Happy Birthday, Kwabena! You’re 2!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KWABENA!

We’re in Canada now, enjoying a few days of vacation (and celebrating Kwabi’s 2nd birthday), while visiting Kwasi’s cousin, Kwadwo, here in St. Catharine’s, Ontario. The last time we were here was in August of 2004. It’s very different this time around traveling with a child!

We started off with barely making it to the airport! Our flight was scheduled to leave at 8:15 a.m. Getting to the airport by 7:15 a.m. would have been perfect. But do you think we made it by 7:15 a.m…..?? NO! We hurriedly pulled up to the Southwest curb around 7:35 a.m., and to our dismay, saw a long time at the counter where we needed to check our luggage. We grabbed our stroller, luggage, and Kwabi, and ran to the line, where we discovered (thankfully) that it was moving quickly.

Oh no! We forgot the CAR SEAT!

We called Nana, Kwasi’s brother that took us to the airport, and had him turn around. Meanwhile, Kwasi waited for Nana at the curb, and I was already in the security line with Kwabi. The line was moving quickly, but thankfully Nana arrived and dropped off the seat JUST as Kwabi and me were about to go through security.

Getting through security with a child in a stroller is a big pain in the ass! LOL As I walked through the security gate with Kwabena, I didn’t realize he had a matchbook car in his pocket (his latest hobby: stuffing as many matchbook cars that will fit into his pockets). So we had to walk through a couple times before I realized that Kwabi had the car in his pocket……. LOL

We arrived to the gate, and Kwasi found a place in the “A” line with Kwabena, while I ran to the bathroom and stopped quickly for a hot breakfast to go, not realizing that the plane was already boarding! I hauled-ass back to the gate, and we were nearly the last ones to board. WHEW! So much for an early check-in for seat priority…….

But it actually worked out that we were the last to board, because we got a row to ourselves in the very back row, which meant we didn’t take up space as we tried to install his carseat (that thing gave us problems!)

The flight was very quick; only 1 hour into Buffalo. We were to arrive a 9:15 a.m., and Kwasi’s cousin, Kwadwo, was to come and pick us up. He only lives 30 minutes, across the Canadian boarder.

When we arrived, we found out we’d have to wait 2 hours for his cousin to come. I was pissed! 2 hours?!?! I knew that 2 hours REALLY meant 3 hours…..People usually under-estimate the amount of time it takes when they are running late. Sure enough, it was a 3 hour wait. Luckily, Kwabi found some kids to run around with, and the Buffalo airport also had a kid’s room with toys, so for him, 3 hours in the airport was like 3 hours at the park. At least it was a bareable 3 hours. Kwasi was content as he sat there listening to music for 3 hours.

That night we went to dinner at a Thai restaurant. Kwabi barely wanted to eat; he kept wanting to play under the table….and run over to the koi pond to see the fish and could have fallen in because he was leaning over so far….and wanting to play with his choo-choo trains… and wanting to sit at other empty tables…. It was quite a struggle, and I couldn’t really enjoy my own food. I had to have a talk with Kwabi afterwards about “proper restaurant behavior.” He solemnly looked me in the eye and nodded at the appropriate times when I told him what was acceptable and what was not acceptable restaurant behavior. LOL……I think it made a difference because when we went out to each last night (at yet another Thai place, which wasn’t as good as the first), he didn’t act up as much.

Later in the evening, we just stayed in and hung out. Kwasi and Kwadwo went out to a club late that evening, while I stayed in and slept. I was okay with that, only because I was tired. But it’s a marked difference between traveling with a child and without. Without a child you can go as you please, without the concern for a babysitter; with a child, you’rr limited in where you can go. That is why I am pro- kid-friendly vacations, so that babysitter services are available if necessary. Next time, we’ll be sure to have a babysitter available! 🙂

Saturday, July 5th was Kwabena’s birthday. The weather couldn’t have been any more gorgeous! Not a drop of humidity in the air…..nor a cloud…..and all was well in the world 🙂

We drove to Toronto Island, a nature park off the coast of Toronto, accessible by a 10 minute fairy ride. I felt like such an unprepared mom for (1) having no hat for Kwabi, (2) having no sunglasses for him, and (3) leaving his sunblock in the car. Luckily, Kwasi and Kwadwo switched up hats to allow Kwabi to cover up. 🙂

Toronto Island was beautiful! People on bikes…and skates….with friends….and family…..enjoying miles of paths with gorgeous views of the ocean and thick greenery…. it made me want to take off my shoes, run my toes through the grass, and feel the warm sun on my face. Ahhhh…..those that live so close to such a sanctuary are truly blessed!

We were there for a good 3+ hours. Kwabi found such sheer joy in running that there was no way we could (or wanted to) keep him contained in the stroller and have him miss out on such fun! At one point, he even saw a couple of older kids (probably 6 and 7 years old) and ran over to their family and started CHASING them! He made like he was a lion and started playfully growling at them, laughing and enjoying himself! It was so cute to watch!

Afterwards, Kwadwo stopped at Dairy Queen and picked up an ice cream cake for Kwabi. The whole day Kwabi kept singing “Happy Birthday.” At one point coming home, he decided to insert his own name in the “Dear” part of the song, so that it came out:

“Happy Birthday, dear Kwabena Appiah…..” …(which sounds like Kabena Appiah)….LOL

So at 9 p.m. that night, we ate big pieces of ice cream cake while singing Happy Birthday to Kwabena. He was so wired that it was past 10 p.m. before he went to bed! He tossed and turned, and fidgeted so much…..Could be that he was thrown off his routine (whenever he doesn’t bathe before bed, it always takes longer to get him to settle down). But I’m sure a lack of bath coupled with sugar overload were equal culprits……yeah, not a good combination!

Stay tuned for more updates on our vacation! 🙂