Guten Morgan!

Hello my friends! We are currently on vacation in Germany. We had a wedding in northern Germany over the weekend, which was so gorgeous and now we've ventured to southern Germany to visit with a friend from the US and her family. I love the Germans. I love the way they enunciate and pronounce words. I love that I can understand 99.9% of what is said because of how they speak. The dialect in southern Germany is hilarious. They say things like "moyen" for Morgan (good morning) and call Karotten - "Möhre". Learning new vocab is always good...maybe it will help me on my upcoming German exam?!

Alexa has been awesome. She is quite the little traveler. She's 6 1/2 months old and has been in six countries (Austria, England, USA, Czech Republic, Germany and Poland)! She loves meeting new people and checking out her new surroundings. She's a bit rough on the vacation sleeping a.k.a she doesn't sleep at all. Girlfriend hung out until midnight the other night! She doesn't even get super cranky, she just isn't interested in missing out on anything.

I hope everyone is having a great week!

Poland in Pictures

As promised, here is a glimpse of our trip to Poland...

We're baaaack!

Our Road Trip to Wroclaw was awesome! Alexa did such a great job on the car ride up (12 1/2 hours...ugh!). I can honestly say that I was amazed. She slept most of the way and when she did wake up we stopped to nurse and change her, played a little bit and got some fresh air and then were back on our way. The ride home was a little more challenging, but we still ended up only having to stop twice to calm her down. She did awesome!

We had a great time in Poland! I am pretty sure I can eat my way through that country...oh wait, I totally did. As soon as we crossed the border we stopped to get kielbasa...nothing like kielbasa for breakfast! We had pierogi like five times during our stay. You can never get enough pierogi. Somehow, Alexa wasn't feeling the pierogi, I don't know where this kid comes from!! Oh well, more for me. We also had stuffed cabbage at Michael's grandma's...oh.my.god.

After spending a few short days in Wroclaw and visiting Michael's family in another town, we headed up to the lake house. It was such a cool little wooden house with a gazebo in the yard. The mosquitoes gave us a warm welcome and we did our best to kill every single one of the little suckers before they ate us alive! The lake was just gorgeous. I'm pretty sure I could have sat staring at the lake for hours on end. We wanted to go paddle boating, but it was just a little too cold. Michael was able to go fishing a couple of times and Anja and I went running every day. Alexa is just like her Papa and loves the outdoors. She loved going for walks by the lake and just sitting and staring out at the water. We'd definitely like to go again maybe next year, but we'd skip the city and just head straight to the lake for a week (bug spray in hand!).

Road Trip to Wroclaw 2013

We're getting ready to go on our first hardcore road trip with Alexa today. After weeks of stressing out about what a terrible idea this was, I finally got a grip and got excited instead. I love road trips! Michael and I always end up having so much fun on the way to our destination (We have fun when we get there too!). The most ridiculous things always end up happening to us while we attempt to take a simple, relaxing vacation.....driving through cornfields, car breaking down on the highway, almost getting hit by a bus...the stories are endless! Well, this trip should be extra fun. Not only are we driving 600km (373mi) from Austria to Poland, but we are doing this with our 5 month old who hates the car and her car seat even more and my sister in law who, I'm pretty sure doesn't cry when she gets buckled in! Welcome to Road Trip to Wroclaw 2013! (And no, I do not speak Polish, so yes, I pronounce the city name Ro-claw.)

As of Thursday we weren't sure if our road trip car was going to be my in-laws 23 year old tank - the VW (pronounced Vee-Dub), or if we would have to rent a car. Both options had positive and negative aspects. The VW - comes free, has a cool box thing on top of the car for added storage, doesn't have air conditioning, is a tank. Rental Car - is the exact opposite of free, no cool box thing for extra storage, might be a larger car, will definitely have air conditioning. We ended up with the trusty VW.

Since Alexa is all of 25 inches long, it is clear that she will need approximately 98% of all the available storage in the car for her stuff: pack n play, pack n play mattress (oh yes, my in-laws bought her a tempurpedic pack n play mattress...um can I squeeze in there too??), stroller, car seat, ginormous bag of clothes, bibs, burp clothes, baby carriers, bath stuff, food stuff, sleeping stuff, awake stuff...it pretty much never ends, plus all of her toys to maybe keep her entertained and happy in the car vs. sad, crying baby.  She has so much stuff that Michael and I have to stuff our clothes into a back pack. (Just kidding!)

Anyway, I am super excited for this trip! We are going to visit the second oldest zoo in Europe and explore what looks like a really neat city in Poland. The food. Have you ever had Polish food? Oh.My.God. It's to die for. I can't wait for the food!! Plus, Alexa gets to meet her great-grandma and great-grandpa, and her great aunt and great uncle. After some family visits, we are heading out to Michael's uncle's lake house. Three glorious days, relaxing at the lake. It's going to be awesome!

So, wish us well. Michael's dad said it will take around 8 hours to get there (6 1/2 hours?!?! Google maps you lying piece of poo!), but it will more realistically take us 10-12 hours with nursing breaks, crying breaks and actual driver breaks.

Let's do this!!


What was the farthest you've ever driven with your infant/child? Where did you go? How did you keep them entertained along the way?

Vacation's End

I hate when vacation comes to an end. I start stressing about it at least three days before it's even over. I get sad and depressed and wonder when my next vacation will be, or what I will do once I get home. The worst is when we don't have anything planned in the next few months. The end of vacation is AWFUL.

I've now been in the US for 2 1/2 weeks. The end of my awesome vacation is approaching far too fast. I started stressing on Monday. All these crazy thoughts start running through my head...."How am I going to fit all of this stuff in my suitcase? I hope the flight home goes smoothly. How many extra bags will I have to pay for? We have way too many things. How much stuff will I have to ship? I bought too much stuff. I can't believe three weeks has flown by so fast." It is a never ending inner-monologue that keeps me from focusing on anything else during the day and keeps me from sleeping at night. The only solution I can ever come up with is this - vacation should never end.

I've had such a great time with family and friends. Introducing Alexa to everyone has been amazing. She is such a lucky little girl. She is so loved by so many people! Thank you to all of my friends and family for making time to see us. Thank you to my dad and stepmom and my mom and stepdad for having us stay with them. I am so glad that Alexa was able to spend some good quality time with all of her grandparents!

Until next time...

Urbano Family Madness!

I have a HUGE family. HUGE. My dad has seven brothers and sisters and those seven brothers and sisters have husbands and wives and children and children who have children. We make up an entire wedding without trying. We are a party everywhere we go. The word silent or quiet is an oxymoron to us. That is what I was brought up being a part of....crazy, loud, loving, fun, kissing, hugging, cheek pinching, story telling, fun loving, picture taking family. And I wouldn't have had it any other way. It is devastating to me that Alexa will not have that constant, crazy madness in her life.

We had a family barbecue for everyone to come and see Alexa (and me!) at my dad's house. It was amazing! ALL of my aunts and uncles were there which made me sooooo happy. My baby was held, rocked, snuggled, kissed, bounced, and played with by so many people that day...and she adored it!

Here are just a few of the pictures we took...

 Alexa and her Great Aunt Donna

 Great Aunt Loretta, Cousin T and Alexa

 Great Aunt Loretta and Great Uncle Tom

 Cousin Lennox and her mommy Ashley with Great Aunt Donna, Great Aunt Loretta and Alexa

 Great Uncle Tom, Grampa, Great Uncle Tom, and the back of Great Uncle Bob's head

(note the hairline...this is where Alexa's hairline comes from!)

 Great Uncle Tom and Great Aunt Cathy with Alexa

 Happy baby!

 Best favorite cousins: Alexa and Lennox

 Great Aunts: Donna, Loretta, and Andrea

Me and Aunt Donna

Visitation Station

It has been absolutely amazing watching my daughter meet all of my friends and their children and see how she interacts with someone other than myself! We have been completely surrounded by family and friends since our arrival. Alexa has never been around so many people, all at the same time, all vying for her attention...and she LOVES it!

Our week in Delaware was so much fun. I was able to spend some real quality time with John and Andrea and Alexa was able to spend some serious playtime with the girls!

Best Friends

We had a great time visiting our cousin Janice who also lives in Delaware. I thought I took a bunch of pictures, but apparently that was with her camera!  Alexa was spoiled from one end of the state to the other! Karen's mom made the most beautiful quilt for her! (Pictures to follow) She was snuggled and loved and then snuggled and loved some more!

We had a wonderful visit with  my friend Siobhan, whom Alexa just adored.

Siobhan and Alexa

The entire week was fantastic and ended with John and Andrea's wedding! Aunt Les came down to be in the wedding as well, and we all had a great time hanging out and spending time together.

Aunt Les, Me, Alexa, and Auntie Andrea

We're HERE!!!

After a very long journey we finally arrived to my mom's late Thursday night. Alexa did an AMAZING job on the plane. She ate, she slept, she played...rinse and repeat, for the entire flight. I'm so proud and so happy that she wasn't the screaming baby on the plane! (Yup, we had one of those...and a screaming toddler.)

Everyone was waiting for us when we got to my mom's - my Pop, his wife, my cousins, my nephew, my aunt and if course my mom, brother and stepdad. It was so great to see everyone and they of course were so excited to see Alexa. Alexa, however, was exhausted and cranky and not in the mood for visitors. I'm sure next time she sees everyone will go much better. It was just very overwhelming after a long day of traveling.

We've got so much going on the next couple of days, but I wanted to put up a quick post. I hope everyone has a nice weekend in Austria and a great long weekend in the US!

Packing for a bean

Ok, so the suitcase is officially packed. I'm pretty sure that all of my stuff would have easily fit in a carry on with room to spare. Alexa, however, could have easily filled a huge suitcase to the brim (and this is packing lightly!).  Between, bibs, burp cloths and extra diapers, I'm surprised there was any room for my stuff at all! We're traveling for three weeks, the Baby Packing List says to pack two outfits for every day you are gone. That would be 30 outfits for her! Luckily, she will be spoiled rotten in the US, so I've packed 8 outfits (including jammies). She'll be fine. It's all the little stuff that ends up taking up all of the room. Socks, sun hats, her blanket (which I can't forget to pack!)...

This is my section of the suitcase...(including shoes and toiletries)

This is Alexa's stuff...(suitcase, plus diaper bag and sling carrier - not shown: stroller)

All by myself...

This has been a relatively trying week. Michael went back to working in Vienna all week long, leaving me alone at home to take care of Alexa. Please don't get me wrong, I LOVE being home with her and wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but I count on the break that comes at 5 o'clock when Michael gets home from work. I depend on that nice, long, hot, relaxing shower to wash the stress of the day away and just for that "Me Time." It doesn't matter if I spend 30 minutes on the computer, or watching TV, or even going for a walk. I just need some down time.

I kind of see myself as Superwoman. I've always been very independent and self-reliant. As long as I had my mental support system (a.k.a. the greatest friends ever), then I was good to go. There wasn't a situation that I couldn't get through. Being home alone with an infant is trying. You don't realize how important it is to take five minutes for yourself or to just get a break.  I didn't realize how much I depended on Michael just to hold Alexa for a few minutes so I could take a shower, make dinner or be able to go to the bathroom without worrying that she's going to start crying. I didn't realize how important it was, it is, for me to have another adult to talk to. Even on the best days when crying is at a minimum, it is still a long and hard day. I have always had respect for my friends that are single parents and now I have even more respect for them. They are both mom and dad 24/7 with no breaks and no one to give them a break. You guys are AMAZING!

The next three weeks I'll be on my own (at night time) with Alexa while we are on vacation. I just hope she keeps sleeping as well as she has been so that I am able to get some sleep too! Wish us luck! This will be a big week of firsts for Alexa:
  
     First time on an airplane,
     First time leaving the country,
     First time in the United States,
     First time seeing all of her uncles and grandparents in the US (my mom is the exception),
     First time going on a road trip (CT to DE)

And I'm pretty sure that this is the short list. There will be so many new and exciting things happening in the next few weeks. Be ready for pictures, lots and lots of pictures!!!

A travel bean

Next Thursday, my little string bean and I will be leaving for the US to visit friends and family for a few weeks. I have been trying to plan out in my head what I'll need to bring for myself and for Alexa for our trip. Now, normally I can fill a large suitcase just with clothes and shoes for myself. This trip, however, I could probably just bring a carry on with my clothes in it because I'm at that awful in-between stage of post pregnancy where nothing fits. I still can't fit into any of my regular jeans, shorts or pants, and most of my shirts are now too tight in the boob area. I know what you're thinking..."just wear maternity clothes!" If only life were that easy! Most of my maternity clothes are now too big. I still have a left over baby bump, but it's not quite big enough to rock most of my maternity pants. One pair is passable and I live in them or my yoga pants. I have been searching and searching for some kind of jeans or capri pants in my new in-between size, but apparently they don't exist here in Austria. APPARENTLY, Austrian chicks pop out kids and immediately go back to stick figure sizes! That is so not me.

Anyway, I've found a packing list on Baby Center that looks pretty decent, so I think I might follow it and see how things go. I also know that I don't need to bring quite as many clothes for Alexa as I normally would need because so many family and friends have bought a bunch of stuff for her. This, hopefully, will make packing a little easier.

Packing Checklist for Traveling with Baby

Pre-birth I was so excited about my trip to the US and not nervous about traveling with an infant at all. Now, I realize that I have booked the worst possible flight imaginable. The layover is nearly impossible and we will be lucky to make our connection. Good thing I've been working out! Maybe I'll be able to sprint from one terminal to the next with a stroller, a baby, her diaper bag and my carry on! (Good luck!) Just thinking about the entire trip makes me a little queasy. I'll be traveling nearly 13 hours alone with a 3 month old. People keep telling me not to worry too much, that not knowing what to expect is the worst part. I just hope my little bean likes the airplane. She's pretty good being calmed down with white noise or sleep machines, so hopefully the hum of the airplane will lull her to sleep and we will have an uneventful trip.

Any suggestions or tips on traveling with infants or what to pack?