In the midst of holiday travel planning and getting excited about our next adventure as a family.

I’m off to Vancouver next week on a solo mission to pass my Canadian Citizenship Test. My first 2 nights away from the family since we had Stella. Justin has some back-up day support but will be on his own at night…wish him luck!

While we aren’t preparing for a big trip somewhere we are preparing for a very big and special event that will involve a  “trip.”  Baby Lee #2 will soon be making his or her first trip.  That is, his or her trip into the world.  I hope to make it as smooth and simple of a trip as possible for the newest member of our family.

I’ve had a lot of people ask me about my last pregnancy and preparation and mostly about how I was able to have natural childbirth (that is no drugs, no intervention) and give birth to a healthy and very happy 9 lb. 3 oz. little girl.

While I certainly had mother nature on my side and perhaps some good genetics (and birthing hips..), for the most part I believe it was preparation.  Just like preparing for a big trip with children to make it as simple and easy as possible, I did the same for preparing for labor and delivery and a successful natural birth of Stella.

I have only positive memories of her birth.  Yes there was pain and yes it was a lot of hard work but I can only say that it was euphoric and as amazing as some of the stories you read…contrary to many beliefs, it can be amazing.

We recently met with our doula (that’s a birth coach for all ya’ll out there who don’t know what this is, technically it means “a woman who mother’s a mother…”).  She said she tells our birth story all the time to inspire other mother’s that it doesn’t have to be painful.

She validated what I’d been saying since I gave birth to Stella and that was that it was a very euphoric (picture the coolest acid trip you’ve ever seen “captured” in a movie…I have no idea what tripping on acid feels like but can only say that if I did and from the depictions I’ve seen in movies, I think that’s what happened to me).  Everything was fuzzy/hazy and euphoric.  She said she remembers watching me in the hardest and intense moments of “pushing” and that I looked like I was having an out of body experience, eyes dilated, etc.  It was a relief to hear her say these things as it was how I felt but no one seemed to believe me or understand.

Many people believe that a baby’s personality is shaped from day one of conception.  A child’s personality/aura/soul can be influenced both by nature (your given disposition) and nurture (how things in your life influence who you are).  During my pregnancy with Stella and now with this baby I have done everything in my power to be positive, stay happy and healthy.  I also prepare for the baby’s birthday as much as possible to ensure a calm and easy entry into the world.  I believe it goes a long way into having a happy baby.  (Of course, this theory could be thrown out the window if we end up with a fussy baby for #2!).

So as I prepare for the simple travel of our new baby into the world I hope to document some of my preparation and even give you an inside peak into both my labor and delivery via this blog, Facebook and Twitter updates.

My goal here is to hopefully show a positive birth experience and inspire others to try to go the natural route for the health of both mother and baby.

As many well know, the best plan for a healthy birth is no plan.  You must stay open minded, plan for the unexpected and be flexible, but most of all breath and try to relax!

If you are interested in how things unfold and just want to see if “I can do it again” (hint, I do too) then follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/dreamalee

Mexican Princess

I think maybe  I should have re-read my own blog posts and tips before going on vacation to Mexico…

Things I forgot and have even mentioned on my blog…

1.  Swiss Army knife…hungry toddler without a knife to cut up fruit stinks…at least for now she doesn’t mind the little “birdie” feedings, that’s me biting the fruit, removing it from my mouth and then giving it to her…yes, I know YUCK…but you do what you have to do.

2.  Bottle of dish detergent…I always have this.  I did in fact remember to pack some laundry detergent and shout wipes for dirty clothes (we were gone for 12 days after all) which sufficed to clean her sippy cup but what a pain.

3.  Emergen-C packets…I always pack these for before and after the flight to help fight off colds and replace lost nutrients, etc.  I forgot them…AND…of all places…we needed them.  Can you say “MONTEZUMA’s REVENGE…”

We had a nice trip to Mexico, despite a few days of not feeling well.  It was the first trip in YEARS that we have limited working to 1-1.5 hours each day and actually took a nap while Stella napped almost every day.  While owning your own business is fantastic, it means you never go on vacation.  This is the most we’ve been away from “the office” in a very long time.

Club Med Ixtapa was nice.  We aren’t really the all-inclusive type of vacationers but it was nice to not have to think about what we were going to eat each day and to relax by the ocean and pool.

Pluses of the resort:

1.  Tons of activities…you name it, they had it.  I did a little water aerobics and yoga each day.  The afternoon sunset band was very nice…too bad I couldn’t have that sunset cocktail.

Sunset Club Med

2.  Above average food and on occasion really good food. (Nut-crusted Red Snapper at Luna Azul restaurant..very nice)

3.  Babysitting and childcare options if you needed.  This resort is the most KID FRIENDLY place I’ve ever been to. They even have a baby welcome package and give you a stroller upon arrival.

4.  Beautiful setting and nice beach.  Waves were a bit big for little ones but there is a nice quiet cove at the end of the beach.  We even had a family of iguanas in front of our room.

Iguana at Club Med

5.  Palapas on the beach and by the pool.

6.  Friendly staff, or better known as GO’s.  (Although they are required to “visit” with the families in the dining hall during meals…which most of us found annoying.  We really didn’t want small talk on vacation).

Minuses:

1.  Tons of activities.  It never ever seemed “quiet” or relaxing.  Always music going and activities to participate in.

2.  Food choices.  While they adverstise 5 restaurants, in fact your only option most of the time is the very large (and decent) buffet.  If you did not get in line at 11:45AM to make a reservation at 12 noon for the NEXT night’s dinner at one of their 2 sit-down restaurants (they aren’t both open each night, they rotate), then you were stuck at the buffet.  You really didn’t have any other options either during the day unless you ate a very late breakfast or lunch.

3.  Rooms.  I have no idea why any hotel on a beach would build ANY rooms without some sort of outdoor area.  Just about everyone on the trip had a room without a balcony or porch as the jump in price was insane.  We had splurged and gotten a family room so Stella would have a room to nap in and we didn’t have to be quiet.  When we asked to upgrade to a room with a balcony they wanted another $900 for 7 nights…This would probably be my biggest complaint.

4.  Nighttime activities…I felt like I was on a cruise ship or in Vegas…Enough already.  Every night.  How about a quiet night to listen to the waves and look at the stars (which were breathtaking).

5.  Not very environmentally friendly.  While they had the usual signs about reusing your towel and I did notice they had 2 trash bins around the grounds, one for organics and one for “inorganics” but people just threw their trash in whichever bin they felt like.  I had made a conscious effort of bringing “earth friendly” diapers and wipes in an effort to not leave as much behind but clearly my small efforts didn’t make a dent in things.  I should have brought a water bottle for Justin and myself in addition to Stella’s as I cringe to think of how many plastic cups we went thru there.  They did have reusable plastic cups near the beach for mixed drinks, etc. but overall, NO recycling and they could make MUCH bigger efforts to cut down on waste.  How about give every visitor a “Club Med” water bottle that can be re-used during their trip?  It would be perfect for the active vacation that they promote and would also go a long way in reducing their waste.  They also “bombed” for mosquitoes every AM and PM and had a note that their bug spray had been EPA approved.  I think they should get rid of the moss covered pond on the grounds and in front of the hotel rooms (Iguana) and that could go a long way of helping with the problem.

Overall it was a great trip.  We had a ton of friends there and the wedding was beautiful.  Dave and Evangeline spent a lot of time organizing a really nice wedding.

Stella had a lot of little friends as well (of the 100 guests, 30 were children).  I don’t think we’d go back to a Club Med as I’m not sure it’s our thing but for some families it would be perfect.

Stella, Georgina & Sasha...She likes hanging with the Big Kids

Beautiful Wedding Setting - Ixtapa Mexico

We didn’t take advantage of any of the child services, as for us, the vacation was time to spend with Stella.  We did go in on 3 nannies for the wedding night and 7 of the kids were watched while we enjoyed an evening alone.  Amazingly, they all did fall asleep.  Stella insisted on sleeping in the big bed with the older children.  It was nice to have so many options for childcare if we wanted it.

Stella mastered the art of pulling her own suitcase on this trip and picked up a huge vocabulary of words.  She also thought she didn’t need my help swimming, to her disappointment!

Stella and Her Dora Suitcase

After Mexico we were off to Vegas for 3 nights for work.  We stayed with Justin’s brother Brandon and his mother, Nanna, came out to watch Stella for us.  It was a nice visit and productive business meetings.

No more flying trips planned for the Lee’s until after baby #2 arrives.

It was weird to think as we packed, vacationed and came home that the next time we go on a plane there will be another child with us.  I’m sure things won’t be so easy next time!

The one thing I would say that we did right was to get Stella her own seat.  It made a world of difference.

On a final note, it’s interesting how people assume traveling and vacationing with children is work.  While yes, it is more tiring, for some reason I feel happier traveling with Stella.  In some small way I think she also brightens the day of some travelers as well.  I can’t even count how many people she made smile on a random Wednesday (full of business travelers) just by the sight of a 19 mos. old little girl lugging her own suitcase (that was as big as her) through the airport in Vegas.

I also found the vacation really relaxing and truly enjoyed just spending time with Stella.  I have heard a lot of parents say that vacation is just like being at home with kids but only harder becauses there is no routine or familiarity.  I don’t feel that way at all.  I see it as a time to throw out routine, experience new things and break the rules when you are on vacation.  It’s a time to have fun with your kids.

Until the next trip….

Dave is a high school friend of Justin’s and current star of Flashpoint.  There will be a few Hollywood types at the wedding so should be an interesting week!

For all you  Canuck’s fans, Trevor Linden cleared security with us.  Great guy.  But boy is he skinny to have played hockey!

The flight from Vancouver was pretty uneventful.  We bought Stella her first seat this time as my growing belly and increasing “uncomfortableness” made this a wise decision.  Stella was her usual good traveler and even had a nap.

Her favorite part of the trip so far was the landing, she kept saying “more” after we landed as she wanted to do it again (squealing with delight) and riding the transit trains and elevators.  All very exciting for a 19 month old.  She’s also quite excited about her new “Dora” wheely suitcase that she can barely push through the airport.

Unfortunately she just fell and got her first major “bo-boo” with a fat split lip and then banged her head.  Ahh growing pains.

We flew Continental Airlines for the first time in a long time and first time with a child.  Nothing fancy and nothing major to report.  Usual flight.  Pleasant staff and they even served us some breakfast…

We took advantage of our American Express Platinum membership and are enjoying the President’s Club Lounge in Houston.  We are in their newest lounge in Terminal E which has a family room with TVs and a few toys.  Very nice to just get away from everyone and let Stella decompress.  Highly recommend it for any long layover with children in Houston.  No food really but complimentary internet and drinks.  Apparently, Terminal E’s Lounge is the best one so if you have the time the nice Continental employee we met said it’s worth the trek.

I’d say Houston airport seems pretty family friendly.  They have companion bathrooms and the family lounge in the President’s Club seems that they are thinking family comfort in some designs.

We will be in Mexico until next Sunday and then off to Vegas for work.

More to report over the next few days I’m sure.

Tips:

If you are pregnant and traveling with another child, spend the money, get an extra seat!

If you have the ability to utilize the lounges in the airports during long layovers they are a nice break and make a long day of travel not seem so bad.

HYDRATE!

Pack along books, crayons and plenty of paper for toddler entertainment.   We still don’t have a DVD player…

The Free Press - the Pub I worked at

We went to visit Cambridge on Saturday as I lived there twelve years ago.  It was really nice to go back and visit a place that really impacted my life quite a bit.  It wasn’t really the place but the experiences I had when I went abroad that first time, and on my own.  I told Justin as we were walking around Cambridge how lonely I was on that trip but what a great experience it was.  I also had many visitors, Lee Ann Daly McCoy, Tara O’Kelley Friedman and Mandy Bean.  I also visited Mandy and Tara in Paris (where they were living at the time) and then traveled all over Europe with Tara and some on my own.  My mother also got to come out and visit with me which was great.

It was funny how I felt like the pub I worked in was much smaller than I remembered and the city of Cambridge was much bigger!

Monika and Vik with Stella

On Sunday we had a nice long lunch at our friends Vik and Monika’s house.  Justin and I met Vik when we were traveling in SE Asia in 2002.  They cooked us a fabulous Indian meal and it was really nice to catch up.

On to our Big Announcement.  The Lee family of three will soon be four!  As of tomorrow I am three months pregnant!  The baby is due on May 19.  Yes, a major suprise as we had not planned for me to be pregnant while traveling.  It has been an adjustment and a bit of rearraging and figuring out but we continue to believe that things happen for a reason.

I had not seen a Dr. during the entire first 3 months but finally got in to have all the routine blood work and some very high end ultrasound work done on Friday in London. I had a new test that just came out called a nuchal fold test that checks for genetic disorders.  It’s now becoming the second test after blood tests for genetic testing before an amnio is given.

Baby Lee #2 is doing well.  Results were good for low risk of genetic disorders.  No orders for a amnio but would be our choice for further testing.  We are declining any further tests.  Size and everything on target.

There was a red flag raised for a heart leakage (tricuspid regurgitation) but the Dr. said to just have it checked at 20 weeks with a full echocardiaography.  My report says that it “could be related to a chromosomal abnormaility, cardia or other structural defects or it may remain unexplained.”

She said in her opinion the baby was healthy.

The test and ultrasound were the most extensive around.  They don’t even test for the heart leakage issue anywhere else in all of Europe (East and West).  I know they just started the nuchal fold test in Canada and the US in the past few years and my guess is that only at high research institutes in the US/Canada would you get anything this extensive.  So as we learned from our last attempt at both getting pregnant and having Stella, the more you look for something to be wrong, the higher likelihood that you will find something that “might” be of concern.

Apparently the baby has a big nose (good indicator of no Down’s Syndrome) and I was there for a very long time and had to jump up and down, move my legs, shake my bum…etc., to try to get the little “very difficult baby” (as the Dr. put it) to move in the right position.  Hmm…is this what we have to look forward to, “a difficult baby.”

The tests I had were done in an amazing facility (very high end modern furnishing – Eames chairs, designer hand soaps and lotions, hand towels…art work, floating glass staircase…you name it and quite a “ladies that lunch” clientele, very “Posh” indeed).

We hope the world is ready for one more Lee.

Little Man-U Fan

Stella keeps looking at the ultrasound pictures and pointing.  We’ll see how she reacts when the little one arrives.

Off to St. Louis for a very big and long week of conferences.

Special thanks to Na-na for letting us use her place in Marlow.  It truely was a home away from home.

To those I have not been able to talk to and tell you the news personally, my apologies!

Stella and Mommy Having Some Fun

Clearly, Mommy must prepare for her little bird to take flight sooner than she had expected!

Train to London

Last weekend we went into London to visit with some friends, do some shopping and eat some yummy meals. We met up with Emma, Simon and Tiffin on Saturday at “Inn the Park” and had a nice long leisurely lunch in the park. Emma and Simon live in London and Tiffin was in town on his way home from work travel. They are friends from Vancouver and went to high school with Brandon (Justin’s brother).

Stella took some breaks and walked around the park carrying her new Louis Vuitton purse and was quite a hit. It’s her favorite thing to do, that is, walk around and carry her purse. And by the way, no, I’m not crazy, I did not buy her a real Louis Vuitton…she got a really nice fake while we were in Greece.

Lunch with Tiffin, Emma and Simon

Dinner at Aaya - yes, it was "HIP" and Stella loved it

Saturday Justin, Stella and I went to a very stylish and hip Japanese restaurant, “Aaya,” and all ate well. Stella even gobbled up her favorites: edamame, barbeque ribs and yam tempura. It was a great evening even with a small baby at a non-kid friendly restaurant. We had contemplated a babysitter but after finding out the prices (nearly $200 for 4 hours) we decided to risk it and take her with us. She was fantastic and it was an enjoyable meal. Don’t miss the lobster salad if you ever go! Yum.

After a very un-restful Saturday night…we were staying at the Le Meridian, Piccadilly, great location but incredibly loud and “wild” on the streets (and of course Justin had to stay up to watch the Penn State game and woke Stella and I up several times)…we were off for yet more great food at the very famous and old “Wolsley’s” for breakfast and then a bit of shopping at Selfridges and Zara (there was a line-up at noon to get in the door at Zara).

Tip: If you are in need of a stroller repair and are in a big city, hit some of the high end department stores. Selfridges had a bike shop and we think they “finally” fixed our tire issues on the Mountain Buggy.

We capped off the trip with an early dinner at a dim sum and tea house. We had some great dim sum and the place was just beautiful to look at.

Clearly the food was the draw for us to London and since we hadn’t had much Asian food in awhile we were all about getting our fill. (We eat Asian food at least 2-4 times per week in Vancouver so we were definitely missing it).

A few tips for traveling with a baby in a big city: As I’ve said before don’t over plan and wear very comfortable shoes. We failed on both regards. We had big plans to do a ton of stuff while we were in London but we only ended up doing about ¼ of the things we had planned. We both wore shoes that killed our feet and we even ended up buying Justin a new pair.

Plan for at least one nap in the hotel for your baby if they are still taking 2 a day. Stella only got 2 full naps the two days we were in London and both were in her stroller. It did not make for a very happy baby for much of the time we were gone but we still made the most of it.

Take cabs. While we tried to use the tube to be more environmental and save money (at the end of the day it was NOT much of a cost savings anyway) it was so much work with a stroller. There were few lifts/elevators and carrying bags and the stroller up stairs is not ideal, especially after being tired after walking and sightseeing, shopping, etc. all day. We finally just gave up and walked to most places and then cabbed back.

Be prepared for crowds. While we had just visited Munich and we live in Vancouver (both reasonably sized cities) I had forgot how crowded the streets are in London. I guess you also pay more attention to it as well when you are navigating with a stroller. Have patience and breathe…

We have a lot going on with our business right now but hope that the end of the week will bring some success and relief from a bit of stress.

The weather in England has actually been very nice and we’ve been enjoying walks along the Thames and exploring a bit. Stella still loves her daily trip to the park.

]]> http://simplebabytravel.com/good-food-and-good-company%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 http://simplebabytravel.com/farewell-to-rhodes-and-she-walks/ http://simplebabytravel.com/farewell-to-rhodes-and-she-walks/#comments Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:20:43 +0000 Dreama Lee http://simplebabytravel.com/?p=244 Well after all the fun, it had to end.  Greece has been a very nice trip, despite the first few weeks of never ending chaos.  The people are very kind and the island lovely.

We’ve hit all our favorites the last few days and here’s a round up of the best of our family trip:

1.  Villages:

Lardhos Bakery - Stella got a free bread stick every time

Lardos:  Nicest people we met and a real local feel.  Don’t miss the bakery and butcher near the vegetable stand.  Stella got a free breadstick every time we saw the bakery lady and “Mr. Vancouver” aka Justin, got 2 free sausages from the butcher every time.  We shopped there often.  And of course Roula’s the restaurant which I blogged about before.

Mr. Vancouver and the Butcher of Lardhos

Gennadi:  Great restaurant called Mamma’s Kitchen and also a nice bakery and vegetable stand.  Very local and you get a great feel for the island life here.

2.  The Acropolis and village of Lindos.  Gorgeous and incredible that it’s still here after so many years (their are ruins in the acropolis dating back to 400 BC).

Acropolis of Lindos

3.  Old Town Rhodes.  Beautiful walled city and again, incredible that it has survived this long and after so many different occupiers of the island of Rhodes (Italians, Turks, to name a few).

4. The mountain drive from the airport to Embona (wine area).  Beautiful scenery and different from the rest of the island (plenty of trees).

5.  Restaurants:

Dionysius in Lindos:  great seafood (they tell you what is fresh) and nice atmosphere.

Roulas:  mentioned above.  Good Greek food.

Mamma’s Kitchen:  as mentioned in an earlier blog.  Fantastic homemade Greek food in a garden setting in the village of Gennadi.

Tsambika’s Taverna:  at the top of the hill at Tsambika’s beach and on the way to Rhodes Town from Lindos.  Great views and good seafood and grilled meat selections.  Definitely worth the stop.

Lee Beach Cafe at Lee’s Beach/Pefkos.  OK, we liked it for more than the name.  Fantastic gyros and again really nice people.  Great views.  We went there more times than we can count.

Jasmine in Pefkos.  Nothing to rave about their food but they have:  bar, big screen TVs with football/soccer, and a playground for Stella.  Great combo.  We also went there often for high speed wireless internet.

6.  Catamaran to Marmaris:  don’t go for shopping as advertised but for the boat ride over (beautiful) and a walk along the port and thru the village.  Both are very nice and you actually get a feel for Turkish life.

7.  Beaches:  St. Paul’s Bay (great view of the acropolis, quaint and nice beach shack for drinks) and Pefkos (sandy);

8. Hikes:  Hike up Navarone Bay cliffs (Where “The Guns of Navarone” was filmed) and the hike of the mountains and cliffs behind our villa in Navarone Bay/Saltos.

All in all it was a fantastic trip to Greece.  Would we do anything differently?  One suggestion would be not to rent a villa when it is brand new.  Wait until it has gone thru one season so that all the kinks and problems are worked out and all those things you wish you had brought but have to go buy are already there.

As for some baby tips.

I mentioned this before but call ahead to see if your villa or hotel has baby gear so you don’t have to bring it.  Our villa provided us with a pack and play and a high chair and our car rental company, M&S (great company by the way) provided us with a free car seat to use.

And drum roll please…Ms. Stella finally walked.  Check it out.  We had been betting on when she finally would.  She’s been crusing for months and taking 2-3 steps here and there for the past few weeks but yesterday she took off.