2011.1.9 Travels with C - Day 4

Our last full day in the Keys! We joined Butch, Raye and Wendy for breakfast at Galley Grill on Summerland. C ate an entire pancake to the shock of the family. (We're used to it!)

2010.1.8 Travels with C - Day 3

C slept all night and woke at about 6:30am, ready for food. We once again lolled in bed for half an hour, giggling and rolling with the man. Breakfast saw him chowing scrambled eggs, banana and English muffin. He is so wound up and interested in all that is going on that he really doesn't want to nap here. He finally fell asleep around 10am while I was out on a run. W had to walk him up and down the hall until he was sleepy.

Once he woke up, we all got on Butch & Raye's boat for a cruise out to Picnic Island. It's a teeny tiny island in the Atlantic that offers a few feet of beach, some greenery and a nice place to park a boat. We stopped so that C could dip his butt in the ocean, eat some sand and watch dogs play in the water. We snacked on cheese and crackers and cracked a bevvie. C's favorite part was sitting in Butch's lap and pretending to 'drive' the boat. While he didn't mind it on the way there, the slightly-oversized life preserver bugged him to no end on the way back. Raye kept him occupied, as did some multi-grain cheerios!

He was exhausted by the time we arrived home and fell asleep feeding. ;)

2010.1.7 Travels with C - Day 2

C slept all night last night! Thank heaven for small favors. It wasn't really expected as he only took about two hours of his normal four hours of nap yesterday. But he woke us up at 6am with a hungry belly. I fed him and we lolled about in bed for forty-five minutes before getting up and greeting the family for breakfast. C amused everyone with his banana eating (or demolishing.) Then W took off with Butch for a round of golf at the Key West Golf Course and I went out with C in the Bob for a 3 mile jaunt. He stayed awake for the entire run around Summerland Key, as well as the mini-mart stop for some refreshments. (No caffeine-free diet coke...rats.)

Despite the lull of the stroller and the overlong period between sleeps, the man would NOT go to sleep this morning. Grandma had to sit on the porch to stop herself from going in to get him. Finally after a feeding, he fell asleep.

It's about 70 and partly sunny here. Can't wait to get outside again. Must see things on this visit (limited time and options with C - but we'll find a way)...

• Shopping at Summerland Sandal
• Dinner at Parrotdise
• Drink a 'green thing' or two! from Jimmy at the truck bar at Sunset Ceremony (see photo)
• Lunch at Hurricane Hole
• Lunch or Dinner at No Name Pub - Try to see some of the elusive Key Deer on the way to or from
• Open some Christmas presents! The tree is exploding with gifts!!!

After some good napping for C and some time on the front porch, Raye and I took off to meet the guys at Hurricane Hole in Key West. (Wendy had a job interview.) C downed some mahi-mahi fish bites while we waited for the boys to finish their golf game. Then he proceeded to eat half of my quesadilla and a couple of sweet potatoe fries from Raye's plate. Butch took him on a tour of the marina so he could look at the pelicans. Then we went back home for more nap time.

After C's nap, we loaded up two cars and headed up to Little Torch Key and Parrotdise. C was once again the man for protein, eating a bunch of W's fish, as well as veggies and pasta. Parrotdise has a great happy hour so we had a few beverages and enjoyed watching the water, the people and the little man. Back at home we finally opened Christmas presents! Raye finally discovered the joys of online shopping this year and had completely outdone herself. C got his new carseat, TONS of baby Patriots gear, a Patriots hat and some onesies. W was given a bunch of nice shirts and a set of cuff-links from Charles Tyrwitt. And I have some great stuff coming to the house from Boden!

Off to bed for more adventures in the morning!

2010.1.6 Travels with C - Part 1

Each January for the past ten or so years, we've journeyed from wherever we are living to visit W's parents in the Florida Keys. They live in Summerland Key, which is at Mile Marker 25. For those who haven't visited the Keys before, MM 0 is in Key West and the mile markers ascend the further you go up towards Miami. So when you tell someone you live at MM 25, they know you live about a half an hour up the Keys from Key West.

Last year when we were here at this time, I was about thirty weeks pregnant with C. And although I enjoyed the visit, it was rough not being able to enjoy the Key West lifestyle. Kayaking was awkward, running was a chore and the Duval 'crawl' was...well....dry. I did get a lot of great pictures last year, including one of the 'Southernmost preggie lady.' And W always had a designated driver!

Yesterday we took off from home at about 8:30am to take C to the airport for his first plane ride and visit to the Keys! We were armed with a bottle, paci, toys, blankets, the Bob, the Ergo, and with wild hope that all would go smoothly. Getting through security was a breeze and the Southwest terminal was calm. C played on the floor and flirted with ladies and other little kids. When we boarded, their were enough empty seats to give C and his carseat a space with us. He was happy while we waited to taxi. Then the captain announced that there was a sensor going off. About an hour later and a bad alternator later, we had to deplane back to the terminal. The Southwest team did right by us and got us all on another plane in under forty-five minutes. Still all calm from the C man!

We took off about two hours after our original departure. C was happily munching on a banana and some O's. Then with a little coaxing he fell asleep for an hour and fifteen minutes. He played in our laps while we descended and never let out a peep. No ear issues. No crying. Wow - I hope it's always that easy!

We landed in Fort Lauderdale, changed the man while waiting for luggage and scooted out to the rental car area. Then into the SUV for a three or so hour drive down the Keys. The man ate O's and some cheese and chilled out for 90% of the ride. The sunset over Marathon was gorgeous. It looked like someone was painting rivulets of pink and orange water in the sky. C started getting fussy at about 20 miles to go. It didn't help that I gave him a bottle of water that was not closed correctly; he was soaked when we arrived! Poor baby.

But eventually we reached the house on First Street and got lots of hugs from Grandma and Pop and Aunt Wendy. C got cleaned up and then we all ate spaghetti dinner. Raye rented a highchair and a crib from a local outfit in the Keys, which worked out great! C is sleeping in the laundry room and so far it works!