HAWAII VACATION!

Let me start by saying flying with a baby is not easy, and if we do it again - I will so BUY HER A SEAT!!!! Getting up at the butt crack of dawn to get our fly at SFO was not too bad. Reese got up well, got dressed and did not pass out on the ride there. We got to go in a different line due to the stroller so we actually breezed through security and got to our gate with plenty of time for Coffee.

The flight there was packed - so we had no extra seats to let Reese lay down. I figured she loves to nurse! I will just feed her when we are taking off and it will be no biggie - well it was too her. She was overly tired and just didn't want to. She bite me and I cried . . . . my Mom (Gigi) took her and rocked her to sleep on her lap with the Paci. That lasted most of the flight there and when she woke up she was DONE with the whole being held, being on a plane and being hot. I guess is a good thing that she can play alone but a bad thing if then she is so used to it that she annoyed at being held for 4 1/2 hours! How knew! Second flight was fine, we had lots of room to spread out and it was a mere 35 minutes.

The rental car was awesome. We got there and I saw how small (and freaking compact) the Pontiac Vibe was so I asked to have something with more room but not too much more money. She tells me they have a Taurus X and I am like I don't want a big sedan. She tells me "No, you will like this" What?! This thing is sweet - like an SUV, but called a Crossover. The back has a 3rd row (which we did not need since we traveled with SEVEN pieces of stuff - thank goodness Hawaiian had not changed their bagged amount that that carseats and strollers DON'T count!). The back had captain chairs, good seats for Reese & my Mom and the front was comfy. It had cool things that seperate cool and hot for front and back and lots of storage. I really liked it!

The weather was really overcast but all hot and sticky. By the time we go to the Condo - we were ready for bed! And with the 3 hour difference, I think we were all asleep by 9pm. The rest of the week the weather stayed the same - a bit of sun (because Danny & Gigi got red) but nothing to write home about. It was sort of disappointing but good since I knew Reese & I would sunburn and we did not.

The first night there, I was so hot and sticky I slept with a cold washcloth on my neck. I woke up at ungodly hour to re-wet it and was greet by a midsize cockroach in my bathroom. It scared me, but I thought - we are in the tropics - there is going to be bugs! During that first day, we came to discover many roaches in the place - the breadboards were covered in what we assumed was the poop and I open the undersink cabinet to have one jump out and jump in! I screamed! I went right to the VI office (our Timeshare) and complained, nicely. They offered to spray, but I was worried with the baby and it being almost bedtime - so they let us have a newly spring cleaned place. It wound up being great - it was annoying as hell to move, but this place was better, had a great view and was so much bigger!

We had ONE adventure to the beach that last (I think) a little over 2 hours. Reese hated it, she got all sandy and annoyed so I feed her and she fell asleep on my lap, under an umbrella with a towel on us. Her & I are not beach people, we are pool people. So we drove back t the Condo and enjoyed some time in the pool.

We also had a trip to the Volcano. It was a long 2 hour drive but fun to see other things and see how the weather drastically changes! We were so under dressed - it was windy and cool! I felt so bad for the way I had dressed Reese . . . thank goodness for the Ergo carrier that kept her close to me and warm.

All in all, it was a good vacation. I wished we could stay longer since we were basicially in a 2 bedroom/2 bath apartment - we even had a washer and dryer, so I brought the cloth diapers with us. Also, then Reese wold have adjusted to the time - since she wasn't - she was out for a nap by 9am and we (or I) would be stuck there for about 2 hours. If we got out before she passed out, then we were good.

Enjoy the show!