Tag: moving

Life in Photos

Feeling small and far away (August Photo Challenge: Day 3)

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

It was too much, yesterday, this sense of being so far away. I went out with Aveline, out to air-conditioned shops and pushed her around in her stroller while I looked at pretty things. And everywhere I walked, I saw friends shopping and laughing together. And I walked around, alone.

I felt small and very far away from home.

Later that night, I cried. I try not to, I really do. But sometimes, when everyone you know is either 46 hours to the west or 25 hours to the north, you just can’t help feeling a little sad.

Friendship - August Photo Challenge - the August Break - Day 3 - empty wooden chair with white cushion in corner near window with white curtains

Image: Day Three (Friendship) of the August Photo Challenge.

Life in Photos, Little Style

Aveline’s First Swim (30 Day June Photo Challenge – Days 19 & 20 – Summertime & Water)

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

It’s easy to complain about the weather. Yes, even in Florida, I am ashamed to say that I complain.

It’s too hot.

It’s too humid.

Granted, the humidity is pretty suffocating (83% humidity at 9 am; forecasted high of 98° with heat index of 105°), but when you think about it?  It’s actually kind of extremely ridiculous to complain. I mean, we’re living in a destination city. People pay money to come here. They pay money to experience what I take for granted.

So what would it look like if I stopped comparing Florida to California and started treating Florida as if I was on vacation here? Well, it would probably look a little bit like this:

Baby Aveline sitting on a chaise lounge near the pool

Baby Aveline in pink calico dress and white eyelet lace sunhat

No diving sign next to pool

Florida palm trees, clouds and rooftops

Baby Aveline's first swim in the pool

Beautiful, isn’t it?

This weekend was Aveline’s first time swimming.It was so beautiful to watch as the uncertain look on her face faded away and was replaced with a contented smile.

As she happily splashed, I thought, Lord, let me jump in to Florida. Wash away my uncertainty and let me trust your arms to hold me up so I will not sink. 

Life in Photos

what aveline’s room does not look like…yet

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

aveline’s room looks absolutely nothing like this at present. the stars are all in a taped-shut box somewhere in the living room. the art piece is wrapped in cardboard and is leaning up against the dining room table. the crib is actually in aveline’s room, but is sans mattress. (hello, moving company? just wondering where exactly you ended up delivering that mattress? thanks.) the lovely white dresser is a brand-new purchase, but like most IKEA items, it came in a package the size of a cereal box. and since the cordless drill may or may not be wherever the mattress ended up, assembling the dresser is going to be quite interesting.

ikea malm 3-drawer dresser in white - ikea somant crib in lime green - tofu woodland family print from 26pm.com - white paper stars

meanwhile, in aveline’s room, there are stacks of flattened boxes. there are unflattened video game console boxes. there’s a shelf of bulk food. there are half-opened industrial size ziplocs holding every size of baby clothes except for the size she’s in right now (the proper size was finally uncovered. half now reside in a pretty green laundry basket. the other half — the clean half — are living in an open box). but hey, the changing table is alive and well, fully stocked with [clean] diapers and wipes. i mean, ya gotta have your priorities.

the house is slowly coming together. it looks more beautiful with every unpacked box. ordinarily the snail’s pace of the unpacking would be driving me wild, but there’s something about looking into the eyes of a smiling cooing baby — a baby we prayed for — that really puts things in perspective. it’s okay if the boxes are being unpacked slowly. it’s much more important to treasure every moment of this. and so here i am, right now in this moment, holding an arm-waving, hiccuping, wide-eyed, refusing-to-nap baby. nothing’s getting checked off my to-do list. but that’s so much more than ok.

This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness. -Elisabeth Elliot
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Travel/Moving

hello, florida! tips on traveling with an infant / flying with a baby

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

well, here we are in orlando, florida. we made it! we made it to the land of frizzy hair and soggy air.

many of you know how nervous i was to fly with a wee one, but it turned out soooo much better than i imagined. (except, we were selected for one of those fabulous TSA patdowns. it was definitely awkward. aveline even got a patdown. i mean seriously?!) but after that ordeal was over, the rest of the trip was fabulous. she was such a perfect baby on the flights (thank you, Lord!) and slept most of the time. the baby bjorn was our best friend for those long walks from one gate to the next. really, the only tough moment was her screaming fit as we were boarding in houston — but it was a short-lived outburst. i am so thankful she didn’t have any problems with the takeoff or landing! she actually snoozed her way through both landings. it was a great experience, and i am so grateful to my jetsetting mama friends who shared the following tips with me:

Tips on Traveling with an Infant

  • nurse the baby during the take off and landing, even if it’s not “time” — this helps the baby handle the change in air pressure
  • use a carrier or sling — it makes walking so much easier, and it keeps strangers’ from touching baby’s face
  • allow plenty of time to get from one gate to another if you’re changing flights
  • pack more diapers and baby outfits than you think you’ll need
  • pack a change of clothes for yourself
  • don’t bring a travel-size package of wipes, pack a full package! ;-)
  • stay calm even if your baby is screaming — getting frazzled yourself only makes it that much worse
  • have baby’s birth certificate with you, as some airlines require this documentation

so yes, florida. i am so happy to be back with my amazing husband. i missed him so much. i missed us all being together. i missed my own bed. and as you can see from this photo, little aveline missed her bed, too. doesn’t she look adorable? co-sleeping is the best! i love it.

baby blog - oaxacaborn - Aveline Alenka at six weeks old - cosleeping on a Summer Infant contoured changing table cushion with a Summer Infant organic cotton cover

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Have any other tips for traveling with an infant? Share them in the comments!

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Life in Photos

leaving on a jet plane

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

hello, readers? is anyone still hanging around? this little blog has been sadly neglected of late. i’ve been living out of my suitcase and only able to post via my iPod. but, tomorrow i’m leaving on a jet plane, back into the arms of my love. i miss him so.

and florida? i know we didn’t get along so well last time. i’m willing to forget all that if you are. here’s to new beginnings.


(please excuse little miss A’s manners. she wasn’t feeling too excited about having her picture taken.)

Poetry & Words

a different kind of valentine’s day

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

this morning dawned grey and brooding, with thick clouds drawn tightly over the sky, pulling down wind and rain through the tousled treetops.

it had all the ingredients that could have made for a really bad day. monday. exhaustion. valentine’s day. a night of restless, fitful sleep on an air mattress on my in-laws’ living room floor. a fussy baby. all our stuff on a moving truck. husband putting the last few items in his suitcase to leave for florida. me staying behind for two more weeks.

yes, i cried.

but then, my baby smiled at me.

and my husband brought me lilies and roses while i was still in bed.

and God gave me peace.

wonderful, deep, incredible peace.

that doesn’t mean i didn’t cry any more after that. after all, it’s still overwhelming. i still physically don’t feel good, and i am still ridiculously tired (although my recent diagnosis of anemia explains that. hello, iron supplements!)

but i am at peace. i am content. happy. excited about this next chapter. excited to see what God has in store. madly in love with my husband and with my miraculous daughter and with this wild and beautiful life.