[Surely, I will be writing a post about the wonderful women and conversations of Cupcake '10 soon. There are so many things to process and share that happened this weekend that I will be trying to put down on the keyboard over the next few days. This is just the one that was jumping out of the tips of my fingers as I sat down to write today.]
I was sure it was all going to go awry. Every last part of it.
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: OBaby hates his car seat. Sure, it’s getting better as he learns that those things waving in front of his face are in fact his hands and he can control them, but I didn’t dare hope for anything better than a screaming, hysterical 5 hour car ride to Madison for Cupcake ’10.
And there we were, 9 blocks from our house, when sure enough the screaming started.
“SEE?!?” I said to poor DanO, “This is going to be aweful. He should be napping right now but instead he is going to just cry for hours and mess himself up so much that we’ll have to stop 100 times to take him out and calm him and then we won’t get there until midnight and… and…”
I am such a whiner.
Anyway, somewhere between that gas station 9 blocks from our house and the on ramp to the freeway (which we would be on for 261 miles), he stopped. He just stopped crying and fell asleep. From that moment on the car ride was spectacularly uneventful.
“That’ll teach me to be anxious,” I thought, as we pulled into a fabulous parking spot right in front of our hotel while OBaby slept on (as he had been doing for the last 2 hours of the drive).
While we were checking in and putting the Pack’n'Play together (don’t even get me started), OBaby was awake and happy. I could not complain about anything.
{OBaby, happy as a clam and loving the fancy hotel linens at 11:45pm}
Until it was 12:35am and he was still awake and happy. I began to panic thinking that he was NEVER going to sleep because he was over stimulated etc. etc. etc. and Why is he so happy? He’s not even close to being ready to sleep… At which point he rubbed his eyes, yawned, and promptly fell asleep without the slightest complaint.
DanO and I enjoyed not kicking each other in the hotel King sized bed (which cemented the fact that we will get a king when we remodel the upstairs and move to the master bedroom up there), when at 6:10am there came a cry from the crib.
“Impossible. He cannot be up already. He just fell asleep 5 hours ago! He is going to be such a pain today.” I had already determined. I even tweeted that I hope the Cupcake ’10 girls were ok with meeting a crabby pants OBaby.
Only he wasn’t. He was a dream. He rolled around on the floor with the other babies of Cupcake ’10.
{“Hey, guys, isn’t blogging just the coolest?”}
He slept in a meitai carrier (borrowed from the awesometastic Hyacinth) for hours straight.
{Mama’s gunna get her one of these. Worked like a charm.}
I was planning on calling it a night and heading back to the hotel once he was just too crabby for me to be having any fun, but that time never came. Plus, how could I rip him away from his matchy matchy bff, Tommy?
{Photo taken by Sara Joy on Erin‘s phone}
The car ride from the Cupcake ’10 house back to my hotel was seamless, as was transferring him, asleep, from the car seat to his bed.
The day, as I looked back on it, was absolutely, positively, outrightly perfect.
Yet, I had been so anxious about OBaby and what to expect (surely, the worst).
For this reason among many others, I am trying to learn to let go of more. Breathe deeper, assume less. OBaby is such a blessing and a wonderful baby and I believe I would see that more if I let more roll off of me, looked for the positive, assumed the best.
So, that is what I intend to do. OBaby deserves nothing less.
Remember that this is your first time being a mommy. It’s scary and daunting to take a trip to the GROCERY STORE, let alone to another state. Of course you were worried that he’d scream and be cranky–it’s what moms do. He was so fabulous, though, and I adore seeing him and Tommy together. Although I have to tell you that Tommy has spent all morning on his hands and knees, rocking and trying to crawl. I totally blame your kid.
He says ‘you’re welcome’.
Thanks for the kind comments. I’m trying to not ‘do what moms do’. At least not to the extent that it effects me.
So glad that worked out for you! What a blessing to be able to enjoy every second. :) Wish I could have joined you guys (despite my lack of child). Also, I think that last paragraph (er, five sentences from the end?) is a good lesson for anyone…I’m working my way through it now. Good to know it will come in handy in the future! Thanks for sharing! :)
Learning to let go of more. It’s hard! Wish you could have come too. I just want to sit around a fireplace with ALL of you.
Yup. Totally remembering feeling like that with Noah (my first). But babies often surprise us with how they can just roll with the punches. Sure, enough punches come along and they’re doing what we knew they’d do the entire time – flip out!
I remember feeling this way but knowing i could do NOTHING to control it when we flew to Africa when Noah was 6 months old. 2 overnight flights and one 12 hour layover! But he did awesome and slept his little heart away (unlike Mama and Daddy…we were ZONKED).
Surprised is right. It’s to the point where I ought to begin expecting such a wonderful baby, because sure, he has his moments, but he really is very easy going. I would have been an absolute wreck before a flight to Africa. Oregon was hard enough (which also went PERFECTLY).
Allison –
You said it. It seems like my default function is to think of what can go wrong instead of how things could go right! I’m working on that in the new year by trying to live in the moment and not dream up all the ways things can go against the plan — and I plan everything. Sometimes I think I just need to follow my daughter’s cue — sounds kinda like Obaby — she’s super flexible and overall pretty happy. It’s a daily struggle for me.
Anyway, I also wanted to comment to let you know how I used the $50 gift card – it’s not a super-fun pampering way to spend money, but I bought two months worth of prenatal vitamins because I am PREGNANT again! Yay! We are so excited. Our little ones will be about two years apart – perfect.
Well, have a great day, and remember to live in the moment ;) [I will try, too...]
Rebekah
That’s totally it – I spend time dreaming up things that could go wrong (but haven’t yet so CHILL OUT ALLISON!!).
CONGRATULATIONS, friend! That is a super fun way to spend money! What kind of vitamins do you use?
I think those Mei Tais are sooo cool! Glad you liked it :)
They are great for older babies it seems – Steph of Adventures in Babywearing wore her baby who is 16mo in one.
That whole “go with the flow” attitude is something even us old parents need to remember – especially when our babies grow to be teenagers and young adults. I need to remember to consider the worst case scenario, and if it doesn’t involve a loss of life or limb (or equally negative possible outcomes) I need to let go. I need to work more on saying yes, instead of always saying no.
I’m so glad your weekend was everything you wanted it to (and none of what you expected!).
Can I just encourage you in that? I heard a lot of no as a young teenager, and finally at 15 had a mature conversation with my parents asking them to trust me. After that, there was so much mutual respect and I as able to make choices that I am thankful for to this day. Those are my favorite memories with my parents.
It is amazing how babies just know what they need to do sometimes :) And how much we underestimate them!
You’re exactly right. I don’t want to underestimate him! Working on it!
Wish you could have been there, friend.
I always find myself expecting the worst since my last baby was so hard to take anywhere. But, every time we go anywhere he is a dream. Cooing in the car seat until he falls asleep. Sleeping through my other children fighting over who is looking at who. My lil’ guy is a dream baby and I need to start remembering that when I start to talk myself out of running to the store!
I do the same thing, fear the worst and talk myself out of things. I think it’s time we give that up.
Aw, OBaby is such a sweetie! A and I were so happy to meet the two of you. And what a wonderful hubby you have to drive you to Cupcake. I LOVE the picture you got of A, OBaby, and Ethan. ;) Can I share it on my blog too and link back to you?
Of course, friend! It was so great to meet you too!
So glad you and OBaby had a blast meeting some new friends. Don’t you just love it when they surprise you! And I love the matching babies!
Even when they are more difficult than you would like it seems if you take that “go with the flow” attitude, it’s not that big of a deal anyway. We took our colicky baby to the beach at 4 months. While he definitely had his moments I am still so glad I went. I’m always glad I went. I don’t know why they make PNPs so hard. I am on baby number three and I have finally figured it out…so it apparently takes about 3 1/2 years to figure one out.
That’s really true. I am almost always glad we go places and didn’t stay home. I imagine this is a constant struggle for most moms. Thanks for commenting!
I am so glad you had a good time and everything went better then you could have imagined. The best parents plan for the worst, but hope for the best… you are only one step away from that at “assuming” the worst. Being a new mom can be stressful, especially when venturing into the unfamiliar… it sounds like you both did great.
I can’t wait to hear all about “Cupcake ’10″
PS. Enjoy this new phase Obaby is in… phases can end or change before you know it!
O I LOVE THAT! “The best parents plan for the worst but hope for the best.”
I am making that my new moto. It’s perfect!
Here’s to hoping ON has those striped body suits again next winter!
:) They really are adorable.
And also, he’s positively edible. Though we weren’t hungry at all with all that food. :)
Thank you both, for being there and being you and for coming all that way when OBaby is so young.
You are a “light up the room” kind of person, Allison. I’m so glad to have bumped into you and then claimed you as my brain. :)
O Heather, it was so great to be there. All of my worry and stress (about OBaby and everything else) was completely irrational. I’m so glad everyone was incredibly wonderful and I was instantly put at ease.
I’m so thankful you managed to survive the last 2 months and you totally pulled off Cupcake ’10!
I still have fears like that and I’m on my third baby! HA!
Sounds like he did really well though and I’m so happy for you that he did. That picture of you and Erin with your sweet boys is just precious!
So it doesn’t just go away? Bummer. Guess it will be something I continue working on!
that first picture is one of the cutest pictures i’ve ever seen! i can see why the hotel desk attendant thought he was a girl – he’s so beautiful! :)
you are much braver than i am to go to an outing at night! we just did a 12 hour drive (one direction) for the holidays, and thankfully that went ok too.
12 hours? Holy moly. Isn’t it funny that something that was so easy 2 years ago now takes a measure of bravery to undertake?!
haha, yes! last year though, we flew there. we weren’t brave enough to try that this year – plus, the entire trunk of the cr-v held everything we needed for him. oh, and the 12 hours included 4 stops for little man. :)
also – where are OBaby’s shoes from?! i want them for Joshua!!
They are from Babies R Us. Koala brand.
thanks! by the way, your blog just told me that i was posting comments too quickly and to slow down :)
I cannot get over how cute he is. Really, I don’t say that about everyone’s babies. I could gobble him.
I’m sad that we didn’t get more time for one-on-one chatting this weekend. It was hard to get quality time with everyone in such a short time. But you are a beautiful mother and you really do glow. I’m glad to have met you, and I hope for another chance to get to know you.
-elizabeth
I’m sad too. It was so fun to see you with your boy A on Sunday morning. Glad you came back!
[...] though I was anxious (as usual) about how OBaby would do during our Super Bowl party yesterday (which spanned one nap time and [...]
Isn’t our God so gracious? He knows just what we need!! I love it.