Things Just Got Real

Another baby!  Its kind of like, you want to start a family, so you have one kid and then a few years later it's like, "oh man, if we want them to have siblings then we've gotta keep going and then suddenly you're on your second kid and things just got real."   We are very excited to grow our little family and feel really blessed to be able to have another!  With Tatum, we can do anything with 2 of us + 1 baby... but 2 babies, this could be a game changer.   I still plan to have a life, but I imagine we'll need to make more accommodations with 1 toddler + 1 baby than with just one (good sleeping) child.  The kids will be almost exactly 3 years apart, which I am thrilled about!  Not too far, but not so close. Now, time for the questions/answers you may be wondering:

What are you most nervous about?
My greatest fear is being 7/8/9 months pregnant in a snowy/icy city with a stroller.  I'm trying to stay positive and just take each day at a time.

Do you want a boy or a girl?
I think Scott and I are both hoping for a boy, though I love sisters and won't be disappointed if we get another girl next!  I anticipate finding out sometime around Thanksgiving.

Have you been sick?
Yes, I have been sick.  Throwing up probably an average of 4 times a week, and nauseous a lot.  It seems like everything I do is a calculated risk:  Should I eat another bite or let what I have sit a while?  Can I open the fridge now, or will waiting a few minutes be better?  Do I have it in me to leave the house today, where is my airplane barf bag?? -- That said, I have yet to throw up in public, which is huge considering that I did at least twice a day for several months while I was carrying Tatum.  This pregnancy has been so much easier, though nausea is still real and hard.

What is your due date?
April 10.  But my original due date of April 3 has me hoping the baby will come before the 10th! But, I can't play this mental game like I did last time.  Baby is due April 10.

Pregnancy takes forever, and I tried, for your sakes, to keep it on the DL as long as possible so it wouldn't drag on for you too.  I announced via Insta and Facebook at 13 weeks-- does that seem early or late or normal to share the news?  Really, tell me in the comments what you think.  There has been lots of discussion about this at the Hathaway House.  I'd say being a secret keeper for 3 months (especially when I'm EXHAUSTED and sick) is pretty good.  And also, I am showing 10x sooner this time around, so there's that too.

Tanners with Tatum in Chelsea Market

I am compiling pictures for a #tannersistersnyc post, but in the meantime, I have these photos ready!  It's kind of fun to have them all taken in the same place (The Highline) with each member of my family.  I am so impressed and grateful that within 13 months of moving here, all of my siblings and parents have made the trip out!  Big thanks to everyone for all the fun and memories :)

 And the best picture for last:

Standby Travel

Gives me ulcers.

You can probably stop reading now.  

Yes we fly free, but what is the true cost??!  It seriously stresses me out.  

Out of all the trips we've done this past 5 months, only 1 trip have we flown on the flights we aimed for:

-Boston, Massachusetts

-Orlando, Florida

-Puerto Rico

-Portland, Maine (Our Stress Free Success!) - unless you count running into the middle of the road and jumping on a moving bus whilst folding the stroller between traffic in order to make it to the airport...

-Savannah, Georgia

-Los Angeles/Long Beach, California

-New Orleans, Louisiana

-Seattle, Washington

-St. Thomas

I know I am definitely not the most seasoned standby traveller you'll ever talk to, but in my few months I did learn a few things.  You just really have to

1.  Be flexible,
2.  Willing to split up
3.  Very polite

to be a good standby traveller. I've learned that gate agents have the power to do anything, to always pack pants, a sweater and socks for unexpected air-conditioned airport days, and to be sure you have a working and charged smart phone where you can login to check current status' so you can make quick, reasonable judgement calls. 

For me, on top of the uncertainty and stress of standby, is "pass riding" with a child.  Making sure she is safe, happy and comfortable in these environments is really stressful for me.  It wouldn't be AS bad if I were just looking out for myself.  It's the times when she has diarrhea, is vomiting and/or throwing tantrums in the middle of the waiting area that make times really tough.  (All of those things have actually happened.)  But even without her- sitting at a gate after missing 5 consecutive planes, just praying that someone won't show up in time and that the flight attendant ahead of you will please maybe take the jump seat-- it's very stressful.  Especially when you're tired, hungry, and the prospect of paying for a car rental or hotel, or worse, a full fare last minute flight is very near on the horizon.

And here is the long story of coming back from the Virgin Islands:

When we left for St. Thomas, there were at least 10 open seats on the STT (St Thomas) to SJU (San Juan, Puerto Rico) leg.  Well the night before, there was only 1 seat open, with 1 standby listed before us.  BAHHH.  If we can’t get off St. Thomas we don’t have a hope of getting home! By the time we woke up, 2 seats had mercifully opened, so we left at 4:30am to make that early flight, giving ourselves an entire day to get back to JFK before work the following morning.  (The only other pass rider on our STT-SJU flight had been stuck on St. Thomas for 3 days trying to get out!!) 

So we made it to San Juan by 9am, the 9:30 to JFK was full, but there was a single seat open on the 10:30 flight.  For a variety of reasons I won't go into, we decided to send me.  So there was Scott and Tatum, ready to get on ANY PLANE that would get them closer to New York.  They missed 6 flights to JFK, 2 to Newark, 2 to Fort Lauderdale, 2 to Orlando, 1 to Jacksonville, 1 to Tampa, 1 to Chicago, and probably some more I'm forgetting.  With SO MANY options that day we assumed/hoped they would make it somewhere, and worst case scenario, get a hotel in Florida and take a 5am to LaGuardia, putting Scott to work on time.  Well, once they missed the very last flight of the day, they went out to the rental car I'd arranged from home, and drove from about 11:30pm- 2:30am across the island to Ponce, an airport where there were 2 open seats on the 5am flight.  The drive was really tough.  Navigating dark new roads, and an hour in, Tatum tells Scott "Dada, Tummy hurt!" and then started throwing up.  Her vomit launched so far forward that it hit him in the arm and got his leg.  Then he watched it splatter the middle console and later found her clothes wet and chunky and a puddle of puke in her carseat.  You can bet I was feeling realllly bad and guilty at this point that I wasn't there in Scott's place.  

He found a gas station (with bullet-proof glass thicker than we have in Harlem) and washed out as much of the car and carseat as he could, putting all the puke clothes/rags in a grocery bag.  We always pack grocery bags.  The security at Ponce airport wanted to know what was in and potentially open the puke bag, and Scott told them, "Go right ahead, that's my daughters puke bag!"  The man just sent it right on through.  Anyway, they did make the flight, arrived to JFK about 8:30 and was to work about 9:30am.  This was quite the dramatic, stressful and memorable event.  It's still too soon to laugh about it, but I have a hope that one day this will be more "memorable" and less ulcer-inducing.

Tribute in Light 2014

I was kind of disappointed in myself for missing the Tribute in Light last year.  So this year, I had it on my calendar, all set to go.  But then the day came.  And it was a big day full of events and activities and I was tired.  And so was T girl.  So I just put it out of my mind.  And then Scott called from class, encouraging me to get myself together and meet him at 8:50pm at school so we could head down together.  So I got myself together, called the Foss' last minute like I always do, and got ourselves downtown!  

Can't wait until their baby comes any day!  I wonder if they'll still be up to do crazy things with us?!

The plan was for Tatum to sleep the entire time.  Yeah, no way.  She thought this was the best activity ever.  A walk in Brooklyn with a concrete from "SHAKKE  SHACKKKK!" Best day ever.  

 I am more than thrilled about this new location for Shake Shack.  And it is the most spacious and has the best layout of all!

 Oh this girl.  I'm debating between whether we are mean parents for not letting the girl sleep when it's time to sleep, or awesome for giving her opportunity and exposure.  Let's go with the latter.

 Hauling the tripod was definitely worth it.

A Day Trip to St. John

The ferries to St John leave Red Hook every hour on the hour.  We made the 9am boat, and got there about 9:20.  We took a walk around and talked with the National Park office down the way.  They recommended Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay and gave Scott some hike ideas.  I’m pretty happy we didn’t have to do a hike because carrying T + snorkel gear + beach bag + towel + nice camera = not such a great hike and more of a walking chore.  So anyway, we got in a cab and went straight for Trunk Bay ($4 entrance) which is part of the National Park. From a look at the map it seems 80% of the island is a national park!  Anyway, this beach is rated Top 10 in the world, and it’s not hard to see why! Just spectacular!  The only beaches that compare in my mind are in the beach in Western Samoa and Ko Hai on the coast of Thailand.   The gradation of the water was PERFECT and the gradual slope and zero waves and perfectly non-rocky sand was ideal for kids!

 Those colors are real!  Are you serious??!  This place is heaven! 

We brought summer sausage, baybel cheese and crackers, along with a few chips and apples, and were so glad we had food with us, because the thought of leaving the beach for food was not appealing!  We set up camp and stayed from about 9:30 until 5pm.  We all reapplied 65 Water Babies sunscreen every hour and a half and we came out okay!  I got like zero color (which is sad, but I didnt really feel like burning.) and T and Scott seemed red the day of, but it faded and never really gave them any pain, so I'd say our diligence in re-application paid off! 

 She would go all the way in past her chin all on her own- the water was warm but still refreshing and she was SO CONFIDENT in the water which we haven't really seen before.  I think because the gradation was so gradual she really felt in charge. 

 T promptly fell asleep on the ride back to town, and stayed asleep for our nicest dinner out!

 The sleeping little angel:

 Then she fell off the chairs to her rude awakening, and screamed for a good long while.

 Since she missed dinner, we bought her some Mac and cheese which was actually really delicious and made our baby a happy child once more. 

Big thanks to Christina for this cute romper from Bali-- T loves it and always talks (and tells others about) Beana when she wears it!

We were too tired to hot tub when we got back to the hotel.  We packed up our stuff and started route planning for the next morning.  The trip back to New York was our most dramatic return x3, and it deserves its own post.  You can look forward to the Pros and Cons of standby travel and learn how we eventually made it back this time on the next post!!

A Weekend in St. Thomas

Many, many words today.  But first, a photo.

 This kid is seriously wild. 

We are home safe and sound from St. Thomas and St. John.  We had a fabulous trip!  It was the perfect tropical getaway.  Poor weather the first day turned into a beautiful weekend, we stayed in one hotel all 3 nights, and we did everything Tatum wanted to do-- which makes for a great vacation!  

Pool, beach, and animals (iguanas) every day.

I am pretty happy we didn't cut her hair before this trip. Those curls... :)

We booked our hotel about 40 minutes before we left for the airport.  And we left for the airport at around 9:30pm for a midnight flight. There were some complications getting out of JFK (lightning) but we made it to San Juan in time for our 7am connection to St. Thomas. We had a prayer that our hotel would check us in at 8am instead of making us wait until the usual 3pm check in... Upon arrival, the taxi guys lied to us which always gets Scott really worked up.  They said there is no local bus, and that it will cost $15 pp for a taxi to our hotel- $45 for all three of us.  So we started the walk. And then it started raining.  Harder and harder.  We took cover and waited it out until it just started normal raining again.  Scott thinks the walk was 1/2 mile and I'm certain it was well over a mile, but anyway, we walked parallel to the runway out to the main road, and caught a safari bus.  They come every 5 minutes and you just pay $2pp to wherever you want to go.  

Thankfully, it passed right by our hotel, Sugar Bay and we had a great ride!  We showed up at our resort and felt again like "slumdog millionaires" which we called ourselves all through Asia when we would end up at nice places and be wet as a dog, or with things hanging out of our luggage after a local ride... 

(she slept so well on the second flight we just buckled the belt around her sleeping little body.  What a trooper.

They did check us in right away and we took a little rest (remember we had a red eye) and spent the rainy/overcast day at the hot tub and the beach.  That evening we took the safari bus into Red Hook and shared a delicious pizza overlooking the islands.  We then learned that the Safari busses only go one direction around the island, so basically we had to taxi back to our hotel.  Well some expats (which are really not expats since St. Thomas IS America...) overheard us talking this over with someone on the street and volunteered to give us a lift!  So nice!  So we hopped in the back with their seeing eye training dog and had a fun conversation on the 5 min ride back to our place.  

Saturday was predicted to rain 90% of the day, but it probably only sprinkled for about 20 minutes! It was so beautiful!  (Which the locals were kind of sad about because they were counting on the rain!!)  We spent the morning at the hotel iguana feeding time, the pool and the beach at our hotel:

 We went snorkeling every single day there.  What a treat! It was really worth packing our own set (read, our great friends set) so we never worried about the time or money, and it was good quality too!  My mask never leaked one single time and I never swallowed water.  Snorkel success!

They told us at the feeding time that iguanas have been known to bite on property, and they go for bright pink and red things low-ish to the ground.  We are listening as we see T, with freshly painted pink toenails and a hot pink diaper cover on...

Then we had a little cup o noodles and snacks in the room and jumped back on the safari bus headed for Sapphire Beach just down the road.  We debated between Sugar Bay Resort (nicer rooms and pool) and Crystal Cove Condos (nicer beach) which were the same price for our stay.  We are happy we chose Sugar Bay, BUT really glad we went over to the beach for the Crystal Cove Condos because it really was fantastic.  We headed in the back way and the beach attendant assumed we were staying there and gave us lounge chairs and the good treatment.  The beach was so perfect and it was such a beautiful day.  We grabbed some BBQ take out and taxied back to our place for dinner on the balcony.  What a goooood day.

 My fastest and cheapest sew to date:  $2.98 and 32 minutes.  Sun dress for the win!

Stay tuned for our day on St. John!!

New Orleans Part II

Cafe Beignet was host to Tatum's biggest meltdown of the trip.  Right during Sunday brunch time.  Yep, crazy, fiery screaming at the top of her lungs, and don't ever stop tantrum.  I was out in the garden holding the table with Tatum while Scott was in line for beignets.  He says its pretty funny to hear people trash talk the screaming baby when he's not with her-- people say what they think, assuming a parent isn't standing right there.  HA!  

So anyway, she is really into opening and closing water bottles these days.  She reaches them from the stroller and I can't always stop her/watch her.  Well I noticed that she had a half full Dasani bottle that she had done her best to twist the lid on to, but I was SURE was not securely on... and I was also sure that my SLR was loose in my purse.  So I immediately grabbed her arm and yanked it out and away as to not get any water on the camera.  I knew it would make her mad, but I knew I had to save the camera.  Sorry brunchers, for ruining your brunch!  

These were also very, very good.  They just didn't quite have the magic in them that Cafe Du Monde did though.  Not puffy enough, maybe.

 And since we watched Undercover Blues the night before we left, a walk to the cemetery was in order.  Also, it was right on our way.  It is really cool to see all the above ground headstones/burial slots-- entire families are buried in each spot!

 At this point it was kind of a run-from-shady-spot-to-shady-spot activity.  Really really hot.

 And last and probably least, the pralines.  They say Royal Pralines are the best around, but for $2.25 I was expecting something a little better than this.  Still happy we tried them, but I wasn't about to bring any home as souvenirs.

We opted for the cheaper route getting to the airport- local busses.  Scott says public transportation is now one of my core competencies.  Anyway, we walked 3/4 mile to the streetcar.  Then rode that a ways.  Then got off, got out our coats and umbrella for a rainy half mile walk to what we hoped was the right bus stop.  No way to really know.  We sat there for seemingly ages, hoping the E2 bus was coming sooner than later so we'd make our flight.  It did finally come, but it was a stressor.   While walking over crazy cracked sidewalks in the rain searching for the right bus stop I was thinking, "This cannot be normal.  Who does this??"  Someone willing to save $30, that's who.

Then we got to the airport.  We checked the flight loads in the morning, and the direct to JFK was filling up faster than we were comfortable with, so we went to the airport 3 hours early to catch the connection through Boston. We were the last 3 on the Boston plane, so relived and happy to be pulling away from the gate, and glad to have stuck together and be getting home that night before Scott's work in the morning.  And then, the second engine didn't turn on. In the name of safety (which I am glad for) they pulled back in for the contract mechanic to take a look.  They didn't cancel the flight for 4 more hours, but all 150 on that flight were rebooking for the next day- filling up every single flight leaving New Orleans for like 36 hours.  Not just the JFK or Boston flights, EVERY SINGLE flight.  It was looking like out best bet was to rent a car and drive 5 hours to Houston and then get on a connection from there.  We got a cheap airport hotel (where geckos ran as we opened the door and turned on the light) and decided Scott should try for the 6am flight direct to New York, and hope there were no shows. We hardly slept a wink, and in the morning, Christina's voice (Scott's flight attendant sister) ran through my head, "There will be at least someone who doesn't make their early morning flight!" and I decided to get T up at 4:45 so we could try for the flight too.  Through a lot of other details and drama (this story is already getting super long) Scott ended up getting a seat and giving us a hug goodbye before boarding "The last seat" on the plane.  The gate agent told me there was no chance, I could go back to the hotel.  But I refused to leave the gate before the door closed, and both T and I ended up on the flight!  Tatum as a lap child. It was quite the ulcer-inducing event.  Especially since missing this flight didn't just mean waiting around the airport- it would have meant a car rental/long drive, at least 1 more night of hotel and a lot of hassle.  We were SUPER grateful to make the flight and we continue to wonder why we do these things to ourselves.  Flying standby is not for the faint of heart.