Life's a (Cold, Cold) Beach

Our Florida vacation, a.k.a. the festival of sleep deprivation with ocean sounds in the background, is winding down. Today, we'll be hitting the dog beach one more time, then starting to pack up.  We have excellent timing, since we've been experiencing Sarasota through record lows and occasional freezing temperatures - and tomorrow, the day we leave, it's supposed to be lovely and in the high 70s.  Well, we knew it was a gamble when we planned it!  It has still been nice to be able to look right out our front window and see the beach and the Gulf.  We've gotten out for numerous walks, especially at sunset, and the hard-packed sand here has been great to run on.  So, despite the temperatures, we've managed to make the best of it.  Luckily, we had some cold-weather gear with us!

So, about that sleep deprivation.... Zain's been going through a spell where he wants to feed every two hours, all day and night and going to sleep particularly easily.  Probably a growth spurt.  This has made for some very tired mommies.  Things seem to be turning around a bit in the last couple days, though.  We've had to enact a couple new strategies that seem to be working.  After trying every swaddle blanket known to man, we seem to have found one (the Miracle Blanket) that keeps his hyperactive arms under control (and I'm sure potential babysitters will find it a little palatable than duct taping him).  We've had to supplement with formula this week because Shif just can't keep up with demand (he drank 9 oz in one sitting the other day) and so she can get at least some sleep at night.  We found a decent formula here that he actually doesn't seem to find.  Shif's also eating fenugreek, drinking Guinness, and getting massages - all purported milkmakers.  

Mommy instigating

Bye-bye, Florida...