Mexico, part uno

We left St. Louis on January 1 and flew to Cancun, Mexico. We actually stayed about an hour south of the airport at a resort in Puerta Aventuras. This whole stretch of the Mexican coastline is just one big string of resorts after another; I think we were at resort #34 of 43, or something like that.

We opted for an all-inclusive Apple Vacation, so one payment included our flight, our transfer to the resort, our resort stay, and all the food and drink we could consume at the resort (our particular resort had five different restaurants we could enjoy for free). It was easy to coordinate, but I'm not sure we'd do it again for any vacation over about three days. A couple of reasons why. First, the theme of an all-inclusive vacation really is quantity over quality. So, for example, you could have all the Corona you could drink, but if you wanted a nice glass of wine, you would have to pay extra. (Neither was particularly an issue for me, but you get the point.) And second, we tend to be somewhat active on vacation and so we wanted to go do things other than just sit on the beach or in the jacuzzi (which we did plenty of, don't get me wrong). But any excursion outside the resort cost extra money. A day of snorkeling, a day touring Mayan ruins, a day scuba diving -- all cost another $85 a person.

Anyway, I'll stop complaining now. We really had a great time -- the weather was warm, the sand was soft and white, the chocolate was readily available. It was a nice relaxing way to start 2007.

The view from the balcony outside our room:

The day we went snorkeling, we stopped at a sinkhole, formed by water erosion under the rock, eventually causing the surface to collapse and create this mini-lake.

One of the best meals we had on our trip was our lunch stop during the snorkeling tour--chicken, tortillas, homemade salsa, beans and rice. I think the guys managed to polish off an entire chicken by themselves!

We also snorkeled around inside a cave that was part of an underground river. Cold water, though our Mexican guide kept saying that the water was merely "refreshing."

My new favorite drug

I'm taking a water aerobics class for pregnant women. It's great. Buoyancy is a good friend to people with watermelons in their bellies. Plus the water is warm. And it's fun to share stories with other pregnant people. Alan gets tired of me rehashing the newest ache or twinge I'm feeling, so it's nice to compare notes with other similarly-situated women.

Tonight, we sort of sounded like a bunch of old men comparing prostate exam scores. "Do your fingers go numb and wake you up at night?" "Yes, what are you taking for it?" "My doctor recommended Tylenol PM." "My legs really bother me at night." You get the idea...

My contribution to the discussion was about my newest favorite drug: Prilosec OTC. For the last several months, I've had fairly consistent heartburn and acid reflux. I started by eating Tums, and then I advanced to Zantac. But still I had problems if I didn't take the Zantac soon enough. So my doctor recommended (ooh... I sound like a commercial!) Prilosec OTC. It's a preventative acid reflux medicine that you take every morning instead of whenever you start to feel the burning sensation. I've been taking it for a week now, and it's fabulous. I haven't had any heartburn troubles.

And today--get this--I could actually drink Diet Coke! I haven't had a Diet Coke for 7 months. The queasiness of morning sickenss prevented Diet Coke drinking during the first trimeseter. And since then, the bubbles in Diet Coke have upset my tummy. I know, I sound like a real wuss. Frankly, I felt like a disgrace to my family. I come from a long like of diet pop drinkers. My Grandma came to visit us here in Tuscola and, after noticing our constant guzzling of Diet Coke (Diet Pepsi for Alan) bottles, commented that we "ate and drank more than anyone she knows." When my Grandpa was living in a hospice center during the last week of his life, he could no longer take his medication or eat any food, but still requested a Diet Coke. We're hard core. And today, thanks to Prilosec OTC, I have redeemed myself and can stand proud again in the branches of my family tree.

In other baby-related news, we spent the weekend putting together baby furniture, rearranging the upstairs, and getting a nursery set up. At last, the baby has a place to sleep (and not just the cardboard box lined with an old towel and sitting by the radiator).

And, just for fun, here's me, as of last week (week 34 out of 40):

Pictures from vacations past

We just got back from Mexico last night. We had a fabulous time, and I'll get some pictures together soon. But for now, as I'm taking a break from piles of laundry and mail, enjoy some photos from our various summer trips.

When we were in Atlanta for a legal writing conference, we took a Segway tour of the city. It took a while to get used to driving them, but we covered lots of ground and saw some neat things. (And yes, I'm the nerd with the Segway "fanny pack" and her helmet on backwards.)



This is the end table Alan made at woodworking camp in Tennessee. Lovely, isn't it? (Better be, for what that sucker cost!)


After wood camp, we spent a day celebrating our anniversary at Dollywood. Super cheesy, but lots of fun. What was missing, though? Dolly impersonators! Calling all busty blondes -- you are needed in Pigeon Forge, TN.

In South Dakota, we participated in the Deadwood Mickelson trail marathon and half-marathon. Alan was lucky enough to run into (read: stalk all morning) Lawrence Block, one of his favorite authors! And even after race-walking the marathon, Mr. Block was kind enough to pose for a photo. (Or perhaps just too tired to get up and move when Alan and I accosted him.)

Another highlight from our South Dakota trip -- Alan got to drive a Bobcat. I'm not 100% certain of the allure of a Bobcat, but he was super-excited to learn that friends of the friends we were staying with actually had a Bobcat parked in his front yard.

Mexico pictures and stories to follow soon!