Catch Up

Put your running shoes on people - that pretty much sums up the last 4 months.  I will attempt to hit the highlights here.

ER, cousins, and beach time

Wednesday, July 23 - 28 

Caroline  stayed home with her first non-family babysitter (Mrs. Rhonda House) because of a fever while I worked half a day at ETBU - one of my last days there.  That afternoon Caroline was diagnosed with double ear infections. We were scheduled to leave town to drive to Dothan, AL and meet cousin Hunter that evening.  We decided to keep our plans but get a hotel in Dothan as to limit C and H's interaction while she recovered.  While Daddy was at orchestra practice Caroline spiked a fever over 106. After a few panicked phone calls to Aunt Julie and Daddy, I rushed her to the ER.  Daddy arrived at the same time.  Rectal temp in the ER was 104.8.  Doctors were concerned about possible UTI or pneumonia.  After a big dose of Motrin, a urine sample, and a chest x-ray she was cleared of any further concerns.  We went home with a much less lethargic but were ourselves too weary from the events to try to pack up and drive across the southern US.
Thursday morning we did pack up and head out for our >10 hour adventure.  We tried to stop and take some fun breaks along the way to break up the drive.  Our first stop was in Ruston at Julie and Zach's.  We left the dog with them and C got to have some cuddles with Aunt Jules.
Next we searched out The Tomato Place in Vicksburg, MS.  Will and I stumbled on this hole in the wall roadside vegetable stand/restaurant while on a day date to Vicksburg about 5 years before when we lived in Jackson, MS.  The memories that we have from that day seem so mystical and dreamlike that we wondered if the place really existed or if it had somehow appeared on the side of the highway that day just for us. Well, it does in fact exist and Will contends that they have one of the best BLTs around.  The next stop on the food tour portion of our trip was for hot tamales.  With hours still left in our drive, I declined so I was 0-2, but I was holding out for the really good stuff.  Meanwhile, C was starting to experience what we believed to be more ear pain.  First-time mom, me, had turned down the Rx for numbing drops offered in the doctor's office on Wed.  So we then entered into what seemed to be a "Whose on first, what's on second" dialogue with our doctor in Longview, whose office is miles from a Walgreens on Highway 80, but we didn't need our prescription in Longview, we needed our meds at the Walgreens on Highway 80 in Clinton, MS.  Talk about confusing.  Amazingly enough the drops were ready and waiting when we arrived.
On to Jackson, I finally got my portion of our food tour - Keifer's - for a Gyro, cottage fries and feta cheese sauce.
I must have been in a food coma after that or suffering from the mind numbing sameness of I-20, because I don't remember much after that.  We finally made it to our hotel in Dothan around 9 that night.  Albuterol + 13 hours in the car, C didn't give in to sleep until 11.
Friday morning, no more fever, so we all went over to see Amy, Nick, and Hunter.  Caroline was a little curious about the baby, especially when I was holding him, but for the most part she ignored him.  We went to lunch, took a tour of Amy and Nick's church, ran some errands, and went back for dinner and Wii games.
That night Will experienced one of his most embarrassing moments upon walking into the hotel lobby and dropping an unopened glass bottle of Cheerwine all over the floor.  After helping clean that up a lady came in with a stack of food take out containers.  She was having some trouble, Will offered to help, and due to mis-communication half the dinners ended up on the floor.  Funny now.  Not proud moments then.  :)
We visited Hunter again on Saturday until about lunch before leaving to make our way to the beach.
In planning this trip I insisted that be part of our itinerary.  I hadn't been in soo long, and given the distance, I didn't know when we would get another chance.
We found a decent place at the Sugar Sands complex in Orange Beach.  We arrived in enough time to get in our first beach experience that evening.  Caroline surprised me by not minding the sand too much - as long as she was seated.  Walking in it was less acceptable.  The same was true for the water.  Seated on a lap, she didn't mind the waves coming up on her legs, but she wasn't ready to venture much more.
We spent most of Sunday at the pool or beach as well.  We bought a shelter while in Dothan to create a little play space for C, but it was a red flag day and we could not keep the wind from blowing it down.  We are completely windblown in all of our pictures.
Monday morning we packed up early to return home.
While the trip had a rough start, it ended very well, and I am so glad we decided to press on and go.

Friday, August 1

Julie came over to go to the Great East Texas Balloon Race and Glow with us.  Unfortunately, it rained, but we made the best of it.

A Lot of New

Monday, August 4

I started my new job in Children's Ministry at our church!  Praise the Lord for this opportunity.  Thrilled to finally get to work in this area, at this church, for such a time as this.  Also extremely grateful to put the daily commute to Marshall behind me and get to be with my baby girl a little more.  This adjustment has not been without its difficulties and not all expectations have been met.  Our family of 3 has never been on a weekday schedule that involves us all getting up and going together.  That routine is hard to create out of thin air, especially when schedules are pretty loose.  The job itself also holds a big learning curve.  Will says I am more stressed in this job, but I feel much more peace and happiness than I have in a while when it comes to the work I do during the day.  There will always be good and bad.

Tuesday, August 26

Will taught his first class as Adjunct Professor at ETBU.  He is teaching music history to 4 upperclassman and he loves it - eats it up.  I am so pleased that he is getting to explore this side of his ministry and career.
Very proud wife.  And yes, I left ETBU to be in Longview with him, only for him to drive to Marshall twice a week during lunch.  Oh, well.

September 14-21

Lollie came to visit and spoil C for a solid week.  They went shopping, ate at Chick-fil-a, visited Mommy and Daddy at work, went to the Splash Park, painted canvases....and more.

September 20-21

As if Will being in school and teaching school, and me having a new job wasn't enough, I have also returned to school.  A series of events over about the last year - since C's birth, led me to believe more strongly that I needed to take a step of faith and pursue something that I had wanted for awhile.  When the Lord led me to discover a certificate program in Childhood and Weekday Education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth that was taught on the weekends I stepped.
While Lollie cared for C in Longview, Will and I went to Fort Worth for my first weekend of class.  The class is on Administration of Childhood and Weekday Education Programs.  It is scary to be a student again, and a married-parent student at that, but the Lord orchestrated this to occur even before I was aware of the new job.  This is no praise for me, but I do feel that I am reaping a reward for faithfulness.

October 

Consisted of another class weekend - had to go it alone and sleep in a dorm room with a roommate (!) this time, a very involved film shoot for Christmas that kept Will away for several weeks, another ear infection for C, and the cutest Energizer Bunny I've ever seen.

November

We've kicked it off with either another ear infection or an unresolved October infection and a visit to the ENT to discuss tubes.  Maybe I'm letting my crunchy side show too much, but this Momma is not giving in that easily.  Surgery is scary and I don't feel like we are there quite yet, so were popping echinacea and garlic over here like nobody's business.  The thing is - I am willing to do the tubes if it becomes evident that it is the best thing for C.   We'll see.



We've had some twists and turns the last 4 months, but I wouldn't change it.

I'm posting this now (11.14.14) and hope to return soon to add a slew of pictures.

15 months

Summertime, Summertime

This last month we enjoyed some fun summer activities. 

Our first activity was the annual Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches, TX.  I was so looking forward to taking Caroline to a festival honoring one of her most favorite foods.  It was a hot summer day so we cooled off with some Bluebell vanilla ice cream and fresh blueberry lemonade.  We also sampled a blueberry scone at the cooking demonstration.  While watching the cooking demo Caroline consumed about one half pint of fresh blueberries.  She loves them and it kept her mostly still and quiet.  What a blessing that she likes food that is so good for her.  So in the end we went home with 11.5 pints of blueberries instead of the 12 pints we purchased.  :)  We didn't make it out to pick our own berries this year.  I think that will be our goal for next year.

 

Yucky bug bite

One less fun activity of the month was C's first experience with bug bites.  The morning of the festival when she woke up I noticed a red bump on her forehead.  It was somewhat firm.  We didn't think much of it until we got home that evening and it seemed to be getting larger.  Unsure of what it was, she hadn't fallen, we went to the minor med to have it checked out.  After quite a lengthy wait they said it was a bug bite and she was just highly sensitive.  The only real treatment was calamine lotion. 





The next day we celebrated Father's Day.  Caroline gave Daddy a card, a new polo, and pair of shoes.

The last week of June was VBS at Mobberly.  Will and I were both serving so as a family we had some long days, but Caroline hung in there with us.  She even had her own craft time those evenings and got to use stickers, dot markers, ink, and paint.  That week Caroline got two more bug bites on her face.  The swelling of the bite on her eyebrow obstructed about half of her vision.  I sure hope she grows out of this hypersensitivity.

As a "break" after the long week of VBS, Caroline and I drove to Ruston, LA to stay with Aunt Julie and Uncle Zach for the weekend and go to the Louisiana Peach Festival.  Will was on his way to Oklahoma City with his youth choir for summer tour.  We had a great time at the festival.  Caroline went decked out in her peach colored tutu and shirt.  She enjoyed wearing the beads we collected at the parade.  We had some amazing peach ice cream - much better than what we had at Efurd's, and went home with several pounds of delicious peaches from Mitcham's Farms. 

C and I were solo until Thursday of that next week so she got to go to school early early and leave late.  She was a trooper and it was fun to have her smiling face up with me in the mornings.  We were certainly ready to have Daddy back with us though.

Blowing kisses to Daddy

Wearing Daddy's hat

After a busy couple of weeks we celebrated July 4th by not leaving our house!  We heard the city fireworks but didn't attempt to go see them.  I do look forward to watching C experience fireworks for the first time, but this wasn't the time.  It was a much needed restful, relaxed weekend. 



 At 15 months Caroline:

• Can stack her toy rings
• Loves her rubber blocks and will pick them up and return them to the case when we are done playing.
• Takes a banana to school everyday and can peel her own - as Will discovered one morning when they arrived at school to find an empty banana peel and a happy baby
•  Enjoys bathtime and can sign "bath."  She requests her bath book by signing "book."  She has started to like the monkey page - maybe it's the bananas, and she is intrigued by the flow of water from the faucet.
• Looks adorable in pig tails.  She has a lot of hair.
• Eats the same food as Mom and Dad for dinner as often as we can make it work.  She enjoyed salmon this month.
• Blows kisses by putting her hands up to her mouth.
• Shows more interest in Penny Lane the dog - wants to hold her and will feed the dog from her high chair
• Is good at playing fetch with a ball, maybe better than the dog :)
• Sleeps 11-12 hours, naps 1-2 hours, just moved up to size 4 diapers (we were out of 3s),
• Is in a little screaming phase - when she's excited, happy, tired, irritated - she screams
• Is getting two more top teeth - one on each side
• Desperately needs a trip to Memphis to be immersed in the pork bbq culture after she turned down some homemade pulled pork - I guess she really is a little Texan
• Likes to close things - open doors, dishwasher and dryer door and often that means closing herself in the laundry room
• Helps unload the dryer
• Has energy and personality to boot

 Caroline, you keep us on our toes.  You are incredibly smart and a quick learner.  It can be exhausting to be with you for a whole day because you never stop.  It is constant motion, even when you are tired.  You are not a cuddler so I cherish the little moments when you are still in my arms or will give me a kiss - however slobbery it may be.  You are good tempered and kind.  I think you are going to be a helper.  I enjoy having you by my side as I do things around the house.  Your Daddy and I have enjoyed singing hymns with you in the evenings before bed.  It is my hope and prayer that you will take the words of these songs to heart one day.  Furthermore, that they will lead you to the truth found in the Bible and the salvation from Jesus.

I love you and I'll never stop.

-Momma

14 months

Caroline,

To start off this month you got a cousin.  On May 7, your Aunt Amy and Uncle Nick added baby Hunter to their family.  We look forward to when you and Hunter get to meet for the first time, hopefully later this summer, and watching you all grow up together.

On the 19th, you moved from the Bears class to the Kittens class at school.  When Mrs. Connie called to tell Mommy she said you could probably run the Bears class and were very ready to move up .  Your teachers thought you were bored.  You were the only walker in that class for several months.  In your new class your schedule is much more active.  Each day you have playground or gym time, Bible story and signing time, and snack.  You also have a 2 hr nap time using a nap mat on the floor.  Mommy was concerned that you would not adjust well to this since it had been a struggle to get you to take a 20 min nap in the Bears.  The first day with the Kittens you slept on your nap mat for an hour and a half.  I was amazed.  It helps that everyone lays down together in the dark with soft nature sounds playing.  You also have to wear tennis shoes in the Kittens class so you got a couple pairs of new kicks.  It's not easy to find tennis shoes in size 3.  Daddy lets you walk to your class in the mornings and for the first few days you would stop at your old room (you have to walk past it to get to the new one) and cry or bang on the door to be let in.  After a few times you seemed to realize that it was time to move on and after a brief pause you walked down the hall to the new room.

 You also had your first visit to the dentist this month.  At your 12 mo checkup Dr. Bagnell recommended we see a pediatric dentist to check on your bottom teeth.  Dr. McGough did a quick exam of your teeth and found that you have a fused bottom tooth - two teeth have joined and came in as one.  Years from now when you start loosing baby teeth and gaining permanent teeth we may have to have some type of intervention, but for now you just have another special feature.  You did really well at the dentist and did not put up much fuss.  We  have started brushing your teeth at night and next time we go see Dr McGough she will do a cleaning.

Mommy and Daddy took you to your first sporting event.  The ETBU (Mommy works here) girl's softball team was playing in the 2014 D3 Softball Championship in Tyler, TX.  We dressed you in your blue and gold and went to the game.  You weren't very interested in watching the action on the field but you sat with us in the bleachers for a while, then we ate cheerios and walked around the park grounds.  Excitingly we got to see a win that day, but they later lost and were out of the tournament.

At the end of the month you stayed overnight without Mommy and Daddy for the first time.  We went on vacation for our anniversary and Lollie came to stay with you.  Aunt Julie was also with you for some of it.  You were very good while we were away and had a lot of fun playing, riding in the stroller, and going on errands with Lollie.  Mommy missed you while we were away but I knew you were well taken care of.

Other highlights...

• Adjusted to drinking from a sippy cup
• Favorite Book: Baby Einstein Touch and Feel Baby Animals; Favorite page of that book: Hedgehog - made of rough side of velcro.  You now make the reader of the book scratch the hedgehog...over, and over, and over.  :)
• Favorite bath toy: Counting Animals bath book; Favorite page of bath book: 4 alligators.  You take the alligators out every night but not any of the other animals
• It just so happens that your favorite page in each book is the last page.  ??
• New toys of interest this month - purse with keys, phone, mirror, bracelet, and credit card; picnic basket with blanket, plates, cups, forks, and food; alligator pull toy
• You imitate Mommy by carrying your play purse on your arm and holding the plastic phone up to your ear.  You also love to wear the bracelet from your purse, but if not that the rings from the stacker work nicely.  :) You also pat your baby doll's back in bed.  Sooo cute.  Motherly instinct is ingrained.
• Pretend to drink from the cup your picnic basket
• Can point to your mouth when asked..."Where is baby's mouth?"
• Love to climb the stairs in the choir room/loft at church.  Climbed the full set of loft steps three times with Daddy while waiting on Mommy to get out of a meeting.
• Recognize and identify Daddy with "Da-da"
• Sign "more" along with "eat" much more consistently
• Enjoy being tickled, spun around in circles

You are our precious doll-baby.  We love you lots.

-Momma

To New Heights....5 year Anniversary

Will and I have been married five years.  In that time we have not traveled anywhere that did not involve our family, school, or work.  We haven't had a just the two of us, no obligations vacation since our honeymoon.  Being transparent I would tell you that adjusting to life as a family of three for the last year has been difficult, overwhelming, tiring, and has distanced us at times.  To celebrate five years of marriage we needed to get away.  We needed to be somewhere different and just be a couple for a few days. 

Thanks to cheap flights with Southwest Airlines, my wonderful, servant mother, and recognizing that we needed to foster our relationship we decided to take a real anniversary trip to Albuquerque, NM.  If you're like the vast majority of others that knew of our destination, then you have a burning question that must be answered.  Why Albuquerque?  I can answer in a few simple points:
1. Southwest was offering cheap airfare to Albuquerque from Dallas
2. It was the most "exotic" - read: not familiar, not in TX - location offered
3. Neither of us had been there before

and

They have hot air balloon rides!

As soon as I saw that Albuquerque is a ballooning town and you could go on a balloon flight at sunrise I was sold.  I am not a thrill seeker in any way, but I wanted a lasting memory of our milestone 5th anniversary and I knew this activity would provide. 
And wood is a traditional gift for 5 years...the balloon basket is made of wood - or has some wood on it...yeah, it's a stretch.  Never mind.

We set out on our adventure at 3 am Thursday morning (May 29).  Our flight left Dallas at 7:45 am.  We arrived in Albuquerque at 8:35 am MT.  After picking up our rental car, (thank goodness I dropped the notion that we would just walk/use public transportation for the couple day trip...what was I thinking??!!) we navigated our way to Old Town Albuquerque and began to peruse the shops in the square.  At some point we found ourselves at the local art museum.  Art museums are not typically our kind of entertainment, but they had some neat displays including an exhibit about Vivian Vance (Ethel Mertz), an Albuquerque native. 

At 11 am we began a free Old Town walking tour with a museum guide and another couple.  About 45 minutes in to the 1 hr tour I began to experience the lightheaded, hearing and vision closing in that comes with extreme fatigue and not having eaten in 7 hours (it was 12:45 to our body clocks).  Time to quickly make our escape.  We went to a local restaurant serving fresh, organic menu items - a very prevalent trend in the area.  I blame my very poor menu selection - a sausage breakfast burrito with green chile SPICY! - on bottomed out blood sugar and the notion that every meal needed to include the signature condiment of the state.  If I could have a do-over I would have gone with one of their beautiful salads.  I have to remind myself that I like salad.  I digress.

A nap was top of our priorities after the semi-failed lunch.  Normally I have difficulty taking naps.  2  hours later I awoke from my slumber, enjoyed the carrot cake cupcake I had taken to go from the restaurant and was ready for round 2.  We went directly across the street and took a quick tour of the Pueblo Indian Cultural Center.  It was interesting to read more about how the natives were treated through the years. I bought a pair of earrings from a lady of Indian heritage selling her wares in the plaza.
For dinner we decided to try the true specialty of the area - the Green Chile Burger aka the Laguna Burger at Pit Stop 66 - a gas station on I-25.  I think Will and I would both say that was one of the best burgers we had ever eaten.  Call it delirium if you will, but it really was good.  And it wasn't particularly a function of the green chile.  The meat was charred just right and the toppings were all balanced.  Very good.  We also had a red chile Frito Pie. 

We called it an early night because the next morning was our balloon ride and we had to be at the location at 5:30 - who was I kidding thinking this was a vacation with these early hours.  Not desiring to repeat the previous day and having to leave the hotel before breakfast was served we made a trip through Starbucks for sustenance.   Then the waiting began. 

The short of it is...a small line of showers was in the area and instead of pushing through as the sun came up, it just sat there spinning.  The balloon pilots were unsure enough about the conditions that they called the flights off...only after waiting at the location for over an hour.  While waiting we did get to see the sun rise over the Sandia Mountains and a beautiful, complete double rainbow.  The pilots told us that they generally get to fly 300 out of 365 days.  One poor girl in our group was on her third attempt - now that is some bad luck.

Disappointed, we went back to the hotel to change clothes and wait until an hour when things are actually open to drive to Sante Fe.  We took the scenic route north, Turquoise Trail.  Along the way we took the 16 mile jaunt up the switchbacks to Sandia Crest at 10,800ft above sea level.  It gave quite a view of the city of Albuquerque and surrounding areas.  The temperature from Crest to ground level was 20 degrees different.  We stopped in the old mine town of Golden for lunch - green chile enchiladas and another green chile burger.  Once in Sante Fe we browsed the goods being sold on street corners and sidewalks, along with the much more upscale stores than found in Old Town Albuquerque.  I chose a pair of oval turquoise studs.  We also toured a couple of churches and saw the miracle staircase.

Will recalled coming to Sante Fe on a youth choir tour as a youth.  For nostalgia we went in the 5 and dime store heralding the best Frito Pie around.  We passed this time.  I also have a vague memory of being in what I thought was Sante Fe on a stop of our two week family vacation to the Grand Canyon.  But being there again I couldn't place it.  So it's either significantly changed or that is not where we were.

Back in Albuquerque we got a little cutsie for our anniversary dinner- pizza!  It was fru-fru pizza at Farina and that is what we both wanted. We finished off the day with frozen custard and an early to bed.

I mourned the loss of a Saturday morning to sleep in, but I was hopeful we would get to go up in the hot air balloon...so away we went.  After a location change because of winds and some uncertain moments, we finally go the go ahead for take off!!!  Will got to help hold the balloon open while it was filled with cold air from large fans.  When it was inflated we had to quickly get passengers into the balloon to keep it on the ground until everyone could get in.  I was the first in in the back of the balloon by the pilot.  I had a few butterflies as the tie downs were released and the ground started getting further and further away. 

It was a really neat experience.  It is a very smooth, quiet ride (except for the burst of fuel from the burners).  The burners also made it pretty toasty.  We flew over natural landscape as well as commercial property.  We waved at some people enjoying the pretty morning on their patios.  The landing was smooth.  The pilot didn't get the full turn he was needing to land on the area of flat ground so we were on a bit of a hill, but the crew was very experienced and kept everyone safe.  Afterwards we went to a local park with a lookout over the city to enjoy in some breakfast treats and receive our flight certificates and pin.  We will definitely hold this memory for many years to come. 

After checking out of our hotel we did some final shopping in Old Town before heading to the airport.  We got a hot air balloon Christmas ornament with a Native American motif designed by a local artist as our souvenir. 

This trip had its literal and figurative ups and downs, but it was very enjoyable and we left with the commitment to make time for the two of us a priority.

I am so thankful for my Mom and sister watching Caroline so we could get away.  She was in wonderful hands and had a great few days at Lollie's summer camp.




Happy Anniversary, Will.  I love you and hope for many more years with you.

13 months

Caroline is 13 months old.  Highlights of the last month:

• Caroline is asserting her independence and her desire not to have anything on her feet.  Anytime she can reach her socks or shoes they are coming off.  I think it's time to look for buckles, but buckles are hard to come by in her size.
• Had her first sick visit to the doctor.  Diagnosed first ear infection (double) and bronchial congestion.  A round of Amoxicilan and Albuterol got her cleared up.  She is also now getting a daily dose of Zyrtec to help with her every runny nose.  Seems to be allergy related because we have seen marked improvement with the medicine.
• Weighed 18lbs 11oz at her sick visit.
• Mommy and Daddy made the decision to stop nursing as of yesterday (5/5).  It's tough in the mornings and evenings, but we feel it's time.  She is doing better with her cup at school. 
• Signs "eat" all of the time and will walk to her highchair when you ask if she wants to eat, but still no real words.  Thankful she is hearing and comprehending.
• She loves food...introduced peanut butter, strawberries, blackberries, Applegate Chicken and Maple breakfast sausage, oranges, and watermelon.  She eats anything and all of what you put in front of her.  I feel like I'm packing lunch for another adult each day, but she consistently eats it all and sometimes they even have to offer her snacks of puffs and yogurt melts in the afternoon.  She also had a bite of my peach ice cream on an outing the other day.
• Got her first haircut.  Her bangs were constantly in her face and the back was long on her neck so we trimmed it up a little.  She did really well and didn't seem frightened.
• Celebrated her first Easter.  It's funny to me that she was a year old before she had her first Easter.  In 2013, Easter fell on March 31, but this year it wasn't until April 20.  Lollie put together a special basket for her of books, beanie babies, and a snack.  Her favorite part was the empty Easter eggs.  Daddy scattered a few eggs around the yard and C enjoyed picking them up and putting them in her basket. 
• Still wearing 12 mo and some 6-12 mo clothes.  Her belly is getting too round for some of those tops though.  Now sleeping in two piece pajama sets instead of footed sleepers.
• Loves - "Pink bear", pushing and riding in her Cozy Coupe - on day 3 of being home sick she found my car keys in my purse and got in her car; she was ready to bust out, the alligators in her bath time book - she pulls them out first and can lay them back on the page to be put away when instructed
• This should probably go in next month's post, but so I don't forget...last night (5/7) we got home from Wed night church.  As I was in the kitchen C walked to the guest room in the dark and opened the latch on PL's kennel to let her out.  The two of them were just giddy when they both appeared back in the kitchen with no help from mom.  C is one smart child.  She has watched us open that kennel each day for months and last night she decided to help.
 

We are really loving life with our little girl.  She amazes me each day.

 

 

 

 

 

Hot Springs

Last week (when I started writing this, actually April 14-16) I had a three day conference for work in Hot Springs, AR.  I was lucky enough to be able to take Will and C along with me.  Leading up to our departure I was looking forward to being out of the office but hesitant about what our trip might have in-store.  Something about driving to an unfamiliar city, staying in a historic hotel, and leaving my husband and daughter in said hotel room while I attended the conference left me a little uneasy.

My fears were lived out when we arrived Monday afternoon in the pouring rain to the hotel with off site parking.  All I could see, or barely see in the dim light, as we entered our room on the 7th floor was the peeling paint, possible mold on the window treatments, and the leaky faucet and cracked ceramic tub.  As the protective mother of a one year old this was not ideal.  "She cannot take a bath in that tub," I exclaimed to Will.

More "memories" were made, as Will says, when we went to lunch.  We had yet to unload the car so with no umbrella, blanket, jacket, etc. we hurried down the street and jaywalked to the closest decent looking restaurant.  All was well once we were seated and ordered our food.  The food at Ronaldo's was good but a little pricey.  Throughout lunch I attempted to feed Caroline some banana.  She had only eaten some puffs in the car to that point.  She refused.  At the end of our meal I offered her a couple whole black beans from my plate.  I believe one made it in her mouth, but one was plenty enough to cause an eruption of vomit like I've rarely seen from my baby girl.  It was in my hands, down her front, on the highchair, the floor, everywhere.  We did the best we could to clean up with napkins and then made our exit as quickly as possible.  Thank heavens we were the only guests in the restaurant at that moment. 

Now we had to tote our sour milk smelling baby across the busy street and up the incline of the parking garage to unload and schlep 2 suitcases, a pack n play, a cooler, food bag, camera bag, diaper bag, and stroller back down the road to the hotel.  And I promise, I packed light.

Back in the room I got C changed and she and Dad had nap time while I went to my classes.
Upon my return I found my child sitting in the floor of the bathroom in nothing but a diaper with her lovey...really, Will, you let her lovey touch the floor...and Will bent over a sink of running water.  Apparently, after a pleasant nap time Will found C covered in poop (I'm sorry, but there is no graceful way) from her armpits to her feet.  She was wearing a onesie and pants, but magically the poop had found it's way to the outside of her pants and all over her sheet.  Poor Daddy had never experienced such and was thrown in a bit of a tizzy trying to figure out how to clean her up.  He did heed my earlier explanation and only stood her in the tub to rinse the nastiness off.

So in a span of about 4 hours we had ruined 2 outfits, a jacket, and the crib sheet.  This is one of the few occasions that I will say... thank goodness for Wal-mart.  That evening we went and bought new sheets, laundry spray, a laundry basket- to at least keep her little bottom off the tub floor for a bath, and hair bows - because after a day like that we needed some pretty.  I was also hoping to find myself a jacket to make the evening lows of mid-30s survivable and the highs of 50s pleasant-ish, but that would take about 6 more stores and seas of bathing suits first.  My planner, prepared self was so frustrated that I was wasting time searching for a jacket when I had numerous ones at home.  Another "memory."  I will say - I ended up with a decently cute purple zip up to get me through the next few days.

For dinner we headed straight for comfort food and the fireplace at Cracker Barrel.
After a good night sleep - the hotel bed was surprisingly comfortable - Tuesday got off to a better start and we had no further issues with poop explosions or vomit.

The temps Tuesday were still quite crisp with a strong wind.   But between my class sessions on Tuesday we enjoyed getting out of the hotel and exploring a bath house and some shops on bath house row.  We picked up some handmade bath soap before having lunch at Cafe1217.  As I returned to afternoon sessions, Will and C napped before touring the Mountain Valley Spring water museum.  Later, when I was able to join them, we drove up the mountain path to a lookout and then went to dinner at a local catfish house.

Wednesday morning (Will's 29th birthday) we had breakfast at the pancake house across the street from the hotel.  After a brief morning session at the conference we packed up and made our way to Garvan Gardens.  This was the one thing I had on our agenda before leaving town.  Garvan Gardens is known to have thousands of tulips during late March and the month of April.  To an amateur photographer with a one year old this screamed Spring photo-op.  We were a few days, maybe a week, late for the majestic showing of all the tulips, but sizable beds still remained.  It was a cold morning again and Caroline insisted on removing her shoes and the blanket I tried to keep tucked around her to shield from the breeze while we strolled her around in her sun dress searching for the prime location.
Caroline was a good sport, aided by a Cheerio feeding mid-way.  We got some cute pictures of her with the flowers.

At the end of our visit, Caroline had an encounter with a peacock.  Several peacocks roam free on the grounds.  This one located just outside of the welcome center took a liking to C and decided to show off a bit.  We got a full display of his feathers and even some vibration.  We weren't sure if that was a warning to back off or an affectionate you're cute so Daddy stayed close.

After a quick tour of the beautiful glass chapel on site we left town to make the drive back to Longview and arrive just in time, after a lunch guffaw - map apps don't tell you that the restaurant you are about to drive miles out of the way for is closed for renovation, for Will to head to work for the night.

The trip started off rough, but we worked together and survived.  We even had a little fun.
I love my family and I am glad I got to take them with me on my boring work trip.  If the Lord still has me here in 5  years there is a conference at Disney World.  Now that would be exciting!