Dispatch from Vacay - oh what a difference a day makes

Winston got sick on day three. The midpoint of our vacation. We are talking toddler-vomiting-in-the-middle-of-the-night sick. Poor guy. Jay and I moved into his room on head-to-head twin beds and snuggled with the monkey. He went right back to sleep for a couple of hours and then was at it again. Then right back to sleep. He's fine now. It's been over 48 hours and now he just has a cold. He's at the Baby Club today - our last day here.

I am here in the room so that I can stay close to the bathroom. Yep. Momma's sick too now. But not puking. The "other" stereotypical Mexican-vacation induced illness. Yuck. I spent the hours of 3-8 am on the bathroom floor. Just lovely. Jay's out on a wave-runner right now and I am here on the laptop, watching a movie and trying to eat saltines. Sad.

Ever since Jay and I went into Zihua on Saturday my tummy has been "off." We ate almost the same things since then, with the exception of me partaking of too much guacamole and ceviche. It's yum, but seems to be kicking my butt quite literally. I am a little bitter.

Anyway - on to the fun we have had since my last post.

Zihua on Saturday was great. Hotter than Hades but great. Based on a rec from my sister we went on a quest for a restaurant called "La Serena Gorda". Bummer was that we sort of started in the opposite direction. But took a great walk along the beach. We did find that fat mermaid, but by then had decided that we should eat on the sand too. (looking back, this may have been my mistake). We did a little shopping and Jay got his haggle-on with a persistant Mexican shopkeeper. It was all good. Winston had a good day at daycare. This was the night Winston got sick tho.

So, Sunday was spent in the room for the most part while Winston slept. He slept for a good 4 hours right in the middle of the day. He needed it. I think we did some time at the pool and then the beach that afternoon. Jay played flag football and Winston and I played in the gameroom.

Yesterday was Monday and we took Winston to see the nurse just to make sure everything was ok. He seemed to be very congested, but no fever. He had some Benadryl and then we went to the pool. I took a water aerobics class while Jay and Winston watched. Winston even got into it a bit too. Then Jay played water polo and Winston and I made new friends by the stairs in the pool. By all indications, vacay was back in full swing.

After an afternoon nap, we were all back at the pool and Winston was Mr. Confident. I swear I think he thinks he can really swim. He was putting his face in the water and pushing me away. Crazy boy!

Then last night Jay and I went for a nice dinner and got a babysitter. Poor sitter literally just sat in our room for 2 hours since Winston was already asleep. They have something here at the Club called "Pygama Night" where you can take your kids over to the daycare and they watch your kids and put them down to sleep. Then you go get them to transfer them to their own beds. We thought about doing that, but we just didn't see it going well. Anyway, it was a great night. Until I woke up at 3 am.

So, there you have it. We are all caught up. Jay's hoping to come back this afternoon with me feeling better. Fingers crossed that is actually the case. Then we want to take Winston to a nearby crocodile sanctuary. He's loving seeing geckos and lizards (there's a lagoon outside our door) so we think he'll get a kick out of the crocodiles. Or be completely freaked out. We'll let you know what happens.

Dispatch from Vacay - oh what a difference a day makes

Winston got sick on day three. The midpoint of our vacation. We are talking toddler vomiting in the mid

Big stuff while on vacation!

Still trying to catch up with some posts about our trip, but this news deserves separate mention.

First, Winston seems to be close to mastering a regular cup. Yay!

Second, I think we are on the road to potty-training. Winston often does tell me when he wants a diaper change. But tonight after dinner he walked over to the toilet and started pulling on his diaper. We asked him if he wanted to use the toilet, did he want to go pee-pee, etc. And he said yes! So Jay stripped off the diaper and tried to get Winston to sit on the toilet, with his help of course. No go. But then Winston was standing facing the toilet and let it rip. Pee all over the floor, sure. But hey - he was close and was communicating to us what he wanted to do. Then he grabbed some toilet paper and patted his penis dry. It was adorable. I think we will be buyng a little kiddie toilet for him as soon as we get home. :=)

Vacay pix - sneak peak

Here's Winston in Atlanta. He loved looking at the airplanes!

Here's a little self-portrait from tonight. Right before dinner.
Daddy and Winston playing in the sand. Mommy lounging by the pool.

Winston and mommy in the kids pool.

Winston at the beach. I think this may be our holiday card this year. :-)

More pix to follow soon.

Vacay!!

Here we are at the Club Med Ixtapa Pacific. Woo hooo!

The trip in was fine. It worked out really quite well to break up the legs like we did. First flight was to Atlanta Tuesday night. Next flight was Atlanta to Mexico City where we had a 3 hour layover before flying to Zihua. Winston was a champ! We used the VIP lounge at Benito Juarez and Winston watched Elmo on the dvd player. Yay. Winston got so upset waiting to board the plane though. He does seem to get the concept that he goes in the airplane now and, dare I say, looks forward to it.

So, anyhow ...

We arrived on Wednesday evening and were all knackered. We checked in and got a quick tour, got a quick bite to eat and went to bed. The next day was our own orientation. This place is great. It's like a cruise ship that never leaves dock with the all the food and activities and that it's all-inclusive. Also notable -- it's low season and this place is dead. At times it's like we have our own private resort. Capacity is 850. We were told there are about 200 people here right now. I think I love low season. :-)

We slept in a little that first day, had a nice breakfast and really checked everything out. We registered Winston for the Baby Club and were able to see that whole set-up. But we didn't want to leave Winston the first day. It just seemed like too much too soon. The goal was for Winston to go to daycare starting on Friday. So -- Thursday was breakfast, touring the resort, then lunch, then nap (and we all napped!) then we went down to the beach. Winston loved it!

Then before you know it, it was time to get cleaned up and guess what? Go eat again! Yikes. but the food is super good and it's hard to say no to any of it. Seriously.

Some early reflections on our first 24 hours included that this place is like France in Mexico, a trip really. This is only reinforced by the fact that most of the tv channels seems to be French, but with Spanish subtitles. Speaking of Spanish, I am surprised and delighted that lots of my Spanish is coming back. I think Jay is surprised as well.

Day two was Friday and we took Winston to daycare. We got there just as they were getting ready to take the kids on a buggy ride. Which was good, or so we thought. We put Winston in the buggy, said our good-byes and left. Poor Winston kind of freaked out. Screaming after us "Moooommmmmmmaaaaaa, DDaaaadaaaahhhhh!! Nooooooooo!!!." It was hard. But then after a bit we heard the cries cease and it seemed fine. Jay and I went for breakfast and to strategize our day.

My goal was to lay by the pool. Jay wanted to be more active. We were at odds. In the end I got in some lazy time reading my book in a cabana while drinking a margarita (yum) while Jay joined a game of water polo in the pool. One challenge in all this -- avoiding Winston. The daycare staff take the buggies by the pool to go to lunch. Yikes!! Jay and I had to run and hide. Literally run and hide, so that Winston didn't see us. It was a bit dicey.

(one aside -- we missed Winston instantly. We really enjoy seeing how much fun Winston has in everything we do together. So we decided that we needed to take part in activities that we definitely could never do w/Winston. Laying by the pool is iffy. Other activities needed to take a jump in the priority line.)

After our pool time Jay and I went on a tandem kayak, which was great. Then we went to what we thought was going to be an archery tournament. There weren't any people, so we both tried our hand at it. It was pretty cool. We picked up Winston at 4:30 (he had a GREAT day!) and took him to the pool at the Mini Club Med for the older kids that has a few water features. We, of course, had it to ourselves. Niiiiicceeee! Then it was time to get cleaned up and off to dinner. Winston took a "bath" in the shower.

That night Winston cried out for "Daaaaddaaaaahhh!" and "Maaaaammmaaaaahhh!" in his sleep. I must admit that it was a little freaky. But I suppose it was natural after he was kind of freaked out when we left him at daycare. Yikes.

Look for day three in another post ....

Is it Mardi Gras?

Winston found his dad's beads from New Orleans. First they were on the teddy bear. Then Winston decided to wear them. He called them "pretties"

We didn't ask him to flash us. (wink :-))

Enjoy!

Up to the sky!

Weeeeee - Winston on the slide

More photos - catching up

Some recent faves!

Winston trying to be sneaky with some shopping.

My two guys

Winston in the big garden tub by himself for the first time. He loves it!

Happy Halloween - just a few weeks early :-)

I love Halloween! It is my favorite holiday. In honor of the day Tales from Winston's World is getting in the spirit - quite literally w/these ghosties.

My work big events for the semester are done and it's time to prep for vacation (woo hoo!) and then Halloween at the end of the month. Yiippeee!!!!!!!!!

Winston is doing well. He and his daddy had some good bonding time these last two weekends. And I think the boys are on the mend from their sicknesses. I worry that it's getting me now, tho. Bummer. I am pushing the snake-oil (aka Airborne) and hoping for the best. Keeping fingers crossed.

We went to the StrideRite outlet yesterday (Sunday) and got Winston 4 pairs of shoes. Sneakers, some nicer active-wear type shoes, sandals for Mexico and, drumroll .......

SNOW BOOTS!!!!

And all for a smokin' good price. Will try to post pix of Wynn in the boots soon. (He also got some croc-like shoes at the Carter's outlet). Yeah, we went to the outlets thinking we'd be there an hour or so. 4 hours later we left. Yeah. Winston also made out well at Old Navy and Carters.

That's it for now. I need to get back to work and fly through some stuff before vacation! Yehaw!!!!

Quick things ....

Last night was the first time Winston slept with a pillow and a blanket in his crib!

Also, today in the car he say "bye-bye ele fah" (not just "ella"), and stringing two words together.

Just had to post this while it was still at top of mind ..... otherwise it might be lost forever (!)

Edited on 10/6 to add --- today Winston said "monk" when referring to "monkey." Which has heretofore been "mah". Ah, finally the words "mama" and "monkey" are truly differentiated. Too bad that cloistered members of clergy share the same moniker with a primate - in Winston's world. :-)

Pix!!

My sleeping little man. And the elephant, the bear, the monkey and the blankie. They all go together.

Here's Winston the Robot (a project from "No Time For Flashcards")

A Winston-Mommy self-portrait shot. Mmmmwwwaaaahh!!!

Daddy and Winston in the rain.

He's got a cold :-(

Winston's got a cold. Poor guy just isn't feeling well. He coughed all night. This morning he tried so hard to be in a good mood, but then he'd sneeze and he'd have a snot explosion. That seemed to bum him out. And who can blame him. He would sneeze in the car, not know what to do with the snottiness and then rub his face on his carseat. Which upset him even more. He likes to be clean, that's for sure.

Fingers crossed that it stays as a cold/cough, doesn't morph into something else, and goes away quickly. And that it doesn't hit Jay or I. We leave for our Mexican vacation in less than two weeks. We must all be healthy!!

Random musing for the day

I get it now; the whole appearance of the professional working (out of the home) mom. Or, rather, the illusion.

Whenever I see a well-put together mom either out with her kids, or picking-up/dropping-off at daycare I am so impressed. And downright jealous. I am talking about the perfect hair, the nice crisp suit, stylish shoes. And general lack of anxiety. And least there doesn’t seem to be any anxiety that’s readily perceived from the onlooker (me). If anything there is a sense of business. Like the mom in question is already in “office-mode” and the kids know it. Everything seems to click along like a well-oiled machine.

Yeah, that’s all bunk.

The professional working mommy knows how to put up a smoke-screen. How do I know this? I think I am doing it. I am dressed up today. Not really, just looking more “professional” and more “suited” (pun-intended) for my “director” title. At least I feel that way. And I noticed that the teachers at daycare treated me a bit differently, another “suited” mom gave me a knowing look at drop-off. I kept thinking, “what’s up?” And, oh yeah, the handful of other times I look a bit different in my dress (and perhaps as a result, my demeanor), things were also somehow different. Then it hit me. They think I “look” like I have it together. HA!!

See, I get it. I finally get it.

Girlfriend(s)?

We think Winston has a girlfriend. Or two. Or three?

He loves a little girl named Emmi. She is about a month younger than Winston and very sweet. He asks about her all the time. And when we pull into the parking lot at school he shouts with glee “EMMMII!” Sadly, Emmi is only there 3 days a week, so 2 days a week little Winston gets a bit of a letdown. :-(

Winston and Emmi greet each other with smiles and sometimes hugs. Emmi even comes over to me with a smile and a hug. It’s quite sweet. I think that the drop-offs are better overall when Emmi is there. She’s like Winston’s luvee. Awwww.

Then there is Eleni. Eleni is a month or two older than Winston and quite a firecracker. She likes to hug and kiss Winston. Winston will hug back, but I have been told that sometimes it’s too much for Winston. Evidently, he ran away from her last week saying “no, no, no” and shaking his head. But they like to play together and will sit and sway together during song time. Eleni greets me with hugs too.

And finally, there is Olivia. She is just one year old and so sweet. Whenever Winston hears her name he giggles, and dare I say, blushes. When she is sad Winston will try to comfort her with a hug or a pat.

Winston has little boy friends too; but really there are only two other boys in the class. And only one other boy who is full-time like Winston. In true boy-fashion they like to greet each other and say good-bye with high-fives. No joke.

Bumps and bruises. And some kisses.

You might remember our stint last “school” year when Winston had a perma-bruise and bump on his head. I swear I think he fell down and bumped his head three times in one week. Well, we got another taste of that last week.

Anytime there is an injury at school the teachers fill out an incident slip and leave it for a parent’s signature. Inevitably I see the slip of paper before I see Winston, so I can be prepared. Right? If the injury is either more serious or just looks that way, the teachers will call to notify you, or at least warn you before you see your child. On Wednesday of last week was notice #1. Just a slip of paper.

Winston had been pushing a toy shopping cart on the playground. Ok, he was running with it. He hit a bump and the cart toppled forward. Not one to let go, Winston went with it, skidding on his hand across the concrete. This meant he had scraped knuckles and a fairly icky looking owie on the top of his right hand. It needed a band-aid for certain. Winston was quick to show me his owie when I got there. And I was quick to give him and the owie kisses. (note -- this is the first time that I used the "let momma kiss it and make it better" line. It works!)

On Thursday we had incident #2. This one necessitated a call. It was 4:47 pm. (yes I noted it). Winston had been playing with another child and wrestling (?) and they both fell to the floor. (Huh? They were standing up to wrestle, you ask? Just wait.). Winston fell and hurt his eye on the rail of a rocking chair. The teacher who called me said it was swollen pretty badly, but that Winston was in good spirits. Not a serious injury. Just looked bad right now. Ok. Breathe momma, breathe.

I get to school and my little guy has a black eye and a red bump on his nose. But, yep, he was in good spirits. As it ends up, he was getting hugs (and maybe kisses?) from either one or two little girls. Things got a bit aggressive and they fell. Now, I don’t know which little girls were involved. But I have my suspicions.

Ch, ch,ch, changes .....

Why is it that child developments seem to happen in spurts? Winston hits the 18 mo. age marker and things just blow-up. He’s putting together two words or more now. New words are coming out. And he’s off the bottle.

The other day he kept asking about Dada as we left the house. I went thru the usual drill telling him that Daddy is going to work, Mommy will go to work and Winston will go to school. Jay had left just a bit before us and was just ahead of us in his car. We turned the corner and Winston saw the Jeep going on ahead of us. He said, “Oh, bye-bye Dada.” And he waved. Like he understood what I’d said and was acknowledging it. Too funny.

The rest of the ride to school had Winston saying bye-bye to trucks, trees and cars.

We also just got Winston off the bottle. We were down to just one bottle of warm milk in the evening, in between dinner and bedtime. We have a little routine where we prep the bottle and then sit on the bed together for a cuddle while he drinks.

Winston really seems to look forward to it and will ask about “baba” as the evening goes on. I have been a little concerned lately because he has also started asking for “baba” at other times of the day. Maybe he’s getting a little too attached to it? I have since come to realize that he isn’t attached to the “baba”, as much as the routine around it.

Late last week Jay decided to switch the bottle for a straw cup, but still with warm milk. Winston didn’t skip a beat. It didn’t seem to matter that it was a straw and not a nipple. But he still wanted to sit w/one of us while he had his drink. And he still called it “baba.” We think it definitely refers more to the process and routine than the item itself.

Looks like we are a bottle-free house now. Wow.