All posts by leslie

Trauger Family Vacation 2016, Part 3

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Other than getting together as a family, the other thing we wanted to do was to treat my parents to family pictures, similar to what we did in Ohio on our last Trauger family vacation. I did my research and found a fantastic and affordable photographer to come out to our rental property to photograph our gang. This was no small task since our group of ten included a five, three, and one year old plus an infant. 


Having two toddlers of her own, Brittany at Eighteenth Hour Photography didn’t even blink when one of the kids didn’t want to smile, and another wanted to roam free away from the group. We received a variety of photos, including the whole group, smaller family portraits, grandkids and grandparents, and sibling shots. Despite the extreme heat, we all look great, and I’m so happy to have the photos of all of us together.

Trauger Summer Vacation 2016, Part 2

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Although we spent the majority of our time at our awesome rental house, we took a special trip to Silver Springs State Park, Florida’s first tourist attraction and one of the largest artesian springs on the planet. It’s located on the edge of the Ocala National Forest, and has been habituated since at least the early 1500s when Hernando de Soto explored Florida (a dugout canoe dating back to that time period can be seen underwater). 
Since people are not allowed to swim in these particular springs (Florida has many other state parks where you can swim in the chilly water), the park offers 30-minute Glass Bottom Boat tours of the springs ($11 adults, $10 seniors and youth, under 5 is free), and it is totally worth it. We could easily see fish and turtles swimming underneath our boat, spotted an alligator sunning himself nearby, and spied one of sources of the springs. There’s not really anything like it, and it is amazing. The short trip was perfect for traveling with tired toddlers, but if you want a longer voyage the park offers extended boat tours during the season.


There are plenty of hiking trails throughout the park. We walked a short boardwalk path through the forest and along the water. It was an lovely, easy trek, and I wish we had more time to check out some of the other ones. The kids really liked seeing animals inside small, air conditioned (yay!) space outside the boat docks. We didn’t make it to Wild Waters, the water park at the Springs, but I remember always having fun when going as a kid with my swim team (FCC forever!) We will have to plan a return trip soon. I love the Florida State Park system, and want to try to visit all the parks in my lifetime.

Trauger Summer Vacation 2016, Part 1

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My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last January, and in honor of their relationship, the whole extended family was supposed to take a Disney cruise (read more about how that didn’t happen thanks to an ill-timed first migraine here.) Since we didn’t all celebrate together as planned, Scott, Amanda, Keith, and I decided we needed to try again and do a mini summer trip. We told our parents we wanted to keep it relatively close geographically since Scott had recently started his new job at Animal Kingdom and Elliot was a newborn. They selected a super sweet home in Ocala, Florida as the place to vacation.


Now I know what you’re thinking (because we thought it, too): Ocala, really?! A small town in the center of the state where there are no breezes in the heat of a Florida July. Although it was brutally hot, we had a relaxing time just being present together. Our house had 5 bedrooms in the main building, a pool table in the living room, and a separate guest house that we didn’t even use. There were a couple of screened in porches, a gigantic Southern-style front porch with rocking chairs, a playground area for the kids, and plenty of room to run around outside. We had so much space, totally worth it with four kids aged five and under.


The kids loved playing games, running in sprinklers, splashing in a little pool, and swinging in Keith’s hammock. We were able to cook meals together and hang out as a family without much distraction from the outside world. The adults re-discovered we all suck at pool, and giggled over celebration victory dances and drinky-drinks. The vacation was both loud and peaceful at the same time, and perfect for honoring the first 40 years together of our parents. I can’t wait to travel with everyone again in the future…maybe getting back to my dad’s roots in the Philadelphia area? Or to San Diego to see Amanda’s project at Sea World? Who knows?

Elliot is 4 Months Old

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My smiley, little Elliot is four months old now, and doing things. The past week he has been focused on rolling from his back to his stomach, waking us up multiple times a night when he realizes he can’t easily return to his back. Even better, he has started to laugh – mostly at us for doing silly things, but also at life in general. His spirit is so joyful he is a pleasure to be around. He had his first cold and trip to the doctor to assure us it was only a cold, and still has the remnants of a cough. He is always drooling…copious amounts of drool the likes of which I have never seen. Please don’t tell me he will be getting teeth; I like to live in blissful ignorance that they are probably forming sooner than later.
Favorites:

  • Henry, Mama, and Daddy (in that order)
  • Chewing on whatever he can grab – fingers, toys, blankets
  • Cuddling with people
  • Reading (eating!) books
  • Sophie the giraffe


Dislikes:

  • His car seat
  • Not being able to roll off his belly (even though he has done it in the past)

Playground of the Week – George C. McGough Nature Park

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This week’s Playground of the Week isn’t a playground at all, but I don’t care because it is sweltering September and it has air conditioning. The George C. McGough Nature Center (11901 146th St N, Largo 33774) is one of our favorite places to visit year round. We love to check out the animals (rescued and otherwise) and learn all about them. There’s a sound board where kids can hear different frog and toad species, and now there’s an interactive touch screen system where kids can learn about the water cycle and wastewater runoff.
 
The past few times we have visited the staff has been renovating the building and exhibits so Henry’s favorite microscope wasn’t there this time, but the rescued bald eagle was hanging out, getting used to being on trained staff’s arms. I’d say that more than made up for it, especially when it kind of freaked out and tried to fly off (it can’t actually fly because of an injured wing, but it still tried.)
 
We fed the turtles, because you have to when visiting the turtle park, and we dug for fossils in the giant sandbox. We stayed away from the playground since it has a rubber ground cover and is in full sun. It will have to cool down for us to play there, especially with baby E. Come on Florida fall and winter, we’re ready for cooler temperatures. 

Henry, the Soccer Star

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We signed Henry up for the fall season of 3-4 year old soccer at the Bardmoor YMCA, because he always seems to be either running or kicking things (often, both)! His division practices and plays a scrimmage game on Saturday mornings, and his first one occurred this past Saturday. Not having any experience with organized sports other than playing when I was a kid, we dressed him in his gear, all piled in the car, and drove to the Y.
 
I’m not sure why I thought it would be like my practices when I was in high school, but what awaited was chaos. Perfectly fine chaos when you’re organizing soccer skills with 25 or so 3-4 year olds at varying levels of competence (seriously, the coaches were excellent angels). Keith, of course, was prepared and able to relax and go with the flow. Not me. My Type A, disliking trying anything new because I can’t do it perfectly attitude was not helpful one bit. I panicked, my anxiety went to eleven, and I tried to compensate by sticking close to Henry to help. I wasn’t actually helping, but instead enabling his three-nager sensibilities (upping his crying and whiny-ness). I realized what I was doing, and managed to snap out of it, but the damage was done (for me, anyway). Time to obsess how I made everything terrible and did it wrong and how he was going to hate soccer. Yada, yada, yada.
 
My brain gets in these negative loops that only cause things to feel more horrible. I have to actively work to fight against my natural inclination to obsess over the bad. They are simply thoughts, not reality. I know that. It’s just really hard when I’m in the moment.
 
Later on in the day, Henry told me he had a lot of fun at soccer. He loved running and kicking the ball (despite face planting two steps into the scrimmage), and was the fastest kid at dribbling the ball across the field (running is his superpower, after all). He said he did not like how far away me and Keith were from him during the practice and game, so he didn’t even notice I was feeling anxious. Kids are outstanding, especially mine.


Next Saturday, I’ll be better prepared. And if I need a break, I can always go inside the gym to Body Combat class.

I Love a Good, Air-Conditioned Beach

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Last summer, the National Building Museum in DC was the place to be with its Beach exhibit recreating the ocean with close to one million plastic balls. A giant ball pit for everyone – sign me up! We tried to visit while on vacation, but the wait was hours long and that doesn’t work when you have an impatient two-year-old. So we looked at the Beach from above, and played in the gift shop, and I didn’t really think about the exhibit again until I heard that Tampa’s Amelie Arena would be having its own Beach event, and it would be free to the public (just had to find available times on Ticketmaster or try for a walk-up spot). 

Happily, the four of us headed to Channelside to frolic at the beach on one of Keith’s Mondays off. Since we had tickets for the first time slot of the day, we didn’t even wait in line (although Henry is much better with lines now, it’s always great when you don’t have to wait!) We ate our free ice cream, Keith put Elliot in the K’tan, and we ran for the water’s edge. Henry had a blast! He couldn’t stop jumping off the pier into the plastic balls; as soon as I lifted him out, he immediately jumped back in. After 30 minutes or so, I traded off with Keith and rested with the baby on pretty comfortable chairs (once I made it out – it was really difficult to climb out of them on my own.) I liked relaxing the best, but it was pretty fun to act like a kid again jumping off into the “water.”

Elliot is Three Months Old!

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We have a three month old, who Henry affectionately refers to as “His baby!” All of us love Elliot so much – it would be impossible not to, since his go to mood is smiley and calm. This kid really cannot stop smiling – he interrupts nursing sessions to smile up at me like I’m the best person ever, he smiles at his brother getting in his face to play with him, and he smiles at everyone who makes goofy faces trying to get him to smile.

He is up for 1.5 to 2 hours at a time during the day, followed by naps 30 minutes to three hours long. Currently, his longest nap is in the afternoon, and I’m always thankful when it occurs during Henry’s afternoon nap (so I get a nap in, too!) He falls asleep for the night between 8:30 and 10, and then gives us an awesome 5-6 hour stretch of sleep, followed by a couple more three hour blocks. I’m getting up to nurse him 2 to 3 times a night; it’s nice to have predictability (I know it’s only a matter of time before it all changes, haha, so I’m embracing the moment!)



Things He Loves:

  • Looking at his reflection in the swing’s mobile – he literally laughs out loud and can’t get over his reflection
  • Intentionally reaching for and grabbing objects like his plastic rings, Oball, and Muslin blankets
  • Tummy time – he easily raises his head 90 degrees and holds it steady (he’s very strong, maybe because he really wants to play with Henry)
  • People’s faces
  • Being held and loved – this is his favorite; he loves cuddling



Things He is Not Wild About:

  • Henry screaming in his face
  • Baths (sometimes)
  • His car seat


Other motor milestones include him rolling from front to back (only twice, by accident), rolling from his back to his side (his preferred sleep position), talking by saying “ah-goo”, and bringing both hands together before cramming them in his mouth. He is a healthy and fun little guy!

Elliot at Two Months Old

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Elliot is so big (compared to how little he was at birth)! He wears 3-month clothes, when he’s not hanging out in just his diaper (it’s summer!) He’s a happy baby, and while he smiles at everyone, he smiles the most at me, Keith, and Henry. We joke that he judges us all the time, because he also has a serious, judgmental expression. 


He spends most of his naps in his swing, but sleeps at night in his crib in our bedroom. He’s a loud sleeper (grunts, kicks, hand sucking) so he wakes me up more often than he needs to eat (which is usually 2-3 times a night). He is giving us a 5-6 hour stretch most nights, of which I am thankful, especially since his big brother didn’t do that until much later. He is awake for a little over an hour between naps, and after a nice, long nap in the morning (2-3 hours), he naps for 45 minutes or so all afternoon into the evening (with sometimes a single longer afternoon nap at some point).


He rocks at tummy time, holding his head up for up to 15 minutes, and has managed to flip from stomach to back once so far. We are discouraging any and all movement, but I understand if he wants to move to protect himself from his brother’s all-encompassing love. He’s starting to notice toys and fans, but still likes looking at faces the best. 


He goes for his two month checkup with Dr. Notter on Friday, where he’ll get the usual round of shots. I’m not looking forward to it, but it’s necessary to protect against preventable childhood diseases. I also made it a benchmark for Elliot going into the Kids Zone at the YMCA, because crazy germs have popped up there (someone brought their kid with whooping cough last year and didn’t even tell the gym after they found out – they found out from the state). Henry is stoked for all four of us to go the gym together, and he’s (and I am) ready to be back in the gym weekday mornings. It’s time to work on my fitness for real; I have to be able to keep up with my boys!

Playground of the Week – Highlander Park

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It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these postings, but I’m hopping back on my playground of the week train starting NOW. This week’s playground is Highlander Park, located at 1920 Pinehurst Rd, Dunedin 34698. It’s a drive (30 minutes or so) from where we live in Seminole, but is totally worth it (especially in the summer).



My favorite thing about this park is the Kiwanis Sprayground, which is totally free and fenced in, plus it has covered benches for some lucky, early-rising parents to claim as theirs. Great for toddlers, the variety of fountains ranging from a sprinkle to full on downpour (and a small slide) make it a cool way to spend a morning.

Adjacent to the splash pad is a small, shaded playground that Henry likes even better than the water. It doesn’t have anything special or awesome, but is a nice, cool space for kids to play. The swings are in the sun, so they are best enjoyed when it’s not a million degrees. Pack a lunch, because there are lots of picnic tables around to sit and eat in the shade. There’s also a pool for bigger kids and families, but that costs money (of course). I love this park, and wish it were closer to where we live.