Beach Vacation with a Toddler

I cannot believe we have almost been in Mexico for an entire week.  Time certainly does fly in paradise!

I started a post earlier in the week but was unable to finish it due to the Internet café closing when I was mid-post.  I am actually glad I wasn’t able to finish the post because I don’t believe it conveyed the fun we are having here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The jist of the previous post was that Andy and I are used to traveling alone and when we do travel with other people, we prefer to travel with people who are either really flexible like we are or willing to plan the trip.  What we quickly learned on this trip is that our new traveling companion, Belén is neither of these.

This fact has made for some difficulties dealing with a very opinionated one-year old.  On our city tour earlier in the week, we missed a couple of naps and things got pretty ugly. 

What we have since learned is that regardless of how much we want to plan things during her nap(s), we need to refrain from doing so and respect her beauty sleep.  Since we have been doing that, things have been peachy.

But I will be the first to admit that it is not easy.  I am not sure if it is all of the changes or the heat, but up until today, Little B has been taking her extra morning nap (10:30 am or so) and then her typical 12:30 nap followed by a bedtime around 7:30pm.  This nap schedule has made our vacation schedule challenging.  As long as we chill out near the hotel on the beach or whatever, there is no problem.  But if we are on a City Tour or timeshare presentation, problems.

We have two more tours planned which we may or may not go on, but my bet is on not going since she pretty much melts down by about 2pm.  Poor kid.

Other than figuring out how to travel with a newly minted toddler, the trip has been fantastic.

Day One, Belén was pretty much freaked out of sand and surf.  Day Two she warmed up to the ocean.  By Day Three, she liked both.  Before the sun passed over mid-sky on the fourth day, she was thrilled to be in the water and squealed with delight each time a wave came as evidenced by kicking legs and a beaming smile.  She even warmed up to sand and no longer avoided it at all costs.  We did still keep mats  down on the hot sand to avoid burning her legs and feet.

Our vacation evening routine of enjoying a nice dinner has been modified to start much earlier in the day.  When we typically were showering to get ready for dinner in our “dinner-for-two” days, we are now nearly the first to arrive at the restaurant.  And then after she goes to bed, before 8, Andy and I spend the rest of the night talking on the balcony of our hotel room.

Up until now, we have not had an ocean view, but we hope to change this fact tomorrow, because hanging out on a patio with an ocean view is infinitely more enjoyable than a view of the street.

In the hours after the commencement of Belén’s slumber, we have enjoyed some nice Mexican tequila and Mexican and Cuban cigars together.  I usually limit myself to a cigar a year, but with our current situation, I will be on my third for the year tonight.  This makes up for the lack thereof the past two years with pregnancy and infant.

The best parts of the vacation are the beach, of course, but also watch Belén blossom into an independent-minded, intelligent and determined little toddler.  She mimics everything we do and is practicing besos (kisses), belly zurbers and the art of a beach vacation.  She has also taken a liking to beach vendors and surrogate grandparents she can impress with her cuteness. 

So much more to tell but the Internet Cafe is closing again. 

We are so glad we still have a week to go!

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Tagged as: Puerto Vallarta, timeshare, todler on beach, traveling with toddler