San Francisco

Abby and I went to San Francisco at the end of July for 4 days. I have a pretty small family, but as it turns out now, a good chunk of them live in the Bay Area now including two of my three brothers. Not a bad place to spend a long weekend if you ask me. San Francisco is definitely one of my favorite cities. We stayed with my aunt and uncle who live in Nob Hill with a spectacular view of the city.

View from Living Room


Not bad digs at all. They had so many toys for Abby to play with because they have five grandchildren, so Abby was in heaven from the moment she arrived. She just loves exploring new things, and she had a great time sauntering up and down their hallways as well. We went down to the Ferry Building in the Embarcadero area for dinner the first night we arrived. We walked around some of the shops and saw Howard Dean in a bookstore. Abby wasn't too interested (although I am sure she will be a Democrat. Of course, it will be her choice. I am just sayin').

We spent the next day mostly in Oakland and Orinda visiting with the rest of the family. Abby, my Uncle Bob and I spent a few hours at the Oakland Zoo. I am not a big fan of zoos, but when you have an almost 2 year old, you do whatcha got to do. I would not recommend this zoo unless your mission in life is to see the zoos of the world, and you just want to check it off your list. Abby did really enjoys the giraffes and the petting zoo though.

Abby and Papa Bob

Sleeping Alligator

It was just nice to get a little one-on-one time with my uncle (sorta. you never really get one-on-one time with a 2 yr old around) and just walk around in beautiful 70 degree weather since we are used to 100+ degree temperatures in Texas at this time of year. We spent the rest of the day and dinner with our cousins and Abby's uncles at my cousins' beautiful home in Orinda. They have three young boys ages 4-9 who had every conceivable type of sports equipment and car under the sun stored outside in a sports shed. They had an amazing sport court installed in an breathtakingly beautiful backyard.

View of Back of House

Sport Court Hidden in Back

Abby immediately ran outside to the sports shed without asking for directions and proceeded to get into every toy riding car and golf cart in the shed. She had a blast playing playing some combination of tether ball and tennis while all the old folks were inside chatting and preparing food.

The Next Olympic Sport? Tether Tennis Anyone?

Abby's First Pit Stop in the Sport Shed

Abby wasn't into socializing or chit chatting when all the fun stuff was outside. Our cousins, Brett, Kyle, and Drew showed us their amazing little house designed to resemble a tree house (without the tree) placed at the top of their terraced back yard. It was the perfect little hideaway for little boys to play with their bugs and other crawly things.

It was really nice to see my brothers who I hadn't seen in about a year and a half and who had never met Abby.

Abby and Her Youngest Uncle Jess

Abby and Her Second Youngest Uncle Josh

One of my brothers recently started his own flower business. He grows a special type of flowering plant that has, among other things, therapeutic powers. He has a great business model having worked in this industry for a number of years. It is not legal to grow this type of flower in all states, but it is legal where my brother lives. He has a lot of good business connections and really knows what he is doing. He has traveled the world since he was in high school and is interested in settling down in Northern California, and this business affords him that opportunity. My youngest brother was just back from a stint in Latin America and was taking classes at a local university to teach English As A Second Language to students and businessmen in the Far East, so we were really lucky that he was in California while we were visiting. We spent some time at my brother's workplace (and temporary home) the following day. The space was perfect for his flowers, and I was thoroughly impressed by all the work that my brother has put into his new business. He has a three story space, and they were using the street level portion of it as temporary living quarters. This part of the space reminded me of a fraternity house that hadn't been cleaned in, well, forever. I could not even put Abby down on the floor. Abby and I are both neat freaks, so this really was a shock to my senses. No big deal because it was just a short term living situation for both of my brothers. The happy ending massage parlor next door and the porn shop across the street really was the icing on the cake :)

The eleven of us had a picnic in the park on Sunday, and that was really a great time for me personally because I got to catch up quite a bit with my cousins and my brothers while still being able to watch Abby and make sure she didn't fall of the playground equipment.

Aunt Ellen and Uncle Bob

Monique and Brett
Kyle

Drew

David

It was a very relaxing time for everyone. Weather was perfect, and conversation was great. This was one of those moments where I really wished I lived closer to these family members. I decided that I would come back and visit at least once a year with Abby especially now that two of my brothers are kind of establishing roots there as well.

We just had a wonderful trip, and Abby really blossomed around so many new people. She was engaging, charming and very talkative with everyone especially her great aunt and uncle (Lala and Papa Bob) who were wonderful hosts for our visit. We spent our last night eating out at a place in the City that Abby really enjoyed. She took her first cable car ride, and I am hoping she doesn't remember a thing. It was so crowded, and the conductor told us I had to sit down with Abby or at least sit Abby down by herself. Unfortunately, there was no room to even move, and Abby freaked out bit. Even with her crying, the young man nearest us (maybe about 30) refused to give up his seat for two blocks. My aunt read him the riot act. Then, possibly the largest woman on the cable car close to 300 lbs who was in her 60s offered to get up, but there was just no where for her to go. It was 5 minutes of anguish for Abby and I. Next time, we will take a cab.

We headed back home on Monday. Our flight was delayed, and I was feeling a little deja vu again that we might encounter another travel nightmare because her nap was scheduled perfectly with the original departure time. We strolled around the airport, and just as Abby was going to finally fall asleep, out of the blue, we run into one of her classmates, Lola, with her dad. They were on the same flight we were, and of course, as soon as Abby saw someone from home she recognized, she bolted out of her stroller, and she and Lola started running and skipping through the airport. It was great that they were having fun killing time, but we paid for it. Well, actually all the passengers on our flight paid for it. We were seated in the middle of the plane, and Abby was so overtired at this point that she literally cried almost non-stop for 1 hour of the 3+ hour flight. No exaggerations. This was simply the worst. I tried everything I could to get her to stop crying, but she wasn't having any of it. About 40 minutes into the crying, a man sitting a few rows behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said "excuse me, is your baby sick?". Not words you want to hear at a time like that. When I said no, he said "CAN YOU PLEASE DO SOMETHING?" I kept my cool and explained that if there was something I could do, I would be doing it. I suggested he use the complimentary headphones that were handed out for the movie. He didn't like my suggestion. This is something many of us have thought before when a baby cries, but I was kind of surprised that he confronted me about it. After he left, and once Abby stopped crying, the man in front of me leaned back and told me Abby 's crying didn't bother him one bit, he has 3 kids of his own, etc. Then, after we landed a short time later, Abby was asleep, and I waited until everyone deplaned before we got off. At least 6 or 7 people stopped by my seat and said "we have all been there", "you're my hero", or words to that effect. I actually felt more like a parent in that moment than ever before for some reason. Unlike my last trip, I didn't melt down or lose my patience. I just endured it and loved on Abby more and more the harder she cried. Abby is a very strong willed little girl. This is bound to serve her well later in her life. Just not on long flight from the West Coast.

5 states now visited by Abby. Next up, Florida.

Walking in Memphis

And walking. and walking. and walking some more. Read it and cry or laugh. That is what I did. Cried first. Laughed later. Much later.

I am a few months behind here as we have already taken another trip since this one, but we went to Maryland in June to visit my closest friend and her family. What an absolute blast we had! But, getting there. Well, that is another story.

We arrived to DFW airport early morning one day after a night of tornadoes and thunderstorms in our area. A call to American on the way (while driving in a blinding thunderstorm) to the airport yielded "your flight is on time" from the perky little automaton. Once we got the airport and my mom dropped us off, about 15 minutes later, American announced that all flights to Baltimore the entire day were cancelled. I got in line to get reticketed somehow someway because we had plans to go to an amusement park in PA the very next day, and I wanted to get to Baltimore any way we could if at all possible. My mom turned around to come back to the airport and help with Abby which was a blessing because I stood in line for 2 solid hours before I could get rebooked. I got on a connecting flight to Baltimore through Memphis which didn't seem so bad all in all because the layover in Memphis was only supposed to be 2 hours. It seemed manageable. I could feed Abby there and since it would be naptime, she could sleep in her stroller. Well, the travel gods were not on our side this day. The flight to Memphis from DFW gets delayed because the weather has created such havoc with flights nationwide, that we had to wait in a queue for fuel for a few hours. We finally boarded the plan although I was already run ragged being at DFW now for 6 hours. Abby certainly keeps me on my toes at all times. I put my stroller EXACTLY where the American rep told me to and got on board. Abby and I settled in for an uneventful, pleasant flight to Memphis. As we exited the plane, I don't see my stroller where they normally put it and neither did the other two people on the flight with strollers. Uh oh. American tells us to get it at the baggage claim. Great, I have two bags and a 23 lb baby to carry through this airport looking for my stroller. Guess what? No stroller at baggage claim. Patience. Not my strong suit. But, I was trying mightily to keep it together. I went to the lost baggage department and waited around to see if there was anyone working. 10 minutes later, an airport employees tells me to stand in the line at the American ticket counter for assistance. I wait in line for 25 minutes only to have the American rep tell me "it ain't her job to do luggage". This is when the floodgates broke. I couldn't get anyone to help me, I was tired, Abby was cranky but still behaving well under circumstances..she just wanted to be put down, and I also found out that my flight to Baltimore was now delayed for 6 hours because there was no airline crew anymore to fly the plane. Kind of a dealbreaker. The realization that I was in an airport with a hungry, tired toddler with no stroller for 6 more hours did me in. To say I had a meltdown is an understatement. I am actually ashamed that I could break this easily. I was literally walking around the airport loaded down with bags and Abby BAWLING my eyes out. Hyperventilating too. Too bad, I don't have a picture because I really wanted to send it in to Parenting Magazine for their July issue on coping skills.

Things that are really difficult when you don't have a stroller - getting your ID out to go back through security so you can get something to eat, going into a restroom, talking on a cellphone, heck, doing just about anything when you have no free hands is nearly impossible. By the way, to the nice young lady who prevented Abby from falling down the escalator in baggage claim while I got my ID out of my wallet, I really appreciate your quick kick save move saving my daughter from a bad fall. While I was grateful, this just reinforced what was already a full blown meltdown for me.

Aside from the fact that I am not Chinese and don't speak Cantonese, this video actually captures the scene in the Memphis airport very well.

After I finally gathered myself, I searched high and low for a stroller in the stores at the airport and finally found a smartcarte that you use to haul suitcases and plopped Abby into that. It was not ideal because it was so big, had a terrible turn radius, and Abby couldn't sleep in it, but it was better than nothing. Sorry to the people whose feet I ran over in the gate area with that contraption. And, sorry to those in the bathroom who got trapped in their stalls as I tried to navigate in there. I kept telling people that I really wasn't this obnoxious of a person, but my airline FORGOT TO LOAD MY STROLLER!!

We had 7 hours to kill, after trying everything from food to DVD watching to coloring, we still had so much time on our hands. Abby loves to people watch, so I pushed her in the smartcarte for close to 5 hours up and down every corridor, every concourse, over and over and over. I honestly think we strolled for 10 miles by the time it was all said and done. I used to really like Memphis. I have fond memories of college soccer tournaments, good barbeque, and nice people. But, now I associate Memphis with my worst travel nightmare.

Now nearing 10 PM and after 14 hours in airports, we were standing in line to board, and a woman came up to me and she was crying. She said she had seen me in DFW and wanted to know if there was anything she could do to help. She said she had two young children and really understood what I was going through. I started crying again and told her that I didn't need any help, but that she restored my faith in humanity becuase she was the first person all day that asked if I needed help. I was so grateful for her kindness and understanding. As it turns out, I sat by her husband on the plane who was equally as nice, and he made numerous attempts to befriend Abby during the flight.

We landed around midnight, and it was such a sight for sore eyes to see my friend at the baggage claim knowing we had arrived safely and could start having a good time. Tomorrow. One last note on this leg of the trip - the woman who asked if she could help came up to me at the Baltimore baggage claim and told me that everything was going to be OK. Why? Because Jesus loves me. For those reading this blog that truly know me, they will understand why that comment was the perfect cherry on top to this story.

We got up the next morning and Abby and I, Sam, Erza, Lisa and Drew loaded up the car for a short trip over the PA border to a wonderful amusement park called Dutchland.

It is designed for young children under 10, and we had a 5, 3, and almost 2 year old on board. Abby hit another one of her milestones before we even got there much to the chagrin and disgust of Sam and Ezra. She threw up in the car. A lot. Probably all the activity from the long day before and the motion did her in. Lisa pulled over, and we cleaned everything up. Abby instantly felt better. We knew that she wasn't sick, so we looked at this as a minor pitstop for the day. Sam and Ezra spent the next 3-4 days asking "Is Abby going to throw up again?". In their eyes, it will take a while for Abby to live that one down.

The kids all had a blast. The boys did the the more challenging heart stopping rides, but there was a lot for Abby to do. There were a lot of rides that we could ride together, and we had fun riding the train, the log flume, slides, and the 4 or 5 different vehicle oriented rides which Abby just loved! One ride in particular that Sam and Ezra wanted to do - the "frog ride" - seemed right up Abby's alley. She loves speed, frogs, and the requirements stated she was big enough to do it by herself. What I learned on this trip was to always trust my gut. I didn't do it here, and disaster ensued. Abby told me she wanted to get on, but I really thought she was too small. I got caught up in the moment and put her in. Immediately, but after it was too late because the ride started, I realized my mistake. Abby screamed. The ride was too high for her. How was she supposed to know? She wasn't. I was, and I let her down big time. This picture of my worst parenting move to date says a thousand words. Abby is third from the right. Yea, that little precious speck of a person.


Granted, the kid next to her was probably too big for this ride, but any one looking at this picture would realize Abby is too small. The bar to the seat covers her face so you can't see her crying. I don't know if she was crying because I wasn't on the ride with her (because that happened on some really tame rides also) or if the ride was just too scary. Either way, it was a very dumb move on my part.

Here is Abby on a ride that was more her speed.


Abby liked cars a lot before our trip to Maryland. Now, she is obsessed with them! She spent 4 days with little boys who had hundreds of cars, all shapes and sizes, and Abby loved every minute of playing with them. Sam and Ezra are older and they "tolerated" Abby playing with their toys. But, we didn't expect them to be much of playmates at the ages they are right now. They all kind of did their own thing, but with a wonderful basement full of toys and a great big beautiful yard, all the kids had a great time.


Abby On an Expedition in the Yard




Ezra in His Diego Jeep (On Abby's Birthday Wish List For Sure)


Abby Contemplating Fire Rescue as a Career


Abby Channeling Her Inner Danica Patrick

It is always good to spend time with the friends you care about most, and Abby and I were treated to a wonderful time by our friends. Great food, great fun playing and swimming, and great conversation. After a few days, Abby warmed up to everyone and loved exploring another cool house.

Abby in Sam's Elmo Chair

I always leave these trips a little wistful wishing I could spend more time with my friends that I care about most. We just make the most of the time we spend together and then look forward to next time. Abby checked off two more states on this trip to the East Coast - Maryland and Pennsylvania bringing up her total states visited to 4. #5, California, is next up.