Back in May, we took a family-friendly trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. We chose Bentonville because it was a relatively short three-hour drive, had lots of outdoor activities available and was a place we hadn't visited before. I'm happy to report it was a fun trip for our entire family!
We left on a Thursday morning and planned a few stops along the way to help break up the drive. We packed a quick lunch of PB&J sandwiches and found a random park to stop at along the way. (I'm pretty sure we are some of the last people still wearing masks in public indoor spaces. Knock on wood, Adam, Archer, Lyla and myself have not gotten Covid and we'd like to keep it that way until the kids are fully vaccinated. So we've opted to find restaurants with outdoor seating, which can be tricky sometimes.)
Our next stop after lunch was Old Redings Mill Bridge in Joplin, Missouri. It featured some pretty scenery and had a trail we walked on for a bit to stretch our legs. I'm not sure it would be a place I would travel to just to see on its own, but it was the perfect pit stop to break up our time in the car.
After driving for a bit more, we found a Braum's drive-thru to get some ice cream. Adam has a fondness for their frozen yogurt so whenever we're in an area that has Braum's, we have to make a stop. Archer, Lyla and I certainly didn't mind stopping for ice cream!
After our tasty treat, we stopped at Tanyard Creek Nature Trail in Bella Vista, Arkansas. It was absolutely gorgeous! There was a really pretty trail that led to a waterfall! We all enjoyed the views and Archer and Lyla enjoyed not smiling or looking at the camera at the same time. In fact, that seemed to be a recurring theme throughout most of our adventures.
Following our waterfall adventure, we made it to our hotel. We stayed at the Embassy Suites in Bentonville, which worked out really well for our family. We tend to pick Embassy Suites when we travel because the rooms are bigger, they usually have an indoor pool and they have breakfast included. In fact, I think Archer and Lyla might have enjoyed the hotel the most out of everything from our trip. They were big fans of riding the elevator and loved watching cable cartoons.
Thursday evening we ate at Grub's Bar & Grille. It had decent food, was close enough to the hotel to walk to and had outdoor seating.
The next morning, Friday, we stopped by Onyx Coffee Lab after enjoying our free hotel breakfast. While I'm not a coffee drinker, Adam is and he said this might be his favorite coffee shop of all time. I can also offer high compliments for their hot chocolate, while Archer and Lyla can praise the macaroons. They also had the most adorable outdoor seating area. Downtown Bentonville is very dog-friendly, so we all enjoyed watching all the cute dogs walk by in addition to enjoying our treats.
Next, we walked around their little downtown area called The Square. There were restaurants and cute shops, along with the Walmart Museum. We didn't visit the Walmart Museum, but we did head to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
The weather was nice and sunny on Friday, so we decided to enjoy the outdoor spaces at Crystal Bridges. There were lots of different paths you could take with sculptures to view along the way. This sculpture was giving us major Stranger Things vibes!
Following the museum, we enjoyed lunch at Bentonville Brewing Company. This was a fun place to eat and drink. We enjoyed their covered patio and beverages. They even had a little area for the kids to ride some balance bikes.
While we were driving around, the kids noticed a park along the way. Since this was their vacation too, we decided to stop by the park after taking a rest at the hotel. Osage Park has lots of walking trails, a lake, pickleball courts, an archery range and a dog park. Of course there was playground equipment too, which Archer and Lyla loved climbing on.
Coming to Osage Park was a bit of a happy accident. Right next to the playground was Thaden Field, which is a small airport. They had a restaurant (LOUISE) which featured patio seating right next to the runway. So we got to enjoy a meal and watch a few planes land and take off! It was a really fun dining experience and the food was delicious too.
We started the following Saturday morning much like the previous morning. Our first adventure was another visit to Onyx Coffee Lab. The weather was looking a bit gloomy, but we managed to enjoy some drinks and snacks without getting rained on. As we were heading back to the car, it started to rain. We decided to head back to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to check out the indoor exhibits since we only made it to the outdoor spaces the previous day. There was lots to take in and they even had a cute little art studio for kids to create some artwork.
Lunch proved to be a bit tricky on Saturday. Since it was raining, we had a tough time finding somewhere with covered outdoor seating. We ended up back at Bentonville Brewing Company. We all enjoyed it just as much as the other visit.
Our last stop of the day was the Amazeum, which is a children's museum/indoor play area with lots of hands-on activities. It was super busy and more than a bit chaotic. But the kids enjoyed themselves and had fun exploring all the place had to offer.
Sunday was our last day in Bentonville and we ended up at Onyx Coffee Lab, once again. Did I mention Adam said this was his favorite coffee place ever? We started heading home afterwards, but did make one stop on the way home at Shoal Creek Falls. We enjoyed stretching our legs and breaking up the car ride a bit. The kids loved tossing rocks in the water, while Adam and I kept grabbing their jackets to keep them from tumbling into the water.
All in all it was a fun getaway! We got to see Archer and Lyla experience some new things. We got to enjoy some beautiful scenery. And we got to spend time together as a family.
Let me begin by saying I share these tips with the full knowledge that they won't work for everyone. Having two kids at once is perfect proof that no two kids are the same and what works one day will likely not work the next day. However, I'm sharing these tips because you never know what might work. Hopefully these tips will work for some poor parents who get the privilege of flying with a squirming toddler on their lap.
The idea of getting to share new experiences with Archer and Lyla is just plain exciting to me. I absolutely love getting to go on new adventures with my kids and see those adventures through their eyes. But getting to the location of those adventures is a whole other story!
Adam and I decided to travel to Chicago with Archer and Lyla a couple weeks ago. We landed on Chicago because it was a short flight (only about an hour) and had tons of fun things to do as a family. When we booked the flight months ago, we told ourselves the kids would be older and better equipped to handle a flight. Fast forward a few months and I was in a blind panic thinking about how in the world our energetic, willful children could possibly sit in our laps for a flight.
So I set out to prepare as much as I could. I told myself tons of people fly with toddlers all the time. We could do this! Here are a few tips that ended up helping us out:
Consider the Logistics
The first thing we had to think about were the logistics of handling the kids and luggage. We planned to get around via public transportation once we made it to Chicago. Adam felt pretty confident navigating the trains and buses. Plus, we wouldn't have to deal with parking in a busy city or bringing car seats. So that meant we would have both kids and luggage to contend with once we arrived in Chicago. Most people would just bring a stroller along, since you can gate check it at the airport. But Archer and Lyla don't like to be confined to the stroller for very long. The last thing I wanted to deal with was a bunch of luggage and two screaming toddlers in a stroller. Or having to push an empty stroller while we run after our children. Plus, I wasn't sure how getting a stroller on the train from the airport would work. After carefully considering our options and our children's temperaments, we opted not to bring a stroller to the airport. Luckily for us, the place we stayed at in Chicago had a double stroller available for us to use once we arrived at the condo.
It turned out to be the right option for us. Now, if I was traveling alone, I would definitely need the stroller to keep my kids from running away. But since both Adam and I were there, we felt comfortable with one person managing the luggage, while the other handled the kids.
Pack as Lightly as Possible
Kids definitely require a lot of stuff. But it was still my goal to pack as lightly as possible. We ended up packing two suitcases (which we checked) and two backpacks. I was pretty proud of myself for not going overboard with a bunch of stuff. I tried to stick with the stuff I knew we would definitely need (diapers, sound machines, snacks) and not get caught up trying to plan for every possible unexpected event.
I did the math to calculate approximately how many diapers we would use and only packed one extra outfit for each of us. The condo we stayed in had a washer and dryer, so I knew I could always throw in a load of laundry if necessary.
I also didn't pack a ton of toys for the kids to play with while we were in the condo. I only brought along two small cars, a pack of flashcards, two bedtime books they are familiar with and love, and balloons. The balloons are nice because they don't take up any room at all! And Archer and Lyla were perfectly content the whole time!
Another thing that helped with packing was to create little rolls to keep each kids' outfits together. I stacked shorts/skirt on top of the shirt and rolled it up with a pair of socks. That definitely saved space in the suitcase and also made it easy to get the kids ready each morning.
Run While You Can!
Allowing the kids to do a lot of walking and running prior to getting on the airplane helped them burn off some energy. The Kansas City airport wasn't very busy, so they had more room to run around without getting in other people's way. We found some stairs and let them climb them a few times. They found a little ledge that was a step off the ground and let them walk back and forth across it for awhile. We just kinda let them take the lead and move while they could.
Our flight back from Chicago was a little bit trickier. We flew out of Midway and it was definitely a lot busier and crowded than the Kansas City airport. We had to do a bit more monitoring to make sure they weren't getting in other people's way. They loved the moving walkways! Archer particularly enjoyed running full speed across them, so I'm sure I gave a few people a good show running after him before he got to the end.
Letting them move around before each flight definitely helped!
Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks
Lyla and Archer are highly motivated by food and need to eat at least every three hours or else they get HANGRY. I made sure to pack a ton of snacks. I would wager to say 25 percent of our luggage was made up of snacks. I did not want to run out!
I also got some "new to Archer and Lyla" snacks. I picked up some snacks they hadn't ever had before in hopes that they would elicit some excitement. I also brought a few tried and true ones. It was a good thing too! I brought some of those little bread sticks you dip in cheese. While Lyla absolutely loved it, Archer was not at all interested. So I would recommend bringing a mix of both.
Cheese dip aside, I tried to pick snacks that weren't super messy. I also brought along their snack cups to help minimize dropping an entire package of teddy grahams on the floor of the airplane.
I also brought along their sippy cups. We made sure to empty them out before we went through security and fill them up with water before we got on the plane. These sippy cups worked out great because you have to suck a bit to get anything out, which helped their ears acclimate to the pressure changes. And I love them because they don't leak, even if someone happens to chuck it across the room.
Flight-Friendly Activities
I wanted to pack flight-friendly activities that wouldn't take up a lot of space or be too messy. I didn't want things with lots of little pieces that could be dropped and I didn't want anything too bulky. I also didn't want to spend a fortune buying a bunch of new things. So I settled on a good collection of things that miraculously kept Archer and Lyla entertained.
I divided up the activities and put one set in each backpack. So Adam had a set with his backpack, while I had a set in the diaper bag backpack. We switched sets on the flight home and it was like brand new activities for each kid!
Highlights Magazines- We already get a subscription to Highlights magazine (the Hello version meant for ages 0-2), so I kept the latest edition as a surprise for the flight. They always enjoy looking through the new pages. (By the way, if you enter your email address, you can get $5 off if you are interested in purchasing a subscription.) Plus, it's very thin and doesn't take up lots of space.
Indestructibles Books- Lyla and Archer got a couple of these books when they were babies (Thanks, Sherry!). They can't be ripped or torn and it doesn't matter if they get wet. I like them because they are thin and can't get damaged. I checked out a bunch at my local library (for free!) and kept them a surprise for the trip. A lot of them don't have any words, but we had fun finding different objects and pointing out colors.
Water Wow!- These were the two things I did purchase for the trip. These little books can be "painted" on with water and a picture shows up as you "paint." You just fill up the included paintbrush with a little water and you are good to go. And the when the water dries, you can re-paint the pages. Archer and Lyla did enjoy these. And the amount of water used is minimal, so it doesn't make a big mess. At one point, Lyla was just sucking water out of the paintbrush. But she was quiet and sitting still, so I just let her do it.
Kids' Meal Toys- The little cardboard things at the top right of the photo are actually toys that came with a kids' meal at Wendy's. It was just a picture with flaps you can lift up. Lyla and Archer are really into lifting and turning things, so I thought this would be high quality entertainment and it was! I've since started saving the toys from kids' meals for future trips. They don't understand a toy comes with the meal yet, so I'm just stashing them away.
Candy & A Pill Case- I brought along this activity as a last-resort sort of activity. A friend of mine (Thanks, Lindsey!) recommended this activity. They could use their problem-solving skills to get to the candy. I had an old pill case lying around, so I just washed it and brought it along. And the Smarties were leftover Easter candy...it's probably still good right? So it didn't cost a thing. Luckily, we didn't have to pull it out on the flight. But I did have to pull out some of that candy at the zoo when they were both having meltdowns. They rarely get any candy, so it's enough to pull them out of whatever craziness they are experiencing.
These activities were more than enough entertainment for the hour flight. And they didn't take up a lot of precious space or cost a fortune. Adam and I planned to use our phones, if necessary. They are big fans of looking at pictures and videos of themselves. But they did just fine with the other activities.
Hide Their Favorite Toy
My friend Kelsey (Thanks!!) gave me this tip and it was a good one! She told me to hide Lyla and Archer's favorite toy a week before the flight. I picked a stuffed Elmo for Archer and one of Lyla's baby dolls. Then, when they got a bit restless, Adam and I pulled out their toys and you should have seen the joy on their faces! They definitely spent some time just looking at and snuggling their toys.
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask
We had the biggest stroke of luck on our flight to Chicago. As we were boarding, the attendant told us there were supposed to be a few empty seats on our flight. So that meant Archer and Lyla could have a seat to themselves! We didn't even think to ask this question and were so thankful this kind lady told us. So it definitely doesn't hurt to ask if there are empty seats if you happen to have a child who's going to sit on your lap. We weren't as lucky on the return flight, so they had to sit in our laps. There was still lots of wiggling, but we managed.
I should also mention that we couldn't sit in the same row. There are only 4 oxygen masks per row (3 seats, at least on Southwest flights), so Lyla and I sat in front of Adam and Archer. I think this was actually a really good thing. They tend to feed off of each other, so I think they would have been more rambunctious if they had been able to see each other. I think it also worked out to sit next to the window. They could look out the window obviously, but it also trapped them in a bit. I don't think they realized people were walking in the aisle, so they didn't think to try to get up. It also helped to have strangers sitting next to us. They don't mind smiling and waving at strangers, but they didn't want to climb across their laps.
All in all, the plane rides turned out far better than I imagined! Adam and I tried to control what we could, but then just went with the flow for the rest of it. More trips are definitely in our future! Though, maybe not anytime too soon.
We just got back from our very first family vacation! We've visited family before, but this was our first big adventure as a family. A lot of thought and planning went into our trip to make it the best it could be. The first big decision to make was deciding our destination. We wanted to take advantage of flying somewhere without having to pay for a ticket for Archer and Lyla. (Kids can ride on your lap for free up until they are two years old.) But we didn't want to travel too far away because there's no way our kids could handle a long flight at this point. We also wanted to be able to take advantage of a place we could walk around or use public transportation so we wouldn't have to worry about renting a car or bringing along car seats.
So with all those factors in mind, we settled on Chicago. It was just over an hour from Kansas City. Plus, we felt comfortable using the public transportation (and wouldn't need to lug along car seats) since Adam and I have traveled there before. In fact, that's were Adam proposed to me! So it definitely holds a special place in my heart.
The part I was most nervous about was the flight. Lyla and Archer do not sit still. Like, not ever. They will sit in my lap for about 20 seconds for a snuggle occasionally. They can make it a bit longer if we're reading books, but even then we're talking minutes. Not an entire hour. And I wasn't sure if they would have any issues with their ears. So I pretty much thought they would do terrible and it would be a horrible experience.
I am very pleased to say I was wrong! Thanks to some careful planning and packing beforehand, we managed to keep them entertained on the plane ride there! It was incredibly lucky that the flight we were on had a few empty seats, so they actually got to sit in a seat instead of our laps. (I'm working on a post where I'll share a few tips and tricks that worked for us.)
Once we got there, we took the train from the airport to our condo for the stay. We were quite happy once we finally arrived! It was hard work lugging around toddlers and suitcases, but we managed! We ended up booking a place through VRBO. It turned out to be the perfect place for us! It was located along the Gold Coast, which was close to the majority of the places we wanted to see. It had two bedrooms, a bathroom (with a tub for bath time), a kitchen, a washer & dryer, a long hallway perfect for running down, and four flights of stairs. Archer and Lyla are in love with climbing stairs all by themselves right now, so it might have been their favorite part of the whole trip. It also came equipped with two pack 'n plays, a high chair (two were promised, but only one ended up being available), and a double stroller.
It was still being cleaned when we arrived, so we dropped off our suitcases and took the kids to get some deep dish pizza. This was well after their normal lunch time and smack-dab in the middle of nap time. We fully expected some epic meltdowns, but Archer and Lyla had a blast! I think they were too busy taking in all their new surroundings to think about how hungry and tired they really were. Off to Lou Malnati's we went! It was just as delicious as we remembered it to be and so much fun to get to watch Lyla and Archer gobble up the pizza.
After our late lunch, we headed back to our condo so the kids could take some much needed naps. While they were napping, I unpacked a bit while Adam went to a nearby grocery store to pick up a few breakfast items. Since we had had such an eventful day, we took it easy the rest of the day. Bedtime was a bit rough. We figured they would be fine since they went right to sleep for their nap. We were wrong. We tried to put them both in the same bedroom, but they just set each other off and it was a big hollering mess. Our kids are very good sleepers...so long as they have their own crib in their own room. So this new environment was definitely throwing them off. Eventually, we moved one kid to each room and got them to sleep. Whew! Adam and I were ready for bed that night!
We slept in the same room as Archer. He decided to wake up around 4:50 the next morning. I stuck him in between Adam and I in our bed and he slept a bit longer. Archer apparently rolls all over the place while he's sleeping. I'm not even sure how, but he ended up laying horizontally across my pillow. So, needless to say, I didn't get back to sleep. Eventually he woke up again and I just took him out to the living room to play while Adam and Lyla got a bit more shuteye.
On a side note, I only packed a few small things to play with while we were there. I brought along two small cars, a few books, a box of picture flashcards, and some balloons. And that was more than enough to keep them occupied. Now I'm thinking all those minimalist parents are onto something!
Once everyone was up and had eaten breakfast, we headed off for the Shedd Aquarium. It was just a six minute walk to the bus, so I said, "I think we can get away with not taking the stroller." Famous last words. The kids did enjoy walking around and were pretty good about holding our hands, but they did want to be carried a fair amount. They enjoyed the bus ride, until Lyla ran out of her snack. I'm pretty sure all the passengers were happy when we finally got off the bus.
Adam and I both thought the kids would love the aquarium! They love to look at the fish in our fish tank at home and read books with fish in them. But they didn't seem to really enjoy the aquarium. They did like to see some of the exhibits, but were just generally pretty whiny. I thought it would be a great idea to go to the dolphin show. We sat there for about two minutes until we looked at our two loud, squirming children and decided it was a stupid idea and left. Luckily, Adam and I were able to just laugh it off. We did keep exchanging looks as our cranky children kept having fits and gazed longingly at the other kids sitting nicely in their strollers. I made a mental note to bring the stroller from here on out!
It happened to be Father's Day and I kept wishing Adam a "Happy Father's Day!" whenever one of them screamed. Here's a little video to showcase some of our fun:
We got some lunch at the aquarium, attempted to see a few more exhibits, then decided to head back to our condo. Archer fell asleep in Adam's arms on the bus. Lyla decided she wanted her daddy, so we switched kids during our ride. Once we got off the bus, I carried Archer and Adam carried Lyla. I didn't realize how much they help me when I'm carrying them until I carried my limp, sleeping toddler down the streets of Chicago. We made it back to the condo in time for Archer to finish his nap and Lyla to start hers. Once they woke up, we headed out for an early dinner. We made sure to bring along the stroller this time! Archer and Lyla loved sitting in it and looking at everything. I think they were fully able to take in the sights and it was fun to watch how they reacted. There was one point when an ambulance drove by with the sirens on and it scared Lyla. She was fine once I held her hand. Adam enjoys trying new beers, so we thought we'd give Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery a try. While Adam did enjoy his beer, the food and service was just okay. I wouldn't really recommend it. We headed back to the condo afterwards to turn in for the night.
The next morning, we decided to venture out for some breakfast and then hit up Navy Pier. We tried to go to 3rd Coast Cafe, but it happened to be opening later than usual. Archer and Lyla don't exactly wait patiently for food, so we ended up going to The Original Pancake House. It's just a chain, but it was close by and turned out to be yummy. Usually, Adam and I like to try to eat at unique, local restaurants, but we needed to find a place before Lyla or Archer got too hangry. We made sure to stick them in the stroller as well and they were happy to ride along.
After breakfast, we hopped on a bus to Navy Pier. We were a little unsure how getting two toddlers on the bus along with a stroller would work out, but it turned out just fine. I got the kids on while Adam wrangled the stroller aboard. Luckily, it wasn't very crowded.
We made it to Navy Pier and walked around. It was pretty chilly, so I'm glad we all had jackets. We let the kids get out at several spots to run around. They had a blast climbing on railings and benches and playing with the buckles on the stroller while Adam and I enjoyed the views.
Adam actually proposed to me at Navy Pier! So it holds a special place in my heart. It was even more special that we got to bring Lyla and Archer to that very spot and snap a picture.
Even though we'd eaten breakfast not too much earlier, we grabbed a quick bite so the kids would stay happy. We walked around a bit more and then took the bus back to our condo just in time for nap time.
When they woke up, we took advantage of happy hour at Centennial Crafted Beer & Eatery. They had a nice selection of craft beers and delicious food. Lyla was especially fond of the beer cheese dip and chips. It had a very nice atmosphere, fun decor, and our server was very kind and accommodating to our crazy kids. Luckily it was early, because Archer and Lyla decided to be very vocal. They were happy, but they were loud! We walked back to the condo for the evening with full bellies.
The next morning, we decided to hit up the Lincoln Park Zoo. We considered going to the Chicago Children's Museum, but figured Archer and Lyla still might be a bit young to truly enjoy it. Plus, the zoo was free!
We stopped by 3rd Coast Cafe again for breakfast and luckily it was open. It was delicious and definitely worth a visit. We walked through Lincoln Park on our way to the zoo. It's a super nice park! We walked around this pond that had a nice boardwalk all around it. Archer and Lyla loved running around it and looking at all the flowers, birds, ducks, and geese. I think they actually had more fun there than at the zoo!
We made it to the zoo and Lyla decided to promptly fall down and scrape her hand and knee. It set her off and kind of set the tone for the rest of the day. It was a really nice zoo, but we didn't see many animals. And it got pretty crowded. Plus, Archer and Lyla were just crabby! They didn't want to ride in the stroller, but they didn't want to hold our hands or go where we told them too. I think all the people around didn't help. I think they tend to get overwhelmed when we're in big crowds, Lyla especially. So we exited the zoo with two screaming toddlers. Once we got back to the park area with fewer people, they calmed down. Or it might have been the Smarties I gave to them to get them to stop screaming so people would stop looking at us.
So after their candy, we decided to go get ice cream for lunch. We are wonderful parents. But I must say, Lyla and Archer's spirits soared once we got to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. It was super cute and the ice cream was delicious! After we got the kids all sugared up, we headed back to the condo so they could crash.
When they woke up from their naps, Adam had the idea to take them to see Lake Michigan. The weather had been pretty chilly and cloudy, but the sun came out and it seemed like the perfect excuse to go check out the water. Our condo was located a block away from the coast, so we didn't have to go very far to see the water. There's a nice path all along the coast. Walking along the path was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Archer and Lyla were happily gazing at the water. There were pretty views of the skyline to take in. The sun was shining and the temperature was perfect. We passed by some parents with newborn twins along the way. It helped me remember how far Lyla and Archer have come! And how far Adam and I have come as parents.
We stopped at one of the beaches so Archer and Lyla could dip their toes in the water. Archer was excited to get into the water, but as soon as the chilly water touched his toes, he turned right around. He found a stick on the beach and was quite content to drag it around in the sand.
Lyla, on the other hand, loved the water! She kept her feet in until Adam had to take her out because she started shivering! She also enjoyed the sand and even tried a mouthful of it.
We wrapped up our last evening eating some more pizza at Giordano's. While it was good, it doesn't top Lou Malnati's in our book. As soon as the pizza arrived, both Adam and I said we should have eaten at Lou's again.
Despite Archer and Lyla having their moments, it was an awesome vacation! Adam and I feel so lucky we have our sweet little family and the ability to give them new opportunities. Our vacation also gave us the confidence to think about planning more vacations in the future. It's a big, beautiful world out there full of all kinds of places and people and experiences. I'm pretty excited it's my job to expose Archer and Lyla to this wonderful world of ours!
In years past, I remember looking at everyone's pictures on Facebook during this time of year. Everyone and their kids were doing all sorts of fun fall activities, like apple-picking and hayrides and corn mazes. And it broke my heart.
I was so devastated that we didn't have our own kids. But this year is different. This year we get to experience new adventures with Lyla and Archer. Adam and I decided to take our babies, I mean toddlers, to Weston, MO, for a little day trip. We planned to go to Red Barn Farm to pick apples and then to Weston's downtown area for lunch somewhere.
We made it to Red Barn Farm and were all just plain giddy walking up to the farm from the parking lot. Lyla and Archer were looking around and squealing with delight at their new surroundings. Adam was smiling and I was trying really hard not to cry happy tears.
We walked around and checked out the farm animals. They both enjoyed most of the animals, aside from the scary sheep that said, "Baaa." Archer flipped out when the sheep he had been looking at for a little while decided to "baaa." I'm not quite sure what freaked him out so much about it, but Adam and I had to pull ourselves together from laughing to comfort him.
While waiting for the hayride, we enjoyed a doughnut and apple slush snack. I can already tell Lyla and Archer are going to be the kids who announce how hungry they are whenever we go anywhere.
After our snack, we headed towards the hayride departure area. Lyla and Archer had a blast walking around, trying to eat rocks, picking up pieces of hay, and playing in the dirt.
It still catches me off guard when I see them walking around. Look how old Archer looks in this picture Adam snapped! Where did my little baby go?!
Once the tractor arrived, we hopped on board. Archer and Lyla loved the hayride! They mainly loved the hay part, but they enjoyed the ride too. They probably didn't have quite as much fun as Adam and I did.
After our hayride, we decided to forego apple-picking this year. We took the easy way out and just bought some apples that had already been picked. It was getting close to lunchtime and we wanted to keep Archer and Lyla happy. So we headed into Weston's cute little downtown area and ate lunch at Tin Kitchen, which is a delicious BBQ joint.
After our bellies were full, we headed home. Between all the food and dirt, Lyla and Archer definitely had tons of fun. Adam and I had so much fun, too. Adventures like this is what I've been waiting for. It's definitely not lost on me just how lucky I am that I get to go on adventures with these two cuties.
Here's my advice on traveling with four-month old twins: Don't. Just kidding. But it is quite a challenge! We traveled to Columbia and St. Louis over the holidays. We started by going to Columbia on the Friday afternoon before Christmas. It took me a full two days prior to make lists of what to bring and then to pack everything and finally put it in the car. Babies need a ton of crap! I feel like I tried to pack pretty lightly and I still ended up with an entire carload worth of stuff. The packing was only the beginning. Once the car was packed up, we had to actually do the traveling part. Thankfully, we didn't run into any traffic along the way to Columbia and Archer and Lyla slept the entire time. Adam and I were feeling pretty confident a this point. Once we got to Columbia, we went out to dinner. The babies did well at dinner, though they wanted to be held the whole time. Luckily, my parents and my brother were there to take turns holding them. They behaved even though we were out past their bedtime. They even stayed up long enough for baths when we got back to my parents' house. Once again, Adam and I were feeling pretty good about how things were going.
The babies did pretty well sleeping that evening and the following morning we had our first Christmas of the weekend with my parents and brother. The babies did a nice job and still managed to take a nap that morning. They were fun to be around and enjoyed looking at the new surroundings. Look at how happy my mom is with her grandbabies!
The next challenge was to pack up all the stuff I had spread out all over my parents' house so we could take it with us to St. Louis. Thankfully there were extra hands to feed and entertain Archer and Lyla so Adam and I could gather all our crap and get it into the car. Once again, the babies did beautifully and slept the entire way to St. Louis.
Once we were in St. Louis, we visited with family and ate dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory. This was once again, past Archer and Lyla's bedtime and they did pretty good. They both had to be passed around and walked around to keep from screaming, but there were enough hands to keep them occupied. They stayed up to take showers with Adam that evening. Archer loved it, while Lyla wasn't as big of a fan of the water in her face.
They slept in the same room as Adam and I that night. We were reminded of why we booted them out of our room. They were noisy little sleepers! I felt like I had to be super quiet and pretty much tried to sleep in the same position all night so my moving around wouldn't wake them up. They did a pretty good job and we all managed to get some sleep.
The next day was Christmas Eve. We hung out at my Grandpa's house and eventually got ready to go to mass. Once again, Archer and Lyla surprised us by behaving during mass. I thought there was no way they'd last more than five minutes. Lyla managed to sleep the whole time, while I only had to take Archer out for a couple minutes when he got fussy. It was a Christmas miracle they made it through mass!
After mass, all of my dad's side of the family gathered at my Grandpa's for our second Christmas. The babies did a good job until they got too tired. Then they lost their shit. They both seemed to blow up at the same time. I was upstairs with my mom and the babies while Adam was downstairs with the rest of the family. I tried to get their pajamas on them while they were flipping out and feed them their final bottles of the evening. Thankfully Adam came up to help and my mom was around to help too. It was stressful and I felt bad for my babies. It was clear all the people and activity was just too much for them and they had had enough. Eventually they both went to bed and I could take a breath.
I didn't really get to talk with my family as much as I had wanted to and I was too tired to stay up and play cards with the few family members that lingered after the festivities. It was definitely a far cry from last Christmas! Last Christmas we had just found out we were pregnant and so wanted to spill the beans, but decided to keep things quiet until further along in the pregnancy. While it was stressful and crazy, I was so incredibly grateful that Archer and Lyla were a part of this Christmas.
The following morning was Christmas morning. I woke up to Archer crying around 4 in the morning. I fed him his bottle and put him back to sleep. I then got my pump out so I could pump since I had been exclusively pumping and bottle-feeding Archer for a couple of months now. I plugged in the pump, turned it on and then nothing happened. I sat there for a moment trying to figure out what my next move should be. I had to pump. My boobs were about the burst since I hadn't pumped since the night before. I decided to see if Archer would nurse. So I woke him up and stuck him to my boob. He was not having it. I don't know if he just wasn't hungry or didn't remember what to do, but he was no help to me. Thanks a lot, Archer.
So then I remembered hearing about hand expression during one of the breastfeeding support groups I attended. I Googled how to do it on my phone and tried it out. I squeezed my boobs for a good 5 minutes and only ended up with a few dribbles of milk. Clearly that was not the answer.
I was starting to panic a bit at this point. I didn't want to end up with mastitis from going too long without pumping. It was 5 o'clock in the morning on Christmas day, so it wasn't like I could just go to Target and buy a new plug for my pump. I thought about waking up Adam or my mom and asking them for help, but I rationalized they wouldn't know what to do anymore than I would. That's when I remembered the breastfeeding support group page I was a member of on Facebook. I posted about my dilemma and asked for help or ideas. I was blown away by the kind mothers who offered me a pump to borrow. Unfortunately I was out of town. One of the mothers suggested getting a hand pump at Walgreens. As much as I disapprove of making people work on holidays, I was so incredibly thankful that Walgreens was open on Christmas! So at 7 o'clock in the morning I, along with my very full boobs, was the first customer in the door. I got back to my grandpa's house and was pleased to find that the hand pump actually worked. Not quite as well or quite as fast as my electric pump, but it got the job done. I didn't have to worry about getting mastitis or my supply decreasing too much.
Christmas day involved packing up all of our crap once again and driving back to Columbia for our third Christmas with my mom's side of the family. The kids slept the whole way once again. When we got to my parents house to regroup before going to my grandma's, we noticed Lyla was soaking wet. We weren't sure if she got too hot from the blanket and car seat cover we had on her or what. So we changed her outfit and headed over to my Grandma's. When we got there, once again, Lyla was soaking wet. Adam figured out that she must have thrown up. Of course I didn't pack any extra clothes in the diaper bag. I left all of their extra clothes at my parents' house. So Adam kindly offered to go get her another outfit. I wrapped her up in a blanket in the meantime. Luckily she didn't act like she felt bad and was actually quite cheery.
Both babies slept through our meal, so Adam and I had both hands to use while eating. When they woke up from their naps, Lyla promptly threw up all over the kitchen floor. Luckily the meal was over. We were definitely sure she had thrown up and not just spit up a bunch. The poor girl emptied everything in her belly. I forget exactly the order of things, but she also ended up getting poop on my jeans as well as throw up on my shirt. I ended the evening wearing some of my grandma's pajamas. We took our sick girl and sleepy boy back to my parents' house for the night. Adam had to completely disassemble Lyla's car seat and wash it all out since it was covered in throw up. Ah, the joys of parenthood.
The next morning we packed up all our crap, yet again, and headed home. Our car looked a little something like this:
Believe it or not, there are actually two babies back there among all that stuff.
We finally made it home and Adam's mom was kind enough to be there when we got home so she could help with the babies while Adam and I attempted to put away the carload worth of stuff. As I was running around doing laundry and putting things away, I started feeling a bit queasy. I bet you can see where this is going. Yep, I ended up with the same stomach bug as Lyla. It also hit Archer before the evening was over. There was one point where I was sitting in the hallway because I was too dizzy and weak to get up holding Archer who was covered in throw up. Fun times. The only thing worse than being sick is your kids being sick.
Thankfully Adam didn't get hit with the full-blown stomach bug that the rest of us did. He didn't feel great, but he was well enough to manage the babies while I tried to sleep. Dad really stepped up!
The next day I was feeling better, but both babies were not quite well. There was still lots of outfit changes and full bottles of breast milk I had to dump down the sink because Archer had no appetite. That hurt! And our house was a complete wreck! We hadn't managed to put away all the stuff we had in our car and all the household chores took a backseat while everyone was sick. If you know me, you know how this scene made my blood pressure rise.
Since I was sick and all I had was my hand pump, my milk supply plummeted. Eventually I called the company I got my breast pump from and they sent me a new power cord. Thankfully that was all my pump needed to function again, but I still wasn't getting much milk. So I called a lactation consultant and she recommended pumping every two to three hours! This sucked. I had gotten it down to pumping only 4 times during the day and not at night. Now I had to pump every 2-3 hours around the clock. Luckily my mom had come into town a few days later and helped with the babies while I pumped. I'm still pumping about every 4 hours, but my milk supply has gone back up. While I hate pumping, I'm glad I'm able to do so for Archer's sake. Though I'm kinda bummed my breast milk didn't prevent Archer from getting sick like I assumed it would.
I'm exhausted just writing this post! Our travels around Christmas and the aftermath were a lot of work. I don't think I really relaxed at all or really enjoyed myself all that much. I was constantly thinking about what event was next and what I needed to pack/prepare/do in preparation for it. It was a lot of activity for my babies who are used to a calm routine with me during the days. However, it was all worth it to see my babies with all of my family. To watch my grandpa hold his great grandson Archer definitely brought a little happy tear or two to my eyes.
Seeing my brother interact with my babies was also incredibly sweet. We asked him if he would be Archer and Lyla's legal guardian in case something should happen to us. We told him to think about it before he gave us an answer. He texted me a day after Christmas with this response, "I accept your legal guardian offer even though those kids might've given me the flu. You should ideally hold off on dying until they are as least potty trained." Ever the joker. It turned out that the stomach bug that started with Lyla hit not only Archer and me, but my parents, my brother, Gruncle (my uncle, Archer and Lyla's great uncle) and Adam's mom. Lyla is quite skilled at sharing.
I recently had the honor of serving as a bridesmaid in my dear friend Kelsey's wedding. She got hitched in Pittsburgh, so Adam and I decided to make a mini-vacation out of our trip.
We had been to Pittsburgh a few years ago to visit my friend. It was actually right after we lost our baby. While the last thing I wanted to do was travel during that time, I'm so happy we decided to go. Being around my sweet friend helped me in more ways than she'll ever know. Luckily, this trip was filled with far more happiness. My friend got married at the National Aviary. It was such a unique venue! There is a gorgeous garden on the grounds, which was where the ceremony took place.
And all of the exhibits were open during the reception, which added to the fun. Who doesn't want to visit penguins during a wedding reception? (On a side note, I think Adam and I might have had one too many Rose-Marry-Me cocktails.)
In addition to participating in all the wedding festivities, we also managed to enjoy lots of delicious food around Pittsburgh. My favorite meal was our donut breakfast from Peace, Love & Little Donuts. They were downright delightful!
Craft beers are a big deal in Pittsburgh. While I'm not a beer fan, Adam was more than happy to try out some craft beers. We enjoyed Penn Brewery so much that we went back a second time. Adam also tried out some beer from Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh and reported it to be tasty. The atmosphere was fun and included a live accordionist.
Adam discovered a cute little coffee shop located near the place we were staying. He enjoyed the coffee while I enjoyed some iced tea. It was located in an old building that had lots of charm.
I promise we did more than just drink. We ate a lot too. :) We stopped by Proper Brick Oven & Tap Room to enjoy some brick oven pizza. We went with a prosciutto and asparagus pizza, which was super delicious.
We didn't want to go hungry, so we also made sure to try out a couple ice cream joints. Millie's Homemade Ice Cream was our first stop. It was good, but didn't hit the top of our favorite ice cream ever list.
While we were standing in line for Millie's, Adam asked someone if the ice cream was worth standing in line for. They said it was good, but that we should try out Antney's Ice Cream if we really wanted to be wowed. It happened to be located on our way to the airport, so we stopped by on our way out of town. Boy, was I happy we did! It was delicious!
To work off some of the delicious food and beverages we consumed, we decided to hit up Kennywood. Kennywood is an amusement park, which was tons of fun! There were quite a few roller coasters, two of which were built in the 1920s and still operate today! I must admit, I was a bit nervous getting on the roller coasters after reading the placards stating when they were built. Luckily, they lasted another day and provided Adam and I lots of fun. We had big smiles plastered on our faces all day long.
The plants and flowers were gorgeous! There were different rooms with different themes and climates. I highly recommend this place if you love gardens or flowers.
One of my favorite parts was the butterfly garden. There were hundreds of butterflies fluttering around! I pretty much felt like a Disney princess.
Adam and I had a wonderful time in Pittsburgh! It's definitely worth a visit if you've never been before!
