In the meantime, we're back from Niagara Falls and we had a great time! Anna handled the four plane rides really well, and even napped during her nap time on one flight each way, which is better than when she was a baby, surprisingly. It seems she understood it's cool to snuggle up and sleep on the plane. In fact, she's been doing alot of snuggling lately. It's pretty sweet and I am glad she's finally consented :)
We rode the Maid of the Mist boat that takes you to the base of the falls...you know, the boat ride where they give you famous blue ponchos so you don't get wet. Surprisingly, it worked pretty well. I held Anna during the whole ride, and there was a pretty intense windy, wet, and loud period at the bottom of the falls where we got the closest look. She ducked down into the poncho and watched through the blue see-through material with a look of seriousness on her face, though not scared. She didn't even mind getting wet. When I asked if she was having fun, she looked at me and smiled and said "yeah!" When we got out of the falls, she asked if we could do it again. We were so danged proud of her because something tells me it can probably be pretty intimidating for some 2 year olds. At least for the noise. After the ride, she talked all about how she rode the boat and got wet and saw the water falls. Sweet!
What got on my nerves, though, was the strange new request for the paci. Over. And Over. All day. It started at the airport before we even got on the plane to NY! It continued the whole trip and we could only give in if we wanted a pleasant trip. So she got it when she asked for it, even in the face of my condemnation of that stupid paci! At one point I threatened to throw it into the falls and Paul cautioned me that the child might actually go after it. When we got home, the paci requests subsided and all is pretty much back to normal. The only thing we could think of was that the trip stressed her out. I guess no matter how often you do it, there's always a level of stress involved with travel. So I can see that point. But now oh how I hate that stinking paci! This morning she threw her paci in the bed and said, "yucky! Yucky! That's for babies!!" quoting mommy, but she darned well won't dare give it up yet. She still gets it for sleep and in the car.
I am about to cut them up and just deal with the consequences.
Anyway, my speech went really, really well. The students always motivate me even more when they come to talk to me afterwards. They wait in LINE to talk to me and share their stories. Some want NASA information, others have personal questions. Anna got all dressed up to go to my speech/dinner, and after a fight with getting the stockings on and negotiating on shoes that didn't exactly match but made her happy, we went to the dinner that preceded my speech. She decided that the fancy food was only worth spitting out, and that the ambiance was too professional for her taste, so she and Paul ditched to go eat hot dogs and watch a live band at the sports bar. So they missed my speech. Which is a drag, but I'm pretty sure Anna is sick of hearing what I have to say anyway :)
I am amazed I get to go to all of these great places to give a motivational speech to students who are in programs that are part of the Council for Opportunity in Education. I am amazed anyone cares about my story and that they are honored to have me speak at their student conferences. I am amazed I can have so much fun "giving back" and that I can have such a positive impact in the way students see themselves and their education. I have two conferences left for this year: one at Clarkson in NY and one in Indiana, both in the fall.
Anyway, here are some pictures of our trip. We also got to visit our friends P and C and their new sweet little girl, J, who's just over 3 months old now. They make a beautiful, sweet little family and even though the parent claim to be tired, they seem like it's all so natural to them. Way to go!!!
People question why we bring Anna with us to most things. They claim she won't even remember it, so why bother? First off, so what if she won't remember it? She might. Either way, Paul and I will remember it, so it's OUR memories. Secondly, these new experiences are making neural connections in her little brain. They are helping to develop her mind and her personality. She learned again about elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks in the airport, airplanes, water falls, trolleys, hotel rooms, and I can't even remember what else. The point is those connections are there and will in some way affect her future. Even if she won't specifically remember it. Besides, mommy is a good biographer of her life!
Before the wet boat ride:
After the wet boat ride:
1 comment:
Travel is good for kids. Even if she doesn't remember the details, she will be a traveler for life. And she will be all the richer with the experiences.
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