West Coast D Mamas: Seattle

Our final destination.

After 3 days of driving, and too many pit stops to count, we had arrived.  Within the first few days, we drove to my husband's home town (more on that later), strolled around Pike's Place, and enjoyed a leisure boat ride around Lake Union.

Ah, but one of the most exciting highlights was yet to come.

Meeting Jen and Sarah!!!!!!


I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!  (It's totally okay to start jumping up and down, btw.)


Jen has mentioned Victrola Coffee many times on her blog.  It's a place close to her heart, partly because she and her husband used to own it.  We decided to meet there first and then figure out what to do next based on the weather.  I was almost as excited to visit Victrola as I was to meet these two amazing D Mamas!!!!!

And I have to admit that their chai was THE BEST I've ever had.

There was a HUGE dog outside when we walked up.  Of course that meant my girls got distracted for a few minutes.  As we were standing there, I looked up...and JEN WAS SITTING RIGHT IN THE WINDOW!!!  She was RIGHT THERE!!!!  So I hurried my girls along and went inside as fast as I could...hugs, more hugs...totally amazing.  A short time later, Sarah and her boys joined us, and I could hardly believe it was happening!!!!!

Since the weather was cooperating, we decided to walk a few blocks to Volunteer Park.  It was beautiful.  The stroll was beautiful, the laughing children, the smell of fresh air....the fact that I was going for a walk with JEN AND SARAH!!!  

Beautiful.

Everyone got along famously.  The park was awesome...Addison, Ethan, and Isaac were incredible boys.  It was so much fun to sit back watching my girls play with their boys.  

We chatted for hours.  Thank goodness Jen brought along a bag of GF snacks!  I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I didn't pack a lunch...I guess I was just too excited!!!  But Jen totally saved the day.  Thanks for helping me find the other half of my brain, my friend :)

My girls were flabbergasted by the trees.  Tiara immediately began collecting sticks so we could roast marshmallows in our back yard once we got home to AZ.  Meanwhile, Tink made an AMAZING discovery that she was over-the-top excited about....

"MOM!!!!  I just saw a RAT WITH A TAIL...and it was climbing up a TREE!!!!!!!"

Okay.  So my girls don't see squirrels much.  At all.  EVER. 

WE'RE BLOGGERS...and we live FAR FAR APART...yet...there we were.  The same.  At the park.  Just being moms...meters beeping, lancets clicking, carb counting....

Magic.

PS -- Here's a recap of the Summer 2011 West Coast D Mama Meet Ups...

Meri in California

Chasiti and Joanna in Portland

Heidi, Chasiti, Denise, and Bonnie in Vancouver

Jen and Sarah in Seattle

West Coast D Mamas: Breakfast In Vancouver!

A few weeks before we set out on our road trip, I mentioned on Facebook that I'd be driving through the Portland area.  My awesome pal Heidi, connected with me immediately to make plans for a meet up.  She even went the extra mile to create a Facebook Event Page to invite others!  As if that wasn't gracious enough, then she offered to come pick up the girls and I for breakfast, found a place where we could get gluten free crepes, AND drive us around town to check out a few hot spots.

After meeting Meri and dinner in Portland the night before, I was really excited for more D Mama lovin'. My girls were equally excited about finding new friendships, and they couldn't wait to see what the day had in store.  When I saw Heidi pull up, we hugged like old friends, and loaded everyone into her car as if we had been BFF's forever.  It was fun to chat and drive!

Soon after, we were pulling up to Mon Ami where I was greeted by smiling faces from Chasiti, Denise, and Facebook pal, Bonnie.  I KNOW!!!!!  IT WAS SO COOL!!!!!!  Bonnie even brought along a bag of gluten free snacks and bottled water for the rest of our road trip (AND WE NEEDED THEM!!!  Thanks, Bonnie!)

The gluten free crepes were FABULOUS and the company was amazing.  The kiddos pretty much took over the joint, and the staff graciously tolerated them while the five of us chatted over breakfast and hot drinks (I had a CHAI!!!! YUMMO!!!)  I swear it was as if these mamas and I met up every week.  Like this was "our place" or something.  It hardly felt like the first time we were meeting.  We're connected at the heart, I guess.

Tink's point of view!

 Following breakfast, we went to a park to give the kids a chance to run around.  I absolutely loved every minute with these ladies and their wonderful children.

ANIMAS PING INSULIN PUMPS REPRESENT!

Tiara and Alivia became attached at the hip, and saying good-bye was a little hard for both of them.

On the way home, Heidi took me to Lingonberries Market...A COMPLETELY GLUTEN FREE GROCERY STORE!!!!  I found some yummy treats that I haven't been able to find in my area, more specifically Glutino Chocolate Covered Pretzels.  After breaking down and buying one bag of chocolate, Heidi treated us to the white ones too.  

See?  TOTAL BFF behavior :)

Thanks for the memories, Mamas.

We'll have to do it again soon.

Same time.  Same place.

PS -- Here's a recap of the Summer 2011 West Coast D Mama Meet Ups...

Meri in California

Chasiti and Joanna in Portland

Heidi, Chasiti, Denise, and Bonnie in Vancouver

Jen and Sarah in Seattle

West Coast D Mamas: Dinner in Portland

A little over 2 years ago, I found Chasiti's blog for the first time.  Her daughter had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about a week prior and, like many D Mamas I know, she turned to the computer keyboard as a way to sort through the emotions, find community, and learn from other's experiences.

Chasiti quickly became a special cyber pal...I remember when Alivia started pumping, when Chasiti was accepting name submissions for her 3rd child ("Baby A"), and when they bought their first home.

As soon as I hinted on Facebook that I might be passing through her area, she jumped at the opportunity to organize a gluten free dinner meet up.  I was very thankful for a pal who was willing to research gluten free restaurants and go to the trouble of double checking with them to make sure cross contamination risks would be minimized.  She also helped to put the word out about the time and place....all we had to do was show up!

Once again, we had been driving all day in our PJ's so we needed to get changed before showing up.  A quick stop at a gas station provided everything we needed to freshen up, and then we were on our way to find a parking spot.

As soon as I walked into Mississippi Pizza, I recognized her immediately.  It was crowded, but I could hardly wait to put my arms around her!  She had been saving some tables for us -- the kids quickly started getting to know each other at one table while we looked over the menu at a second.

{Sidenote:  I MUST tell you guys how amazing the gluten free crust was.  It was SO GOOD!  If you're on a GF diet and are planning to visit Portland, I would HIGHLY recommend making a pit stop to try it!!!!}

A few minutes later, I recognized my Facebook pal, Joanna walking through the door.  Joanna has celiac as well.  I was thrilled to swap GF stories with her while the kids were giggling and laughing over at their table.  Everyone got along fabulously!  Mississippi Pizza even offered a gluten free dessert, and Joanna and I were PLEASED to give it a try :)  {YUMMY!!!!!}

It was so exciting to share a meal with these awesome families!

Recently, Sugar has been sensitive about wearing her pump site or CGM sensor on her arms. She used to wear them there without much issue, but recently has preferred to avoid her arms. After seeing Alivia's arm site, she agreed to use her arm at the next site change....and we actually ended up using her arms for the ENTIRE vacation!  Thanks, Alivia!

Meeting D Mamas along the way really made this trip a memorable experience.  As if meeting Meri and then having dinner with Chasiti and Joanna wasn't enough....stay tuned....because there are MORE meet ups to come!

PS -- Here's a recap of the Summer 2011 West Coast D Mama Meet Ups...

Meri in California

Chasiti and Joanna in Portland

Heidi, Chasiti, Denise, and Bonnie in Vancouver

Jen and Sarah in Seattle