Travelling back to Vancouver

Well, I'm back to Vancouver. I thought I'd tell everyone about my last day of the trip. The reason this last note in my blog is so long is because I'm writing it on paper during my 5 hour wait at the terminal, the 1 hour delay on the tarmac and the 4 hour plane ride home. I'm just typing it up now that I'm home.

So my day started early. Me and Monette both woke up at 6am. Monette was excited to see her family and I was excited to pack. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to organize and pack my bags.

Then I went back to sleep. I woke up at around 8am and we got ready to hit the spa/pool area. Monette, Coco and I tried the big pool. After a couple dunks in I was freezing. We made our way to the hot tub which was wonderful. Monette dunked her feet in and help Coco in her lap. I could have stayed there all day.

Monette and Coco went upstairs to clean up, but I stayed to enjoy all the perks of the hotel. I was excited to go there because they have a sauna and a steam room inside. I wanted to go in both to replenish my dry eye. It said not to spend more than 15 minutes in there at a time. No problem for me - after 5 minutes in each I was dying of heat. So much for my good idea!

Then I went to take a nice long shower. The hotel provides everything you need to get ready: slippers, robes, shampoo, conditioner, blow dryer, brushes, hair spray, cotton, Qtips, lotion - anything you can imagine. They even have a machine that instantly dries your wet swimsuit!
After I was all dressed I went to the adjoining room where they provided complimentary drinks, fruit and newspapers. I feel so spoiled here.

When I got back to our room Monette left me with Coco so she could quickly make a last purchase at the adjoining mall.

I can read Coco pretty well now. When she looks like she was done playing with her toys I let her sit up and watch Dora the Explorer. When she started not paying attention to the tv, I knew it was time for a nap. Monette says Coco doesn't usually nap, but during this vacation she did. I picked her up and "helay, helayed" her (walked around bouncing her up and down) until she fell asleep. Then I lay down with her on top of me. This made her kind of wake up but I patted her on the back til we both fell asleep.

We taxi'd to the airport. I was 2 terminals apart from Monette's terminal, but since I had 5 hours to waste Monette had me help her check in first. While she was checking in, I took Coco out of her buggy...her clothes were wet! WARNING: this story is not for the faint hearted! Monette sent me to the washroom to change her pampers and her clothes. Although her pamper was full of dirty smelly stuff her clothes were only a tiny bit wet! Auntie Lana picked her up at the perfect time - her buggy never even got wet! Now that I survived that I feel like I can survive anything!

Okay - I promise - this is my last note til the end of my Cancun trip. I go to Cancun on Sept 15. Since I doubt I'll have computer access in Cancun I'll write in my book everyday and post it to my blog when I get to Cayman on Sept.20. Bye for now, Lana

Last full day in Chicago

Well, I guess this is my last note from Chicago. We're leaving tomorrow morning.

This morning I had to watch baby Coco for about 2 hours while Monette was at her final meeting. After playing with her for a bit she was getting kind of restless, so I put her in her chair and put on the tv. Thank goodness for Dora the Explorer. After a bit she was getting even more fidgety - I knew that meant she was tired, which was perfect for me! I picked her up, "hellay, hellayed" her (that's not the write spelling, but in filipino it means to bounce them up and down in your arms). Then we both fell asleep til Monette came back.

We went to the mall and had lunch at California Pizza, where we shared a BBQ chicken pizza. I know, I know - I said the whole reason for coming to Chicago was to eat their deep dish pizza, but we never got around to having it. Well, I guess I have a reason to come back again!

After lunch we went shopping. I got paid for my babysitting skills by getting some nice jeans at the Gap. Those who know me, know I prefer to be paid in clothing and food! Monette bought a ton of stuff for her family.

By then, it was about 3pm - time for Coco's nap and my nap. We went to the hotel and napped while Monette did more shopping. For dinner we got take out Thai food from a restaurant in the mall attached to our hotel. Marites, you would have been jealous - we got pad thai noodles and green curry chicken with rice - yummy!

At around 7pm we took a quick cab to one of our favourite stores - Target. Monette bought toys and stuff for the kids. I managed to sneak some sport socks for me into her buggy when she wasn't looking!ssshh...don't tell Monette.

We just got home now at 10pm and I came directly down to the business centre to type this note before I went to bed and forgot what I did today. Good night.

I survived!

Sorry I didn't write yesterday. I was way too tired to type! Yesterday me and dad had Coco the whole day. Monette only stopped by to feed the baby at lunch, at dinner, and then came home late. Coco decided to go on a hunger strike to show Monette that her mother should not leave her with people like me and my dad. Later on Monette claimed it was because the fridge they gave us to use in the hotel had half frozen the milk!
Except for not eating her milk, she was pretty good during the day. Me and Coco went shopping together, and again people had to stop and tell me what a cutie she was. Poor Papa Tony was in charge of putting her to sleep - we didn't know that she usually doesn't take naps since she sleeps through the night. She was not her usual happy self.
The problem with me writing this in the morning is that I can't really remember what happened yesterday.

This morning Papa Tony had already left for Cayman. I'm really glad that he could come and help with the baby. I don't know if I wrote this already, but I've been having a real tough time with my eyes here. But as soon as Papa Tony left we turned the air conditioning off in our room and my eye is back to normal. I'm in a much better mood now!
Monette was gone for a couple of hours this morning. After playing for a bit with Coco, I let her watch Dora the Explorer on tv - what a good babysitter Dora is!
Then after a while she started getting antsy. I can read her well. I turned off the tv, shut off the lights, and carried her in my arms. She soon fell fast asleep. We lay on the bed and both took a nap for almost an hour. I woke her up accidently - I noticed that the whole time she was sucking the sleeve of my shirt. I pulled it away and she woke up screaming! Luckily, Monette came back from her last meeting.
Now Monette, Coco and I have the rest of the day to eat out and shop! Yahoo!

I did it! I did it! I survived babysitting the munchkin! This was kind of the practice test for when I babysit her on my own in New York in October. Wish me luck!

Coco the Cutie

Monette and Coco arrived last night. Monette said it was exhausting walking thru the airports with Coco - not because she's a cranky baby, but because she is the most charming baby ever! Literally hundreds of people had to stop Monette to tell her what a beautiful baby she had. Poor Coco, going thru life with so much charm has been kind of tricky for me......okay, stop gagging!

They arrived here late last night and we stayed up really late just playing with Coco. This morning we had full intentions of leaving early in the morning, but we ended up sleeping until lunch time. Me and dad took a city tour in one of those double decker buses which was nice. After a nap, me and Monette did some shopping. Then we all had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory right by our hotel. Sorry, that's all I can write now....I ate way too much and am going into a food coma. I'll write more tomorrow. Good night!

Flight to Chicago: Went thru hell to get to heaven!

I'm here in Chicago living in the lap of luxury at the Four Seasons on the Magnificent Mile (Chicago's version of Robson). After a long nap in a comfy bed, dad surprised me with thin crust pizza. Even though it wasn't deep dish it was still yummy - I don't know why, but pizza is just so yummy in Chicago!

Anyways, I had to go through hell to get to this heavenly place. In Edmonton, instead of waiting for our connecting flight in the nice plush Air Canada lounge we were forced to wait for 6 hours in uncomfortable chairs. For some reason international travelers don't get to use the lounge. The Edmonton airport bites!

When we got on our connecting flight, our luck didn't get much better. It was United Airlines and the plane looked like it was built in the 1800's. There was no tv to watch, no food to eat, and one of the 2 bathrooms were broken. I felt lucky that I made it to Chicago in one piece!

Then to top it off, right before we landed my dad spilled half his glass of water on me! The right side of my black pants were soaked. Well, it could have been worse.....I could have been wearing my white pants and he could have been drinking ginger ale!

It's going to be a few hours before Monette and baby Coco get here, so I think I'll take a walk around the neighbourhood. Bye!

My Vacation Schedule

During the next few months I will be traveling all over the world for different reasons. Here's my schedule so far.

1. August 23-26: Chicago, Illinois, USA - me and my dad are going to meet my sister Monette and my baby niece Coco. Monette needs someone to babysit Coco while she's in meetings. Auntie Lana to the rescue!
2. Sept 15-19: Cancun, Mexico - I'm going to be the maid of honour in my friend Stacey Yano's destination wedding
3. Sept 19-Oct 4: Grand Cayman Island - visiting Monette, Jason and my nieces
4. Oct 4-7: New York City - more babysitting Coco
5. Oct 7-9: Seattle - more babysitting Coco
6. Oct 13-Nov 1: Philippines with my dad to visit all my relatives - haven't been there since I was 14 years old