My mom and dad (Mimi & Pa Pa) were going on vacation to MI for my dads high school reunion and to visit both of their families who live in the same town of New Lothrop, MI. They thought it would be fun to take one of the boys and we decided, oddly enough, that Grayson would be the easier of the two. Reluctantly I said ok-12 days is a long time to be away from my baby, but at the same time I wanted the rest of the family to meet our newest addition before he's 12! Haha! So, I did what all moms do and planned and packed for a week to make sure Mimi and Pa Pa were well prepared to travel with an infant. I'm pretty sure they both forgot how much "stuff" it takes to travel with an infant. As I made my list for my big trip to babies r us to get stuff for the trip, I asked my mom if there was anything she could think of that she might need for Grayson for the trip and she responds with, "A towel, I don't have a baby towel." Oh silly grandparents, how quickly they forget. So I go to babies r us, get the towel, and everything else under the sun that she might need for the 12 days including 2 days of driving up there and back. Then I spend a day preparing 12 days worth of meals for Grayson; I have been making all of his baby food, so when we try to go to jarred baby food (even the organic stuff) his stomach and bowels don't tolerate it too well. So I figured this would help to make the trip easier. So I prepare a cooler stocked with 12 days worth of pureed lasagna, steamed and diced pears and carrots, organic milk and yogurt and cheese. Then of course I wrote up a Grayson instruction manual and packed up his clothes, some toys for the car and Great Granny and Grandpa's house, snacks for the car ride, the pack and play and other odds and ends and sent him on his way. Eeeek! He has been gone now since Saturday and I really miss the little fella!
However, I have to say, I forgot how easy it is with just one child! Ah the wonder of one! Especially now that he is 3 1/2 and insists on doing everything his self. It has been wonderful! I have gotten so much done. It has really given me a chance to take a deep breath and re-boot. It has given me the opportunity to re-connect with Brady a little bit. We've been playing lots of board games, games on the computer, he's been helping me cook and take care of the garden and he has gotten in lots of bike rides. I have a 3 mile loop around our neighborhood that I jog and Brady rides his bike next to me. I have to push him up most of the hills which has been 10 times easier without having to steer and push the double jogger at the same time. So the other day during our 5 minute stop at the playground in the middle of our bike ride/jog I looked at Brady and realized how grown up he is! Suddenly I thought how did this happen?! Just yesterday he was my baby! Just yesterday he was that little toddler toddling around not able to form full sentences. Now he is climbing up rock walls and climbing over the top, going on 3 mile bike rides and rambling on in the back seat of car rides asking why do we need clouds? Why do we need trees? Why do fish live in the ocean? Why do dinosaurs eat other dinosaurs? He went from the kid who I couldn't get to eat anything to the kid who now loves hot sauce on everything! The kid who ate a whole fajita with chicken, green and red peppers and cheese on it! He is now the kid who can use the mouse to play games on the computer who can trace letters and goodness, the list could go on for miles. It just amazes me that they really do grow up so fast right before your eyes. My first born is no longer a baby or a toddler, he is now a little boy. Simply amazing.
Brady helping me cook supper.
Look at all our cucumbers and zucchinis from our garden!
By the way-anybody have any ideas of what to do with a plethora of cucumbers??
