Summer of Love, Road Trip Style

Oh hello blogonets. I guess I must have had a two month gig eh? Sigh. It was a good gig, a bit weird because it was a new agency (to me) but I think I did a good job, got the project out on time and on budget, and everyone had smiles and hugs so it couldn't have gone that bad. When the crochety old lady who was threatened by you on the first day gives you a big-busted squeeze on your last day, then maybe you did ok turning them around.

I was really missing my baby time though so having a break now was A-ok with me. First it was a holiday week (FOURTH of July), so motoboy was home from work too for half the week, and then we had his mom in for a week (which was only a little challenging - we are close friends but she also is exhausting with the talking), and then I left for Ohio for a week.


Me and baby on solo road trip down the road to o-HI-o! Oh I was a bit nervous about the drive. Because sometimes when I have a road trip to do I wake up that morning and I'm all jangled nerves and funny tummy and tired and anxious and I don't feel like going (maybe hungover, c.f. all of my 20s and early 30s). But this was the first morning I had been alone with baby in weeks. And the car was packed from the night before, I had a good rest, an ipod full of jams and podcasts, and a sweet little silver car with great air conditioning. No more hungover trips in old jalopys. Growing up can be a nice thing.

I was so proud of myself for finding the little snacky cup thing that toddlers can eat out of. That occupied her all the way through Chicago traffic. She doesn't really nap unless I am hitting 30 RPMs (is that what the 3 means?) so I knew I needed something. She had her water sippy there too, and we were listening to good music, and then I start picking up speed after the Skyway and we're in Gary and BLERG. She throws up all over herself in the back. I'm watching her to make sure she's not choking and watching this road with its narrow fast lanes. Shit. And I'm in Gary, IN. Which smells like sewage and coal and is only famous for casinos and the airport that once had a Hooters airline. I'd really rather get on the tollway and hit a nice rest stop. I tell her so and we continue on, since she doesn't seem at all bothered. Except one of her hands is in the air because she is contemplating the puke on it. When we finally get a toll ticket to enter 80/90 I look back and...she's asleep. Just sleeping there, with the aroma of thrown up pomegranate happy puffs all around. And I make the executive mama decision to let her take this sleep. And then we will have the clean up at a proper rest stop.

So when we stop I have to take all of her clothes off. I consider putting them in the trunk but we've just started this journey and there's another 4-5 hours to go. I throw them in the bin. I put the naked baby in the front seat to play around and use about 20-30 wet wipes to clean the car seat out as best as I can. Walking through the rest stop with a naked (diapered) baby felt very Indiana to me, but she had no idea and was still smiling and charming her way through everything. People often smile at her when I can't see her face because she's flashing dimples left and right.

The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. I had to give her fast food chicken nuggets for lunch. But I realize I like sharing kids meals with her (I'll take the drink and whatever she doesn't eat). I had a cooler of babas on the passeger seat and all the toys and books I was bringing for the week. So I could hand her a book or a toy, and at the appropriate hours something even better (BABAS ROCK). A's rule of thumb to stop every 2 hours no matter what for freshening up was spot on. We got into Cleveland to see a delighted family and had a great few days there. I think this baby has single handedly made my entire family happier and easier to be around. She's like an angel from heaven to save us from our cynical dark selves. And then the two hours to Columbus seemed like a breeze. Had a blast with my bestie and her two girls and husband who ADORE Aoife, and motoboy joined us with Elsa, and he raced and we cheered him on and I drank white wine on a suburban patio and watched my daughter play in a sprinkler. Does summer get any better?

The ride back up 30 through Ohio was so pretty to start with. And then in Indiana its just eye crossingly boring. So boring? I wish we could just 'hide' Indiana like you can in an excel spreadsheet and then it would be easier to get to Ohio whenever I want. Oh well. Some things you have to work for and then they are all the better earned when you get there.

Next up, solo flying with baby - and yes I was too cheap to buy her a seat! Good thing she just entered her clingy phase. I might be able to keep her on my lap if I only play photos of her dada on my ipad. Seems to be all she wants to do right now. When there are no other little 'cousins' to play with. A week in Maine, why yes thank you! I will be celebrating my Bday with dear A, and can't wait for our wee ones to all be in the same room together. (Also the going out on the town, and the birthday dinner, and the pool and the chickens and the beautiful Maine stuff.)

E

Family Vacation Station

We did it! We had a totally American good old fashioned family vacation, just the three of us, to a city we have never been to, that didn't involve visiting other family, motorcycles or boats. And we had a blast.

I guess I kind of get it now why families do this. In the hectic day-to-day world of work, busy weekends, and personal obligations, you need to actually pack your bag and leave town in order to just look at each other and pay attention without thinking about what else you should be doing.

Sure its a lot of work with a one year old (especially when you are too cheap to buy the extra seat - why not take advantage of the rules?), but I actually found it more pleasant to travel with her than without her.

First, you get the family boarding lane for airport security, where you can bypass the masses and line up with the sweet old ladies in wheelchairs, who, if not totally senile, just looooove wittle babies and will keep you all entertained in line.

Then, when you get to the boarding gate, you can let little walker stretch her legs and run around a bit, maybe meet another cute one year old named Wyatt who would become her bestie for the entire trip there. Trade travel tips with other parents while you down your airport beer. (Always take the airport beer option.)

THEN, if you are on a decent airline, you get to bypass 65% of the population by boarding early. On Southwest this serves a good purpose because anyone who ends up next to us a) chose to do so willingly, or b) is the last person on the plane and can't complain.

Also, if your baby is well behaved and flashes dimples at every new person she meets, everyone will congratulate you on the behavior and demeanor of your baby while you travel. Anyone who doesn't is obviously an asshole.

The other surprise bonus is carrying a big stroller, which I insisted on for those all day walks around the city because then baby can sleep, and we can also change diapers in it. In the airport, you can put all your carry-on bags in the bottom of the stroller, check your big bags, and sail through the airport with ease, parting the seas of people with your giant pink stroller and be-dimpled baby.

We rented an airbnb space and a big old American car with a baby seat, so we had a fridge to put milk and beer and sundries in, a bath to clean up baby, and it was small enough that she could run around and we always knew where she was. I had some hairbands in my toiletry bag that I tied the cupboards together with.

But one lesson learned - might be worth it to get a babysitter for the wedding. Our friend Michelle got married and looked so beautiful but chasing after a new to walking toddler for 3 hours was really a distraction. Hard when you are out of town to arrange, but I will try next time for sure.  

Even though we argued about Matt's driving (Seattle is a very un-aggressive driving city and he is overly aggressive, and he also was not used to a brand new American car and its responsive breaks), we all agreed that we had a really great time exploring a new city and are looking forward to doing it again.

Maybe New Orleans? I hear its not 100% un-baby friendly!

And we gotta kid this kid used to travel, I think she is doing A-ok so far. (Thanks to Paula for the Yo Gabba Gabba tip.)

SAHM Again

Well, I did a good six month's stint there back at ye olde mothership. I was grateful for every renewal but I was starting to feel a bit too distanced. Especially after working one whole week and then going on my very first girl's weekend since bebe arrived, and then having to come home at 2am and go right back to work again. That was some freakin bull. I was a bit surprised to learn my gig was ending the next Tuesday at 4.30pm (even though I was really only booked through the end of that day), and then again, I needed some baby cuddle times STAT. And better to learn that your gig is over at the end of the day, so that you don't spend all day fretting and panicking trying to wrap up as much things as possible. Which is impossible anyway!

So here I sit, looking at airbnb options for our trip to Seattle next month, recovering from baby's first birthday party (keggers and Italian beef FTW!) and I am ok with being a stay at home mom for a wee while. Now, just to figure out how to get out of the house for a spell...

But the trip was good - I have to admit I had an undercurrent of anxiety the first few nights. I would wake up in the middle of the night just feeling sort of insecure. Is this some weird biological instinct that is implanted when mothers leave their babies, or am I some sort of big baby myself for being away from her? By the third day I was feeling better, missing her, but enjoying being able to explore Sonoma freely and relaxing with my lady friends. Unfortunately I got some major intestinal troubles the last night there (what, chicken wing and white wine dinner?) and had a very long day with the drive back to the city, the killing time over lunch and airport, and delayed flights and oooooh so sleepy from tummy waking me up before dawn. I tried to sleep as much as I could on the plane because I knew we weren't landing till after 1am and I had to work in the morning. I muddled on through, not knowing I would have the rest of the week off after Tuesday. If you can count having your in-laws in your house every day having the week off. They were great but definitely not quiet. 

Now I have everything. Quiet. Baby. One check still coming in. Shhhhh.

(But I need to work before my awesome nanny finds a new job. Damnit.)