We Made It

[this is one of my more boring entries but oh well… I promise to include some pictures later.]

Yesterday the skies in Alabama were full of smoke. ToolMan and CRB and I ventured out around lunch time and CRB started that wheezy coughing. As an asthmatic I know what to look for and it was nothing over-the-top serious. For awhile we considered calling our allergist, but soon the plan was that I would go ahead and head to the beach. We studied the wind pattern and decided that the air down at the coast had to be better than in upstate Alabama. It was!

Since I decided to leave rather quickly, I did not print out my list but I did pretty well with the packing. I managed to take my car (disclosure: it's really a small SUV) and I had a ton of room to spare. I left the bumbo and took the Chicco seat. I forgot the detergent, Shout spot cleaner, and dish towels but everything else made it.

CRB did quite well on the way down. We spent about 1 hr 20 minutes hanging out at the Thomasville WM (it was our gas, food, and eating stop.) We hung out at the employee picnic tables so CRB was very distracted and it took a long time for him to eat his supper. The worst part of the trip occurred when he grabbed my Subway cup. He started going Ooh, Ooh. Finally I realized that he had spilled the whole thing, ice and all, in his nice floopy seat. So we ended up changing his clothes and diaper on the asphalt of the WM parking lot as I did not have a good spot in the car, and there was no way I was going to go back inside with drippy baby. That was the low point of my trip, other than the screaming when he realized his nighttime bottle was late and we had 45 minutes to go on our trip.

My mom and dad borrowed a 60s porta-crib and had it set up with a sheet and the 99 cent Goodwill bumper I found. He loves it! I guess it is more like his regular bed than the pack n play. He did great sleeping last night and is approaching hour 3 of the afternoon nap right now. Cheers to you, porta-crib!

Pack-a-palooza 2007

I have gotten some comments, all appreciated, through the blog and in real life, about my packing. The general consensus seems to be "well that's why people drive big SUVs." Gone are the days of traveling in the Mini - gone is the Mini even.

The stuff that I am packing is for my own sanity. If we were not going to be gone so long and/or if ToolMan were going to be there, I would not be quite as stressed about what I need. The times that I have not packed well usually end up with a late night run to the 24 hr pharmacy. (Thanks totally scrappy for reminding me about the baby Tylenol, I'll add that to my list plus baby soap & lotion and Benadryl.)

Mom called me on her way to the commissary to get a list of food for him. I thought that was super-thoughtful.

And the kitchen sink, too

At some point next week, CRB and I are headed to my parent's timeshare on the Gulf Coast. It is not a glamorous place but we always have loads of fun. Last year the place opened back up mid-summer (after the hurricane repairs) and the crews did a nice job. The pool had not been rebuilt yet.

ToolMan asked to stay home for some guilt-free shop time. As I have vacationed with ToolMan when he'd rather be doing something else, I quickly agreed. One other benefit of him staying home is that Colin can stay home. (Someday I will blog about Colin's horrifying boarding experience.)

I started typing up this list last week just to see what vehicle I will be taking. I am really hoping not to take the diesel Excursion, "the living room on wheels," but each day it looks more likely. For many entries, like swim wear, both CRB and I will need the item.

Beach trip packing list:

• Brown stroller
  
• Beach tent
  
• Beach towels
  
• Beach toys (sand stuff and floaty boat)
  
• Sunblock
  
• Sunglasses
  
• Swim wear
  
• Dreft
  
• Dish towels
  
• Bottle rack
  
• Baby spoons
  
• Juice bottles
  
• Formula bottles
  
• Baby food (veggie, fruit, cheerios, formula, rice)
  
• Diapers
  
• Swim diapers
  
• Wipes
  
• Waterproof crib mat to use as a changing area
  
• Night light
  
• Pillow
  
• Bumbo
  
• Exersaucer
  
• Laptop with media base and charger
  
• Backyardigans dvd
  
• Camera
  
• Camera charger
  
• Phone charger
  
• Blocks and toys
  
• Books
  
• Red push car
  
• Baby towels
  
• Hand soap
  
• Baby quilt for playing on floor (big one if can find it)
  
• Pack n play
  
• Clothes and shoes
  
• Hats
  
• Kiddie blowup pool (partially inflated)
  
• My book
  
• Ipod
  
• Ipod stereo
  

If anyone actually makes it to the end of this monster list and has a comment about what is extraneous or what I am forgetting, I'd love to hear from you. I never take a diaper bag in a restaurant, but I always have a ton of stuff in the car!