San Antonio, Here we Come-o!

Yeehaw, off to Texas to visit my Aunt Trina. I brought Clara and Gram along for another crazy adventure. I got a little stir crazy on the plane, so I was happy to land in the big state of Texas. Trina even met us at the airport!

Trina is my buddy - and I had so much fun teasing her. I kept telling her I loved her a little bit (showing her with my hands). Hahahaha. Trina took me and Clara to an awesome Children's Museum. They had all these balls that I could play with. Clara wanted to check out some other stuff, and Trina was nice enough to let me keep playing. After three hours in the same spot, Grammy made us leave. That was not enough time!

We also strolled up and down the riverwalk when it wasn't too hot. And, I visited the Alamo. Remember the Alamo, or so they say. It looked like a pretty old building to me. The best part was the cool cowboy hat that I got there. And Clara got a new onesie with a horse on it.

One of the best parts of the trip was our dinner at the rotating restaurant. It was spinning as we were eating. But, that's not it. The BEST part was the lobster that I got to eat. I LOVE lobster. Since my mom is allergic, I have to fill up on my shellfish on vacation. You should have seen the awesome crab cake I had for lunch while I was there. It was delicious. I had a great time in Texas, and I can't wait to go back.

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E Again!!!

That's right, I got to visit Mickey again. My mom had to work, but Grammy and Pop Pop took Clara and me down to see my 2nd favorite mouse. As you may or may not know, my favorite mouse is Mousey - the star of 'If You Take a Mouse to the Movies.' Well, anyways, I got to go back to Disney World.

We visited the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot. Although it was pretty darn hot, and I was a sweat ball, I had a great time. I had so much fun shooting all the aliens on the Buzz Lightyear ride. But I didn't want to go on the Haunted Mansion ride. I was just too scared. When I called mom to tell her, she said that next time I'd be big enough to go on it. I think she's right.

My baby sister also had a great time. She decided she doesn't want to eat baby food anymore. She started eating grown up food. We split a delicious cheesecake dessert at Seasons 52. Our favorite part was the Herman's Hermits concert at Epcot. Clara and I were singing and dancing. I even got her to clap her hands! I'm a pretty awesome big brother.

We had so much fun - and I can't wait to go back and see Mickey again.

Back to the Green Mountains

Grammy and Pop Pop spoiled me this weekend - I got to go to Vermont with them (leaving Clara and my mom and dad at home). It was awesome!

We had such a good time. I went out for coffee every morning at Uncommon Grounds, walked downtown, and even visited the farmer's market. And, of course, I ate like a king. I had Lobster risotto at L'Amante, gourmet pizza at American Flatbread, and even fresh maple syrup.

We went to a farm where they were getting the syrup out of the trees. I even got to try it - sugaring is what they call it. Mmmm...maple syrup.

I had so much fun. I even asked Gram why we had to go back home so soon. The good news - I'll be back again in June!

The Best Place On Earth

This September I went on vacation to one of the best places ever - Disney World! I even got to bring along my baby sister. I had a great time going on all of the rides, eating out every night, and taking a million different modes of transportation. I went on boats, trains, monorails, buses, cars, airplanes, and, of course, roller coasters!

While all of the Disney parks were great, I also really enjoyed Universal Studios. One of my favorite things was the Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster. I went on that a lot. I also loved Dr. Seuss land. I made sure I got my mom really wet on the One Fish, Two Fish ride. Let me tell you, a week just wasn't enough. I keep asking to go back - and I'm sure we will!

Vermont, Otra Vez!

If it's summer time, it must be Vermont. I got to go up North once again with my Grammy for some good food and good views. I had a great time running around, walking along the lake, and playing at Echo Aquarium. Plus, my mom was busy being really pregnant at home, so I got to spend some time with someone who still enjoyed acting as wild and crazy as me. Our trip got cut short, though, when I broke the gas fireplace and scared Grammy. My summer stayed exciting - with the arrival two days later of my baby sister, Clara.

Lucky enough, I got to go back to Vermont this fall. Although we came too late to visit Shelburne Museum, we visited Echo, and I got to go trick or treating on Church Street. We also checked out the chocolate factory, Lake Champlain Chocolates, that is! I love Vermont.

Ride 'Em Cowboys

This past month, Grammy and I moseyed on down South - way South to visit my Aunt Trina in Texas. I had never been there before, but, let me tell, you everything is bigger and better in Texas. Sadly, I didn't get to venture as much as I liked. Grammy was allergic to Texas apparently, and she spent the majority of our trip feeling sick. I tried to make her feel better one day by pretending to puke in the toilet alongside her.

With Grammy not feeling well, my Aunt Trina got to spend even more time with me. Lucky lady! We played a lot of chase - she chased me around her house, the grocery, the cowboy store. You name it - she probably chased me there. Since I am such a cute kid, I even got a gift for my crazy antics. I came home with an awesome cowboy hat and cool cowboy boots to match. They are the perfect accessories for when I'm hanging out with my riding cow. Texas - I look forward to coming back and seeing more!

Blown Away by the Windy City

I bet you guys were starting to think that I was slowing down, but NO WAY! Last month I got to spend a few days in one of coolest cities in the country - Chicago! And to get there - we did something different - we took a train.

Although I was a bit under the weather, the 'rents and I managed to make the most of it. First things first, let's talk about the food. I got to eat deep dish pizza from Giordano's, chowed down on some cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, and devoured some delicious pasta bolognese from Rosebud Steakhouse.

But, alas, we also had to trek out into the chilly streets to take in the usual sites. I got to see some awesome animals, although they didn't move much, at the Field Museum. Have you seen that dinosaur? She could use a good tooth brushing. The aquarium also didn't disappoint. While the fish and the sea turtles were pretty cool - they had nothing on the penny squishing machines.

But, my favorite part of the trip came on the last day. We got to go to the zoo! It was the perfect sunny day for riding the carousel. And, to finish out our trip, my mom and I did a little shopping at Bloomingdale's (that was mostly mom, but I figured I'd make her happy). So, all in all, another great trip, and another city checked off my list.

Stay tuned for the details of my next trip - Texas, yeehaw!

Doing Everything a Day Ahead Down Unda'

Not even 2, and I found myself rearing to head half way across the world to Australia. The land down unda', Oz. A place filled with 7/10 of the world's most venomous snakes, sharks, giant crocodiles, jelly fish, & spiders. Not to mention that most of the inhabitants were bred from former criminals. No wonder my mom was so worried about this venture! It must have been the fury koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, & kookaburras that reassured her.

I was going to visit my uncle Gon, who had successfully survived this crazy land for the last year. We touched down on a Saturday, and after freshening up, went for Bill's, for its famous brekkie. There, I easily ate my weight in banana ricotta pancakes. What a start to this trip. I hadn't even been there 3 hours, and I had gained 7 lbs!

My escape was filled with culinary and creature delights. I took trips to the Botanical Gardens, watching giant bats & cockatoos. Also, I went to Wildlife World, the Aquarium, & the Maritime Museum. All along the way, my grandma had to trudge through the rain that always greets Sydney visitors. During the evenings, I dined on quail, lamb, cheese boards & finely aged vino. What a dream.

This isn't to say that I didn't have several near death experiences. Apartment windows, crashing plasma TV's, etc. I left Oz in 1 piece, however, less 3 of my 9 lives. Until next time Gon!

Stirrin' it up in Great Stirrup Cay

We knew the end of our wacky family vacation was coming to a close when we reached Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private Bahaman island. This, no doubt, would be a very predictable stop: crowded beaches, fly-infested barbeque, natives braiding hair, pasty white bodies roasting like smores in the sun as their owners attempt to get that last minute tan to make everyone jealous back home, and nicely rounded stomachs, carefully crafted in the buffet line over the past 6 days.

I had my sights set on one thing, the water. After reaching the beach & battling the crowds to carve out a plot of land, I dropped my stuff and immediately headed to the water with my mom & Gon. I splashed around for as long as I can remember, and by the end, my super absorbent diaper had soaked up half of the ocean. It's funny how we arrive at solutions to our biggest problems sometimes. If the polar ice caps do melt, no worries about the ocean flooding our cities, lets ditch the sand bag method and use my diapers instead.

Although I was nowhere near ready to go, my mom was feeling the sun after awhile, and decided to call it a day. What a day it was, and a great ending to our latest vacation.

Bomba Shackin' in Tortola

The clouds rolled in as we sailed into Tortola. Originally called Santa Ana (so named by Christopher Columbus), and later renamed Ter Tholen by the Dutch, this gem of the BVI is known for its offshore companies & banking, but it's better known for the notorious Bomba Shack (more on that later).

Because of the rain, we decided the best option was to hire a driver and explore the island. We chose the right driver, who never stopped talking. Everyone seemed to enjoy the facts he shared. I wasn't too amused though, and fell asleep. Highlights of the tour were a beach stop where I got my feet wet, a rum distillery--which looked like it had a long history of still explosions. Then, there was the aforementioned Bomba Shack. What a place! One unique thing about Tortola is that mushrooms are legal and grow naturally in the mountains of the island. These psychedelic fungi are the stars of the show at full moon parties, which is the Bomba Shack's specialty. Hung throughout the bar are the under garments of past trippers. Although I support living a clean lifestyle, I wanted to toss my diaper up there, but both of my moms didn't support this idea. Oh well, at least it gives me an excuse to come back, I have unfinished business...

Crawdads, Strippers, and Pralines...Oh My!

Okay, so I didn't actually see any strippers in New Orleans, but I'm fairly sure I passed one of those joints while riding in my stroller. I was pretty excited to check out the Big Easy, and it didn't disappoint. While I was there I ate at a lot of great restaurants, like G.W. Fins, and I visited some pretty cool places. I had a fun time riding the trolley to the Garden District. My mom, my dad, and I took a horse and carriage tour of the French Quarter. I learned that Ohio was originally part of the Louisiana Purchase. That's right, I'm actually from Louisiana!

While hanging around Jackson Square I got to chase the pigeons. Those guys are great! I also learned that the sound I hate the most in the whole wide world is that of a train whistle. Mom said that Choos Choos aren't scary. She's wrong.

On our last day, we visited the aquarium, and I went to my first movie. I thought the dinosaurs were pretty cool in the IMAX, but I had to catch up on some ZZzzzs after several wild nights. New Orleans - I can't wait to come back again!

Sunny Places, Smiling Faces

That's right folks, another state to add to my list ... Florida! While my mom was off traveling on business, my grandma and I decided to hit the road (or air) and head down to Florida. I had a great time visiting with my great grandparents, Marge and Ken. Great-grandma knew the way to my heart - through my stomach; she stuffed me full of delicious food every day. In return, I helped dig a big hole in their yard. I had a great time visiting with them and all of their neighbors. Those old ladies couldn't resist me!

Glaciers, Grizzlies & Golf, Oh My!

Once again finding myself in one place for far too long, I departed the good old Midwest for the far Northwest, with Montana (aka "Big Sky Country") in my sights. I had high expectations, as I had heard a lot of great stories about the wild west, with it's wild animals, including my Aunt Skinny & cousins: Celia, Rowan & Mason!

As soon as the plane touched down, I knew I was in the right place, as I was greeted by a 9 foot tall grizzly bear that was luckily past its prime. Once we got out of the car park, I took a deep breath of fresh Montana air and got a true sense of how Lewis & Clark must have felt.

Corny nostalgia aside, Montana is a state known for its great outdoors, punctuated by the bold Rocky Mountains piercing through the endless grasslands. Okay, now I'm really done with the corniness. However, I did not venture too far beyond my aunt's backyard. Most of my days were spent practicing to become the next Tiger Woods. I practiced my drives and putts, and worked my calf muscles out on the trampoline (video below). Like many great athletes, I try to train at high altitudes to get my lungs in the best shape possible. In the end, I had a great time with my cousins, and I can't wait for the next time I fly their way.

Jump, Jump, Jump, Jump Around!

The Vermonster!

Back Stateside, my feet started getting antsy, and I knew I needed to once again depart the Midwest. Thus, my Grandma & I hopped a plane and headed for good ol' Burlington, Vermont, better known as The Big Burrr in the winter. In this case, it was summer, and the snow was replaced by tons of rain for most of my stay.

I enjoyed a constant stream of visitors, from my Aunt Trina, to my Auntie Bon & Uncle Greg & finally, my Mom & Dad even decided to pop in for a bit. With all these guests, we took regular trips to Church Street, Shelburne & Stowe. On the 4th of July, we were treated to a fireworks show so great, I fell asleep after 15 minutes. This has led many to believe that I am a war time baby, born at the wrong time, immune to the massive booms. We also passed our time by Lake Champlaign's waters, and I chased the seagulls so often that now I've learned to squak like them.

Vermont might not sound as exotic as Italy nor France, but it's truly a place where I've learned the finer things in life. I've enjoyed frequent visits to City Market (aka Hippy Market), the Saturday morning farmer's market, American Flatbread (home of the best pizza this side of Italy) & Uncommon Grounds (roasters of the best steamed milk & vanilla syrup this side of Seattle). Vermont cheese really hits the spot, and I think this whole organic movement really has some legs. Me & cooperatives have become great friends, and I have declared myself a localvore. If it's not grown within 100 miles of my location, it will not touch my lips. If I didn't appear to be a pampered baby yet, the green mountain state has changed that!

San Gimgiano, Italy & Wine Tasting

My first European destination this summer was Italia! While there, I visited the old town of San Gimgiano, where I was strollered around cobble stone streets lined with shops full of vino, meat & cheese products. I made a pit stop at a gelato shop, and enjoyed my first taste of this Italian delicacy. They say it's the substitution of milk for cream that gives this treat a unique consistency. Whatever it is, I like it, but my diaper does not.

After San Gimgiano, I headed to a wine tasting where I enjoyed olive oil soaked bread, fatty meats & rich cheeses. I also snuck a sip or 3 of the local pour. Italians start 'em young. When in Rome...

Pisa & Portofino, Italy

After my adventures in San Gimgiano & the winery, I was a bit tired, but I trekked on to Pisa & Portofino. In Pisa, I would have seen that famous leaning tower, however, the wine hit me hard and I passed out. Makes me think of the song "Red Red Wine," because it went straight to my head. Anyways, I heard the tower is still leaning, but is in stable condition.

Next, I woke up for my trip to Portofino, the famous sea side town frequented by the stars. The place was unbelievably picturesque, just like me. I stopped at a local spot for a cappuccino to get the blood flowing while taking in the views. The waitress was giving me those hungry eyes, and so was the boat worker nearby. A reminder that I was in Europe after all.

High Rollin' In Monte Carlo, Monaco

After visiting some of the pastoral countryside, I needed to get back into the action. I headed with my mom and dad to the picturesque and oh-so-wealthy Monaco principality. With a whole day to tour the second smallest country in the world, I decided to catch some zzzzs. While I slept, the 'rents toured the gardens and checked out the graves of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III. With my batteries recharged, I was ready for my first taste of French grub. We grabbed some delicious tomato and mozzarella sandwiches (so much for the French food). Regardless, I devoured that thing - and with minimal choking!

After lunch, we walked around the palace and took in one last glance at the Mediterranean sea. I had my eyes on some yachts down below, but my parents insisted on going higher up the mountainside to Monte Carlo. I thought Monaco was ritzy, well, it has nothing on Monte Carlo. We walked by the famed casino, saw some awesome rides, and then hit the mall. I had been hoping to get some Louis Vuitton duds, but Mom wanted to go spend her money on Haagen-Das instead. When it's 95 degrees out, you've got to load up on the good stuff. With a giant sandwich and berry ice cream in my belly, I was about ready to call it an afternoon.

Barcelona & Seville, Spain

After France, I moved on to Spain, itching for a bit of salsa & sangria. In Barcelona, I was pushed skillfully through the loco crowds of Las Ramblas. What a place; there were street entertainers all over the place, along with pet shops and pick-pockets. They clearly have it all.

From Las Ramblas, I went and had a nice lunch, and then kicked on to Park Guell, made famous because of its designer, Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi's creative sculptures and park design really intrigued me. The style reminded me of a cross between Dr. Seuss and Lewis Carrol.

My next stop in Spain was Seville, which I reached after a long bus ride from Cadiz. In Seville, I strolled the streets, checked out some nice water fountains, and even got my mom to buy me some fancy cloths the ladies will be sure to love. We sat down and had a feast of tapas, before needing to catch back up to our bus. At that point, I was ready for a siesta.

Rockin' It Out on Gibraltar

I'm sure many of you have heard of Gibraltar or at least have the concept that Gibraltar is a giant rock. Honestly, I had no idea what we were getting into with stopping here, but I was ready to find out. The rock was bustling, hot, and beautiful. We worked our way into town. My stroller had to fight for sidewalk space with tons of other strollers - Gibraltarians love to have babies! My Dad did a great job of navigating through the crowds. He was on a mission - to see the famed monkeys! We got turned around a couple times, but we finally found the place with the mountain cable cars. After being in my stroller for so long on a hot day, I was starting to think that maybe a trek up the mountain to monkey land wasn't a good idea. My mom and my Uncle Brad were nice enough to take me back to the boat, but not before stopping and loading up on some necessary baby wipes.

Back on board, I came up with a great idea for Father's Day. I picked out a back massage and pedicure for my dad. Man oh man, was he going to be excited! Lunch was the next order of the day, and I lucked out - they had delicious mashed potatoes and chocolate chip cookies. Yum! After so much sun and fun, I headed back to the cabin for a nap. And, when I woke up, my dad was just getting back from his crazy time with the monkeys. My Uncle Jon even got some monkey poop on his shoulder - he can never complain about my diapers again.

Pouring Port in Lisbon, Portugal

Being the savvy travelers that we are, my parents and I decided to walk around the Portuguese city of Lisboa on our own. It was the first gray day that we had during our vacation, but I didn't let that get me down. We hopped a shuttle bus and headed right to the city center. I had a great time looking out the windows, and I even cleaned them off with one of my wipes. You know I can't stand it when people are messy.

In Lisbon, we walked up and down the city streets, stopping in any shops that tickled our fancy. My parents were pretty brave letting me go into the porcelain stores. I kept them on their toes, though, by tossing my bottle out of the stroller every five feet. And, you know what, I even got some delicious fruit juice out of the deal. I was starting to get a little stir crazy in my stroller, so we finished up with our shopping and called it a day.

Pilgrimaging to Santiago de Compestella

After visiting Portugal, we actually got to go back to Spain for one last stop - the famed pilgrimage town of Santiago de Compestella. With cockle shells and a gourd full of water, we hopped the bus to this holy city. Although I had only been on this earth for fourteen months, I think I experienced my first sense of 'stepping back in time.' Some of the buildings there dated back to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries - I don't even know what that means, but I was sure to show my appreciation by running around the main square.

While all of the historical architecture was great, I really wanted to get back to the important stuff - the food! First, I snacked on a Palmier while we looked at the restaurant menus. We settled on a nice little restaurant that had a fish tank right by our table. I gorged myself on delicious bread and cheese, tetilla cheese, to be exact. Tetilla cheese is a famed Spanish cheese, shaped like a woman's breast. And, while I no longer drink breast milk, just tasting that stuff brought me back to the good old days! Yo quiero mas queso!

Ooh, LaLa, Paris!

One of the destinations I was looking most forward to was Paris. Over the past year, I've really developed a taste for extra stinky cheeses and a multitude of products derived largely from butter. Let me tell you, the place didn't disappoint!

After a long bus ride, where I learned once again that you can't judge a book by it's cover (this time via tasty cookies bought at a petrol station that had scary faces), we set foot in Paris. Unfortunately, we only had a few hours, so we immediately scrambled around the city, with my stroller, trying to see as much as possible. I felt like I was on the "Supermarket Sweep" game show, minus the cool crew-neck sweat shirts.

We visited the Eiffel Tower, some food markets & Notre Dame. I gorged myself so full of goat cheese & spinach tart, croissants, baguettes & crepes that I needed to take a breather and ride in my uncle's backpack. He explained that it's very common for Europeans to carry their babies in backpacks, but I'm not quite sure I believe him.

There is little doubt I'll return to this lovely place. I met a girl near the Tower, can't remember her name, who was traveling with her school group . We plan to rendezvous in 20 years. Stay posted, I'll blog about it!

Cobh & Kinsale, Ireland

The weather started getting a wee bit colder, and suddenly I found myself in the Emerald Isle. This was one pit stop I had to stay awake for. God forbid I miss my chance to liaise with a leprechaun or just toss back a pint of the dark & creamy stuff.

I explored the the hilly town of Cobh, taking a break to try scones with jam & clotted cream. Personally, I'd rather have some Krispy Kremes, but I'm sure my tastes will mature.

Next, I set off for the lovely seaside town of Kinsale, and the sun even decided to join me. In Kinsale, I enjoyed a bumpy stroller ride along the cobble-stone streets, and I stopped to enjoy a Guinness with the local gents and a watch a bit of the Gaelic Football. Afterward, I got some locally made ice cream, which screamed happy cows! This was a great stop that reminded me a lot of the East Coast US, and I hope to return.

Bruge & Ghent, Belgium

Pommes frites, monastery beer, thick waffles & world-renowned chocolates...What else could a little man need? Not much! Belgium really had everything on the shopping list of life. I visited the medieval towns of Bruge & Ghent, which were both spectacular! The buildings, squares, cathedrals & canals looked like they were right out of a story book.

The highlights for me were the fragrant horses that pranced around Bruge & the aforementioned pommes frites. Rumor has it that these are so tasty because of the local potatoes. However, the important lesson I learned is eat slowly, these things require chewing!

Among other things, I took a river boat cruise (which was a bit lame), ate some waffles with a vanilla shake & raided a chocolate shop. No doubt about it, the major souvenir from this trip can be seen in my thighs.