Down by the River

After Friday's marathon biopsy visit, I was feeling what was surely a state of stress induced exhaustion. I wanted to eat a pint of ice cream and then melt into my bed but we had been looking forward to a weekend getaway at my in-law's river house a couple of hours away, so the kids and I went home to nap, and then pack, while Andy headed into the office for a super-abbreviated work day.

With all of our stuff, including the dog, crowded snugly into the car (we teeter on the brink of needing a minivan) we left around Roscoe's bedtime and stopped at Starbucks on the way to the interstate in order to commence 48 hours of do-nothingness.

The river house was built from scratch by Andy's parents, and is situated right on the bank of Lodge Creek off of the Yeocomico river with a dock that leads straight off the back yard and down into the water. While it sees some use throughout the year, it is left largely uninhabited. We were more than happy to take the opportunity to fill its rustic walls with thunderous toddler footsteps, and the sweet smells of home cooking.

We didn't leave the property all weekend. In fact, I never left my pajamas. Roscoe followed Andy like his shadow and by the end of each day both were covered in nature's dirt from head to toe. They spent most of their time on projects in and around the yard. Roscoe even had his first tick, which was a little alarming at first realization, but it turned out to be fine. Merritt and I caught up on our sleep, nursed, cooked three squares a day but, mostly, he and I just sat around like toads on lily pads reading magazines or watching big brother and poppa in their element. I felt a little unproductive for the duration, but when I climbed into my bed Sunday night and found that my usually racing mind was oddly quiet, I knew the weekend away had been just what I needed.

Of course I can't write a post without mentioning what we ate! It was a welcomed challenge to use up all of the food that we brought, no less, no more. We indulged a little (okay, a lot) in roasted beets, pancakes with maple syrup and farmer's market sausage, strawberry and peach shortcake, chili and cornbread, banana milkshakes, and ice cream cones with sprinkles, among other things. It seemed like a good time to give in to our cravings and to eat what we were hungry for. Comfort food and quality togetherness.

Roscoe picking stems off the tomatoes before dinner

We did manage one leisurely walk after dinner and before we headed home, so maybe that helped to balance out all the meals we enjoyed. I will say that it's a little humbling to be out in the world, basked in the air from the dusky heat of sunset, with the most important people in your life.

Do you have a go to spot when you need a little r&r?

'Twas the night before take off

It's 4:40 in the morning. The whole house is dark and silent, and I just cannot fall back to sleep. In 4 hours we leave for the airport to fly to Florida. It's the first time we'll have spent Christmas away from our families, out of state and without the comforts of home. I'm looking forward to it and yet I already miss tradition.

The year's first snow blew in two days ago and while it was only a few inches it lingers still, powder turned to ice. Highs in the 70's are sounding pre-tty darn nice right about now. Our luggage is packed as efficiently as possible, we managed just one bag each--plus a stroller, a car seat, and three personal carry-on items...

Roscoe and I share a gigantic duffel filled to the brim with everything from toiletries to Christmas stockings, stuffers, and a few wrapped treasures for Christmas morning. And I wouldn't be surprised if a couple strands of white lights got thrown in for festivity. Christmas Eve dinner recipes are somewhere in the mix too.

Unlike our typical vacations, this one is loosely planned, with very few expectations--I'm not sure there is any other way to travel with a toddler and a 24 week pregnant Momma. But our hopes are high to fully experience five days of Disney World, catch up with our friends (who are sharing this adventure with us), catch up on sleep (oh I hope! I hope!), and to also sneak in a little baking, sun basking, and lots of Christmas cheer.

Happy Holidays!

Hey Ya'll!

We're back from our beach vacation--not so well-rested thanks to a child who reverted to infant sleeping habits while we were away! Our return trip on Friday was even better than the drive down because we drove through the night and were asleep in our own beds by 4:00 am. When we woke on Saturday morning, we still had a full weekend ahead of us.

The isle of palms was as perfect a summer travel destination as I can imagine. The ocean was so warm, and the beach uncrowded with compact sand (not the kind you sink into that causes sore calves!). Our proximity to Charleston was a big highlight and we alternated early mornings spent in the water and late afternoons exploring either the city or other nearby islands.

The heat was welcomed, and the humidity was tremendous. While the forecast called for thunderstorms every day, they usually didn't roll in until the evening, which was just fine with us. We arrived home just as white as we were when we left, in part due to religious application of high spf, but probably also to intermittent cloud cover. The palm trees in Charleston reminded me of California and elicited on more than one occasion lively discussion about "palm manicure" preferences.

While we assumed that vacationing with a 13 month old would be fun on many levels I don't think we expected Roscoe to be fully engaged in our vacation itinerary. So we were pleasantly surprised by Roscoe's determination to keep up with his older cousin Mack, his fearlessness in the ocean waves, and how he was drawn to the sand like a sea turtle to the moon. He was mesmerized by everything he encountered at the aquarium, and eagerly explored all the trucks at the fire museum.

Vacationing with our extended family was a nice change of pace and every night a different family was responsible for preparing dinner, so as the days' adventures were winding down, we gathered around the dinner table for some well earned sustenance. What a great way to end the day!

Then it was tucking in the babies, hopping online, night walks on the beach, and games!! We played a new one called Mad Gab that I would give two thumbs up. Ever played it? Give these a try (read the words out loud and try to figure out the phrases.*):

We thought it was hilariously fun!

We also managed to leave the kids one morning to sneak away to a little beach house restaurant for breakfast where I discovered the deliciousness that is cheese grits. And speaking of southern food, I had my first sweet tea, and a perfect plate of fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and chow chow.

Long walks and runs on the beach were our only form of exercise and proved to be quite romantic. Andy and I don't often find ourselves with uninterrupted time for discussion not centered around our parental responsibilities, and it certainly was a luxury to share the surf while indulging in bigger picture conversation. Ocean walks at dusk were just what we needed.

We left Charleston wanting more, which is how it goes with vacation I suppose. But there was something special that we found down there. Beyond the culture, and history, location, and lordy, THE FOOD! We reconnected as a family, and in our own company we grew more confident (we are afraid to travel no more!!) and more appreciative of each other.

As we left the low-country behind we decided that any vacation in which you part wishing for even just a few more days to further soak it all in, but also fulfilled and gratified with just the contents crammed into your four door sedan, is a wild success.

* amazon.com, for he's a jolly good fellow, do a google search

Destination: Isle of Palms

Our travel proved not to be quite the adventure I was anticipating, thankfully. While we did encounter a few bumps in the road, the drive took just around 9 hours, as projected.

We left at 7:00 pm after Roscoe was fed, bathed, pj'd, nursed, and snugly situated in his car seat--blankie, books, and all. We stopped at Starbucks for drinks and treats, and then jumped on I-95 where we averaged a speed of 17 miles per hour for about an hour. After that, we hightailed it to SC, arrived to a batch of hotels around 12:30 am and quickly realized why not booking ahead is a bad idea. Three hotels in a row, all full to their brim. We got lucky (if you can call it that) and squeezed a fifty dollar space out of a fourth motel located just before the on ramp.

It was raining, and while Roscoe had slept soundly for the entire 6 hours he woke with a fury when the car stopped, clawed at the blanket we had draped over him to repel the water, and then remained disoriented. He wanted nothing to do with sleeping separately from us, and we alternated for at least an hour between the swing and our bed with no luck. Even nursing was unsatisfactory.

By the time 3:30 am arrived, both Andy and I had submitted to the fact that perhaps we would not be going back to sleep, after all. In fact, at only a fifty dollar loss, we discussed getting back in the car and resuming the drive.

Then, without rhyme or reason (besides exhaustion), Roscoe fell asleep--I'm not sure of the time. By 6:30 am he was awake again, and so were we!

The last leg of the trip was just under 3 hours and Roscoe (and I) slept the entire way.

We drove straight into downtown Charleston, dipped into a fantastic fountain, ate lunch at a local bakery and eventually found our way to our home away from home located just a few steps from the sand. The rest of our family arrived throughout the afternoon, and the boys got reacquainted making the beach their private playground.

Friday travel

Tomorrow night we head to Charleston, South Carolina. Ten days of ocean views, southern hospitality, cousins, regional exploring, family dinners, and who knows what else. It's going to be marvelous.

But before our beach vacation can truly begin, we must first brave the 8.5 hour drive. We have very little experience traveling with Roscoe. Our one and only road trip was a 3.5 hour drive to Fort Lewis Lodge and, if you remember, it actually took 7 hours. This does not bode well for us.

An unhappy Roscoe is a most unpleasant thing, particularly when he's confined by a car seat. Our first line of defense will be to break up the drive into two 4.25 hour stretches, and we're planning to spend the night somewhere along the way. Our second line of defense will be to leave in the evening after Roscoe's bedtime routine which should guarantee that he sleeps most, if not all, of the way. Our third line of defense will be to stock the car with his favorite toys, books, snacks, and good tunes (our current favorites are Caspar Babypants and Picnic Playground).

If all else fails, we are not opposed to pit stops--don't be surprised if 8.5 hours turns into 24.

Do you have any tips for keeping little ones entertained on the road?

R & R, & R

To celebrate our anniversary we planned a weekend getaway to Fort Lewis Lodge. It was our first time leaving the DC area since Roscoe was born, and it doubled as our first family vacation.

We left early Friday morning and arrived in the Shenandoah Valley around 3:oo pm. What should have been a 4 hour drive turned into 7 hours with a lunch break, and several pit stops to execute diaper changes, nap routines, and otherwise entertain our little passenger.

The drive West was gorgeous once we exited the interstate, and it was hard not to appreciate the quintessential Virginia landscapes. Fort Lewis Lodge is tucked away on a 3200 acre plantation that is truly breathtaking. We rented an adorable cabin for our stay.

Once unpacked and settled in we set about to explore the property which offers a lush outdoor oasis complete with a swimming hole, fishing spots, hiking trails, and even loaner bikes available for romantic rides through the countryside. We stuck mostly to walking along the riverbed, relaxing on our porch swing, and hanging out at Buck's Bar overlooking the fish pond. Roscoe loved Tucker and Sam, two yellow labs who are lucky to call the lodge their home.

The main event for us was the food, which was downright incredible. Home cooking at its best, and served buffet style in a cozy rustic dining room. Every morning a full spread of breakfast was served, then dinner in the evening. Roscoe went to bed each night around 7:00, and after carefully tucking him in we dilly-dallied outside our cabin until the dinner bell rang at 7:30. Then we left him sleeping soundly to enjoy some time alone. In a record breaking achievement we had two dates in one weekend! Seriously, it's crazy how much fun we had.

The second day we drove to Hot Springs and spent the afternoon at a park overlooking The Homestead, where we shared a picnic lunch under clear skies--despite an ominous forecast of thunderstorms. After dinner that night we joined two other couples by a roaring fire underneath an open air pavilion. The rain was pouring so hard at times it was hard to hear our own voices. We felt like two kids at camp when we had to run full blast through the rain and back to the safety and warmth of our cabin. The familiar clicking of Roscoe's swing, and his easy breathing was a reminder of how far we've come in the last 11.5 years. A lot has changed since we were teenagers skipping school together, and posing for prom pictures.

We slept so well both nights, and napped when Roscoe napped during the day. If it's humanly possible to "catch up" on sleep, we did our best.

Our mini vacation made us realize that Roscoe has become quite adaptable. I worried some that he'd sleep poorly in a different environment, or refuse to nap in the car--one of his favorite pastimes. But he surprised us and did neither of those things! It also gave us our first taste of membership in the "parent club". It seemed that most guests at the lodge last weekend were on a "getaway" from their children. We happened to bring ours with us, but it was fascinating how easily we connected with everyone over the shared experience of family.

Roscoe was a ham, demonstrating his ability to wave hello and goodbye, pointing out the "dogs" that were actually mounted raccoons and foxes, and repeating the word car at least 20 times over breakfast one morning.

Another important realization: we miss the pair "Andy & Jacqueline". There's nothing like spending a few hours sans baby to realize how much we love each other's company. Poppa & Momma are front and center most days, and we don't often see the playful, romantic side that used to be woven into our everyday.

It was a joyful adventure to vacation as a family. I can think of so many reasons to visit Fort Lewis Lodge again. I have a feeling that this may become our secret spot. Shhh! Don't tell anyone!