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In ten days, Hubby and I will be digging out all our warm sweaters, clothes and gloves, packing the car and driving twelve hours with a year-old baby to visit our families in West Virginia.
I’m approaching this trip with trepidation and excitement. It’s strange to have those two emotions, changing sometimes hourly.
For today’s Monday Listicles, our topic was writing about our hometown. My take is a list of all the things I’m nervous and excited about during our Christmas trip “back home”.
- A view of Huntington, WV.
1. I’m nervous about taking such a long trip with the baby. It’s definitely the longest he’ll have ever been in the car in one stretch, even though we’re splitting the twelve hour trip into two days. Considering how much he fights his carseat on even the shortest trips to Publix.
2. I’m excited about all the yummy food in my hometown. Ginos Pizza, Giovonnis Pizza (we love pizza), cheese fries from Fat Pattys, Stewart’s Hot Dogs — I could go on and on. If people in West Virginia can do anything, it’s make the greasiest, cheesiest, most fattening f00d ever. Some say that’s a problem, but I fail to see it.
3. I’m nervous about being away from home for so many days. I’m a homebody, and even though I have been to my in-laws house many times to stay, it’s still not home. I miss my own place, my own tv, my own bathroom and especially all my cats.
4. I’m excited about being “off” for a few days. I mean, of course I will still be on Mommy duty, but knowing there are a few extra hands to help out; that I’ll have, like, 10 days when I wont’ have to unload the dishwasher, clean out litter boxes or wash clothes; that, for the most part, I won’t be responsible for cooking and cleaning up — well, it’s sort of cool.
5. I’m nervous about how Baby Blogworthy will sleep. You know, at the beginning, Baby B had trouble distinguishing day from night (like all new babies), but thanks to some coaching from Liz, we have raised a baby who (most nights) sleeps ten more more hours and takes two beautiful naps every day. The downside? He hates sleeping anywhere that’s not his carseat or his crib. He also gets uber crabby when his schedule is messed up. How’s that going to work when we’re up late, playing with his cousins during naptime and when he’s sleeping in a pack-n-play?
6. I’m excited about seeing some of my favorite people. Not only will I get to spend more time with my family, but I get to see a couple friends from college I haven’t seen since before Baby B was born.
7. I’m excited about 10 days off work.
8. I’m nervous about the cold. Oh. My. God. The cold. Our blood is thinned out.
9. I’m excited about all the potential blogworthy stories I’ll experience. And now that I have my iPhone? I can Instagram the crap outta e’rything.
10. I’m excited about introducing Baby B to our hometown for the first time, even though he won’t remember any of it. We might have been glad to move away, but West Virginia will still always be our home in our hearts.
What are you excited or nervous about for your Holiday trips?
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Twitter: MamaWantsThis
I’m with you on all the concerns about Baby B taking the long car trip & messing up of schedules. But babies are remarkably adaptable and resilient. After a couple of days, they’ll adjust to their environment, whatever that may be. Just remember to relax and roll with the punches
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..Where I Grew Up
I hope you are right!! I still remember one of the first posts of yours that I read about traveling with your monkey! I need to go back and refresh Myself on your tips.
I’m excited that I live in my hometown and don’t have to travel further than 3 minutes down the road to my parents house for Christmas this year. But we will have an interesting holiday, mixing my husband’s mother and sister with my family for the first time on Christmas. Hopefully Luke will enjoy the scenery. We drove through West VA on our Thanksgiving road trip to Indiana.
Oh that’s a tricky one. We have a few get togethers with both sets of parents and it is always kind of awkward.
I agree with your first commenter. Connor always adapts WAY better than I expect him too – so I bet Luke will as well. Yes, his schedule might be different on the road than it is at home, but we try to just ‘go with it.’ We visit my parents and my in-laws pretty often and Connor sleeps relatively well in a pack-and-play both places. No, it’s not as ‘sound’ as he sleeps at home, but it’s 100 times better than he slept the first four months of his life – haha!
Do you guys have a portable DVD player? Connor still isn’t in to movies much, but some of my friends say those are lifesavers in the car on long trips! You’ll have to give me all of your travel tips once you get back – we’re driving to Destin, Florida in April (13.5 hours from here) for a wedding. The longest we’ve done so far is 8, so I’m going to need lots of advice!!
Good luck and enjoy your trip ‘home!’
Rachel Gray recently posted..Simplify
You are right. Nothing is as bad as the first few weeks!! We are doing two days for our trip. It’s 12 hours for us too, so we are splitting it up. I’ll let you know how it goes!
My fave has got to be #4 everytime I head back to my hometown where our parents are – extra hands! I hope all goes well with your trip and that you’ll have a fantastic holiday
Kiddothings recently posted..My Hometown
I hope it’s the case! My mil has trouble getting around and just had surgery do i hope she can enjoy the baby. I guess if nothing else my fil will get down and play with him!
Twitter: BeautifulSpitUp
I don’t have many tips, except to relax and enjoy family time. The best thing you can do is to remember you’re there to enjoy the holidays. So it’s okay if baby doesn’t abide by the normal routine. In fact, it’s probaby very unlikely to stick to the routine. Just roll with it and have fun!
Eve recently posted..I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Thank you. That’s great advice!! Just going to try to appreciate the good things and not stress about the not so fun things!
Twitter: kristinzas
I want cheese fries
KLZ recently posted..On Inducement
I’m fixing to eat some straight up cheese right now.
Twitter: SaidKristin
Yep, there’s definitely plenty of blog fodder in West By-God. Just this morning, I was behind someone with a pair of blue balls hanging from his trailer hitch. Now that’s klassy.
In all seriousness, enjoy your trip “home!”
Kristin @ What She Said recently posted..That Damned Kay Jewelers Commercial
Gah truck balls! Those are the worst but unfortunately are also in north central Florida. We are super lucky in western wv bc we have Kentucky and the bad part of Ohio right next door
Twitter: AwesomeHutch
I just got really hungry. Man, I love cheese!
Good luck on your trip! I wonder if any of the family you’re staying with were the randoms from my dream last night in which we finally met! Only you lived in a two story house, with a kitchen upstairs and downstairs and a dining room in your bedroom. So yeah. That’s about all I remember. Oh and you told me to take the boss to get to a mall and to get back to the airport. My subconscious is awesome
Hutch recently posted..I Can Breathe Again!
Two kitchens??? Sounds about like something I’d enjoy
Traveling with kids is rough. I’m not going to lie. I really hope that the family time outweighs a cranky baby, but you might be feeling like you need a vaca after your vaca!
Hang tough, Amanda!
liz recently posted..My List for a Merry Christmas
That’s what I’m afraid of. Plan to listen to a lot of bitching in twitter??
I was nervous about Donut’s sleep when we went to my parents’ for Thanksgiving. She did much better than I expected, so hopefully Baby Blogworthy will too. Have a safe trip!
Rach (DonutsMama) recently posted..Remind Me
I hope so too!! Maybe we will wear him out with lots of playing
We drove across Europe a few times with my son and every time he did great. And I was a terrible wreck
Yeay for 10days off and seeing friends and family. Have wonderful holidays x
Stasha recently posted..Monday Listicles
Same to you!! I like hearing stories of babies doing well on trips. Gives me hope!
Twitter: kallaydoscope
We’ve taken the girls as far as 3 hours away, but that’s the furthest we’ve gone, so I don’t have a lot of advice, just good wishes! I hope you all have a wonderful vacation and enjoy your time off. (to include time off as an expert in cleaning, laundry, and cat duty)
Kallay recently posted..We sleep in a taco; Or… why we need a new bed.
Thank you! I’ll make sure to take notes an share with you!!
Ah, safe travels! There is something so sweet about having those extra sets of hands to share in mama duty! Enjoy!
Jackie recently posted..Where I’m From…
Twitter: mytimeasmom
I expect my Instagram feed will be filled with pictures of your trip. Good luck on your trip. I’ve never taken my kids on that long of a car ride before but we have gone about 6 hours. Bring lots of snacks.
Jessica recently posted..Dear Santa, I Promise My Requests Are Simple
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
Traveling with kids is hard, but remember that they adapt well. It will be okay.
I fully expect my instagram feed to be full of food pictures now. I may or may not hate you for that. Ahem.
Kimberly recently posted..Life Is Full Of Choices
I remember feeling this way for our first long road trip and again for our first long flight. My unsolicited assvice? Things are GOING to get bumpy. Be ready for it with a sense of humor and a drink while he sleeps. I found it easier to sit back there with him at that age. Once you get home? He is going to be so worn out from all that cheek pinching and family lovin that he will sleep. Don’t expect it to be on schedule….but he will sleep.
Happy travels!
Best,
Tina
Tina recently posted..A Mother’s Request
Traveling with small children can be harrowing (especially if anyone is newly potty trained)but the memories make it all worth it. Our kids talk about simple summer trips like they were the best things ever!
Just discovered your blog today via Twitter. Looking forward to reading more!
Barbara recently posted..Our Weekend In Pictures
Hi Barbara! thanks so much for stopping by. Honestly, my husband and I have always loved to travel, so we’d like for our son to get “used to it” at a young age. Headed over to your blog to say hi!
Twitter: amymacsmusings
It is both a blessing and a curse that H-town has such yummy food. I gained 34 pounds while pregnant with baby boy. He’s 8 months old and I’ve only lost 15. *sigh. Anyway, safe travels to you! *hugs!
Amy recently posted..Blog Boycott Day: My blog is now my own!
Uh, I gained like 50 some odd pounds with Luke! I guess Gainesville has good food too
Twitter: euregirlsandboy
I hope you enjoy your days off work – and eat lots of that yummy food with no guilt! I’m actually from southwest Virginia, but not West Virginia, as we were always careful to say
Not that there’s anything wrong with West Virginia! I ran out of time to do this week’s listicles to write about it though…
I don’t think I could handle 12 travelling hours with baby. My kids have never really been good in the car, and that would be too much. I hope he does well for you! At least you’ll have lots of people who want to take him and spoil him when you get there so you can sneak off and rest if the trip was complete torture.
Katie E recently posted..2011 in Review: Part 1 – January, February, and March
Twitter: corp2domestic
Good luck with your trip and hope you enjoy your days off! Here’s to Baby Blogworthy sleeping well even with not being at home!
Natalie recently posted..Dinner and a Movie
Sounds like a pretty fun trip! I would die to have extra hands around and not have to do house chores! Dream come true!
Audrey recently posted..WTF Wednesday -12.14.2011
Twitter: jmomiller
We must hang out!!!!!!