We will be in Lake Mary this weekend and wanted to make a quick trip to Orlando on Sunday.  Downtown Disney is great for this purpose because you don’t have to pay an entrance fee therefore if you can’t stay all day you don’t feel as if you have wasted your money.  You get the Disney experience without the Disney price.  Don’t get me wrong you still spend money!  Who can resist all the wonderful Disney things you can buy since it is just a giant outdoor Disney mall.

As I prepare for the weekend I realize that traveling with Aden will be different than in the past.  Even a trip as recently as our beach trip, Aden wasn’t moving around too much.  Now he is a little crawling motor that can’t be turned off.  How does one prepare for that?

I have my travel strategy planned, a couple of outfits per day, lots of diapers and some toys.  I need to add to that his favorite Baby Einstein movies, the portable DVD player, his favorite spoon, stroller, hats, swimsuits, and what else?  I’ve studied these travel tips and this travel blog, DeliciousBaby.

Everything I have read has said to be prepared.  I have to prepare for him actually being awake while we are driving.  Hmmm, what games can you play with a 10-month old that can’t move?  Peek-a-Boo comes to mind.  I think I’ll bring our puppet too, but Aden has been kinda scared of him lately.  Perhaps bubbles?

How do you entertain a crawling baby in a hotel room?  Why play with toys when he can explore the room.  I hope they have their own pack and plays as we don’t intend to bring ours.

We love traveling and hopefully with a little forethought this and future trips with Aden will go smoothly.

~Life as Mom

Since about 1997 I have had my Eastpak bag. I have to say my book bag helped me get my education. During my college days it carried my books for class, on my hiking trips it kept my trailmix handy, when I went to the beach it held the sun screen and towels, it kept the bugs out while camping but I never thought it would hold diapers. Alas, last weekend the primary diaper bag was in my wife’s car and she had gone to get her hair cut and it looks great by the way. Now with the primary bag unavailable and my honey do errands mounting I had to take action. I asked myself what could I use for a diaper bag. My conclusion immediately came to my old school bag. So I found it in the closet and as I took the camping gear out of my old Eastpak I had to laugh out loud. Never in a million years did I think my Eastpak would become a diaper bag. If you would have walked up to me in college and said hey that bag is going to carry diapers one day I would have said no way. That moment was another reinforcement that life has changed for old Dad here.  Well the Eastpak did not even flinch, it took on the baby essentials (diapers, whipes, distilled water, bottle, powdered formula, two toys, q-tips, and first aid kit) and we headed out into the wild blue yonder. Aden always does well while out in the car and we got the job done. Did I mention my wife’s new hair due looks great…

Well the Eastpak has always held up and I think it is going to be with me for many more years. In all the time I have had the bag there have been no zipper string mess and no repairs needed to it. I added a University of Florida Gator logo to the bag to give it some bling and some personality. Thanks Eastpak for a great bag.

~Life as Dad

I try not to get caught up in the toy mania that is Toys R Us.  Believe me I wish we could buy Aden every toy on the market.  Sometimes I feel like I am depriving him of valuable entertainment and possible learning experiences without the latest and greatest toy.  Is that the reality or just the marketing?

Will he be a happy and self-satisfied adult having known he hasn’t had the latest Vtech?  Will he still learn all the things he needs to in order to be a functioning student?  I don’t know, but I do know when the wailing begins these are my go-to toys.

1.  Pool Noodle

As stated in a previous post, the pool noodle is about the best thing going for a young toddler’s confidence.  Aden thinks he is the strongest little man when he lifts it.

2. Wooden spoons

I love wooden spoons.  I wish I had more of them as I like cooking with them.  The feel of a wooden spoon in my hand is different than a plastic or metal spoon.  Somehow I always feel as if the food will taste better if I use a wooden spoon.  Aden has taken over the two wooden spoons that I have and I believe those are his favorite teethers.

3. Activity table

As soon as Aden starting crawling, he started pulling up.  Although this is the more expensive of his toys it is definitely one that is worth getting as he loves it.  When we first brought it home, he stood at it for hours.  He even uses it as a walker since he can push it across the room.

4. Plastic cup from Sonny’s BBQ

On a whim I kept a child’s cup from Sonny’s.  I thought when Aden got older we would need cups.  When he got into the plasticeware cupboard he pulled this out and kept it with him.  It is one of his favorite teethers.  He is always rolling it around chasing after it.  And the great thing is that it washes easily.

5. Balls

Just recently we have put balls into Aden’s toybox.  He has a big one that he can lift with both of his hands.  A bunch of small ones that he can fit in one hand and a medium size squishy one that he loves to bite and carry around in his mouth.  I love that he can fetch now.

6. Keys

What kid doesn’t like keys.

7. Plasticware cabinet

I read somewhere that making one cabinet child-friendly with objects they could pull out will entertain them.  What a brilliant idea.  Aden thinks he is hot stuff because he is getting into something and can throw plastic lids all over.  He likes the fact that he is with me too and can see me when I am in the kitchen.

8. Stuffed giraffe music box

This was a shower gift and a crib staple.  It was the first toy that Aden recognized and was able to put his little arms around.  The long neck of the giraffe has been squeezed a lot.

9. Plastic egg

For Easter I bought some plastic eggs for a $1 thinking that Aden would be into them in a couple of years.  It was love from first egg.  We now have to have an egg with us wherever we go.  I keep them in the diaper bags too.  It is the perfect toy to fit in his little hand.  He feels safe when he is holding his egg.  Best $1 investment ever.

10. Remote controls

Sometimes I think the toy manufacturers make everything colorful and shiny for the parents because everyone knows a baby will head towards the plain black remote everytime.  Without fail.  How is that for product testing?

~Life as Mom

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