Oh Baby! Don't Leave Home Without...

We getting ready for our big family vacation and while I was working on our packing list, I asked some fellow moms what they never leave home without. Here's what they said and these are all things we're bringing:

- Blankie (aka a lovie)

- Pacifier (if they use one)

- Enough food, diapers and wipes for the plane

- A few new toys or books and a few old favorites

- Car seat (if you're holding baby on the flight, you can gate check it)

- Baby carrier to navigate the airport

- Sound machine (we're bringing the travel Sleep Sheep)

- Disposable sticky place mats and bibs

- Bottle brush to wash sippy cups and other items

Let the packing commence!  

The Great Outdoors

As we’re preparing for our second official family vacation with Isabelle, I realized I never wrote about our first family vacation. In September, when Isabelle was 2 ½ months old, we drove 4+ hours to Door County, Wisconsin. This was my fourth time there and Tom’s first. For years I tried to talk Tom into going to one of my favorite places and he finally caved. I think he was afraid that it would be similar to Galena, Illinois (which I also like), but that’s another story.

We spent four days and three nights primarily in Fish Creek which is also home to Peninsula State Park. We went hiking through the park (the handicap accessible trails were great with our stroller), played on the beach, ate custard, went on Isabelle’s first boat ride – a sunset cruise, shopped, took the ferry to Washington Island, bought lots of strawberry/rhubarb jam (my favorite!!!) and Sweetango apples, survived Isabelle’s first bee sting at the apple orchard store, and we got a lot of takeout food for picnics and dinner. Why? Well we did have dinner IN a restaurant the first night and although we didn’t request it, they put us in a private room. They were smart! Isabelle cried or wanted to eat the entire time. So the next few nights we got takeout and ate in the comfort of our hotel suite. Isabelle conked out and we ate, had a glass of wine and played scrabble.

Here are a few of my other favorite things to do:

• Attend the outdoor Folk Music Theater in Peninsula State Park – only open through Labor Day
• Rent bikes or mopeds and take them around Peninsula State Park
• CAMP!
• Attend a fish boil 

Tom and Isabelle at the beach.

Ready for our hike!

Taking a break to eat. There were many private areas to nurse.

Isabelle on the boat with my root beer.

Tom and Isabelle on Washington Island

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Lincoln Park Zoo is a big tourist destination in Chicago and it’s FREE*! It’s always been one of my favorite places in the city. My husband and I used to live very close to the zoo, so we usually wandered through on our weekly walks along the lake. I must admit, I really like watching the baby monkeys.

Over St. Patrick’s Day weekend the weather was absolutely beautiful, so we decided to take Isabelle to the zoo for the first time. We saw the giraffes, lions, hippos, elephants, polar bears, monkeys and lots more. What was Isabelle’s favorite animal to look at? The people! She couldn’t get enough. Right next to the zoo is the Lincoln Park Conservatory, so we took a brief stroll to look at all of the flowers and exotic plants.

We can’t wait to visit the zoo again! Next time we’ll check out the Farm-in-the-Zoo to see cows, sheep, chickens, pigs and ponies up close.

*Although, fair warning, it’s $20 to park in their lot.