Florida 2016

For the past few years now we've been taking a mid-winter trip to Florida to escape the freezing New England winters. We decided it would be a good first trip to take Christoper on- we've been there so much that if he was a total pain we wouldn't feel bad for just sitting in the hotel the whole time. Luckily he was a total champ and made the whole trip very enjoyable. 

He made quick friends with everyone on the plane and the captain even let him sit in the cockpit once we landed! He pretty much slept the whole time and was content to be carried in his ergo baby carrier through all the airports.

We got in late at night and pretty much went straight to bed. When we woke the next day the view from the 22nd floor couldn't be beat! Ocean to the left and docks full of yachts to the right.

Christopher put on his shorts (well, I helped) and we headed out. Unfortunately it was super windy and Christopher did NOT like that. He cried and cried until he just fell asleep. We took advantage of his nap and had a giant pina colada and some lunch before walking back to the hotel. We were a little defeated at the end of the day because Topher had been so fussy but it was his first time being somewhere totally different and traveling so I don't blame him for freaking out a little bit.

Undeterred by his fussiness the day before, we put on our swimmy suits and headed to the beach for day two in Florida.

 Can you hear him thinking, "how fast can I poop in my swim diaper..."

We made a little bubble for Topher to protect him against the wind and it did an amazing job, he hardly noticed it at all. Woohoo! We were at the beach for a couple of hours, dipped the baby's feet in the ocean and then walked down Ft. Lauderdale beach for some lunch. It was so great! I miss the ocean so much!

Our hotel in the background and Thomas carefully guarding the baby.

This wasn't the baby's first time at the Atlantic ocean (we went on Christmas Eve) but it was his first time sticking his toes in the water and sand. He was a little unsure of what was happening but I think deep down inside he loved it.

Can you just see the tears of joy at being in the ocean- ha! When we got back to the hotel we filled up the nice deep bathtub and we let him go swimming in that. He enjoyed it so much more than the pool or the ocean. I am pretty sure that was the highlight of Topher's whole trip. Isn't that the way with kids. We're in such an amazing place and his favorite thing to do is swim in the bathtub.

Days three and four were spent in more shorts, the pool and the beach. I just can't get over how adorable this kid is with his little legs hanging out! He made the trip so much more fun!

 We found a little Cuban restaurant for lunch on our last day- fried plantains and all. Topher would watch the waiters going in and out of the kitchen and every time one would magically appear out of the swinging doors he'd jump in surprise. Every. Single. Time. It was so funny. You can see in this picture that he's watching the door with great intensity.

Our last day in Ft. Lauderdale we spent a good few hours on the beach. By this time Christopher was much happier, the wind was a light breeze and we had such a great time as a family. I loved seeing Christopher's eyes twinkle as he pushed the sand back and forth with his toes. I want this kid to love the beach the way I do.

 

The rest of our last day was spent in the hotel with the glass walls pushed all the way open, the nice warm breeze flowing through. We were staying at the W by Weston and it was fab! We had a nice suite with a full kitchen (dishwasher and all!), a living room, two balconies, a very luxurious bathroom, washer/dryer and like I mentioned, a whole wall of glass you could open up to the outside. It makes me so glad that Thomas does all his travel hacking and point collecting so we can stay in great places like this without breaking the bank.

Bright and early the next day we were off to the airport where Topher made more friends and slept like a champion all the way home.

I was so nervous about this trip and wondered how we would fare with a baby but it turned out to be wonderful! We really want to keep travelling as a family and making valuable memories and this trip gave me so much confidence in not only our ability to do that but as a mother in general. I can't wait for our next adventure!