We're Back

We're back from Miami. We got back around 6pm. All-in-all Gabriella did very well considering totally messing up her routine and schedule for 2 days and sitting in her carseat for like 7 hrs total.

Yesterday(gosh, was it only yesterday we went down and we're already back??) we left a little before 10. Gabriella usually naps around 9:30 am, so I figured she conk out right away. Wrong... she slept for about 20 minutes and was awake.

We first stopped in Palm Bay to visit with George and Gladys, some family friends of Ferdy's from waaaaay back in Puerto Rico when he was in high school. We had a nice visit with them for a couple of hours. We were so surprised when they told us they had lunch all cooked for us. YUMMMMMMM. Puerto Rican red beans and white rice, some beef with potatoes and carrots and some delicious plantains cooked with butter, cinnamon, vanilla and rum!!!!!! I got the ingredients, so I'll have to try it out sometime.

A couple of pics from our visit(Gabriella is holding the stuffed cow they got for her):




We were back on the road around 1:30 pm heading south. Gabriella took another very short catnap and that's it. I was really surprised that she didn't crash as she usually sleeps well in the car. We got to Miami around 4 and checked into the hotel.

We had to be at the yacht by 6:30 pm, so we had a little while to hang in the room and try to entertain Gabriella. We brought a few toys, but of course a hotel room is not very baby-friendly, so we had to really watch her.

We all got changed and headed out to the yacht which was only about 5 minutes away. The weather had been really iffy all day and was VERY, VERY, VERY windy and chilly. Let's just say, even though my dress was long, it was hard not to give people a show. It had stopped raining thank goodness though. They had to make a call at the last minute as to whether or not to have the ceremony on the top open deck as planned or move it inside. They went ahead and did it outside and it turned out perfectly. The sun actually came out as the yacht was leaving and the ceremony was about to start.

I sat in the very back so that I could stand up with Gabriella if needed. There was so much going on around us that she actually sat in my lap for most of it. That, my friends, was an absolute world record. She literally has NEVER sat in my lap for more than a minute before(usually more like a second and I'm not exaggerating).



The beautiful bride

Like I said, it was windy!



Gabriella had a blast looking at herself in the mirror. The seats were soft, wide bench type sofas around the outside of this deck on the yacht and she was just jumping up and down, throwing herself down and having a ball.





Can you believe we didn't get someone to take a picture of the three of us all dolled up???

Mommy and daddy had to do shifts to eat since there was no way she was going to put up with sitting in her stroller. It was about 8:30 by this time and she was tired, but too stimulated to sleep and was getting fussy. She finally caved in and was so exhausted that she fell asleep around 10pm. We laid her down and she was out. There were a couple of babysitters who sat with her and mommy and daddy went to join the party. Unfortunately, about 45 minutes later, I came back in and I think she heard me talk and she jolted awake and was freaked out about where she was and so that was the end of that. The boat docked soon anyway. By the time we got off and went across the street and waited forever to get our car from the valet and got back to the hotel, it was midnight when we got her to sleep. She did cry a bit at first, but she was so exhausted she went to sleep before long. It was really noisy in the hotel though, with people coming and going and doors slamming shut until about 3:30 am. Yes, I know when because I couldn't sleep at all with so much commotion. I guess people are there to party in Miami Beach. Gabriella slept pretty fitfully and ended up waking at 8am instead of sleeping in as I had hoped. After a few minutes of disorientation she was in a good mood though.

Mommy, what's in this bag???


Aha, my sippy cup - but there's nothing in it!!!!


Today, we went to Coconut Grove to walk around and get some lunch.


When I was growing up, my grandmother and aunt, uncle and cousins all lived in Miami, so we made frequent trips down. I have so many memories of going to the beach at Crandon Park there, so we drove over there today. The water was pretty rough from the wind, so we didn't let Gabriella get her feet in the ocean for the first time as I didn't want her soaked.




Gabriella really has a fascination with leaves and today was no exception. And boy oh boy, these leaves are big!!!


More big leaves!!!!! I'm in heaven, can we come back here????



Phew, that was a long post!!!!!!! Are you still awake??