Miami

We collected a few memories on our way to the Keys, and our first stop was Miami.  We started our day at 3:30am, up and dressed, moved the luggage to the car, and then woke Oliver.  When Bonnie went in and woke him up, his first words were "airport", "gate", and "runway," and he was all smiles. He knew exactly what we were doing and what was happening (due to Bonnie’s days of pumping him up for the trip).

He did not sleep one wink on the way to the airport, nor during the process of getting on the plane. He was glued to the window while waiting for the plane to take off, and as we started to roll back from the gate, he was literally bouncing in the seat.   Basically, describing to us everything he saw....he stayed awake for another two hours excited and looking out the window.  Finally, 45 min before landing he fell sleep, cuddled as sweetly as can be in Bonnie's arms.

He managed to sleep while Bonnie carried him off the plane, to jet bridge and during the walk towards baggage claim but that was all. Too much to see!  Now Bonnie is telling him we will be going to the Museum in Miami.  So he can’t stop talking about the airport, planes, Miami and museum.

We headed toward the Miami Children's Museum.  Ever since Bonnie told him we were heading there, he kept asking, "mouse?"   This is because at the Madison Children's Museum in November, he got to pet a mouse.   After Bonnie responds with "maybe" several times, he seems satisfied and manages to lose his battle with sleep on the way to the museum.

The Miami Children's Museum was great.  One highlight was that when we arrived there were two school buses parked out front.  He spent some time in awe of the big buses and their wheels.  

"Bus...wheels...BIG!"

The first exhibit we saw was a big ship.  Below it was a fountain, populated with fish that the kids could catch with fishing pools (they were magnetic).  The first try he was interested, but the second time he was intent on catching a fish—worked at it with total concentration for at least 20 minutes.  

"Boat, Wheel"

"Fish"

 Among other things, he climbed through the tunnels and slid down the slides, enjoyed the Wizard of Oz exhibit including the farm animals, hugged the big bears at the teddy bear exhibit, and loved the life sized fire truck and animal hospital.  They also had a craft area, where Bonnie and Oliver spent some time drawing and Oliver decided to dip his feet in what he deemed a "letter pool", which was full of magnetic letters.

Ocean sounds tunnel:  no fear, just jumped in.

"Cow, milk"

"Let's Go"

"Open door"

"Letter Pool"

From the Children's Museum, we had a 1.5 hr drive down the coastal hwy towards the first "key" or island in the Florida Keys.  Interesting note:  a cay or key is a small, low landing consisting mostly of sand and coral, thus the Florida Keys.

So we are on this single lane hwy, Oliver is clearly stating he is "done" with driving and being in the car seat.  I have the bright idea if convincing Bonnie to let Oliver play with my iPhone to distract him for the remaining 30min.  Wrong move.

After about 5 minutes with the iphone, our son looks at Bonnie and verbalizes, "Done, No, No, No...." And proceeds to projectile vomit all over.  Bonnie does an excellent job of not over-reacting. I pull over; we strip him down; and clean him up, and as I am walking around the car, I hear another scream.  I rush back to the rear passenger side door only to find my son pointing at his mother's boob and saying "bee!"   Bonnie in as calm as anyone could be and is saying,  "shit, shit, shit…."  I open the door, and the bee flies away.  Oliver has learned another new set of phrases, which launches him into them deepest of belly laughs and 10 minutes of repeating the phrases "Mommy, bee, boobie" and “shit, shit, shit..."   Thankfully, I think that this was eclipsed by his evening at the beach in Key Largo.  We made it just in time to see the sun set, rush with no hesitation into the ocean for a walk, play on the beach, and see the moon.