9 1/2

Some of you reading this will think: "Who the hell cares?" while others of you will think that I am bragging. But I just needed to share that my feet, since being pregnant, SHRANK! I have, as long as I can remember, been a size 10 1/2 (a whole other conversation, as to why most shoe companies SKIP size 10 1/2 on their way up to 11??) Sometimes I would have to upsize, but usually I could get away with a 10. I have always had narrow feet, just really long. But today, I can proudly say that I am a 9 1/2 narrow.

I needed new shoes for the JDRF Gala, so I stopped by Nordstrom after Stroller Strides. So convenient sometimes, working out in a mall. Anyway, I had Oliver with me, so the gal asked me if I had had my feet measured since I had him. I begrudgingly said no, since I knew it was the thing to do. Likely the old feetsies had spread a touch.

I had heard horror stories of people gaining a size with each kid they had. To the average sized foot, that might not be the worst thing ever, but to someone nearing the top of the women's size chart, that is something to fear. And avoid like the plague. I had ALSO heard that a woman's arch can drop while pregnant. What?! I would take a size 12 over a fallen arch any day. So many things to worry about.

So I got myself a pair of sandals with arch support, and strapped my tennis shoes on tight any time I went for a walk. And tried to avoid gaining too much weight.

And today? As displayed with the official metal foot measurer at Nordstrom, it has paid off with my new, petite feet. And my new, 9 1/2 Corso Como heels! :)

Vegas Vacation Part IV: Vegas

We did in fact travel to Las Vegas for a vacation, and had some good times.

First, our friends Paul and Montana were there, staying at the Luxor, so we were able to spend some quality time with them. We hadn't seen them since their wedding in eastern Oregon last summer. And Montana had never been before, so she was living it up!

Let's see, in summary... We ordered room service. We strolled down the strip in the sunshine. We had a few meals out. We went to the Shark Reef Aquarium in Mandalay Bay. Oliver's first trip to the aquarium!

We also did some gambling. I stuck to the slots, and did quite well. Spending maybe $60 - 80, I came out about $600 ahead! If only Mitchell and Kerry weren't also gambling and losing...

Sunday we reserved a cabana in the middle of Mandalay Bay's lazy river. It was perfect. First, it was the only way to enjoy the pool. It was near 100 degrees outside, and people were seriously getting there when it opened to reserve a space, and none of it was in the shade. I did have to get there early to claim our cabana, but then they held it for us the rest of the day. At this time of year, 9 am and 4 pm seemed to be the most pleasant at the pool (note to self). But one part or another of our group hung out all day in the cabana. Our host brought Oliver a pack 'n play, thank goodness. Not sure what we would have done without it, and he actually slept a majority of the day. Heat and plenty of background noise will do it, I guess. We floated the lazy river and ordered food and drinks. It was quite nice and definitely worth the splurge.

Sunday night, Kerry and I went to dinner. The concierge at Mandalay Bay was pretty unhelpful and quite frankly, rude. They gave us a coupon book for the eateries in their mall as one of their suggestions for dinner... So we hopped in a cab and headed for the Bellagio, in search of a classier dining experience. Their concierge recommended Fix, and we're glad he did! (He was tipped appropriately.) Fix was delicious. Good drinks (including Kerry's $25 margarita), good food (fried mac & cheese, filet mignon and a seafood tower!) Kerry even saw Carlos Santana leaving the bathroom while we were there. I was in the women's, and she was waiting for me. She didn't actually know it was him until his entourage (brother-in-law) confirmed it. We saw him eating at Fix as we headed out. It was him. He was wearing the hat. All-in-all, a decent way to wrap up a mature weekend in Las Vegas.

Vegas Vacation Part III: Hairspray

If you ever visit Las Vegas, I would highly recommend staying in the Wynn hotel. We stayed there when we went to see my bucket list performer, Garth Brooks. It's one of the newer hotels, and can be quite a luxurious experience. One of the perks is the exclusive line of bath products called Desert Bambu. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, shaving lotion, etc...the works. My favorite was the hairspray. Flexible hold, lots of body. Everything you could want. So I stashed our room's two travel sized bottles in my luggage and never looked back. Figured I would look up the brand when I got back and pick up some more.

I used them over about a year on the occasions when I actually did my hair (pregnant, then with a baby, so don't judge how little I used product), and then finally used it up. Mitchell and Jacob have been back to the hotel, but I didn't think about it. Then I finally looked up the brand. Turns out it's exclusive for the guests of the Wynn. Provided complimentary in the rooms, and for sale in the Salon/Spa. Not available online for order. Drat! Andrea was going back in November - perhaps she could pick me up some. She cancelled her trip. Then FINALLY, a year later, I get to Vegas.

On the last day of our trip, Kerry and I hop in a cab before heading to the airport. We take it to the Wynn at the opposite end of the strip. We navigate our way to the spa and find the shelves of product. The sales associate ambles over to us and I ask her if this is all of the products, so I can stock up on a variety - I don't want to miss anything! She says yes, and that the only thing they've stopped making is the hairspray. Excuse me, what? The whole reason I am here and the thing that has been in the back of my mind for a year and a half has since been discontinued? You've got to be kidding me. Alas, she was not kidding me.

Sadly, I purchase a bottle of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Figure it's got to be good. But I leave the salon/spa a bit defeated. I spend the rest of the $40 it takes me to take a cab to the Wynn and back and say goodbye to a future of flexible, yet unmanageably thick hair.

Vegas Vacation Part II: Maladies

The trip was fun, as all vacations are. But we did have our fair share of bumps along the road. We arrived and they had us booked on a smoking floor. So they moved us, but didn't move the crib. We were hours past Oliver's bedtime. The lack of dinner that night and day of stress and travel were getting to me, and a low blood sugar resulted in an excessive room service order, but I was feeling very crappy.  Things were getting rough. Oliver's crib finally arrived, and room service topped us off, since Kerry had already been sent for emergency provisions downstairs. Eventually we all made it into bed.

Only to discover that we were sleeping with the world's worst pillows. They were fluffy and awful and all the same. We will be flying with our own pillows from now on. Dorky, but we'll be sleeping next time!

Come Sunday, everything seemed to be falling apart. Mitchell finally caught our cold, probably due to a lack of sleep on the crappy pillows. I was sent on a hot morning trek to get Sudafed. Kerry had hives all over her body, likely due to hotel soaps or detergent or something. And my ankle began to swell in the heat, only to spread to my foot and make it virtually impossible to walk without searing pain. People were staring as I hobbled my way through the casino. Mitchell didn't even make it out to Mother's Day dinner and Kerry and I cut our evening short as a result. Kind of a mess. Oliver was the most reasonable one among us.

The thing I was most nervous about, the flights and ride to the hotel, ended up being the most flawless part of the trip!

Vegas Vacation Part I: Flying Baby

We took Oliver for his first flight last weekend. Nonstop, 1 hour 45 minutes. Figured it was the easiest that it could get. Of course, the Tuesday before we leave he and I catch a cold. And the worst thing about flying with babies is when their little ears hurt from the change in pressure - and a stuffy nose can make that much worse... So the nurse suggested giving him a dose of Benadryl an hour before the flight. We had to do a test run in advance, since it's supposed to dry some babies out and make them sleepy - or it can have the opposite effect and make them manic. So you could have a crazy baby on a plane and can do nothing about it! Fortunately, it worked for Oliver. We also practically brought along a whole medical kit just in case, including Tylenol, nose sucker, tooth numbing gel, milk and bottle, etc. Basically the answer was that Oliver will survive - he just may scream the whole descent, or breeze right through it. Great. 

We were as prepared as possible. We arranged with the airline to have the three of us (Kerry, Mitchell and me, and Oliver on my lap) in the same row. They checked our carseat for free, wrapping it in a thick plastic bag (tip: you don't have to use the base) and we were able to gate-check the stroller for free. Brought his birth certificate along, but didn't need it. They make it as easy as possible to travel with a baby. Much to the chagrin of most travelers. :) 

Friday, we boarded the first flight, and just let Oliver suck on his pacifier as much as he wanted to. He ipassed out by the time we take off. He actually spit out his pacifier and I had to wrestle it into his locked-jaw to help with the assent. He slept for the first hour or so, and then was a bit restless. But he only cried once or twice when I slowed up on feeding because I was scared of expanding air bubbles. He just sucked his pacifier the whole descent and didn't seem to even notice the change in pressure. Our first flight was a success! 

The flight home on Monday was even better, if that was possible. They let us go through our own line with the strollers and wheelchairs, so we didn't have to wait as long at security. Then, the flight attendant was in LOVE with Oliver. She asked to hold him before we took off and then paraded him around the back half of the plane. She took him with her when she went in the back to make an announcement. He hammed it up. Then he was returned to me and he passed out just before we took off, as expected. He woke up with a half-hour left, and continued to be cute. The whole group of attendants came and held him. Once we landed and were waiting for the front half to deplane, the flight attendant called out his name on the speaker. We got several compliments, including Mitchell overhearing someone say that they've never seen a baby be so quiet on a plane. He didn't cry once. For sure a success! 

This was the biggest challenge of the trip and we essentially breezed through it. Wish I could have known that so I didn't loose sleep worrying about it ahead of time! More traveling in our future!