Could It Be?!!!

I have been lamenting the fact that I don't have an internet connection and in order to give you all an update (as much as I'd like to) I'd have to cajole Baby back into her car seat. For now that just isn't happening. Unbelievably as I sat down to add up our trip expenses in the living room I saw that I had access to someone's wireless network. Who knows how long this will last. I'm going to try to spit it all out as quickly as possible.

After we last spoke (so to speak) I had our final leg of driving. That morning Baby screamed and writhed for TWENTY FREAKING MINUTES (you know full well that I am not exaggerating) while I tried to wrestle her into her carseat. That is not easy... in case you didn't know. You can't just buckle them down... they have to actually be in the right position to latch everything. By the time I was done I was covered in sweat and in a pretty terrible mood. She was so hysterical that eventually our old neighbor (that we liked to call The Colonel due to his immaculate lawn featuring a large flagpole) actually came out to see what on Earth was going on.

I wish that had been the end of it. But it wasn't. I had to go grocery shopping, and visit one more friend, each stop requiring yet another forceful carseat throwdown. Finally she gave in and we made our 4.5 hour trek up to the cottage in relative peace and quiet.

I'm not going to lie, for the majority of this trip, I have wanted to buckle her in and turn back for home. Things have not been easy... on her... or me. I've had to put in long haul trucker like road hours with one hand handing out Teddy Grahams and the other changing DVDs. All with almost NO sleep. It's been hard for me to keep my cool day in and day out while still having my buttons pushed (hard) by Baby. Kid, on the other hand, has been perfect... thank you, God.

When we arrived up here only The Cougar was here. That was perfect. Baby had recently seen the cougar when she and my mother came down so there was still some familiarity there. Part of the problem for Baby is that we keep walking into a houseful of eager strangers. That and staying in the attic room in PA with the legitimately scary shadows (for real... she said they looked like Monster fingers and I was like... word to that.) Plus the complete lack of ability to foresee an end to her suffering... after day 2 of driving I think Baby pretty much felt like tossing me an f-bomb and declaring me a liar. You know, like if you call this shit a vacation I'm going home. And who could blame her?

Baby did wake up the first night in our new digs screaming, as has become her signature, but last night she slept pretty peacefully. I think there is hope that she is getting adjusted and if we just stay out of the car for a couple days she might regain hope that we haven't in fact become gypsies (so much for my dream of RV living).

That's all for now. I've got pictures and family dynamics to report on soon! I'm hoping I"ll still have this connection at least through the weekend (assuming it's coming from the neighboring cottage).

Hope all is well with you and that you enjoy the long weekend (the American readers anyway).

And We're Off ... Take 4

Baby did it again.

Wake up in the night screaming and running around in a dark confusing new space tripping and whimpering "I scared".

My presence doesn't seem to help her.

Sorry Angie!

Ann Arbor Blogging

We made it. The 10 hour car trip was infinitely better with my niece in tow to change movies and hand out snacks. Baby is still out of sorts and off her rhythm. I'm really hoping things even out once we settle in to our cottage and she can get used to the place. Right now she just wants to go home and says things like "I scared" and "no people". She's just overwhelmed by the number of strangers I think. Today we had a playdate with Kid's oldest *best* friend. They were very happy to be reunited after so long apart. Tonight were staying at Neighbor Angie's. Baby does seem relieved to finally be amongst the under 4 set... and...their toys.

It Was Everything I Hoped It Would Be

Yesterday when we were driving to the amusement park we drove through a small Pennsylvania town. Right in the center of town I saw an Amish buggy road sign. My heat skipped a beat. My niece and I started scanning the area... we didn't have to look far.

I noticed that immediately ahead of us was a courting buggy being driven by a young man and his two sisters. A couple of cars were in front of us but they took their first opportunity to pass them. Fortunately for me once I was behind them we couldn't pass and we got to follow them for a bit.

Once we did pass them we came upon another buggy!
Believe me... I was FREAKING out. This is the closest I've ever actually been to the Amish. It was incredibly fulfilling.

Even Kid, knowing the importance of such a sighting for me, was beaming!




This almost made up for the pure hell Baby has been putting me through since we left.

The Quiet Before The Storm aka Same Story Different Day

This was taken right before she unbuckled herself and started to "get out!".

And NO they didn't stop the ride in time.

Things You've Missed

nighttime tag...

watching me impress the kids with my Twizzler twirling skills...