island time

I think I was made to live on island time. Fifteen minutes late is on time in the Bahamas and that works out well for me. We've been back for a few days now and have been soaking in every minute we can get with these girls. No amount of sun, sand, food, sleep, or ocean breeze can compare to two smiling 11 month-old faces. 

We missed them for sure but our vacation was truly wonderful. And traveling, for me, would not be traveling if it didn't involve some sort of mishap, missed flight, lost luggage, completely closed airline {that's a good one}, or some such nonsense. 

This trip involved two such circumstances. We were traveling with Paul's younger brother, Josh, and had a connecting flight. P-dubs insisted we pack only carry-ons which is perfectly doable and helps you to NOT lose luggage. But our first flight was so full they asked for rolling bags to be checked to their final destinations, free of charge. How nice. But then we were delayed for 45 minutes because of fog so we landed 20 minutes before our next flight left from the complete opposite terminal. And I had worn my espadrilles instead of packing them because 1.) I would have more room in my carry on and 2.) I wasn't lugging around two 11 month-olds and felt like a completely different woman. But I'm not a completely different woman. And I haven't worn heels for any length of time since a few months into my pregnancy. 

Honestly, this would have been fine except we needed to run. So we sent Paul's very tall brother ahead {'Run like a gazelle!'} to see if he could catch the plane. At which point a woman near us exclaimed, 'He DOES look like a gazelle!' We watched his head bob one way and then the other above the crowd as he searched for the correct route to concourse E. We got on the tram and at the next stop noticed Josh get on the car BEHIND us. {What?!} 

He acted like he didn't even see us waving like a bunch of lunatics. After I almost fainted from laughter, we arrived at the gate literally as the jetway was being moved away from the door. Shoot. Not a big deal. This gave me time to eat the world's tiniest piece of pizza. 

We finally made it to Nassau and met up with the rest of P-dubs' family (who had nonstop flights. luckies.) Our poor little carry-ons didn't make it, though. So Paul's mom bought me a sarong (cheapest thing in a very expensive land)  and I learned how to tie it 7 ways, just in case. But I only needed to wear it twice and our luggage arrived. 

 I spent the next week at a loss for what to do with all this free time while at the same time feeling like something was missing. All the time. Our first night there we saw a set of twins with our exact same stroller. But a nanny was pushing it. A nanny is a game-changer, y'all. 

I pinned 147 ideas on Pinterest. I read a book. I read 3 magazines. I read another book. About green smoothies. (So.much.free.time.) We spent time with three of my favorite kids ever.

. 

We lounged at the pool and beach and talked about the girls and Skyped the girls. We went on lazy rivers where P-dubs should have been corrected about his incorrect and unsafe positioning on his raft (every single time) but the life guards were too busy calling out to Josh asking if it was his first day because he was looking a little white. Hilarious. We went on water slides that look deceivingly mellow from an observer's point of view but are actually so fast it takes your breath away (and sometimes almost your swimsuit, too). We ate lots of good meals and saw a lot of fish. 

Amazing buffet. The most important parts: conch salad and Nutella crepes. {After Paul somehow managed to get the crepe lady to go in search of Nutella. He's really persuasive.}

We watched four movies in the resort's complimentary movie theater--Snow White and the Huntsmen (which made me want to learn how to fight), Safe (which made me feel like it was completely necessary for me to learn how to fight), The Avengers (again, I should learn some basic self defense moves, at least), and The Five Year Engagement (which made me want to wash some mouths out with soap).

TMI warning. I pumped and dumped. Which went against every natural feeling in my bones. I now empathize with how Frodo felt when he had to throw the ring in the fire at Mt. Doom. Except my Mt. Doom was a drain in the villa bathroom. It was almost physically painful to watch that liquid gold go down the drain. Almost as painful as getting a blocked milk duct, which also happened. Those new-fangled pumps just aren't as efficient as a bonafide, real-life human baby. 

We traveled into Nassau and had fresh sea food. Like, 'catch and crack the conch on the deck right here' fresh. 

We cooked breakfasts together, walked, shopped, and brought the party to the party bus (resort shuttle).{Well, at least Caleb, Kaite, and I did.} We slept like it was our job. We spent some wonderful time together as a couple and together as a family.  

I'm so thankful for this week and I'm so thankful to be back. Thank you, Miriam and Nick for making it possible! : )

Favorite picture of the trip. Poor child has no hips and no booty. Suspenders just don't look right with a swimsuit. 

Hmm... Funny, we thought mom and Dionne were watching the girls but, apparently, the opposite was true?

Get ready, babies. We're rested and ready to gear up for a little thing called a first birthday!