7QTs - The Ides of March... on the blog

Linking up with Kelly ... a reckoning for a time marked by sickness and a whole lotta busy

---1---

Where to begin? There's been so much going on and so many times I have wanted to sit down and knock out a blog post on it all but then something else pops up so I'll just start with March 1 and we'll go from there. 

On March 1st about 10:30 am Lee called me to tell me he wasn't feeling good and he was going to bed. Not a major deal except for the fact I've never known him to do that. Then it dawned on me, he should probably get tested for the flu and after failed attempts to call him (he was sleeping) I storm in at 12:45 for lunch and announce he must go to immediate care. He says he doesn't want to. I told him all the more reason to go and he finds his way out of the house. By 3 he's got a positive flu test and a prescription for Tamiflu. Again, not a huge deal except for the fact everyone in the house might get it AND I'm leaving for China in 36 hours. 

I load up the troops and make a quick exit to avoid any further exposure and we head to our normal swim practice and lessons and I have a mountain to ponder over the next several hours. Finally I make the decision to not go to China because I'm sure if I went every single kid would have gotten sick and I couldn't really leave Jibbe with all five kids for five days. Lee would basically be contagious until the day before I was to return home so he was out. 

Disappointed but at peace with the decision. 

After swim we went for ice cream (before dinner) because someone was celebrating an AR goal met and Lent was upon us and we needed to get it in even if Papa could not join us. 

E got 6 toppings instead of 3 because she went to swim 4 times that week

Celebrating 

A got some sour patch things to go on his which was gross

C and I shared which I was really leery about because I was like what if we have the flu? 

Before leaving to walk next door (in the rain) for pizza, this guy came up to me and gave me $20 and said he thought I needed it. It was a humbling and strange interaction because I really had no idea how to respond except graciously. I'm trying not to overanalyze the whole exchange and I'm holding out to see when I can pass it on. 

We stayed the night a Jibbe's which in the morning turned out to be terrible because C was up before 5:30 and everyone was up before six. I fumigated the house 3 times before bringing everyone back Saturday night - oh and Lee was banished to our bedroom. 

---2---

That week was interesting to say the least. We still had the normal swim and AHG and school but solo parenting is not for the faint of heart. Plus being nervous about kids getting sick plus arguing your husband back to bed because he's still got the flu but he feels better? 

It was Dr Seuss week at school and C showing off her whacky hair when she takes her hairtie out. 

Wednesday was indeed whacky. A was pumped. I did his hair. We made a whacky boy outfit - which I've never had to do before. Then as we are pulling into the parking spot at school he said his tummy hurt and 15 seconds later I knew why. I found a mom to hustle M and her friend into school. I did a driveby with C then A and I shot home. A was banished to the kid bathroom tub with the iPad and Papa manned him from the next room over while I went to work. 

I did get a pic of M's whackiness after school. The van had been thoroughly fumigated and sprayed down and I was glad that I hadn't put A's clean carseat back in the van - it had been thrown up on several weeks before just not by him. 

Lee went to get the big girls from school on Wednesday - because he was technically not contagious and he was exhausted - and he THOUGHT he was going to serve at the morning Ash Wednesday masses.... silly Papa

R and M and me went to Presanctified Liturgy that night as C is a loony tune, A was sick and E said she didn't feel good. It was a good reminder Lent had indeed begun whether we were ready or not. And I LOVE Presanctified Liturgy so much even if it crazier now with kids - I hope one day they'll appreciate it as much as I do. 

---3---

So to recap the sickness, Lee did go back to work Thursday and took it easy. A must have gotten sick one more time because he spent Friday at work with me. Papa did get his energy back to take the girls to the Battleship with AHG that weekend which had been on the calendar since August. While they may have been able to survive without me, I still believe it was the best decision to not go to China - even though I missed out on hotpot - and other things too. I am not 100% sure, but I have a hunch, if I had gone Lee would have been up doing stuff too soon and not consumed copious amounts of elderberry syrup and I don't know that he would have been able to make the battleship trip - which would have been a major letdown for him and the girls  - since they missed a big swim meet to go on that trip. 

Also, I was so happy to get back into my bed. I couldn't sleep in the room with C because she wakes up and chats in the night so I was on the couch for a week. Friday night I stripped the whole bed and washed everything and it was a glorious sleep - plus the couch was super sunk by the end of the week. I rotated which way I slept and it still was sunken. 

---4---

Random kid news:

While E and R and Papa were on the battleship trip, A put himself in his (old) crib for a nap. He and I were warring about him laying down for rest and finally he stopped coming out but this is how I found him.

 

C helping herself to grapes before Presanctified the second week of Lent - when we all went together. She was very pleased with herself.

M passed the swim test at the Y last Friday! That gained her lots of confidence and access to the waterslide - which she took advantage of this week. She is quite determined to swim in lane one on the swim team and if she can get a lap of backstroke in she'll be able to! Also, she's lost not one but two teeth and that hurts my mama heart to the core. 

---5---

Also in last week's news...

The girls had etiquette class at AHG. They had pound cake and strawberries for dessert to practice using their placesettings. I found this hilarious because A. we gave up desserts for Lent (but of course we wouldn't refuse it if it were served because we fast in secret, right?) and B. there were strawberries and E claims she hates strawberries. They talked in class about eating what you are served and being gracious and trying food even if you don't like it. She ate every single strawberry : ) 

R practicing her cutting skills. 

This picture doesn't do the evening justice because there was swim practice, soccer evaluations - which we stayed at for 15 minutes, then AHG. That's a whole lot of costume changes. 

---6---

This week proved to be just as action packed as the previous two...

Monday was soccer for everyone, except C, which was freezing and windy and Bible Study for Papa. Lee dropped C off at the field as well as dinner for us so he could go to church and everyone ate in between practice. I left E and R at their practice and went home and shower M, A and C. It was late and C was tired and acting a bit out of sorts but we reloaded and picked up E and R and walked in the door just after 8 only to have C get sick just after cross the threshold of the laundry room door. It was actually not a terrible place for her to get sick because in her carseat or in the crib would have meant stripping sheets or padding. I just herded everyone out of the laundry room sent them to brush teeth, to pray and to go to bed or do homework and I dealt with C and the mess. Big kids are great! I scrubbed the floor and the doors and good as new. 

The next day I had to wash my new (and only pair of) running shoes as they were victims of the night before so soccer cleats it was. 

C was fine after that but we laid low for the day and she was mad at me for not giving her milk. 

---7---

Last but certainly not least, a pleasant surprise for the week... 

I finally was ready to put A's carseat back in and this red lever that adjusts the recline of the seat broke off - it had broke off before and Lee fixed it but this time it was no fixing to it. I finally contacted Britax about what I could do. Want to know what they did? 

Sent us a whole new carseat.

I was shocked. Shocked. I think we had had the seat for about 2 years but no receipt needed. No explanation as to why/how it happened just a new seat and instructions for proper disposal of the old carseat. I'm still surprised and need to get rid of the old one. 

Diono vs Britax - A Carseat Review

In case you missed it, we got in to a bit of a car wreck as few weeks ago. It was not bad and thankfully no one was injured (I've since seen a few wrecks and realize ours could have been a lot worse).

The insurance adjuster said to get new carseats - yep 4 new cars - and they had to be comparable in price to the ones we were replacing. We had a Britax Frontier, Britax Marathon, Diono Radian RXT, and a Baby Trend infant carrier/bucket. The Diono was M's Christmas present. I wanted to try it last year because the major selling feature aside from the safety is that you can fit 3 across a bench of seats - aka the third row of a van. I don't remember having any issues with it. I liked the fabric and the harness so I was ready to replace our Britax carseats with Dionos.

Why?

Ha! Well I've been asked by more than one person how we are going to fit 5 kids in carseats in the van. I look around and ask myself, where's the 5th kid? I suppose in the future, at some point, we will have to cross that bridge so why not cross it now since someone else is paying.

Having the option to get 3 Dionos across the back row (when we needed the extra room) would be nice. Dionos have good safety ratings. Thinner carseats are way cheaper than a 15 passenger van. You know. So I ordered 2 Diono Radian RXTs as these are the ones that you can for sure get 3 across and 1 Diono Rainer - it is still slim and I was thinking I could still get 3 across with the two Radians.

Could I get them 3 across the third row?

Honestly, I have no idea.

I unpacked the Rainer - which is super heavy (just like a Britax) and got E fitted for the straps/harness/buckle. Fine.

Lug the seat out to the van finagle it into the third row which is a challenge with the 2 middle row captains chairs. First I try installing the seat using the seat belt and threading it through the clearly marked belt path. I put my knee in the seat and get the seatbelt as tight as possible in the locked position. But the seat wiggled when I pushed it. And way more than the inch or so that is 'acceptable'. So I try and get the seatbelt tighter. The carseat still moves way more than it should (both on the top and bottom).

So then I forget the seatbelt and free up the LATCH connectors and try installing the carseat using LATCH. I again put all my weight into the carseat and pull the LATCH anchor belts (which are not independent of each other like the newer Britax LATCH anchors are). The carseat is sliding all over the seat and I cannot get the seat any tighter. Oh and did I mention that Lee wasn't home and I HAD to go to the store? Oh and my patience level is just about gone because I just spent $850 on carseats that won't get tight?!?!?

Maybe it is the factory made seat covers (thanks Uncle Kev) that are causing the slippage. I pull out all the stops and start over. I pull back the seat cover. I even get out the tether anchor to try and lock the seat in from the back. I thread the seatbelt through the belt path. Get it as tight as possible. The carseat is still sliding. My hope is the anchor tether so I get in the trunk and literally hang on the anchor tether to get it tight. Go back to test the seat and the flipping thing still is not tight. The back is tight but there is no way to get the base (the part that actually sits on the seat) to not slide. It is maddening and frustrating and 30 minutes later I still don't have a carseat installed!

Thank goodness for Amazon's return policy because these babies

are going straight back to where they came from. Plus the other one that need to get taped back up that's in the garage. A friend of mine has been on the phone several times with Diono with similar issue and she's returning hers too. 

And even if I happened to get all three in and secured I'd have to eventually take them out to rethread the straps as the kids grew. Britax you can adjust the harness height while they are installed (you cannot move the bottom buckle when installed just for the record)

Here's the icing on the cake. 

So I have to go shopping so I install the old carseats (in the newly cleaned van, hello crumbs!) and would you believe it took me less than 30 second to get the Britax Frontier Click-Tight install and NOT MOVING AN INCH. Seriously ZERO frustrations. And the Marathon (which does not have click-tight) with the 2 independent LATCH connectors, that took no more than 1 minute to install with no wiggle room. 

Long live Britax... At least in this house. 

A pyramid of Britax carseats : ) 

Oh and there's a cherry to top the whole situation off.

So we hit up Target to replace the BabyTrend infant bucket. I rolled in the BabyTrend stroller (that means I've got three walkers and the baby in the stroller) just to see if in the off chance the Chicco KeyFit would work in the BabyTrend stroller. That would be a heck-to-the-no answer. So BabyTrend. 

The individual carseats were about $125 for only the base and carseat. The combo stroller/carseats were $70 more. So I got one with the stroller and insurance and I would work out the difference. 

I finally unpacked the box the other day (because I've got loads of time on my hands to mess around with this stuff) and put the stroller together and noticed the carseat handle wasn't the usual triangle - which is what I really liked about BabyTrend. I was going to roll with it and just move on. But I kept looking at the carseat from the top and it looked weird. Like slanted or something. Something wasn't right. Lee looked at it and agreed something was off but maybe it was molded that way? 

No way. They wouldn't mold a carseat to be asymmetrical. 

I got a ruler out and didn't the patience to take a bunch of measurements. I was going to keep the carseat until I realized I could visually test it.

Bam! The left side was not sitting flat on the counter and the right side was resting quite nicely on it. Just call me the carseat sleuth!

I like how there is a note that says to NOT return it to a retail store because they won't be able to help BUT too bad. It is going back. I'm leaning toward the Chicco KeyFit because they have raving reviews on Amazon but the jury is still out. I'll keep you posted. 

In the meantime I've got a Diono to box up and tape up and three Britax boxes to recycle at le dump. 

I'm so tired of looking at carseats and boxes. Though I will say, I am so grateful no one was hurt because I have seen and heard about some pretty nasty car wrecks these past few weeks. Makes me seriously consider putting my phone in the passenger floorboard just so I am not tempted to touch it AT ALL while driving. 

7 QTs - Red, White, and Blue Edition

--- 1 ---

{Here's to Papa...}

Lee - Good thing its not bath night for you Chicky
Me - No, I'll take a shower if I want to
Lee - No I mean for you giving the girls a bath
Me - {Eye roll} You know when we had J&J over for dinner HE said he would {in quotey fingers} "Help give S&J baths or just give them a bath"
Lee - Ha! He was jiving no doubt about it...

Bathwars abound!

--- 2 ---

I fired TruGreen this week. Seriously Seriously Seriously... They have come four times since we started in February and our yard is full of crab grass. I mean even E and R can pull up the easy weeds. Crab grass is impossible to pull up and kill in season. Those crazy people at TruGreen could NOT even get the local office on the telephone - for a week! {Eye roll} Well good thing Mr. I-don't-give-the-kids-baths has a nifty little spreader attachment for his mower so he's going to be my new TruGreen. Or if I get super desperada next year I'll get on the thing and figure out how it works.

Its worth mentioning that the one single time I drove one of Lee's mowers I broke some belt piece on it so the blade would not go down. He was out of town. It was fantastic riding around like I was on a four wheeler except at a safe speed. It was not fantastic telling him about it when he got home from his trip : )
                            

--- 3 ---

Despite the monsoon like conditions we have experienced here I actually went on a walk around out neighborhood. I LOVE that I can actually walk in our neighborhood - as opposed to the 2 lane speedway we lived off of before. I felt like I was walking like I was 36 weeks pregnant - not a great feeling. Left me wondering how I would feel when I am actually 36 weeks pregnant and how in the world I am going to do this crazy half marathon a few months after baby #3 comes. I need songs to add to my motivational playlist. Ready. Set. Suggestions por favor!

--- 4 ---

A view from the front... Last week we went out to dinner - 5 adults so we all could fit comfortably into the vann-o. I had to take out both carseats... of course... but I put E's in the third row so I would only have to fix one in the morning (which was ingenious because that morning as we were running late {shocking I know} I totally forgot how annoying installing carseats can be. 

                                   

ANYWAYS... we have left E in the back to kind of get used to reaching through to the third row and also as a way to sublimity convince Lee I am not crazy for wanting to have the second row as - infant carrier - middle seat - take out captain's chair. Don't worry its totally working and I am either about to take out that captain's chair now or put E back into it.

--- 5 ---

I need to do a whole 4th of July recap - kind like I need to do a whole post on the zoo and E's 3rd birthday. Anyway, we went to a baseball game the night before to see fireworks. My assuming self thought R would be asleep by 9ish - she goes to bed at 6:30ish normally. Well I walked for 1.5 hrs around that stadium with the stroller and by 10:15 I was walked out and R was NOT asleep. 

So we left... without seeing fireworks : ( 

Next day we went to Lee's mom's to go swimming. Then we paraded up to the Parade in Castalia. Next year we are bringing a tent and a cooler because it was insanely hot and the food was pitiful. Lee's mom and brother came over for dinner not long after we got home. 

We have fireworks DVRed for E to watch with us sometime. Next year I vow to have Red White and Blue outfits for the kids and some sort of Red White and Blue food/dessert SOMETHING. I was not getting that patriotic feeling without the Red White and Blue... 

                                

--- 6 ---

I am kind of not in a blogging mood now. E was up at 4:15 with a "Mama my sheets are wet"... She had been doing really well with undies at night BUT I just knew last night when she went to bed early and exhausted that she would have an accident. Its back to the diapers for a week... I left the house at quarter to eight this morning dragging so now 6 hours later... A nap might be in my very near future...

--- 7 ---

Have you checked out and entered my giveaway? If not you totally should because, A. Entering is super easy B. You probably know somebody who has a baby and breastfeeds (excuse me as I make some sweeping assumptions!) C. These onesies are SO SO SO CUTE!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

                               

The Pre-Trip

Once Lee and I finally decided (slash Lee made the executive decision) that we were going to go on our family trip my mind was in full speed how are we going to get through this safely and with some fun - relaxation was thrown out the window which we were okay with - it was not about us. We are not able to take time off during the summer because the pool business is in overdrive.

First things first. In order to get to the Dominican Republic it requires a passport - which requires pictures and paperwork. We went to Sam's and got the pics taken. Both girls have insanely crazy hair! Then I found the paperwork for the passports online. Now when applying for minors both parents must be there. So Lee and I finally found a day when we both could go and he was not working out of town. Enter the library. Two little hungry kids in a library... not the best combo. As it turns out I forgot their SSNs. Grrrrrrrrrrrr. Lee gets a paper that he gets notarized so he does not have to come back but gives his permission for passports for the girls. Excellent. I fill out the paperwork early one morning - since water was on the first set - I get the SSNs and voom voom off to the library, again... with two hungry kids - yes I went at lunch time because I have to work and the hours of operation of the passport people is minimal. Roll up to the counter. give E some pens and paper. R is on the floor - germs! "I'm sorry ma'am the forms must be filled out in black ink not blue" Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... Now if you have filled out one of those forms you will know how long it is and having to do two sets is no easy task. Enter screaming of both girls and hello shredded mama nerves.

So we eventually got through the passport issue and got them in the mail. Now, how to get the girls through the airport in a controlled - non-holligan like manner. I had seen these airport rolly things before and they look kind of ridiculously awesome. So I did some research on Amazon with the different brands. We have Britax carseats and that roller did not have the best reviews. The one I wanted was backordered so I settled on the GoGo Baby one. We tried it out at home and they worked. R's carseat is more like a recliner so it was a bit for cumbersome to get on. Let me tell you those things we lifesavers. No worries about if E was wandering anywhere. She was strapped in and going with us. E and R did have to get out through security which was fine. Also, getting through the aisle of the plane Lee and I did have to pick them up in the seats to get through the aisle but it was not bad. Another plus is that E and R did not have to sit in the germ-a-fied airplane seats. Yes I am a germ-a-phob but only with my kids.

Finally I knew I needed a master pack list. I did get motivated to make this and start assembling the bags before the day before we left. Everyone needed clothes for the trip, a bag for the airport, and a bag for Grammy's house since we were staying there the night before and going to the airport from their house. I am a bagger - I think better when things are compartmentalized. Oh and St. Nicholas had to come while we were at the beach too so that was more stuff!

Enter is everything that we did not plan for.

Saturday I was packed and ready. House was clean. Laundry was done. 1:05 Sunday morning. I wake up to - as usual - to check on the girls etc...I cover E up and R is set. Not more than 90 seconds later I hear cough cough over the monitor. Awesome E is sick ... like throwing up sick. She is distraught. Lee gets up cleans the sheets and I get E in the shower. E is upset that Nini is in the wash. She gets sick three more times... We made it to the bathroom the last two but trying to convince a toddler to get sick in the potty is not worth it - spread out towels and hope the clothes are spared. About 4 am I am on the floor in her room and Lee is back in bed. I am thinking it was the sub she ate for dinner because Lee and I had something different than her. So we are still okay.

7:00 AM Sunday - t minus 24 hrs til blastoff - Lee goes to church I stay home with the girls. There is nothing in the house because well we were not supposed to be here. Fortunately I have an awesome mother in law who bring formula for R and OJ for E. I start to feel horrible. I turn on PBS and hope for the best by 10 I know I am getting sick too. E is better though and no fever but I start to get worried R might get it. As soon as Lee walks in the door from church I get in bed and hunker down. I just lay in bed wondering if we are going to even go on this trip. As my knees and back ache I am thinking not - but what a waste all the planning and packing would be.

Later that night Lee and I finish the final pack - in the off chance we do decide to go in the morning. I sit around and make sure everything that needs to go goes. and retreat downstairs because I cannot take it anymore. Lee goes out and get me a Gatorade - which I cannot even stomach. The trip is looking more and more doubtful as Lee heads to the couch for the night.

3:30 AM wake up call - living close to an airport is such a luxury sometimes. Lee feels fine. I don't feel horrible. R never got sick and E is on the mend so load em up and head out. The only think I can trace the sickness to is some cheese E and I had for lunch on Saturday because it was not the flu - neither of us had a fever and the sickness was over in 12 hours.

So the trip is not starting out on the best of feet but at least its a go.

More trip details forthcoming : )

Oooo forward facing carseat!

E is officially a forward facing passenger! Installation of the Britax was not s simple as thought but Lee got it done. I think she likes the change of scenery but not the fact we can see her all the time.

T-Minus 34 days...

Well well well... just pasted the "We'll see you in 35 days mark yesterday!" Better make that... please stay in for another 35 days mark so that we can get our lives reorganized mark! Had a bit of a nervous scare one night this week when I had some Braxtom-Hicks contractions - pretty much thought I was going to end up in the hospital that night. I did not have these contractions with E so I was kinda freaking out. I think it was also due to the fact that I wanted to go into labor with E (so that I would not have to be induced) but this time I was not ready to go into labor so I was trying to ignore the contractions and not really 'work with them.' Long story short baby #2 did not come (thank the Lord) and the next day at my OB appt he said I need to take it easy - less time on feet / carry E around less - like that is fair to her but she doing okay. 

In other news we have official close and move dates so that is very fun and exciting. I'll post pictures of the new house when its really ours. Good thing I'm not much into this whole nesting thing because there is nothing to nest around this house. Though I have been scoping out Craigslist trying to find a PBK glider - should have saved and spent the money on what I really wanted last time! and a crib/dresser set - either for E or new baby. I have found several I like but with the home purchase looming I am trying to be practical and wait out for the best deal possible.

I have Mommy-date - wait I mean - E has two playdates lined up for the weekend. We are going to lunch today with an MMO buddy - which I TOTALLY spaced out on earlier this week and felt like a complete moron. Fortunately mommies understand mommies but still this baby brain is getting to me! And after some plan changes we are going to meet E's baby shower friend for lunch. We we supposed to go down to Wilmington for the weekend but with vicious and impending illness we decided to keep the germ-ies to a mutual and public space. Basically we need to get the infant carrier and a few other odds and ends from some friends of ours who we have not seen in FOREVER! Also, this will be the weekend E gets to be a forward facer (yes I know I'm doing it early). I'll have to post pics of that because she is not going to know what to do with herself. She was forward facing for all of 15 minutes back in October when I did not want to fight with the Britax in someone else's massive SUV so I figured if we got in an accident we would totally win out and it was just to get pumpkins!

Many pics to follow. I guess I'll be doing an E update soon too!

Britax Sale!!!

Okay all you mamas who need/use convertible carseats - Listen up you need Britax and there is a great sale going on for Britax on Amazon and Target. No I am not an official spokeswoman for Britax but I would be. Britax are so easy to install/use. The straps are actually heavy fabric like regular seatbelt straps that you actually have to work at to twist and get tangled. They are super safe and now you can get a great deal on them.

I cannot say that we'll be getting one now because we are saving our pennies for that stroller and Baby #2 won't use a Britax convertible until Aug-Nov.-ish 2012 - but if you are in the market for a carseat go with the Britax - you will not be disappointed.

I need stroller advice/input

Okay so we are t-minus twenty weeks here and I need some good advice for a double stroller. We 1. really can only afford one and 2. really only have space for one - so it better be a good one. Let me preface this by saying that we use our stroller now with little E probably 5-sh times a week. She LOVES to go on walks and I think the walking 1ish mile per day has helped me keep this preggo weight in check - crucial!!!  So here are my options and my reviews of them -having not used one I need to hear from people who have used them...

Britax B-Ready with 2nd Seat

I am seriously considering a model like this Britax because it is a single inline stroller for two. It does not appear to be super bulky and I LOVE my Britax convertible car seat. I was looking at a Phil and Ted's model which is similar and it got horrible reviews on Amazon. There are no reviews for the Britax yet. Also, major drawback of this stroller is... it is $650 new! If I can find a decent one on Craiglists maybe might consider paying $300 - but I'm not sure. Definitely drawn to models like this because they seem the most practical but need some real time usage advice.

Baby Trend Double Stroller

Again this is another single inline stroller. I really liked my Baby Trend infant carrier so I definitely trust this brand. This stroller is much bulkier than the Britax. We have a Ford Explorer so I think we could fit it in the back but could be tight. I like this model over the Britax because once Baby K #2 is E's size then there is plenty of head room and lookout room for both kids - which is a legitimate concern. Another benefit is this model new is $200ish - much much more reasonable.

Dream on Me Double

I figured I throw this into the mix because it is in the $100 range and is very cost effective. It is clearly not practical until baby #2 can actually sit up and has major head control because there is no snap in option for the infant carrier like the two other models have. Also, I am not crazy about twice the width because going through a store and doorways cannot be easy.

Okay so ready, set, go... Illumine me with your double stroller wisdom : )

One Whirlwind of a Journey

Good times in NJ

Bagels!!!

I have been a bad family member for not posting this earlier, but here goes. Some time last fall I had this brilliant idea that Lee and I should tie in going to see my grandparents (E's great-grandparents) into a work trip. Why you may ask?

1. E is the first and so far only great-grandchild to my grandparents (that we know about... just kidding!!!)
2. Who wouldn't want to take a 7 month old on a 9-11 hour car ride depending on traffic?
3. I failed to mention the destination - New Jersey. Clearly, NJ is a great state to drive through in the middle of January and they don't have problems with snow/ice at all.

 I am going to try and hit the highlights of this trip and not dwell on some of the more frustrating details - because I never do that. Here goes...

Its bagel time

The trips starts off with a bang. E and I went to check out a Mother's Morning Out (MMO) program before we got on the road. And of course, when we get home to pack up and head out lo and behold, she pee-ed through her diaper and clothes and her car seat is wet!!! Awesome-ness. So, first text/call is to my sister-in-law (of course) because she is the Queen of all thing Britax. After that minor mishap is dealt with, E and I get on the road with a super great friend of my mother-in-law (she knitted E this amazing blanket - I'll have to do a post on that. She is also helping me with the stocking). Me, E and V are headed up to DE - or Delaware - not to be confused with Dela-what and Dela-who. The trip in somewhat uneventful. E is a trooper in the car and when Mommy remembers that the horn does in fact wake her up, she is an excellent car sleeper. I have this really good habit of honking at bad drivers because I think it is a public service to tell people that they are being morons on the road and not only endangering their lives but mine too.

We make it to DE in record time (given we have the Beebster). No problems with roads, weather or traffic. It is frigid there though. Probably in the 'teens in terms of the temp and there are massive piles of snow. Lee and my mother-in-law are already at my mother-in-law's cousin's house. We have a nice time that night and everyone loves watching E and loving her up!

The next morning is is about and literally 10 degrees outside - I could feel my nose hairs freezing when I breathed in (TMI?). We packed up and headed out for NJ. Gotta love that Turnpike. No, seriously there are only 16 exits or something like that and the rest areas are in the middle of the highway so there is no question or any possible way to get lost. We make it up to the Wood with our trusting GPS and head to my grandparents house. Lee and I were talking and I think it had been 8 or 9 years since I had been up there last.

My grandparents were super happy to see us and had tea and snacks ready. My grandma had one of my baby toys stashed away. I'll have to post a pic of it because I don't think I took a pictures of it while we were there. After snacks we headed over to my uncle's house who graciously hosted us for two night. Special thanks to my cousin who gave up his room - he slept in the basement which is strikingly similar to what my brother does when he is home.

Katie and E playing during the Jets game

Sunday we went hunting around for a Ukrainian church - only about fifteen minutes away (I wish our church was 15 minutes from our house). Temp when we left was about 5 degrees. I love it when older ladies come up to me and start speaking in Ukrainian - nod and smile, nod and smile. We also were treated to a trip to the Deli and got some Product (otherwise known as the best potato salad in the world). Dinner that night was AMAZING. My mom and all of her siblings are very talented in the kitchen. There was a small gathering to watch the Jets game - they lost but it was a good run for them. Also, my cousin who is my age made the trek in from NYC to see us. That was awesome and we got to meet her BF. We said our goodbyes before bed because between work and school everyone was gone when we left.

Me, E and Megan!!!

Only regret was not taking more pics. My grandparents were not in the picture taking mood so I did not get a pic with them and E - well not a good one.

On to Atlantic City for the Pool and Spa Show. Another 2.5 hour car ride which was a sleeper for E - and we made it. It was the first time I had been to AC and I don't think anything can really prepare you for it. We got situated our rooms without too many problems. There was a welcome party that night we we loaded E up in the Beco Baby carrier (lifesaver!!!). We get there and after the ridiculously long line the security guy says "No one under the age of 21 is allowed in." So I give him my ID but he was not talking about me - he was talking about the beebster. Really, really??? Clearly she is not going anywhere in the Beco, but I was not in the mood to argue so whatever. We had a horrible time finding a place to eat with a baby so we just ordered room service.

Next day we walked around the show with the bibis in her stroller which was great. It was interesting and E got to look at everything!!! Well as it turns out there was an impending snow storm the next morning - when I was planning on heading out so change of plans. Call up a super great friend of mine Mary in DC and see if E and I could crash at her place. Of course she said yes! E and I headed out mid afternoon for the 5 hour trek to DC --- in the hopes we would miss DC rush hour traffic.

Now GPSs are funny things! Whenever there is new construction this presents a huge problem for the driver and the GPS. Well GPS is not the most updated one and it took me on country roads for the first 90 minutes which was horribly frustrating. 4.5 hours later E and I make it to DC without a problem. She slept for some of the way. We get to Mary and Luighi's and E eats dinner and unwinds s bit and I put her in the pack and play for bed. No problem right? Yeah right!!! An hour later she is still howling. This was a problem for several reasons:

1. I have no idea how long she is going to do this.
2. I know Mary, Luighi and I will not sleep in there basement apartment with the noise
3. I don't want the upstairs guys to get annoyed with a screaming baby at 10:30

So what is the solution... pack everything back up and head home. This is the four place that E has been in 6 nights and she probably was not thrilled about it. I fuel up the car and get a Mountain Dew and Peanut Butter M&Ms for me and make the 4 hour ride home. We roll in at 2:30 AM and we crash... until about 7 when E decided it is time to wake up. That next day was a blur. It was a whirlwind of a trip but would definitely do it again!!!

A few of my favs...

This post I will digress from Bibita details and mention a few things that make my life a bit easier...

1. Grandmas who shower the bibis with lots of love and attention (and lots and lots of clothes)
2. Bouncers and jumpers to contain E so she does not roll out of the door
3. Britax carseats. This weekend we just upgraded E's carseat because the carrier is getting a bit cramped. Not only is the Britax probably one of the safest carseats out there, its assembled right in Charlotte , NC but it is so easy to install. You have to check them out they are so great and they last forever!




4. Clothes that last! E was fortunate enough to get several boxes of her cousin's clothes and in it was a bunch of Hanna Andersson stuff. These clothes are made to last and they are amazingly cute! So, I ventured online and placed a post-Christmas order for E for the fall. I am so excited!!!


Also, this weekend I was reminded just hope precious life is. No need to go into details but sometimes I forget how blessed our little family is. So take some time out in your life and count all your blessings.