Sweet Virginia Beach

Being from the west coast born and raised, I've really come to love the Virginia Beach area, aka VB. Not only are the beaches great, but it's also very family oriented and people are really nice around here, it's honey and sweetie everything.

Must sees here in the area in the Norfolk Botanical Gardens, which has gorgeous rose gardens galore and child friendly activities. Going down to the oceanfront at the main resort area is also another must, and I recommend eating at Johnny Manana's on the beach, they have great fish tacos and machaca burritos! My baby son and I did a 5 mile walk on the boardwalk in VB back in April for the March of Dimes, and that was terrific.

Also, you can't leave Atlantic Avenue (the oceanfront cruise area) without stopping at Kohr's for an orange and vanilla swirled waffle cone. OMG, the most beautiful 27 foot tall statue of King Neptune of the sea also awaits you at the boardwalk, SUCH a sight to see. Ronan, my boy, and I just go down there anytime we can to stroll the boardwalk, and take in the beautiful beach view. The local Virginia Aquarium is also a great place to take the kiddies to see a plethora of undersea creatures such as sting rays and sharks.

We currently live in the Chicks Beach area of VB, and the beaches here are more laid back and not as packed. Also check out Zia Marie's restaurant here in Chicks Beach for awesome thin crust wood fired pizzas.

Good people, good times, and great sights await you in ol' VB...

Destination Playa del Carmen is a must!!!

I took my first real trip to the Mexican Riviera this last February with mi familia, aka my husband and bambino. Let's face it, I've been to Tijuana many, many times during my college days in San Diego to party it up, but that in no way counts for a true, week long Mexican vacation.

We flew into Cancun, and then took a comfortable 45 minute personal van drive down to Playa del Carmen, a very charming and quaint Mexican Riviera town. I recommend taking a van, it's only around 50 dollars one way, and you get a lot of tips from the local and nice driver. We stayed at Moongate Hotel, in the heart of 5th Avenue, which is the main tourist strip where all the action happens. Shopping, eating, drinking, dancing, you name it, it's all there on 5th Street, only a block from the beach, or la playa, literally. I would not recommend staying though where we did, as the room was small, dark and dingy, and smelled of sewer! It did have a nice balcony though, but was right next to a construction area, where we could actually hear pounding hammers through our walls, I'm not joking.

There are a plethora of hotels to choose from in Playa del Carmen, though, and I would recommend getting something beach side and away from construction if you can. It is such a great town to get immersed in, stroll down the cobble stoned streets and have a great time --- and we even did it with an 8 month old!!!

Also, rent a car while you're there and take the easy hour drive down to Tulum to see the ancient Mayan ruins, so beautiful, and right on the beach! Also, take note of the signs for local cenotes, or natural swimming holes, ponds, etc. We found one off the beaten path on our way back to town from Tulum, and paid a minimal fee of around 15 dollars, and had the cenote to ourselves to dive into and be purified by the healing waters!!! Ahhhhh!!

February is also a great time to travel to the Mexican Riviera, as the temps were very lovely, in the mid to upper 70's I would say, just marvelous!

The first fall....

Ronan had his first big "digger" the other day, as my brother in law calls them, aka boo boo. He's pulling up onto everything now, and we were in the kitchen and he pulled up on the dishwasher door to a stand, and then fell and hit his head very hard on the wood flooring, and a huge goose egg ensued immediately. I really freaked out, being a first time parent and all, but my awesome neighbor helped me through it, and we rode to the ER in an ambulance. The EMTs remarked how they've never seen an infant be more calm than the parent.

Ronan's cat scan turned out super fine, no crack or bleeding, thank the lord. I really wish I would have handled the situation better, but now I'll know that I need to remain calm next time and not stress out and let that get the best of me. I am the parent. I am the one he looks up to, I need to remain calm and collected. For being a boy, there will be many more minor owwies to come, I'm sure.

Ever since then I've been dealing with anxiety again. I think it's just my body's way of flushing out the unnecessary stress I brought upon it this weekend. Breathing long and deep breaths is a good way to battle anxiety. And I am also so blessed that Ronan is fine and doing so well, he's the same happy and sweet boy he always is.

We live and we learn. I've learned I will try my hardest to remain calm for my own health in stressful situations to come. It took a couple years off my life last weekend, but I'll do anything to protect my sweet 'n strong Ro Ro :)

Good ol' Jamestown

So I did it! I did what I said I would do...explore the area while we are still living on the east coast. Ronan and I took a short like road trip to the first colony of America, Jamestown, est. in 1607. It was really cool to see, especially because of all the history and because it's on the water. It was very hot today, though, but the wind from the bay waves felt lovely.

It's only a 10 dollar admission fee to see historical Jamestown, and it's good for 7 days if you'd didn't get to see everything in one day. My favorite parts were the statues of Pocahontos and John Smith, the first governor of Virginia.

Jamestown is one of the 3 historical colonies in the colonial triangle of Virginia, namely right next to Yorktown and Williamsburg. I was not aware that the college of William and Mary is literally right next to Williamsburg, but it is. I just love driving around and seeing all the old, ivy league looking brick buildings of the east coast.

Until our next adventure :)

Roadtripping in America avec my bambino

While we're out here on the east coast for a few more months, I'd like to hit the road and see some great 'n historical places. Might as well since the hubby is always gone working :( Let's see, we've been to Williamsburg, Charleston, Savannah...I think next on the list will be either DC or Charlottesville, or both! They're both only a few hours drive away.

Be sure to eat at B. Matthews if you go to Savannah, GA. Great service and great food. And go to Hank's in Charleston, SC if you travel there, AWESOME crab cakes and shrimp 'n grits. The Williamsburg Lodge was just lovely for Thanksgiving brunch, definitely a brunch I will never forget, with so many different types of yummy food, a harpist, ice sculptures, the works. If we were to stay here longer in VA it would definitely become a tradition to up and have Thanksgiving there every year. It's around 60 bucks a pop, but WELL worth it.

Eating food in new places always seems to elicit fond and charming memories for me. Restaurants are great places of restaurants for good times had in new and exciting places.

Til the next town...

That White Line

I just put my son Ronan down for the night with his nigh nigh bottle. I love that white roll that forms at his wrist from his chubby arms and chubby hands meeting and blocking out the sun to his wrists. I love that, my lil' brown Portuguese bug! Thank goodness he got his daddy's nice 'n tan pigment, and not my rosey 'n white skin.

A good way, for you new moms out there, to thin out baby lotion and SPF is to combine a bit of the 2 after you give your baby a bath, instead of all one or the other. That way he is lathered up and protected from the sun. I use Arbonne baby SPF 30 lotion, made from natural botanical ingredients. I also use Aveeno baby lotion, as well.

Pampers diapers are our diddy of choice. Probably in part because that's what the NICU used on him for 2 months, but I've also tried Huggies and Luvs, and they just don't hold up to the soaker son my boy is.

What else, oh ya, Boudreaux's Butt Bath is my choice as well for Ronan's bath time bubbles, great scent, gentle and great clean. I should get an endorsement from these companies, lol.

'Til next time SAHMs (Stay at Home Mommies)!!! Much love :)

Ohhhh how the time flies, it really does

We all get bored, it's a fact of life. Even with a new baby, it's possible to eventually get bored --- I don't mean with your baby, but with the little bits of time here and there in between. But I believe that the speed at which my son is growing and we are living truly triumphs boredom. What I mean to say is that I can't believe my son is already 13 months old, and getting so big and strong everyday. It definitely trips me out to think we were in the NICU with him, praying for him everyday for 59 days straight, and to look at him now you would never know he was a 10 week early preemie, my big boy.

When people ask me how old Ronan is and I reply with one year old, I hear a lot, Oh, he's a big boy for one. Boy has he caught up.

I know I keep harping on the subject of my son, but I guess I'm still dealing with the amazement of how perfect he is now, even with being born so premature. And I guess I'm still dealing with working through all of the emotions of the roller coaster ride we had with him in the hospital most of last summer. We are so blessed, I can't say that enough.

On a side note, to moms of babies out there who are presently teething, if anyone reads my blogs besides myself, Humphrey's Teething Strips are a great self dissolving teething pain reduction measure I really encourage using. Ronan is working on tooth number 5 now, and they really seem to help pacify him when I can tell he's in teething pain.