NCL Breakaway Cruise - NYC to Bahamas (3.15 years and 19 months)

We went on our annual Bahamas cruise last week.  This is the third year in a row that we have done the same cruise.  Each year we have been on a different ship though.  We like leaving out of New York because we can drive.  We don't have to worry about how much we pack.  It is only a 7 hour drive too.  We left Sunday morning at 2:30am.  Austin knew we were going to the "Big Boat" but I am sure Sydney thought we were crazy for waking her up and driving.

The drive was fine.  We stopped for breakfast and then for gas.  Austin really wanted a map so Brian stopped at CVS and Auto Zone looking for a map for him but they did not sell them.  Austin was really sad.  Then I thought I forgot my makeup so we took a side trip to Walmart.  I actually had my make-up as I later found out.  Sometimes I think I am going crazy.  First I forget my purse in the shuttle in Dallas and then I can't remember that I packed my make up 6 hours prior.

Anyways we finally made it to the ship.  We got on fairly quickly after Brian dropped off our luggage.  The luggage elevator was really slow.  Once we got on board we went straight to shore excursions because we needed to buy transportation to Sea World and a clam shell on the private island.  We found out we couldn't go to Sea World because of some engine problem!  The ship would not arrive to Port Caranval until 3pm.  Brian and I were not happy at all.  We had just bought tickets to Sea World literally the night before that are non-refundable.  It was really annoying.  I was really looking forward to our day at Sea World too.

Once we got in our room and had lunch, Brian set up the camera to get our family picture on our balcony.  We really liked last year's picture so I was hoping for another great picture.  And we did get another great picture.  I also wanted a picture with the Statue of Liberty in the background.  Brian managed to get that picture too while being on hold with Sea World trying to resolve our ticket problem.  We had to pay the difference to convert our promotional spring tickets into a general one that we could use within the next year.

The first day at sea was a bit stressful.  We were still trying to figure out what worked best for the kids and the weather was still crappy.  Our room steward did not tell us we had two extra beds (bunk beds) so we thought we only had 1 twin mattress that we were forcing Austin and Sydney to sleep on.  It did not go well.  Finally we found out we had another mattress from the bunk beds so we could put that by the bathroom door. Sydney slept there and Austin slept in the pull out bed. That worked so much better.  The kids weren't bumping into each other any more.

Meal times were always challenging too.  We got better as the week went on though.  We ate every breakfast and lunch at the buffet.  Brian and Austin would usually get the food and Sydney and I would wait at the table.  Then I would get my food last.  Sydney likes to eat so she would usually eat okay if she got what she wanted.  Austin is slower to start eating so sometimes that is a problem because Sydney would be done and ready to leave and Austin would just have started.

We had dinner every night in the formal dinning room.  We learned it is better to go around 6:30 because they would play music so if they kids were loud it wasn't as big of a deal.  I brought coloring books, crayons, and stickers to keep them busy while we waited for our food.  Most of the time the staff were great and the food came out pretty quick.  We learned we can't have appetizers or desserts there though.  Only the main course.  The kids don't have time or patience for that.

There were two formal nights that we got dressed up for.  We actually only got dressed up for pictures.  We went around the ship and got our pictures taken.  Then after pictures we would go change for dinner.  I did not want the kids ruining their nice clothes at dinner.  Sydney usually refused to wear a bib so her clothes got really messy.  Austin enjoyed taking pictures too.  He would help daddy take pictures of Sydney.  He also liked carrying around our small video camera and pretending to take pictures.

In Port Canaveral we did not even leave the ship.  It was okay though because the weather was nicer and they went to the ship pool. They had a little kids' pool with a slide.  The first day at the pool they were not too sure of it yet.  Austin went in the big adult pool with daddy and he really liked that too.

In the private island we took a tender and went to our clam shell.  We picked the same section of beach we were at the prior year.  We think it's the best beach on the island after looking at all of them this year.  We set up the sand toys for the kids.  They loved playing in the sand.  Austin liked going to get water and bringing it back.  We played in the ocean for a while throughout the day too.  Everyone loved the water.  The water was cool at first but you got use to it quickly.  We had lunch on the island too.  We went early before the crowd and it worked out great.  We had a wonderful time that day.  It was my favorite part of our trip.

Sydney took a little nap while we were at the beach.  She did that last year too.  It was cute.  Austin fell asleep on the boat ride back to the ship.  That evening they had face painting so we let the kids get their faces painted.  Sydney got flowers and Austin was a pirate.  Then they had fireworks off of our cruise ship.  It was awesome to see fireworks on a cruise ship.  We had ice cream that night and you could tell they were so tired. It was a great day!

In Nassau we got off the ship and took our family picture there.  Then we just walked around the straw market.  We got T-shirts for the kids.  Then got back on the ship and took them swimming again.  The pool wasn't crowded so they had more fun.  They went down the water slide more times than we could count.  They had fun in the pool.

The ship was a nice ship.  It had a lot of things to do especially for older kids.  They had a rope course.  There was even a small one for little kids.  Austin could go on it but Sydney was too little.  Austin was hesitant at first but then he really liked it.  They also enjoyed playing putt-putt golf.  Austin's favorite thing to do on the ship was shuffle board.  They also enjoyed playing chess.  They would play chess after dinner. They would move all the pieces around.  Then when it was time to be done they would say good night to all the pieces and give them hugs.  It was so cute!

We did express walk off the ship which means we carry our own luggage off.  We have done it every year.  This year was by far the fastest.  We were in our car by 7:30 am.  It was awesome.  The longest wait was for the elevator.  We were doing great until Sydney puked in the car about  30 minutes into our drive home.  She puked everywhere.  Luckily I had blankets out and I was able to catch some of it.  We are not sure what was wrong because she was fine afterwards but it was gross with the car seat and car.  When we got home everything got a really good bath.

We had a great time together as a family.  Even though it is a lot of work to travel with young kids the memories are priceless and I am very grateful we can do this.  Brian took videos throughout the trip and edited them into a highlight video we uploaded to YouTube.  Here is the link:

Austin is growing up and Sydney is 18 months

Two weeks ago, it was Austin's last swim class with daddy.  Austin and Daddy have been taking swim class almost non stop since he was 6 months old.  We all went to the rec center around noon for swim class.  We even went when Sydney was a few weeks old.  Austin has always loved the water. We wanted to encourage swimming at a young age.  It was sad for us to know this was his last swim class with us. He's now old enough to go in the classes without parent involvement.  However we will continue to go swimming on Sunday's as a family.

Brian took Austin to his first swim class with his new teacher on Saturday. He did not participate much until the teacher got out the rings.  Austin wanted to make sure his daddy was always right next to him.  Austin has been extremely shy recently.  We are not sure what to make of it yet.

Austin has gone to the Little Gym with Kaitlyn a few times.  Since the weather is still cold, I thought we should sign Austin up for a month. I thought that Austin would love it.  Because he is 3 years old the class is for kids only.  The parents sit outside the gym and watch.  Austin does not like that at all.  He has been to 4 classes and he has never really participated.  Brian or I have had to be in the gym against a wall by the door just sitting with Austin. Many times we have had Sydney with us.  She wants to play but is not allowed due to her age.  It has been a nightmare.  He would sometimes play around us but never with the class.  Again we don't know what to make of it. Is it a stage he is going though? Does he simply not like it there?  We don't know.  During the first week, I was there alone and had to slip into the bathroom to change Sydney.  He got upset when he realized I was gone.  One theory of ours is that this got him worried that we'd just leave him there and that's why he doesn't leave our side.

Now that Austin is 3 he is doing more and more things.  He can now dress himself.  Most of the time we still do it for him but he can put on his own pants, shirts, socks, and shoes.  He is starting to like picking out his own clothes too.  Austin is growing up fast.  He is more independent with using the potty too.  At home he will go upstairs and use the potty by himself.  He likes doing it alone now.  He has even went poopy in the potty once this weekend.  We were super excited about that.  Hopefully that will continue.

Sydney is now 18 months old.  She weighs 22 pounds.  At her 18 month appointment she was in the 55 percentile for height and 45 percentile for weight.  Her growth curve looks great.  She is meeting all the expected milestones for 18 months.  She has really started talking this month too.  She likes to say ice, apple, ladder, straw, tissue, boots, shoes, yogurt, cheese stick, milk, Austin, turtle, frog, and Elmo.  Today she even said, "Mama where are you?"  Sydney likes to call us Ma-ma and Da-da.  Austin is now calling us that too.



Right before Sydney turned 18 months I stopped giving her mommy milk.  Sydney loved mommy milk.  The date I stopped wasn't planned.  We were busy that night so I did not give it to her.  She went to sleep fine.  So I thought this was my opportunity.  The next night I did the same thing.  It was like she did not notice unless I had a tank top on or it was mentioned.  I have wanted to stop for a while now but Sydney did not so I kept going.

It is amazing how I had two totally different experiences with nursing.  With Austin I strictly pumped for 6 months and I could not wait to stop pumping.  It was so much work.  Sydney it was so natural.  It was hard for about a month but then it was so easy.  I loved not having bottles to wash or warm up.  Feeding on demand was great.  I wish I would of tried harder with Austin.  I am happy with how it worked out with Sydney.  I would of never imaged that I did it until almost 18 months.

Sydney can run now.  She is not as fast as Austin but she certainly tries.  She climbs stairs standing up alone now.  She is also starting to jump up and down.  She loves playing ring around the rosy with Austin and Kaitlyn.  One day I think they did that for 20 minutes straight.  Sydney loves music and books.  Her favorite books are Brown Bear, Leap Frog Colors, books with music or touch and baby feel books.  She also likes the baby can read books.  For a while she would make us read all 5 of them every night.  Sydney is very happy if someone is reading to her.

Sydney is sick again.  We are afraid she has another ear infection.  If so, that is going to be 3 in 4 months.  We really don't want her to get ear tubes until the fall so they will last her all next winter.  Spring is almost here and hopefully we can all be healthy for a while.