Max Goes On Vacation

We just got back from our yearly vacation to Sanibel Island, Florida!

(hello amazing house!)

(Bring on the sunshine!)

 
To say I had been counting the days till we left would be an understatement...mama (and papa Rob) needed a vacation! (though...is it still a vacation if you bring a 6 month old?  jury is still out on that one...) It was my goal to be super prepared for this trip - so I had read 3.2 million blog posts on how to travel with an infant, made 3 different lists on what to pack, and in the end I would say we were pretty successful.  While it would be awesome to give you a play by play of every single day we were gone - I simply don't have the time for it.  But, Sanibel is an island.  And, it's an island we've been going to for awhile - so our activities can pretty much be divided up into - pool time, beach time, eating, and shopping.  Plus, I've decided to include a bonus category - airplane time! 

 

Let's start with the airplane time. 

(Max looks a little terrified...but he was an angel baby)

 

As I previously mentioned - I was nervous about traveling with a 6 month old.  Of course, he's not exactly mobile yet - but he can scream with the best of them to let you know when he's not happy.  I was of course - trying to avoid the screaming - so we dedicated an entire carry on bag to Max's toys.  I purchased a few new ones and stuck in some old favorites.  I also stressed abouut his little ears and the change of pressure in the airplane...so we planned on feeding him during take off (and at the very least having a pacifier ready for him to chew on). 

It turns out though - that all that stressing was for nothing.  Max pretty much sat on our laps for the pre-flight business, took his bottle like a champ, and fell asleep.  And, when he wasn't sleeping - he was content to play with the barf bag. That's right friends - all the new toys in the world didn't hold a candle to the barf bag.  It must be something about the texture of it (it crinkles)...but he entertained himself for a good ten minutes with that (far longer than any other toy). 

 

It should also also be noted that we will be needing Auntie Stacy to travel with us for all future trips.  She sat right next to us on the flight down...and it was so great having her around to calm us down, be the voice of reason, provide an extra lap for Max to sit in, pick up the barf bag when it fell to the ground, and in general be Max's favorite thing to smile at.  We are hoping she is available for a trip to Arizona at the end of December (fingers crossed!) haha!

 

Once out of the airport - and onto the island, our first order of business was hitting the beach!

 

 We had rented a "beach cruiser" stroller (with big rubber tires for manuevering in the sand) - so we strapped him right in and walked the 100 feet to the beach immediately.  He was pretty excited about the water and the waves!  It became our morning routine to get up and play a bit, have a bottle, and then take a morning stroll up the beach with mim and mama.  I just strapped him into the Ergo baby carrier and he was super content.  It was kind of surreal walking the beach with my baby!  Last year I was 16 weeks pregnant when we went to Sanibel and now here I was with a 6 month old.  Crazy!

 

 

 Max usually took a quick cat nap in the Ergo while I squished the sand in my toes, watched the dolphins play, and picked out pretty shells. 

 

We tried two times to put him down in the sand and each time he would immediately try to eat the sand.  If he wasn't eating sand - he was trying to put shells of every shape and size in his mouth - which just made me too nervous!  So - we pretty much just carried him or put him in the stroller each time we went to the beach.   

I had ordered a beach tent with the hopes that we could put him in it (safe from the sun and sand) while we soaked up the sun...or splashed in the water.  hahaha! 

The one and only time we brought it to the beach though - he sat in it..but really preferred it if someone was actively playing with him nearby (spoiled much?!).  However, this did by us enough time to build a sand castle.  Rob and I have been building a sand castle every year together and I couldn't wait to make one for Max.  It's decidely more simple than years past - but....I think Max really liked it :)  And bonus points for us spelling out his name in shells!

 

 

After bringing him in from the beach every morning - we would usually spend an hour by the pool before his first nap.  I was super excited to debut some of Max's swimwear that I had been hoarding since this summer.  It's safe to say he had a new swim suit everyday...and looked adorable in all of them :)  Turns out you can also accessorize swimsuits with swim shirts too!  Which, is important of course for protecting delicate baby skin from the sun....but also just for total cuteness.

 

 

The first time we took him in - we just sat him on our laps and dipped his toes in.  (At this point we hadn't figured out how to operate the pool heater...so the water was a bit chilly still).  But, Papa Rob eventually picked him up and gradually worked Max into the water going a little deeper every few minutes. 

This worked quite well and then we put him in a baby floatie thing (I'm sure there's a better name).  He loved to cruise around the pool in the floatie (as long as the water was warm).

 

  I had also purchased some pool toys - a squeezie pelican, crab, octopus, crab, and turtle...but being the awesome 30 somethings we are....I think we enjoyed them more than Max. We had quite a few water wars with those toys...ahem :)  bonus pics of Rob and I doing some awesome jumps too!  Just cause we're parents doesn't mean we don't know how to live it up (by showing off some sweet jumping poses of course!)

Sanibel Island offers more than just beautiful beaches and shells though - for the seafood lover (aka Papa Rob)...there are lots of tasty restaurants to choose from!  We have tried everything over the years...but there are still a few favorites we keep coming back to.  The desserts (read - cake) at the Bubble room is outstanding.  And Rob says the Cantina Captiva makes the best surf and turf burrito he's EVER HAD! Woah! 

Last year we discovered George and Wendy's Seafood Grille and ate there again this year for Poppy's 91st birthday.  We also visited the Mucky Duck for the first time in several years and were pleasantly surprised.  The sunset was beyond gorgeous..but the service and food quality had improved quite a bit!  We were so lucky everyone in the family was flexible because dining with an infant is no joke.  Due to some complications with the car seat (we did not get an infant carrier)...Max had to sit in a high chair for the first time.  He did okay with it...we had to improvise a bit by placing a rolled up towel behind him for support and he needed a lot of entertainment (read - the whole bag of toys...which he would then throw on the floor).  The one thing that held his attention....was the menu!  He loved grabbing, folding, crunching, and batting the menu at nearly every restaurant.  Crazy!

And finally - when we tired of stuffing our faces, trolling the beach, and lazing around the pool ...off to the shops at Periwinkle Place we went.  This is an outdoor shopping mall with a variety of stores.  Rob wore Max in the Ergo and we strolled the mall with ease...even purchasing Max his first pair of Toms! Papa Rob was doubtful ...but I eventually wore him down won him over and we walked away with some sweet shoes for mr. max.  Our only other shopping excursions were to the local grocery stores and yogurt shop.  Here again - we didn't have an infant carrier to put in the cart...so Mr. Max rode up front like a big boy!  He didn't seem to mind this at all - probably harder on mama (read...he's growing up!!)! 

 

(I love that Max's hand is reaching for the ice cream cup in the above picture)

The Cloud family has been traveling to Sanibel Island on and off for many years..and I can honestly say it was such a treat to bring our baby to a place that is so full of memories for me.  From the moment our van goes over the bridge...I can almost feel my body relaxing.  Then, we drive down the familiar one way street - passing the antique stores, restaurants, shopping centers, and even grocery store that we have been visiting for what seems like ever.  Three years ago I brought Papa Rob to this special place for the first time.  The next year I thought, wouldn't it be weird if we came back next year and I was pregnant?  And then last year - I was!  And now, we introduced Max to a spot I hope we can continue to visit for many more years. 

It was a great trip indeed.