portugal

Our Happy Holiday 

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We are back from holidays almost a week now and we all seem to be settling back ok into our refreshed home/work/crèche regime.

The holiday itself was just the tonic needed and lovely quality family time was banked. In a previous post I spoke about all the prep and that really helped. Some of the meals were not eaten so best to stick to the old reliables in future.

New books on the plane as well as a bottle worked a treat once he got used to the constant Ryanair tannoy! By the time we arrived in and with Josh coughing most of the night I think we all only got 4 hours sleep that first night.

It took a bit of getting used to him sleeping in our room, the constant noises and squirming is a distant memory since he went into his own room a year ago. 

He loved the pool and got very excited seeing it the first day-we had picked up a selection of pool toys in the town for him to play with and took turns watching him as he splashed to his hearts content.

  

We also hired a car which was great for exploring but the extra air con combined with some beach time (albeit covered up) made Josh sick for the next couple of days. On return from some mama/dada time he was quite poorly and the great pharmacy in our town thought it was probably sun stroke-eek! 

We kept it low key for the next 2 days. Our boy came back and splashing, chip eating and cartoon loving soon resumed.

  

Josh quickly got used to the new routine and surrounds. He woke as always very early but would come into our giant bed (something he doesn’t do at home) and sleep until 7ish. Then my mum or one of us would walk to the bakery where he got very friendly with ‘Sandra’ and her rolls.. 

  

We usually went back to the pool then for a short while, walk for a nap and that would be Josh out of the direct sun for the day. We would venture off for some lunch and take turns in grabbing some sunshine by the pool while someone else stayed in the apartment with Josh while he played/napped/snacked. New toys/books & lots of snacks were a saviour as well as a pretty good kids area in our apart/hotel. Just as we were all getting into our groove it was time to come home. 

  

The plane journey home was a little tricker, it was the middle of the day, he hadn’t got his morning nap and had developed the skill of engaging 3 adults in the practice of generally failing to curtail scampy child! 

However we landed, we got home and scampy child seemed to regress back to the boy we know a little more. The first day back at crèche I took a half day to settle him back but with a full week routine done and dusted I think the holiday for all of us seems to be a distant happy memory! I am ok with being home in fact, a fresh perspective, some relaxation had and  a little tan to feel refreshed.. 

  

You forget he won’t remember much of this, the pedalo ride, ice cream in the sun, helicopter/noddy rides or the excited splashing in the pool but I am a firm believer that they bank good memories for the future.. Well at least that’s what I tell my husband when paying 19 euro for a 10 minute duck pedelo ride 😝. 

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The Project Management of Holiday no2!

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We are off on hols today so you won’t hear from me for a week or so on the blog.. I am very excited now about the prospect of 10 full days with my little family, including my mum so all my favourite people in one sunny place. 

Packing this year was different to last in that he is no longer a small baby but needs A LOT of stuff none the less! It started with the clothes, at this age year to year he grows out of everything so we started from scratch. We picked up most of the bits in penny’s, dunnes and next. Hats & suncreams were vital too this year as he will be running from place to place and spending a large amount of time in the pool I am quite sure. We picked up a candelsane spray 50 on special and have a small travel sized one too. 

Next up was food and entertainment, probably the most important piece in the ‘project’. The food thing is definitely easier as he is eating proper food now but to ensure volume I picked up some Ella’s Kitchen meals. I found the ones in the little bowls very handy to be able to pop in our bag when heading out at night. Our boy is Peppa mad so we have a full range of Peppa distractions available-3 books, a colouring pad and some extras with variation thrown in! We have also succumbed to downloading some Peppas on the I pad, there is that stupid guilt that but let’s face it he is going to be on it 20 minutes, at most of a fun filled 14 hour day! 

Finally there was us to think about, there is no point Josh being super organised and we are a flustered mess so clothes were purchased where required, outfits put together and bags taken out a few weeks in advance.

Snacks are in the bag, passports at the ready and fun in the sun here we come! 

Here’s my top 10 things to bring when holidaying with a toddler:

1. New Toys/Books for plane

2. Snacks/Bottle for journey

3. Comforter to settle on plane

4. Spare clothes in hand luggage for all in case of missing main bag

5. Calpol in case ears get sore 

6. I pad for last resort distraction

7. Hooded towel for after the pool

8. Swim shoes so no nasty slips occur

9. First few days supply of food/nappies etc so you can get your bearings

10. Sarong to cover buggy when sleeping or to cover skin when walking in heat!

Josh’s First Holiday

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We all went on holiday to Portugal in late May, granny in tow. First holiday with josh meant there was huge excitement and unprecedented planning and packing! He took the large case, we took carry on. 😉. Here is a quick run through of what I brought and found handy, I must say there wasn’t much that I brought that I wouldn’t have!
•Sleeveless vests were great and not too warm
•Baby float for pool gave him a bit of independence
•Dressing gown for morning walks and after pool
•Footless jammies so he wasn’t too warm at night
•His blanket from his cot at home
•Ball pool without the balls & toys for playing in
•Neurofen
•Pre made baby formula & powder was handy for our short trip rather than buying it there as he only takes a night bottle
•Ella’s food pouches which I was glad I did cause our resort is small
•Sarong and blanket used for feeding by the pool
•Lots of swimwear and the wetsuit top was great as it was a little cooler than we planned
•Bath time bits as all the suncream, sand and chlorine needs to be washed away
•Plenty of hats, even if they do pull them off
•Steriliser bags for night bottles
•Ziplock bags to bring his lunch out and about
•Your own travel cot sheet that he has used before if possible
•Snooze/Uv shade for buggy was a lifesaver

Obviously his clothes etc came too but these were the bits I’d make sure are packed!

Josh adapted well to the plane, change of scenery/routine and the weather wasn’t that hot so the pool was a little chilly but he splashed away.

Ryanair’s new changes were very child friendly and I really thought the overall experience was great and stress free. He didn’t sleep the whole flight but I fed him and we played with him in between until the 2.5 hours passed.

We have stayed many times in our chosen location in the Eastern Algarve so it’s like home from home. We unpacked, got organised and headed out to the pool to settle Josh in to his new surrounds.

Unfortunately the next day was very dull and Josh had picked up a little cold so we lay low and made the best of a grey day by heading into a beautiful local town for some dinner on the local bus. All very easy-popped the pram on the bus and off we went.

As for his routine, that kind of went by the by but he had some semblance of it. Morning feed, early & mid morning nap in the shade, then when the sun returned another lunchtime nap, some extra naps were definitely had. For the night routine, I soon realised, it was best just to go with the flow. We always headed out about 7 and I would feed him and rock/walk him to sleep as then he would pop back in the buggy or stay in my arms while we chomped and drank vino, this was a definite change from the norm but he was happy, we were happy and it worked. We would then stroll home, have a glass of wine on the balcony and he would usually wake, about 10. We would cuddle and play and then he would get his usual ‘dream feed’ about 10.30/11. Then it was down into his travel cot where he would slumber until about 5-6 and come into bed then till 7 when granny took him off down the town for brekkie and mama & dada got a lovely lie in!

What would I do differently-not a lot to be honest but first things first..
We would definitely stay longer and not because that’s always how you feel when on holiday but we quickly realised that really a short trip for all the preparation and settling into your new kind of holiday is not ideal but it was still very enjoyable..
I wouldn’t spend 25 euro on baby glasses-he wore them for all of half a second and he’s a pretty patient/compliant baby!
Bring more meds-I didn’t really foresee him getting a cold!

Our return journey was fairly plane sailing too but Faro airport is nowhere near as baby /customer friendly as Dublin and it really showed how great Dublin airport is in my opinion. However a quick purchase of a new Longchamp bag to replace the nappy bag was a bonus before hopping on the plane and returning to the Emerald Isle refreshed and raring for the summer ahead!

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