Toddler Tuesday: Music Edition

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We take music pretty seriously around this house. Neil and I both credit our friendship and eventual relationship on our love for alternative music. We started going to shows together, and everything else came from there. We still go to shows, collects records, listen to music podcasts, and a lot of our friends are in the same music scene as we are. R even had a "rock"-a-bye baby shower theme. His bedroom has a guitar hanging, he has band posters above his crib, and he has quite the collection of band onesies. Music helped shaped my political views. It helped mold how I think about humanity and the world. It has furthered my determination for animal rights. It is one of the things that I told nearest and dearest in my life. We are hoping that he grows to love music as much as we do. 

Selfie before Descendents came on! Also, shout out to our Lead Singer Syndrome All Access Club friends. If you like alternative music, check out this podcast. You can join and become one of us! You may recognize the patches from some of R's jackets. 

We have all seen the stats. The craze for a while was for pregnant women to play classical music around their belly. Then everyone said that babies should be listening to classical music as much as possible. Whatever the craze is, we know that music is connected to the brain. 

• How music affects developing brains & why it's important to teach

• Music for energetic kids when you are stuck indoors- a list of links to songs with some movement for kids. 

• More songs for counting, role play, and story telling

Here are a few of R's favorite songs. La Bamba because Bambas are his favorite snack. Barbara Ann because "ba ba ba" was some of his first sounds, Blitzkrieg Bob because who doesn't love to run around to that song, Forever Young because we have the book and I hope he listens to the lyrics, My Boy Lollipop because I used to sing it to him, and 1968 because it's perfect car mosh music. What are your kids jamming to? 

Root beer floats at Doumars

This weekend Bubbie, R, and I went on a grandma, daughter, grandson date. First stop... the perfect root beer float. My grandfather LOVED root beer floats. (As a side note, I'm not a fan of beer, but if you haven't had a "Not Your Father's Root Beer" Beer, you're missing out. Chelsea and I have made alcoholic floats from it more than once.) We saved the ice cream cones for a warmer time, but we will post on that when it happens! Neil and I hadn't been to Doumars together until recently, but I used to go a lot when I was in middle school. It's open late, so it's great for sharing an ice cream after a date. My mom hadn't been in years, and it was R's first time.

I don't drink a lot of soda, but I love a good root beer float. Heads up, there isn't a lot for vegetarians to eat on their menu, but my mom got the cheeseburger and loved it. She said it was the perfect size. The prices literally can't be beat. The float was $3.80 and the burger $2.80. Their deserts are all made from scratch and are hand made. Heads up, they are closed on Sundays.

Doumars has been open at this location since 1934. It's an old timey diner. The counter wraps around the place, the people are friendly, and the stuff is handmade. If you've never been, you should take the trip. They even have outdoor curb service if you don't want to leave your car. I definitely wouldn't advise letting your toddler drink a float in the car though.

Our review: 

R and I "split" one. By that, I mean that, after the first taste, he climbed across the table and ate the whole thing. After our treats, the three of us headed to ODU for Big Blue's birthday. We only stayed until halftime because it was getting late, but the game was fun. They had free cake and ice cream for the kids and several of Blue's friends were in attendance. 

We love our dates with Bubbie. Another trip to Doumars to come once it is warmer outside! 

Benchtop Brewing Company

You may think that beers and babies don't go together. I certainly felt weird taking mine into a brewery. But breweries are becoming more family oriented. This weekend we visited Benchtop Brewing Company in the Chelsea section of Norfolk.

When we first got there, we pulled around the corner and saw several families sitting outside. We also saw a food truck. Both good signs. The food trucks rotate regularly, but we tried Hangry. I had never heard of them before, but we got the tacos. Two vegetarian selections, a veggie chorizo and a sweet potato black bean and kale. While I say all hail kale, Neil isn't sold. The sweet potato was for sure my favorite, but Neil liked the chorizo best. 

Inside they have a wide selection of beers. We saw people with strollers, school aged kids, and toddlers like R. You can look through the window and see the brewing process. Towards the back is a lego table, large wooden blocks, connect four, and lots of card and board games. There is also a bookshelf loaded with different kinds of books in the front. The employees are friendly, and the atmosphere was laid back. It was noisy, so an outcry from an excited or fussy kid wouldn't draw all of the attention. R really liked the lego table, and he enjoyed running through the block towers and yelling "WOW" while he knocked them down. We got to talking to another family who shared their magnetic toys when R went for the car. I'm thinking I need to get him a shirt with a disclaimer: Warning, steals anything resembling a truck.

 

I'm not a huge beer fan. I much prefer cider. I'll try though. Neil likes trying different beers, and we both love supporting local businesses. A special thanks to my friend Patricia for telling us about this place. It's awesome when you find a spot where there is something for everyone.

Far Away Friday v1

Greetings from the Sunshine State, best known for Disneyworld, the Keys, weird news, and hurricanes. If you’ve only ventured to our comical state on a mouse-ear fueled vacation, chances are you’re not familiar with the region affectionately known as the panhandle. Here in Northwest Florida, we have our own little slice of paradise, filled with beautiful beaches and a surprising amount of history, among other things.

My name is Gabby, and while I’m originally from Norfolk, VA (and very proud of it!), I have lived in the Pensacola, FL area for around 15 years. I am a phlebotomist, student, but most importantly, a mother! My son is 3.5 years old, so we try to find activities on the weekends to keep all of us busy, and on a budget. If you find yourself planning a vacation to Pensacola, which I hope you will, here’s the run down on must-do’s!!

First things first, you need somewhere to lay your head after an eventful day of getting to know our city! Depending on your desires, there are many places you can opt to stay. We have your basic hotels, which are located everywhere you go, and are reasonably affordable. If paradise is your forte, Pensacola Beach boasts a wide variety of hotels, and condos with varying price ranges. A lot of residents on the beach rent their homes during tourist seasons, and sometimes during off season. There are tons of great hotels on the beach, such as our famed Margaritaville resort, and Portofino, however those tend to run a bit higher in price range. Pensacola Beach also has a fair share of your basic beach hotels, which are friendlier on your checkbook. If the city life is your cup of tea, you can choose any of our basic hotels located off the interstate exits. These are way better for a family vacation, and you have perfect access to the interstate to take you wherever your heart desires.

So, you’ve found your temporary abode and are ready to go on an adventure! Pensacola is known for its rich history, military background, and local arts. We have an extensive list of festivals, complete with local artists, musicians, and southern treats. The Gulf Coast Arts Festival is my personal favorite, and it typically takes place in the fall, spans 3-4 days and hosts hundreds of vendors, and activities. Our festivals are the perfect gateway into our culture, and it is always family friendly.

If festivals aren’t your preference, you can take a trip to the Naval Aviation Museum, home to the famed Blue Angels, and a very inexpensive outlet for your little one’s excess energy. Admission into the museum is free of charge, although they do have a donations box by the entrance, and is always appreciated. They have endless corridors of real planes, and historic aviation exhibits. You can hop in the cockpit of numerous planes, press every button, and flip every switch from sun up to sun down. The exhibits range from aerospace, to world wars, and even an IMAX theatre. This museum truly is a blast for everyone, and educational, as well! During your visit, you can have a bite to eat at their little café, but be sure to pop into the gift shop on your way out and grab some astronaut ice cream for dessert!

Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, FL

We also have amazing site seeing, such as the Pensacola Lighthouse, which is near the Naval Aviation Museum. They conduct tours through the keeper’s quarters, and you can climb the tower to the top! I don’t recommend allowing small children to climb the tower, as the steps are very narrow. If you’re able, it’s worth the 177 steps climb to get the best view of the Gulf Coast, but don’t forget to grab yourself a shirt and certificate to prove how awesome you are!

Pensacola Lighthouse, Pensacola, FL

Our historic city has so much more to offer than I am capable of listing, so you’ll just have to see it for yourself! We even have an amazing downtown that is perfect for both families, and a much-needed parental vacation. So, pack yourself a bag and load up, but leave room for souvenirs!

Plaza de Luna (R)

For a full list of things to do in Pensacola and the surrounding areas go to www.visitpensacola.com

Will it always be this way?

After trying to get a fussy boy to nap on his own, I decided to just let R sleep on me. I know it's not what the sleeping experts would say to do, but with the month I've had, I needed some snuggles. As I sat there with him snoozing away, quietly snoring, I was hit with a wave of thought. How could my dad really not be with us anymore? When I picture him in my mind, I'm unable to recognize the man that I saw the last month he was alive. I expect him to walk around the corner, in khaki pants, local sports polo shirt, boat shoes, and a windbreaker in his hand. (For me, because I never take a jacket anywhere so I always stole his.) I see him walking in Richmond to a VCU vs. ODU game, haggling with people selling tickets. I see him jumping in the pool, his dog Shanna barking because she didn't like him to jump in. I see him working in the backyard, all of the neighborhood dogs under his feet. I see so vividly him sitting at the bottom of Cup Run and showshoe having a cup of vegetarian chili. I can picture the clothes he would be wearing, the smile on his face after a hard day of skiing, and the moon shape creases under his eyes from the joy of being with friends and family. Will I always have to remind myself that he is gone? Will it always be this way?

At the same time, I have to stop and caution myself... my kid is growing up so quickly that I know things won't always stay the same. Will I always feel like time is moving so quickly? Will I ever feel like the time I have is enough?  I feel like I'm missing so much precious time with my son. I'm good at my job, and I love it. But will I ever learn to balance the tugging that I feel both to be a mom and a teacher? Am I wasting the time where big R will run up and kiss me, hold my hand, or snuggle into my neck and fall asleep? Soon he will be too big and too cool for those things.

It's strange, the way time can stand still and rush by simultaneously. The ebb and flow of feelings. Grief doesn't happen all at once, but rather in deep heart stopping moments. Neil's phone links to my bluetooth automatically when we get in the car. His dad was calling, but my radio just reported "call from dad." It's something that I'll never hear again from my phone. I see Neil wearing one of dad's old jackets, and it hits again. There is a strange excitement, but also grief over R growing so quickly. In a way, I'm grieving the loss of the baby stage with his having moved into the toddler age. Again I wonder, will it ever change? Will I feel this way about every stage, missing the last one?

Life takes the strangest twists and turns. One thing that I hope stays the same is the supportive village that surrounds us. In the past few weeks, I've gotten phone calls, texts, letters, emails, had visits and food delivered. We had a meal train that filled up so quickly that we had to limit the nights. (That's not a complaint!) I've felt the love and support from my family and friends, and it only reinforces the fact that no matter what happens, people are there for us. I hope all of my friends know how thankful we are and how much we appreciate them. I guess this is life's way of focusing on the good rather than the bad. At least for now, things seem to be staying this way.