The vacation experience.

The other day I was chatting with my neighbour and she said something that completely summed up our vacation experience. She said, "A vacation with a little person isn't really 'VAcation', it's just a different 'LOcation'" Wise, wise words, from a mom of two who has been there, done that.

I've also learned that nearly everyone with a little person in their lives has made the tragic mistake of believing vacations post-baby can be *just* like vacations pre-baby. So on to our 'VA(LO)cation'...

As you know, it started with hand, foot and mouth. She looked terrible the day we left (you saw the photo) but was in better spirits, so that at least was a positive. We also paid a small fee to upgrade our flight (thanks to air.canada's new upgrade system, it's actually relatively inexpensive in the grand scheme of things to do this as a last minute upgrade), so we were thankful we would have two seats to ourselves, with a little more room for Addie (we didn't buy her a seat). All was going fine - we got through the check in process, enjoyed the lounge where Addie ran in circles for about an hour, and boarded the plane. It was her nap time so we thought she'd just crash once we were in air...yeah, right. After about 10 minutes in the air, the screaming began. It got tot he point where she was on the floor, between us, throwing a tantrum in business class. Nice. It only lasted about 10-15 minutes but oh, my. That was a long bunch of minutes. Adam and I at one point just looked at each other...'what should we do?' What could we do? Nothing. Lesson 1. When your child is throwing a temper tantrum, even if it's in business class, you mostly just need to let it run its course. So we did, and she eventually fell asleep on said floor and then stayed asleep on my lap for the rest of the flight. Whew.

We arrived in Florida to tropical storm Ida. So it was cloudy, but at least warm. The first few days this seemed ok. After all, beaming sun is not ideal for a 17-month old with skin that has barely seen the elements. We enjoyed the beach, shell hunting, and even swims in the pool, which was warm enough to be comfortable. We got into a routine: morning walk on the beach, golf cart ride through the complex, a swim, lunch and naps, then repeat. I think all would have been fine if Addie hadn't come down with a throat infection and cough, just as her HFMD spots were clearing up. The breaking point came when we tried to visit the Mote Aquarium - manatees, dolphins, sharks etc, and a fever for Addie. We also got lost on the way there, ending up on the wrong key and having to be car imprisoned for an extra hour or so. We ended up leaving the Aquarium ($34 lighter) before even getting to the good stuff because we were all pretty miserable.

Now luckily this part of the vacation didn't last too long - Addie was up every night, I was dosing her with tyle.nol regularly, and she sounded like a foghorn when she coughed. But then the sun (finally) came out, on Thursday afternoon, and all started looking better. Now our daily morning shell hunts were done with the sun warming our backs, and everything was so much brighter. Adam and I took turns going for daily runs on the beach (which was awesome, awesome) and we took a lot of pics with the sun glistening on the ocean, on the sand, and on us. There did continue to be tantrums, daily, and we continued to wish for a manual that would explain what to do about them. Lesson 2: come up with a tantrum-handling strategy BEFORE you leave for vacation so you aren't standing in a crowded parking lot arguing about the best way to deal with your child erupting like an emotional volcano.

So all in all we had a good week, with a few hiccups along the way. The place we stayed was great, and perfect for us because it meant we could keep a good routine going. Routine is key for toddlers - the more you keep them on a schedule they're comfortable with, the better (at least for Addison). Now I still feel like I need a VAcation, but what I've come to realize is that we aren't getting one of those for a little while. So I need to be patient.

The trip home was good, I upgraded with Addie again while Adam enjoyed a quiet (but cramped) trip in coach, and we had a great guy behind us who kept Addie entertained with endless games of peek-a-boo.

I think next time we go away we'll do things a bit differently. Lesson 3: When you have small kids, travel in groups with other couples with kids, or with family, or go to a LOcation where they have programs for kids. That way you can get a break, TOGETHER, and maybe have a few blissful moments of true VAcation.

I'll leave you with a video of a funny thing Addie started doing while we were away - no idea why she did this, but it started the moment we saw a tiny little ant on the balcony and has obviously continued once home. Enjoy!

We're back...

Ok, too tired to really post but I'll leave you with this (and a few pics of course!):

There is nothing vacation-like about taking a vacation with a toddler. My romantic visions of long beach walks, shell hunting and enjoying the sun, and lazy afternoon naps and such, did not happen *exactly* as I imagined. It was a "vacation" filled with lots of great moments but also some challenging ones : ) What can I say? Toddlers rule the roost.

Addie's first visit to the ocean. Not too sure at first...

Ready for the beach!

Are there sharks in here?

Happy to be in my swimsuit in November!

Neighbourhood turtle.

Friendly porch gecko.

Imitating (chasing) the birds.

Mommy gets an arm workout.

Show me your tongue, Daddy!

Shells, shells, everywhere shells.

Where we like to visit the sharks - behind glass.

The ramp to the beach which Addie ran up and down at least 1,000 times...

The first sunset...when the sun finally came out.

Beautiful beach.

Daycare strikes again and we're off!

This is going to be super short - it's been a very long and crazy week, and we're leaving for Florida today. It almost seems impossible that we've made it to today...

It all started with a low-grade fever for Addie on Tuesday. No big deal - 38.5 and gone with a dose of tyle.nol. Then there were a few red spots on her face and definite grumpiness by the next day. I ended up having to be home with her because she was so miserable. By Thursday she had totally broken out into red bumps all over her face, her diaper area, her legs, her hands and her feet. We went to the kid's walk in clinic at our local hospital (it's awesome - pediatricians staff it) and got the diagnosis: Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. I know. It sounds like I made it up. Basically it's a virus, much like the cold virus, but it presents in blisters and red lesions in the mouth and on the hands and feet (and pretty much everywhere else in her case.) The biggest problem has been inside her mouth - filled with canker like sores. So painful for her, and very painful for us to watch. It's been round the clock tyle.nol and advil for this little peanut, and even that hasn't always worked.

So Mommy has been on high alert duty - she pretty much has only wanted me, and that has been quite obviously time consuming : )

Now she seems a bit better today, which is good because we're headed to Florida for our week vacation. Here's hoping we've turned the corner and this will be a week filled with sun, sand and great memories as our first family vacation. Now if only the weather forecast would improve...
See you in a week!

Our little spotted girl...on day 1. You should have seen her on day 3...

Happy Halloween!

Getting every last pumpkin seed for roasting...

Really? This is what I'm wearing?

Posing with Waldo, aka Daddy.

Pre-trick 'o treating.

On my first halloween adventure...

Working the neighbourhood.

Victorious! Smarties!

Happy Halloween!

With all this talk about work...

I quit my job : )

Really, I did. It's time for a change, and I'm making a BIG one. I have been with my same employer for over 13 years - it's been a great place to work. I've been there through some pretty major life events, like cancer, and marriage, and a baby. Some of my best friends I've made at work. I've learned a lot over the years, and had a lot of opportunity...but it was time to go.

Lately I've been having what can only be described as a "craving" for a new challenge. I've been thinking about what it means to have a *job* versus a *calling*...and what I realized is that it's time to go after the *calling* and do something that really scares me. So I've decided to go out on my own and do freelance writing. I have my first contract and so I'm plunging in, head first. Very exciting, with a little terror sprinkled in : )

This all goes back to my post about being a working mommy. Addie will still be in daycare full time - although freelance means my schedule has some wiggle room which will be great. It's the best place for her to be right now - she's learning a lot, and having fun, and that makes me happy. And I can spend time focusing on myself as well, and getting this career off the ground. With Adam's clinic and my new venture, we hope to set a good example for Addie that, to use an old cliche, the world really is her oyster.

So I'm at my job until the end of November, and then I'll say bye-bye to security and hello to the unknown. Can't wait!

A few fall pictures.

Looking cute in a tutu.

I like this one!

Patiently posing for her mommy.

Ok, Daddy, smile for mommy or she'll never stop.

Sisters and Addie at the cottage.

Loving the fall leaves.

The choices we make.

I loved my year at home with Addie. At least 99% of it. It was an experience I'll probably never have again, so I'm so glad I took the whole time.

I'm also glad to be back at work. It was time, and while it was a hard transition from a family perspective, it's been good for me. It's also been good for Addie - she has made friends at "school", is learning more independence, and seriously comes home daily with a new trick. However, there are days when I feel slightly guilty - like when she races to the snack table too fast and trips over a chair leg and gets a black eye. She can't be watched every moment at school, so there are bound to be accidents. But I wonder...would that have happened if it was just the two of us? Does she always get a hug, or get her nose wiped, when she needs it? Probably not. But she's ok, and happy, and I remind myself that it's probably better for her that I'm not fawning over her. I'm certain it is.

I was trying to explain to some friends the other day my desire to have a career, as well as my family. One is a stay-at-home mom to three, and the other has one, with another on the way, and could be very content to stay home going forward. Neither really has ever felt that career "calling". I totally get that - raising your child(ren) is probably one of the most gratifying and important jobs you could ever have. I definitely feel that. But for me, there needs to be more. Maybe that sounds *bad*...but it's the truth. And not just for me - it's important to me that I'm a role model for Addie, not only as a mom but also as someone who pursues a "career" or "calling." I want her to strive in all areas of her life, and be fierce in her pursuance of her goals and dreams. Of course, I also want her to appreciate family, and the balance of life. Whew...I have a lot of 'work' ahead of me to make sure I'm modelling all of this for her : )

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot these days about all of this. How to keep the balance, and make sure that everyone is getting what they need.

If you've chosen family AND career, tell me why that works for you. Tell me why that's important to you. If you've chosen to stay home with your kids, I also want to hear your perspective. I really feel (and I've said it before) that I am a better mom because I go to work every day. Not for everyone, but definitely works for us.