Week 2: Lyla Grace, International Traveler

To the amazement of many, but quite with ease on our part, we decided to join my family on our annual Whistler vacation this week. My family has been going to my mom’s time share condo in Whistler for the last 13 years, but it’s been probably 10 years since I’ve been able to spend the whole week up there; and Dan had never been before. So, with things at work already taken care of, and nothing else to do but hang out with the baby girl, we decided to make the trip. Lyla slept the whole 6 hours up, except for milk breaks in Bellingham and Squamish!

I am still in recovery mode (6 weeks total), and supposed to be limiting my activity to baby care and 1 short, slow walk a day. We are in a condo with my mom, sister Liz, and niece Daeli, 6 and nephew Caelan, 3 ½. Mom and Liz are a great help with the baby; and with Dan, the 3 of them are sharing the cooking and cleaning responsibilities that Dan would have been doing by himself if we were at home. Brother Andy and his family (Oliver, 7; Grey, 5; Simon, 22 months) are in a condo down the hill. Most days for me involve a couple of naps, a walk somewhere in Whistler, a bit of reading and lots of Olympics watching on the TV we don’t have at home – Michael Phelps, anyone? – as well as nursing and loving baby!

It is so sweet to see all the grandkids together (Ellora, 10 months is the only one not here) – they are so excited to meet Lyla, aka the teeny tiny baby; as well as play house/hospital, build forts, eat ice cream and go swimming. I have great memories of spending time with my cousins growing up, and am so excited to see the bond that forms between Lyla and our nieces and nephews as the years pass.