What were we thinking?August 29th, 2006 @ 7:40 am
I’m not really sure why we decided to go to LA over Labor Day. It’s not like we can take him to Disneyland. He’s too small to ride any of the rides, and I’m pretty sure that The King and I don’t want to take turns holding him while the other person rides Space Mountain. Yeah, that’s not happening.
And it’s not like we can spend hours sunning ourselves on the beach whilst reading the latest Harry Potter ala our trip to Mexico last summer. Nope, we have to keep the baby covered from the evils of the sun at all times.
Um yeah, so why did we decide to go to LA this weekend?
Right, to get Babboo used to traveling and to figure out if we can handle it.
But still, what were we thinking? There isn’t anything to do in LA with a 4 month old baby. At least not the stuff we usually do while in LA.
And now that we’re traveling with a baby, and there are heightened security in the airport things are a little more hectic when it comes to prepping for this little trip. Dude, I just know I’m going to have to pack more luggage around then when we went to Europe.
I’ve starting making lists of what I need to do before this Saturday morning. The King sent me an e-mail list this morning also.
We are being taken over by lists.
- Buy sunscreen (because I heard sunscreen expires and ours is over a year old)
- Buy new shorts for The King (since he just found out all of his summer clothes are in storage-along with all my clothes)
- Taxi or park at airport?
- Buy swim diapers (even though we aren’t going to take Babboo into the ocean?)
- Pick up travel stroller from The King’s parents house
- Find someone to look after our furry orange kitty
- Pay rent for September
- Pay for Babboo’s school for September
- Decide if they are serious when they say you have to drink some of the formula before they’ll let you take it on the plane
- Look online for anything to do in LA with a baby
- Look online for any suggestions for traveling with a baby. (I hear Liza has some good ones)
- Print out paperwork for the plane, the car, and the hotel
And really…what in the heck are we going to do in LA for 5 days?? Especially since The King said we shouldn’t just read books while we’re there. Nope, we should actually hang out as a family.
CRAP.
Vacations
HollowSquirrel
said,
August 29, 2006 at 5:06 pm
OH I hear ya, sister. We have yet to pack for Amsterdam. The panic has set in, and I’m running on freak.
GOOD LUCK with everything. At least you’ll know if you forget something, you can buy it in LA. I think the fewer concrete plans with a baby, the better. Just take it easy and enjoy the change of scenery.
Bon voyage, chica. I know, I know, I’m mixing languages.
Elisette
said,
August 29, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Sunscreen does expire, but it takes about three to five years, not one
You can check that off your list. And I work where we make sunscreen, so I know!
Lauren
said,
August 29, 2006 at 5:22 pm
Where are you staying in LA? I’d be happy to give you recommendations for restaurants and any entertainment that comes to mind. I don’t have kids yet but have friends who do.
Britt
said,
August 29, 2006 at 5:40 pm
I’ve never thought about it before…I have no idea what one might do in LA with a baby. I guess you can wander around in Downtown Disney and do a little shopping. Then you can stare inside the gates of Disneyland and think of me… You can go to Fashion Island in Newport, but of course, that would include MORE walking around. You can meet up with my sister, who lives there. I’m sure she’ll share her booze with you.
Well, I think I’ve proven that I’m useless in this matter. Hopefully someone will offer you some great ideas.
Britt
said,
August 29, 2006 at 5:46 pm
Aha! I’ve thought of something. Drive to Santa Monica on Sunday and attend the Pacific Pallisades Ward. Then fulfill a certain Silver Spoons fantasy and make sure you bring back pics to post (keep it clean though, for Babboo’s sake)!
Leslie
said,
August 29, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Ok, here are some options:
Marina del Rey Water Bus
Deep Sea 3D
Marvel Super Heroes Science Exhibition
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v. Baltimore Orioles
Los Angeles Dodgers v. Colorado Rockies
Heather B.
said,
August 29, 2006 at 6:19 pm
I’m getting hives just thinking about having to travel, with heightened security and a small child.
Yes, I realize that I am absolutely no help in this situation, but I’ll be thinking of you.
janet
said,
August 29, 2006 at 6:20 pm
I don’t have any LA advice, but sometimes a trip away from home is just what you need to really appreciate how great home really is! How about hanging out in the hotel and taking family naps? That sounds great to me right about now…
Frema
said,
August 29, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Oooh, that sounds fun. Are there zoos or museums or anything you can visit? Also, I’m sure Babboo would love accompanying you to some fabulous restaurants.
What a cool way to spend the long weekend.
CPA Mom
said,
August 29, 2006 at 6:46 pm
There are some flying tips here: http://www.momsrefuge.com/
seriously, no books?? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? I’d go insane.
Hilary
said,
August 29, 2006 at 6:54 pm
Seriously? You have to drink some of the formula first?
Come on Isabel, I know the reason you are going to LA is so Babboo can send out a baby talk signal that will take you straight to Suri so you can score the first pictures of her. (If she exists. Not that we care. Right.)
Carrisa
said,
August 29, 2006 at 8:28 pm
Well that link says that you DON’T have to test it or drink it…. but it’s good that they clarify that… you know… cuz The King sure wouldn’t want to be the taste tester.
So why L.A.? Do you have friends or family there? Cuz I’m thinking you might be a little crazy.
MK
said,
August 29, 2006 at 8:49 pm
I live about 15 minutes form Disneyland. Are you staying in Orange County or LA? That can make up a lot of your choices. In Orance County- you can eat at some great resturants (I can giveyou some suggestiuons if you e-mail me). You can walk around downtown Disney like someone suggested. Go down and stroll around Lagina Beach and the art shops- the sawdust festival is goining on their right now. You can take the baby swimming at the hotel (hence the swim diapers). Feel free to e-mail me and I can give you some suggestions- we live out here and we have a 7 month old.
Durga
said,
August 29, 2006 at 10:10 pm
YAY.
It’ll be fun.
Why not get a map and stalk Stars’ homes?
hehe
Lizzy
said,
August 29, 2006 at 11:17 pm
I think you’ll find traveling with an infant a lot easier than you think.
Some unsolicited assvice: carry the baby all the way up to the plane in the car seat. If you know it’s not a packed flight you can just carry on the baby in the car seat and ask an attendant if there’s an empty seat for the babyseat? Worst they can say is no.
Liza recommended to me, and I wholeheartedly agree: use the diaper bag as your carry on. In the diaper, I kept a big ziplock bag with a couple diapers, wipes, and cream, and a disposable changing pad. Some of the newer planes have changing stations on board, and if they do, you won’t have room for the whole diaper bag. And if they don’t, you’ll end of changing Babboo on your lap…
Will they really make you DRINK the formula? Eeew. What if you bring on powder? I used powder and just asked an attendant for an unopened bottle of water to mix the bottle. They were more than helpful.
Also, I kept Henry hungry up until the VERY LAST MOMENT and when the plane started on take off, I nursed (or gave a bottle). When they’re hungriest, that’s the real hard sucking that will help keep ears clear. Henry fell asleep on descent, but they say to do the same when landing. A binky works, too.
I love the LA Art Museum, last time I was there, they had a beautiful Asian wing. Also: I wholly recommend going to Pasedena for the Huntington Museum and gardens: sooo gorgeous. The botanical garden is a beautiful way to spend the afternoon. The Huntington may be the only reason I’d go back to visit LA.
Lizzy
said,
August 29, 2006 at 11:20 pm
…actually, I guess it’s officially the Huntington Library (http://www.huntington.org/).
I grew up with “Boy Blue” and “Pinkie” hanging in my bedroom. Imagine my surprise when I wandered through the gallery to find the originals. Creeeepy.
Denzylle
said,
August 30, 2006 at 12:35 am
http://girlsgonechild.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_girlsgonechild_archive.html
She’s a Hollywood native with a wee boy. See her August 3 post ‘Loving LA’ for tips on where to go and where not to go.
Yes, tasting formula is serious!
Jessie
said,
August 30, 2006 at 12:35 am
I’m sure you’ll find plenty of things to do. Whoorl wrote about some cupcake shop a - you can’t go wrong with cupcakes!
Jessie
said,
August 30, 2006 at 12:36 am
That was supposed to say “a little while back”. Apparently I need to brush up on my html/creating a link. Sorry.
Jennifer
said,
August 30, 2006 at 12:59 am
You can always just enjoy the beauty of hotel living… that requires no sun exposure! I love staying in hotels. I don’t know why. Actually I do — it’s because there’s enough space in the closet for the clothes I’ve brought (unlike home) and there is always plenty of clean towels and toilet paper (unlike home).
I obviously have no advice for traveling with a baby, but I did fly from LA to the East Coast the day of the terrorist plot broke, and then from the East Coast to Seattle the next day, and both airports dealt with the extra security really well. The worst part was not being able to bring my water bottle and hand lotion on the plane. And my shampoo opened in my checked bag. All in all, not so bad. They were definitely letting people with babies bring on formula, and I didn’t see anyone tasting it!
For the record, I get the “I don’t want to go” jitters before I travel too.
Jezer
said,
August 30, 2006 at 1:05 am
I used to spend some time in OC–if you’re around that area, I second the suggestions for Fashion Island and Laguna Beach.
Liza
said,
August 30, 2006 at 1:44 am
I wouldn’t worry too much about the tasting it part. I was totally freaked out about that on my day trip for work yesterday, where I had to bring my pump and pump in the plane bathroom both ways.
The idea of having to drink it made me totally creeped out in a wierd cannibalism kind of way. But happily, the TSA seems to have backed off from that requirement. They just swabbed my bag for explosive residue and told me that if the gate attendant said I couldn’t take it on, I had to dump it. The gate attendant didn’t check my bag.
The thing I didn’t think of that I wish I had when we first took Noah on the plane was a change of shirt and change of shorts for me. Especially if there is no changing table in the restroom on the plane.
Good luck & have fun!!
Leslie
said,
August 30, 2006 at 3:30 am
I had posted a few links for some ideas/activities, but they disappeared. Maybe you deleted them? Anyway, I found those ideas at http://www.experiencela.com.
I hope you find something family-friendly to do!
ramblingmuse
said,
August 30, 2006 at 9:30 am
You know what…if you have time, I’d suggest checking out Legoland. It’s in/near Carlsbad, so depending on where in LA you are, it’s about an hour’s drive. It’s family friendly and honestly, it will be a fun time for adults. I think I enjoyed it more than my nephew did!
Either way, just enjoy it. Go for walks on the beach, hang out in the various downtown areas. You will be glad you went, I’m sure!
K.
said,
August 30, 2006 at 11:41 am
Have a GREAT time!
anna
said,
August 30, 2006 at 2:02 pm
What fun! I hope you have a wonderful time!
Courtney
said,
August 30, 2006 at 4:59 pm
You might try the Griffeth Park Observatory… or the Descanso Gardens (I’m butchering the spelling, I’m sure)… the beach will be ZOO! Stay away from there… Walking around the 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica might be fun. I’m not sure how difficult it is to shop with a baby - but LA has excellent shopping basically EVERYWHERE! so that might be fun too.
Note: it is still very HOT in LA. I was there last weekend and I almost melted. So pack accordingly.
Julie
said,
August 30, 2006 at 5:06 pm
Moxie had a good post about travel:
http://moxie.blogs.com/askmoxie/2006/05/air_travel_with.html
And I love this site (that I found on Jinkies!) for finding activities in a new city:
http://www.gocitykids.com/?area=195
jessica
said,
August 30, 2006 at 5:11 pm
I have no suggestions ie Baby related things to do in LA, but I just want to say that vacation is vacation no matter what, so you will enjoy it even if there is nothing to do. Also, I love you! Thanks again!
kerri anne
said,
August 30, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Give in to the power of The List. You cannot resist The List.
; )
Hope this weekend goes splendidly! And I think (and hope!)Babboo will entertain himself. Probably he is still young enough to be easily amused by things we have long since outgrown. Like our fingers. And toes. : )
Christar
said,
August 30, 2006 at 9:56 pm
First of all, I’m SOOO jealous! My favorite place is LA! And I haven’t been there or Disneyland in about 10 years.
I wish I could help with trying to find out what to do with a baby, but Shaun and I don’t even do much with Zachary because he’ll freak out. The most we do is go to the park.
I’d suggest going to some fun restaurants that are kinda noisy, so if he cries it won’t draw attention. ie: Medieval Times. I’m sure you’ll find pleanty to do as a family.
P.S.
Did I mention how jealous I am?!?!