We're Back...Still Pale and Tanless!

Hey everybody! We had a great trip to the beach with the baby and his grandparents, uncles, great aunts/uncles and second cousins. SoJo was so amazing...he really handled all of the new faces and places really well and slept during both car rides, save for a few screams every couple of hours.

He is such a water baby (as I suppose most babies are). He loved being in the pool and splashing water. He got it on his face a lot and didn't mind at all. We even dunked him once, as the swim instructors at the pool I swam at all through my pregnancy recommended it. She said that babies will naturally hold their breath and that it gets them used to going under water. SoJo didn't like it, but he didn't scream either. Hence we only did it once.

He was a little confused by the ocean, as you can tell by the look on his face in the photo. He didn't dislike it, but was just quiet. I think he wanted that sand in his mouth.

This week was also another big moment for the little one; he rolled over from his back to his tummy for the first time. I can't believe how much he's grown up! I am amazed at how great he did during this whole trip. He slept well, as we had a huge walk-in closet attached to our bedroom in the condo and the pack and play fit right in there. So it could be completely dark with the door closed, which is a lot different than his room at home. I left the door cracked in the closet though, for air flow and so that it wasn't really dark during naps and he wouldn't get into the habit of sleeping all day.

And I am pleased to say we are as white as ever. In my 20s, I decided that I was tired of trying to get a tan (after a few mild sunburns) so I don't stay out in the sun for long, and even then I have on tons of sunscreen and a hat. I think Soren will be like me, as we look like we have the same hair and coloring. I used Badger sunscreen, which smells wonderfully like lavender and does not have chemicals in it.
The main protector is zinc oxide which reflects the sun. I didn't want to put things on his skin that had ingredients I couldn't pronounce, so this was great. We weren't in the direct sun for more that 20 minutes each day, so I don't know how well Badger Balm worked long term, but I'd recommend it. I love that all of their products contain at least 70% organic ingredients.

Now it's back to the routine and not having a ton of people around to hold Soren while I'm making lunch, swimming, or just in the shower! I miss the beach already...

Note: Thanks for the comments on my swimsuit! I've had it for a few years and I bought it at Boscovs, a local department store. If I remember correctly, it's a Jantzen. I love that it holds the girls in, and quite honestly, it fit better last year before I was nursing! There's also a matching bottom and skirt, but in the photo I have on a different bottom (actually it's from my maternity swimsuit!).

Kindly Pardon the Interruption

As a few previous posts mentioned, we will be away on our vacation for the next week, so forgive me if I don't get to posting anything. Husband will have his computer and satellite card for the internet (work-related...he's in I.T.) so I may get a chance to be on the computer. But hey, who wants to be typing when there is a beach just steps from the door!

Enjoy the week, and send some good vibes our way for the 10 hour drive!

Countdown to Sand and Sun

In between baby naps, I am here trying to pack and get everything together for our vacation on Friday. Why is it that men can just grab a duffel bag, stuff some boxers and t-shirts in it, and leave. Oh, I know! It's because their wives pack everything else that they need.

Actually, I don't mind, as I am excited to be going to the beach. It's the unpacking I hate. I am cleaning the house really well before I go because at least coming home to a clean house makes it bearable to unpack and get back to the humdrum routine.

After SoJo's baby shower, I saved a lot of those snap-able, heavy plastic bags that onesies and sheets come in, lord knows what I was going to use them for then. I just couldn't think about them clogging landfills. Finally I've figured out something to use them for...packing. I am sorting the baby stuff into short sleeved onesies, pjs, etc. and sticking them in separate bags. Then they can go into the suitcase. I think it'll be easier to find things that way (not that I am packing tons of stuff mind you). They'll probably make good bags if we have any damp clothes on our return home.
I am also bringing some clothespins to use for hanging up our towels off the balcony rail (clipping them under the railing so they don't fly away) and for other things. And I am bringing my Reisenthel market bag to corrall SoJo's toys and other stuff. I love that it's collapsable. Thanks to Candace at My Greening for the tip and the market basket!

Traveling with SoJo...and Nightmares

Last night I had such trouble falling asleep. It's because we are going on vacation.

I know, I know, this should be relaxing and something to look forward too, but to be honest, I am dreading it. It's more of the traveling part, and the sleeping part (for Soren), and the break-up of his routine. As I've mentioned here before, he's a high-needs baby or hypertonic, as some may say. Which means he is intense, demanding, and quite draining. In a lot of ways, I love these qualities as it makes for a very entertaining and enthusiastic child, when he's in a good mood. However, when he is crabby, watch out! My husband and I laugh (when we're not crying) about the irony that we, the two most laid-back, calm people, were blessed with such a spirited baby. I guess our dull lives needed some shaking-up.

I should say that it's been 200% better this month than those first two, but I am still concerned about driving with him for 10 hours to the beach. He has a very specific sleep routine that we can't follow on the road (swaddling his hyperactive arms in a carseat just doesn't work for obvious safety reasons) and he hates the carseat for more than an hour or so. The one thing that seems to quiet him when he's wailing in the car is if my husband blasts really heavy metal, like Carcass or Six Feet Under (with names like those, you can imagine what they sound like). But for some reason it works, and despite my protests against this annoying music prior to Soren, I've grown to love it. Probably because I'd rather hear that than my baby cry!

When we decided to make arrangements for this trip, it was when I was pregnant. I based my decision on my cousin's baby, who had traveled from Georgia to PA at 3 months and who handled the trip beautifully. My biggest baby misconception: that babies will sleep anywhere and everywhere when they're tired. Big surprise!! I got the baby who will only sleep in his crib in the dark, or occassionally on mom or dad's chest.

Since we can't change our plans, we are just going to grit our teeth and make the drive (I can't imagine taking him on a plane!). We are thinking about leaving around 10pm so that he'll hopefully sleep through most of it. But then I worry that I'll mess up his sleep pattern, or that he'll still cry because he's extra tired. At least when we get there, we'll have a lot of babysitters who can give us a break, meaning we are meeting my family and some extended family there. That was another reason why we decided to go, as it would be a little more relaxing to have some helpers on vacation. We may even have a night out just for ourselves!

So next Friday, send us a little prayer or some good thoughts for our journey. If all else fails, we'll have to listen to Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, or Ministry the entire way (pray for me!).

P.S. That's him in the photo on his ride home from the hospital...the tears started shortly after!