First Family Trip

I had to go to Boston for a conference, so we decided to go a couple days early and make a vacation of it. That's right, we finally took the plunge and braved the skies with a seven-month old. We woke up VERY early (see sleepy eyes below) for a 6:30am flight (Hey, when you use miles you take what you can get). Sweet P did EXCELLENT. Only a couple of fussy times, which was not too surprising given the 3 hour delay on our departure... but she took a nice nap in the terminal.

Once in Boston we took a short drive to Maine. We checked into the beautiful Colony Hotel in Kennebunkport (see envy-provoking views below) just in time to get settled and put Piper down (in the hotel crib we lovingly jammed in the bathroom) at her usual bedtime (7:00ish). She went down soundly and we were ready to collapse from a very long day.

However... our typical sleep-loving girl had other plans for us. The crib provided so graciously by the hotel was much smaller than ours and had much bigger gaps between rails than she is used to, so around 9:00 we held our breath as we heard a loud cry. With great apprehension we peeked in to check on her and saw a chubby little baby leg hanging out of the crib, apparently unable to wiggle it's way back in to comfort. We proceeded as follows:
- gather in all her limbs and replace pacifier ejected by screaming
- leave her be and allow crying for a few minutes
(this is where the process usually ends at home - but clearly not on vacation)
- pick her up and rock her back to sleep
- gently lay her back in bed
- hold breath and hope not to pass out from lack of oxygen
- jump through the ceiling as a scream erupts and subsequently see one of her appendages in again not where it is supposed to be
- repeat... for 1.5 hours. 

I was finally sad enough for her and her overtired-ness and fearful enough for my life thinking that one of our hotel neighbors could snap any minute. I placed her on my chest for the duration of the night, which I have NEVER done before (because I typically sleep like a rock) . Pretty sure I slept only a few minutes that night, but the idea that nothing on earth but me could keep that girl from crying made my heart so happy it was completely worth it. If you are 110% anti-co-sleeping, don't worry, we did some problem-solving at Walgreens the next day and an all-night snuggly party was not necessary for the duration of our trip (see super classy solution below). She slept like a baby due to Jered's mad construction skills.

We spent our time in Maine walking around charming cape towns, introducing Piper to the ocean, and visiting somewhere we have always wanted to go: the Portland Head Light House in Cape Elizabeth. We had SUCH a great day. And Piper is definitely her daddy's daughter - enjoys being out and about and especially LOVES crowds!

 

 

Once we got to Boston we had so much fun catching up with a few friends and family. We saw wonderful friends Burke and Meg as well as cousins Alex and Angela. Sadly, we have become more and more absentminded since parenthood  began and completely forgot to get photographic proof of our visit with Burke and Meg and forgot to take the camera out when Piper was awake and/or around during family time! (see family documentation sans baby below)

But most of my time in Boston was spent working. Fortunately for me Jered is super-dad and stepped up to do full-time Piper duty:

Nothing says father-daughter bonding time like a baby at a brewery

She doesn't seem to trust Sam Adams so much...

Waiting for mommy at the conference hotel

Overall it was a fabulous trip. On the flight home we got all kinds of complements on what a good baby she is (see no photos below due to post-vacation exhausted parents). I was very nervous about the whole ordeal but it went really smoothly so it looks like our potential family vacations have a bright future ahead.