Hello friends! I’m popping in today to share a bit about our vacation to Oceanside, California, area a couple of weekends ago! I’ve missed some of my typical more personal posts like birthday recaps etc., during this maternity leave, so I wanted to make sure I shared a bit about our trip!
And if you are only here for the food (not the lifestyle type posts), good news, new recipes are coming soon! Also, I hired a fantastic sitter (it only took me six weeks to find the right fit) so, I can’t wait to get back into the swing of things!
PS I wasn’t thinking I was going to do a travel post, so I didn’t record any pictures of our food which is a HUGE bummer because everything we ordered was SOOOOO good! So here is a list of restaurants we loved and would recommend:
- Tin Fish –> THIS WAS SO GOOD!
- Privateer Coal Fire Pizza
- Super Sushi
- Rockin Baja Lobster
We ordered all our meals because KJ went to bed at 530 every night, It would have been nice to eat at a restaurant, but it wasn’t in the cards this time. We also noticed Grubhub/Doordash service was impeccable while in Oceanside, at least compared to here. The delivery person always made sure they grabbed anything extra they could, like plastic utensils, napkins, extra sauce, etc. Arizona delivery is never that good. You are lucky if you get the correct items or order, just saying.
So, vacation with a toddler (who just dropped their nap two weeks ago) and a ten-week-old is a trip and not a “vacation.” But we were so lucky that Mr. Hungry’s parents joined us on the trip because many hands make light work, and it ended up being so much fun!
We took our 2015 Pilot for the road trip there.
God Bless my MIL, who sat in the little one seat we had up on the third-row amidst all the luggage and baby gear.
Yes, KJ is still facing the rear in his car seat, which worked well for this trip, but we will likely turn him around soon! Also, I know you aren’t supposed to use a cover when driving with a baby, but since my FIL was in the back monitoring temp, etc., I was okay with it. They also had the sound machine back there to help KK sleep, which, while helpful, made it hard to hear anything Grandma and Grandpa were saying to us upfront.
While KK took some solid naps, KJ fell asleep for about 20 minutes the whole drive. He did great except for about 10 minutes from the Airbnb when he started screaming, “get out.” haha,yes that is what we all want!
We stayed at the Wavepool Airbnb, which was just “okay.” Unfortunately, there were many false advertisements in his pictures; there was an issue with the cleaning service, sand in the couches, and no dressers to unpack. That being said, the decor was adorable, and it had a relaxed atmosphere, a washer/dryer, a full kitchen, and most things we needed for the beach (chairs, etc.)
The listing said walking distance to the beach, which was misleading because it was more a rocky ocean area, not a sandy beach. I wouldn’t set up camp there all day, but it was good to stick your feet in for quick visits!
KJ immediately loved the beach (the first time he has ever seen it in person) and kept asking me where the whales were! (He LOVES whales ever since there was a whale on an episode of Trash Truck.)
So, the second day we were there, we drove to a beach in Carlsbad, about 8 minutes away.
Beach baby! And KJ put his beach set his grandparents got him from Costco to good use!
If I’m being totally honest, this first beach trip with the babe was a little stressful for me.
Unlike KJ, he doesn’t love the front carrier. I think because he doesn’t take a pacifier, he is too close to the milk source without being on it? I don’t know. KJ would fall asleep pretty quickly in the front carrier, whereas KK not so much, but I gave it a go anyway!
Eventually, I did bundle him and get him to sleep, though (#nursetosleep.)
My swimsuit is from Kindred Bravely. It made it pretty easy to nurse!
The next day we walked from the Airbnb to the Oceanside Beach Pier. It was about a 20-minute walk in which KJ refused to ride in the stroller and wanted to be carried the whole time, mainly by Grandma.
I basically wore Amazon breastfeeding shirts and Amazon shorts the whole time I was there! I’ve been not wanting to invest a lot in clothing that will just be covered in the baby poop and spit-up phase.
Pelican pictures!
Donuts on the pier! KJ wasn’t sure about it since there weren’t sprinkles, but he warmed up!
After this, we walked home and spent the rest of the day at the house. Unfortunately, KJ had just dropped his nap two weeks before this (not my choice in timing, I promise but, it had to be done), so he was a bit of a mess in the afternoons. We tried to get some car naps in during the afternoon to help out, but it was what it was, so we hung out at the Airbnb while enjoying some grown-up drinks.
The next day we (my MIL, KJ, and I) walked to the coffee/breakfast place near the Airbnb when KK was taking his first nap. KJ spotted sprinkle donuts (his favorite), so we got him one and enjoyed it while we sat by the ocean!
We also went over and said hello to the ducks and squirrels that live in the park!
On the last day (the day before the drive home), we went back to the Carlsbad beach, but this time I was prepared. We brought the stroller, so when the baby needed to nap, Mr. Hungry and I walked along the paved area of the beach with him while he slept for almost an hour! Meanwhile, KJ played with his Grandma and Grandpa in the water and the sand! Then when he woke up, I nursed him and made him a baby fortress to protect him from the wind.
And he was happy as a clam!
In hindsight, one of those inexpensive baby tents would have made a great investment!
The day we left was definitely “rough,” to say the least. KJ was immediately thrown off by all the packing up, and then the drive home took 9.5 hours (Drive there took 6.5-7, and for reference, Oceanside is about 5-6 hours from Phoenix.) Between stopping to nurse KK and KJ screaming for the potty then refusing to get back in the car, it wasn’t the best experience ever, that’s for sure. BUT, that’s traveling with kids, though! It’s to be expected!
PS Our packing cubes I ordered were SO helpful, especially once we realized there were no dressers in the Airbnb. We used these ones for the kids and these ones for us. Super happy with that purchase/investment for future trips!
A few other things I brought that were REALLY helpful:
- Double stroller
- Portable sound machine
- Hatch Sound Machine/night light (we have two, and we brought both since KJ slept in my in-laws’ room)
- Pack n Play for KJ to sleep in (he just barely fit.)
- Portable Chicco Bassinet for KK to sleep in, which he slept eight-plus hours 2 out of the three nights!
- Pop it books
- iPad with favorite preloaded shows
What I wish I brought:
- My Bjorn bouncer and the toy attachment
- Toys from home (other than car toys), so we ended up buying some
What I should have skipped:
- Pacifiers – KK doesn’t take them anyway.
Yes, team #nursetosleep!