Home again, home again.. jiggity jig

(Carson and her twin.. Rainey!)

So the road trip has come to a close, and I'm happy and sad to report that I'm back home in Massachusetts. It was really nice being back south, but I really did miss Steve (and he really missed us too). Carson was a big hit... she met so many people, that I'm afraid that she's going to be lonely and bored with just me to hang around with!

Steve flew in on Friday night, and we thought that we were going to start loading the car up that night, but hurricane-like rain pounded our area (and mom and me on our run to get a pizza and baby formula).. so packing was put off until Saturday morning. We got everything packed up and went to breakfast with GM and Mom... and then got on the road at 11:00. Half way through North Carolina, our GPS system (thanks Dad!) said that if we were to drive straight through... we'd be home by 11:30 pm.... that sparked an idea to drive straight through (of course depending on Carson's attitude towards her car seat)... Well...Carson wanted to get home too I guess, so we drove straight through.. and took the GPS detour to NYC too... we got home at 2:00 am (not bad considering our 5 pit stops and traffic backups).

Carson went straight into her "big girl bed" (crib) Sunday morning and again last night... so far so good... I already have designs on what will go in place of the bassinet beside my bed!! Our plans for the rest of the summer? I've got two weeks left on maternity leave, we've got some birthday parties to go to, a marriage celebration, and we're starting the house hunting efforts again! I had my eye on a cute house, but just as soon as I asked our realtor to schedule a showing for this week.. it went under agreement! So, we start again! Wish us luck.

Road Trip update

Well, the road trip has been fun!! In the last two weeks, we've driven through 11 states so far (MA, CT, NY, PA, MD, WV, VA, TN, NC, SC & GA). Carson did amazing during the trip down... She slept most of the trip, which helped us out a lot. We ended up stopping in Carlisle, PA for the first night in a smoky HoJo inn... there literally was no other place to stay... Our stuff stunk the next day!! We then arrived in the Mountains for Mom's birthday weekend, and then we visited my Dad and Stepmom in Georgia. Steve has been back home for the last week, we've got one week left, and then we head back home on Saturday. I got to say, that the hardest part has been having Steve gone. I can only imagine what he's going through. Carson has gotten so expressive in the past week. She's smiling A LOT, she's giggling, she's had her first case of major congestion (think nasal spray and aspirator - she's not a fan of either).. and last night was the biggest milestone of them all... She had her bath, and she didn't cry AT ALL (well until the very end when I was getting her out and cleaning her backside at the same time). This is a HUGE accomplishment. Now, I'm not fooled into thinking that magically she now will love her bath, but its a big step towards it! Now we need to work on her loving baby lotion!!

We are having fun here in Charlotte. We're seeing friends and family, and basically taking it easy. We take long walks almost every day... which has been nice. There are no nice places to take walks where I live, so this has been threapeutic for the soul.. and hopefully trimming some baby weight off too (of course I need to lay off the SWEET TEA)

When I get back to MA, I'll have 2 weeks left on my maternity leave, which I'm very sad about. Its going to be hard to hand her over to other people to watch her during the day. But, we're also going to renew the house hunting efforts full force!!

Well, I'll have to think about that another day... right now, I'm home and having fun!!

Road Trip!

Here I sit on the eve of our big road trip to the South, and I must confess... I'm getting a little nervous. This so seemed like a good idea when I was pregnant... Now that Carson is here and the 16+ hour trip is upon us.. I'm not so sure. I couldn't have imagined the degree of exhaustion that Steve and I both suffer from, nor all the baby crap that comes along with Carson.. 3 weeks on the road is a long time... especially for a baby. We couldn't possibly go away for that long and not bring along all the comforts of home.. She spent 9 months in the comforts of my belly, only to be rudely taken out of the incubator (10 days early) and then spends 8 weeks adjusting to the outside world and the gizmos that help recreate the womb (or makes the transition to the outside world better) Only to take those away?? I don't think so!! We taking almost everything with us!! We're taking her swing, her chair, her bathtub, her pack & play (which she IS going to love sleeping in.. she just doesn't realize this quite yet), and her stroller just to mention the BIG items... We ended up renting a rooftop cargo box for the trip just so we could bring along everything!

Carson had her 2 month checkup today, and with that came her first rounds of shots. She did amazing considering the pain. I do have to say.. The nurses handled it pretty nicely.. They worked together and 1-2-3 they simultaneously stabbed both of her legs. One shot in both thighs... Carson didn't like it... but it was better than having to go through it twice. Luckily it was breakfast time, so I had a bottle waiting for her to help calm her down. Hopefully she won't have any true discomfort this point forward. She's a growing girl! She's now 22inches and 10 pounds-13 ounces. I was thinking that she was going to be close to 11 pounds, and she didn't disappoint.

Well, gotta run finish packing and doing laundry... We've got a lot planned! My mom has a big birthday this weekend, so we're all convening in the Mountains for a birthday get-away weekend. Straight from there Steve, Carson and I are heading to Georgia to visit with my Dad, Stepmother and Max.. where we'll get to hopefully visit our good friends who live nearby... then we're off to Charlotte for the remaining 2 weeks. After a big family portrait session, we're dropping Steve off at the airport where he'll get to fly back home to go to work (and get uninterrupted sleep!) for two weeks.. and then he flies back to help pack me up and drive home!

I'll try to update periodically from the road! It'll will be a crazy time, but it will be good to see family and friends (and to show off my cutie-pie!)