much more manageable. It's crazy how different this pregnancy is than my first. When I was pregnant with Lucas I threw up maybe five times. Total. I felt nauseated a lot, but couldn't actually get sick. This time, I wake up and run to the toilet at least 5 times a week. And that has been going on since about week 8. I've learned that I would much rather get sick on an empty stomach than a full one. So I normally get sick, take my magical Zofran, and then wait about half an hour to see if that will do the trick. Some mornings I feel fine after that. Sometimes I get sick again and start the cycle over. Good times.

I was hesitant to ask my doctor to prescribe Zofran, or any medication for nausea. I didn't need anything when I was pregnant with Lucas, so I didn't think I would need anything this time. In fact, I didn't take anything but Tylenol, Tums, and Pepcid the entire first pregnancy. After a 12 hour span when I got sick around 15 times (I lost count, but that's a good estimate) I knew I needed something. Anything. I do not have the luxury of being out of commission for days at a time. My little guy doesn't just stop and not require my time and attention because I'm throwing up. Luckily, the few times that he has actually seen me get sick, he thinks it's funny. Whatever, I'm just glad he isn't traumatized and scared.


Lucas is a toddler now. Not just because he is 19 (NINETEEN?! how did that happen?) months old, but beacuse of what he can do now. He is talking. Talks alllll the time. He narrates what he is doing.

Bubba run. Momma down. Go outside. Sandbox? Popsicle? OK! Yeah, sure. Dada fly airplane in sky!

Yesterday we went to the mall and he got to ride the little train in the middle. He is still telling anyone who will listen (me, Ben, my mom on FaceTime, his buddy Tanner) "Bubba ride choo choo!"
His vocabulary grows all the time, and he continues to connect words. He will say sentences, but he is also learning adjectives.
"Big choo choo" "Big shovel" "purple star"
He even identified his emotions the other day, which FLOORED me. We saw a train go by really close at the Wakomis park. The nice conductor saw us waving and blew the whistle. Scared Lucas to death. He clung to my mom until he spotted me, and then transfered his barnacle grip to me. Later he told us "Bubba see choo choo. Bubba scared." !! What? He is 19 months old. We talked about how it's ok to be scared, and that sometimes when things are loud they startle us. But we aren't scared anymore and they won't hurt us. He isn't my little baby anymore. He is growing up so fast!

Well, I will try to update this more often. I know I am already forgetting things about this pregnancy and Lucas right now that I want to remember!

Lucas at 16 Months

OK, so I know I said this a month ago, but I can't get over how fast everything is going by! It has been a very busy month again. We traveled to Maryland to spend Christmas and New Years with Ben's whole family. We stayed with his family for the first time ever, since we had always stayed with my family before. My mom and dad moved to Augusta, Georgia earlier this year. It was really fun getting to spend time with Ben's brothers and mom and dad. Lucas got to spend a ton of time with them, which they loved.  Lucas and I got to visit with a few of my friends from home, and even got to meet my friend Alyssa's brand new baby, Henry! He was 9 weeks old when we saw him and so cute. Lucas did not like Mommy holding another baby. haha.

We were also able to drive up to Syracuse, NY and see all four of Ben's grandparents, his aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ben's grandparents aren't able to travel anymore due to health issues, so we were really excited to be able to bring Lucas to them. My mom and dad drove up to Maryland for New Years, so we got to see them a little bit too. Lucas was so excited to see his MiMi. His whole face lit up. I can't wait to see them this Saturday in Disney!

Lucas continues to surprise us in all that he is capable of, already. He is talking more, interacting more, and able to do more. For example, his first time using two words together was January 8th. I was sitting in my chair, finishing my dinner, and he wanted me to come help with his bath. Ben does bath time, but Lucas wanted me to join. So he said, "Mama, down!" He says "down" whenever he wants to get out of anything. His high chair, a swing, your arms, etc. He also gave me a high five the other day, then held out his fist and said "pound." We had taught him how to "Pound it" a while ago. He told Ben to "sit." next to him at his new playtable, which he loves. He is really starting to be able to understand what we are telling him and respond. It is so much fun watching him learn and be excited by the world!

We have met a few new friends that moved onto our street this past week. Two little boys who are both just about to turn two. The funny part is that Lucas looks the same size as them, even though they are 8 months older. He is so tall!

Lucas still loves snuggling, and I still rock him before his naps and bedtime. But he normally doesn't fall asleep until I put him in his crib. He just relaxes and winds down while I rock him. I enjoy that time with him because I know there will be a day in the future when he doesn't need or want me to rock him! He is growing up and acting like a big boy, but he is still my little baby.

My favorite thing that Lucas does now is give kisses. He blows kisses whenever he tells anyone goodbye, which is funny when it is the cashier at WalMart. But he gives us kisses on the lip with a big smack of his lips now. Yesterday, I had a headache and asked Lucas to kiss my head so it would feel better. He leaned over and gave my forehead a kiss! He is too cute.

Lucas at 15 Months

Wow! I can't believe it has already been a month! A very busy month. We are getting things ready for the holidays, as well as dealing with a sick boy. Lucas got a cold the beginning of this week, and is definitely on the upswing. But he still isn't himself, so it has been a little stressful. He is much more clingy and fussy, which I understand. I am not very happy when I don't feel good and can't breathe through my nose.

Lucas has tried to throw away the Nose Frida and the saline spray several times. He hates when I suck his nose out, even though it makes him feel better! So I think he wants to get rid of them! For those of you who don't know, a Nose Frida is a disgusting, gross invention that you use to suck the snot out of your child's nose using a tube and your mouth. If you don't have a baby who can't breathe, can't sleep because he can't suck his binky, and can't eat because he can't breathe and nurse at the same time, you would NEVER consider using it. But, if you do have a sick baby, you will LOVE this thing because it works about 93769 times better than the traditional bulb syringe, which does NOTHING.

Anyways, here are a few more things that Lucas can do now that he is 15 months old!

Can answer:
What does a
wolf say? (throws his head back and howls)
cat say? Mow Mow Mow
bird say? tweet tweet tweet
sheep say? baaa
Santa say? oh ho ho

Are you bat man?
"ah bah bah" (said in a gravelly Christian Bale as batman sounding voice)

Can point to his or your

eyes (says Eye)
nose
lips
tongue
cheeks
chin (says chin)
ears
hair
belly
bellybutton
feet
hands
neck

Can complete a simple puzzle (needs some help, but if he doesn't get frustrated he can do it himself)

Finds his shoes when asked, helps take them off.

Helps throw things away when asked, puts things in the hamper, out of the dryer, and puts clothes away with help.

A bunch more things that I can't think of, but this is a good snapshot of his abilities right now!

Lucas at 14 Months

I feel like Lucas just keeps learning new things and surprising us with what he can do. So, I wanted to make a post about all the things Lucas can do at 14 months old. The months are starting to blend together, and I want to remember when he did these things!
Lucas can say:
Dada= Daddy
Mama= Mommy
Dah= Dog
Bah= Ball
buh= Bye bye
Tuh Tuh= Tanner!
Ah= Apple

He can tell you what these animals say:
Dog= woof woof woof
Duck= cak cak cak
Cow= mmmmmooo
Lion= RAWR
Fish= smacks lips like a bubble sound
Monkey= Ooh Ooh

He signs these words
More
Help!
Mickey Mouse (pats his head where the ears are)
Goldfish (shakes his hand like he's shaking the bag)
Hungry/Eat
Stinky (waves his hand like he smelled somethings stinky)
Cold

He can run! walk backwards, climb up on the dining room chair, go down a slide by himself, climb the curved ladder at the park, turn my ipad on, and go down small steps by himself (like the step off our front door. He listens to directions and follows them (sometimes.) He will throw his dirty diaper away for me when I ask him to. He will shut the door or the dishwasher. He will go get his shoes. He will help take off his jacket or clothes. He helps put on his socks. He puts laundry from the dryer into the basket, and then hands it to me to fold.

He does a million things every day that amaze me when I think about what he could do just a few months ago. It is crazy to think that he hasn't been walking more than 3 months and he is now running all over the place. It all goes by so fast. I can't wait to see what he does next :)