Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Loco Motion
If you hadn't figured it out already, I have quite a thirst for travel. Being married for 14+ years, A and I have traveled a fair bit. Now that Birdie is here, we have continued to travel, albeit so far just shorter trips and much closer to home. I've quickly discovered that my travel ways are quite deeply entrenched and as a result adapting to travel of 2 plus infant is... interesting.
Recently, we visited A's home and family in the prairies. I had a brainwave prior to delivering our baby in August that we should road-trip it there since (at that time) we had more time than money. We were packed up and ready to go and then, after a particularly tough day with Babe, we opted to check out flight prices. What luck, a Seat Sale! Yep, we flew and boy, were we relieved about that decision. We had done a couple of road trips with Babe of up to 500 kms and found that she traveled very well although it really took a long time with feeding and what not. There were many times in the following days that either A or me sighed out loud with relief that we were not driving. It was an unsaid understanding.
We loaded up the three suitcases and the car seat into the cab. Yeah, three full suitcases and a car seat. That is a lot of luggage for us. We have regularly done the trip home with only carry-ons. I tried not to think about it too much, commenting irregularly that with the kiddo, I wanted to be prepared for... whatever.
The flight there went extremely well. Birdie ate on departure and arrival, preventing the nasty ear-popping that babies (and adults) battle. We were warmly welcomed by Mom, Dad and Aunties and three suitcases minus the carseat.
Seriously, we already dislike the carseat (that's an entirely separate post), the last thing we needed was to need it and not have it. Westjet offered 'Smurfette' (a old school navy blue cuddle seat) as a loaner until our carseat was located and arrived at the airport. They did right by us by delivering it to our home in the country, where we did the exchange from Smurfette to our long-lost carseat.
While we were visiting, we were spoiled by friends and family and as a result, we got loads and loads of gifts. So, we needed... more luggage to get it home. A bought a MEC duffle bag to pack our loot and we were again, after 10 days, off to the airport. We had three exploding suitcases and a duffle bag and a carseat to check.
I swear it's the most luggage we've ever checked. We've travelled over 3 months at a time with less than what the duffle bag held. Ay-yaiy-yaiy. I got really annoyed with the packing of these bags, imagining where all of the stuff would go once we got home. *Sidenote - we arrived home 3 days ago and I'm still unpacking.*
Birdie had a rough time on this flight when we were landing, along with the chorus of babes going through the same unfamiliar ear popping saga. You know, I remember being a passenger prior to having a baby - I dreaded being seated by them. Ok, not because I didn't like babies, but because of the crying drama. Furthermore, A and I always checked in on the aisle and middle seat as close as possible to the front of the plane. Now, with a babe, we don't have the option to check-in online and we get put in the window near the back. Sure, we get on first, but we also get off last. What was that scriptural passage about the last being first? Is that going to help me somewhere in the scheme of things? Haha.
We got all our luggage - the three suitcases, the duffle bag and the carseat - and loaded up into the cab. The cabbie commented that he may not be able to take us because his trunk was only so big, but it all fit and were finally on our way home.
Two loads up the stairs later, we got home.
To me, travel is now loco motion. FYI, in Spanish, loco is "crazy". I'm admitting that my life, whether it be travel, excercise or otherwise, is now crazy-motion. Loco-moting from here to wherever, sleep-deprived, luggage-loaded, milk-drenched, half-sentences-speaking and... happy!
Recently, we visited A's home and family in the prairies. I had a brainwave prior to delivering our baby in August that we should road-trip it there since (at that time) we had more time than money. We were packed up and ready to go and then, after a particularly tough day with Babe, we opted to check out flight prices. What luck, a Seat Sale! Yep, we flew and boy, were we relieved about that decision. We had done a couple of road trips with Babe of up to 500 kms and found that she traveled very well although it really took a long time with feeding and what not. There were many times in the following days that either A or me sighed out loud with relief that we were not driving. It was an unsaid understanding.
We loaded up the three suitcases and the car seat into the cab. Yeah, three full suitcases and a car seat. That is a lot of luggage for us. We have regularly done the trip home with only carry-ons. I tried not to think about it too much, commenting irregularly that with the kiddo, I wanted to be prepared for... whatever.
The flight there went extremely well. Birdie ate on departure and arrival, preventing the nasty ear-popping that babies (and adults) battle. We were warmly welcomed by Mom, Dad and Aunties and three suitcases minus the carseat.
Seriously, we already dislike the carseat (that's an entirely separate post), the last thing we needed was to need it and not have it. Westjet offered 'Smurfette' (a old school navy blue cuddle seat) as a loaner until our carseat was located and arrived at the airport. They did right by us by delivering it to our home in the country, where we did the exchange from Smurfette to our long-lost carseat.
While we were visiting, we were spoiled by friends and family and as a result, we got loads and loads of gifts. So, we needed... more luggage to get it home. A bought a MEC duffle bag to pack our loot and we were again, after 10 days, off to the airport. We had three exploding suitcases and a duffle bag and a carseat to check.
I swear it's the most luggage we've ever checked. We've travelled over 3 months at a time with less than what the duffle bag held. Ay-yaiy-yaiy. I got really annoyed with the packing of these bags, imagining where all of the stuff would go once we got home. *Sidenote - we arrived home 3 days ago and I'm still unpacking.*
Birdie had a rough time on this flight when we were landing, along with the chorus of babes going through the same unfamiliar ear popping saga. You know, I remember being a passenger prior to having a baby - I dreaded being seated by them. Ok, not because I didn't like babies, but because of the crying drama. Furthermore, A and I always checked in on the aisle and middle seat as close as possible to the front of the plane. Now, with a babe, we don't have the option to check-in online and we get put in the window near the back. Sure, we get on first, but we also get off last. What was that scriptural passage about the last being first? Is that going to help me somewhere in the scheme of things? Haha.
We got all our luggage - the three suitcases, the duffle bag and the carseat - and loaded up into the cab. The cabbie commented that he may not be able to take us because his trunk was only so big, but it all fit and were finally on our way home.
Two loads up the stairs later, we got home.
To me, travel is now loco motion. FYI, in Spanish, loco is "crazy". I'm admitting that my life, whether it be travel, excercise or otherwise, is now crazy-motion. Loco-moting from here to wherever, sleep-deprived, luggage-loaded, milk-drenched, half-sentences-speaking and... happy!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Recant
So, our little Bird is now four weeks old. I marvel at how fluid that amount of time has been - sometimes it feels like she's been here so much longer and other times, it's so fresh and new. She continues to surprise us each day. Like yesterday, she started to cry distinctly and I think I figured out that one of the cries is that she's hungry (it's more mellow and whiney) while another cry is to tell us she's dealing with a nasty burp (that cry is angry and hurt). Today, she's in the mood to hold her head up and check things out. It's neato.
What I feel compelled to post below is something that I believe many of my friends and family have been curious about. So, does tfoxfan have to recant any of her former statements of parenting? The answer is yes. Let me be clear, it's not all of the statements I made that I must recall, rather these few that I have identified over the recent days and weeks.
1. "Why do we always have to wait around for 'them' to be ready to see us? We're always accomodating their nap scheduling or feeding schedule."
This one was quite obviously insensitive of me. I get annoyed now at the thought of someone dropping in and I may not be completely together and Birdie may have a fit because of food needs and so, I get the struggle to schedule hang time with others.
2. "Why do parents often wear unlaundered clothes? Don't they have any dignity left to just change their pants and look decent?"
I do struggle with admitting this one, but I must say that I get it now. I happen to have a baby that regularly pukes up milk versions - liquid, curd, what have you. I have soiled clothes on me which I make attempts to clean and yet, we all know, people can see it. And, I understand now that doing laundry isn't the easiest task to accomplish with a babe in arms.
3. "Why are parents unable to carry a conversation with other adults while their children are present?"
I must distinguish that this is more about being able to multi-task versus ignoring the current conversation a parent is in with another adult to rather talk with their child. I do understand the difficulty of carrying on a conversation while the babe is crying. I can't do both at the same time. I never expected to, but I get the challenge of it now. I may get better at this though, right?
Well, you only get three recants for now, there's likely more out there. Most importantly, I want to apologize to those of you that know the look I gave that screamed these statements prior to my newly minted parenthood. I just really didn't get it. And now - when I catch myself in these little parental nuances, I laugh and think, "Ah... this is what that is.".
What I feel compelled to post below is something that I believe many of my friends and family have been curious about. So, does tfoxfan have to recant any of her former statements of parenting? The answer is yes. Let me be clear, it's not all of the statements I made that I must recall, rather these few that I have identified over the recent days and weeks.
1. "Why do we always have to wait around for 'them' to be ready to see us? We're always accomodating their nap scheduling or feeding schedule."
This one was quite obviously insensitive of me. I get annoyed now at the thought of someone dropping in and I may not be completely together and Birdie may have a fit because of food needs and so, I get the struggle to schedule hang time with others.
2. "Why do parents often wear unlaundered clothes? Don't they have any dignity left to just change their pants and look decent?"
I do struggle with admitting this one, but I must say that I get it now. I happen to have a baby that regularly pukes up milk versions - liquid, curd, what have you. I have soiled clothes on me which I make attempts to clean and yet, we all know, people can see it. And, I understand now that doing laundry isn't the easiest task to accomplish with a babe in arms.
3. "Why are parents unable to carry a conversation with other adults while their children are present?"
I must distinguish that this is more about being able to multi-task versus ignoring the current conversation a parent is in with another adult to rather talk with their child. I do understand the difficulty of carrying on a conversation while the babe is crying. I can't do both at the same time. I never expected to, but I get the challenge of it now. I may get better at this though, right?
Well, you only get three recants for now, there's likely more out there. Most importantly, I want to apologize to those of you that know the look I gave that screamed these statements prior to my newly minted parenthood. I just really didn't get it. And now - when I catch myself in these little parental nuances, I laugh and think, "Ah... this is what that is.".
