Weekend in bullets

My weekend was a whirlwind of driving, conversations, visiting with a ton of old friends/family, and staying at a rustic log cabin in the mountains. I cannot seem to organize it all in my head (ask my husband, I keep telling him little snip-its of stuff and it's in no order whatsoever) so I'm putting it down in bullet form.

• The drive up was good. Fuss had no accidents in the car, despite the fact that we were trying to go as long as possible without stopping. We stopped more often for quick potty breaks for both her and us, but it worked and if we hadn't been trying to waste time by trying to find a food place at the very end of the trip, we would have made it in a very reasonable amount of time.
• We stayed with friends of the family that we had never met before and I had been told we were staying "in a log cabin in the woods," but had no idea what to expect. (I would say that about C's sister, to a point - at least the "in the woods" part) But this place was... amazing. It was truly an old log cabin in the woods. We had to drive MILES off a paved road and they live on a small farm, cooked on a wood burning stove and heated their home primarily with their fireplace.
  
• But this house was HUGE. It was bigger than my home in "the city." There was only one bathroom (thank goodness. With a potty training toddler, I don't think I could have handled an outhouse), but they had at least 3 or 4 bedrooms, a living room, an upstairs... it was just beautiful and awesome.
• And they were SO nice. And so much fun. We spent a lot of time just hanging out with them and listening to their stories about their family (current and ancestors) and history and their life. Fuss got to go around with them (so did we, but it was mostly about her) and do their farm chores with them on Saturday morning and she got to see horses, pet a calf and see a cow up close. They also had chickens and a rooster.
  
• Little Man woke up with or before the rooster every day. He seemed to like living the farmer's life.
  
• There were also puppies, recently born, whose mother had hid them under the house to keep warm. They woke us up regularly.
  
• But when we finally got to see them, they were so cute it, we got over whatever inconvenience that was.
  
• Our hosts, the Dovers, drank their own milk (their cow's milk) and shared it with their friends and family) and ate their own eggs and corn (which they grew and milled themselves), and made their own butter (mostly - we did have store bought butter this weekend because she was out and she kept apologizing for that) and cheese. It was amazing.
  
• We ate fresh, organic sausage for breakfast. (They don't raise hogs, but it was their own slaughter and curing, etc.) And grits. Even Little Man sampled grits. (he loved them)
  
• Speaking of which, it was a weekend of firsts for him, as "Uncle Lane" fed him beef jerky and I gave him regular, natural apple sauce (instead of baby food).
  
• One of the cutest things Fuss did was fall in love with the Dovers. On our way to their house for the first time, we were following them up a dark, muddy mountain and she called out "Follow those Dovers!" and on our way back to the house for the last time, she kept talking about them and upon our arrival, we came back in and she ran up to them proclaiming "I missed you!" They were great with her and Little Man.
• Dad F introduced me to people as his "5th kid". That really made me feel good. I know I'm not the only one with that title, but I love that he thinks it/feels it, too.
  
• I've never seen him cry until this weekend. He's a retired Marine, a big, tough guy who is ALWAYS strong. This weekend I saw him walking around with a cane and I witnessed him crying once or twice. That was hard. I'm sure it's even harder for his other kids and grandkids.
  
• Cousin/niece Naomi, who is herself a redhead (it's a family of redheads - I fit in with them more than I fit with my biological extended family) thanked me for helping to bring more redheads into the world. She loved on Little Man a lot while we were there and he loved her back.
  
• Cousin/niece Rachel is getting married in June. I've known her since she was a little kid and when we're together, we're like family, but we don't get to see each often, so I wasn't sure if she would be inviting me or not. I'm psyched that she is.

7 Quick Takes

1. I'm hitting the road this morning for my trip to GA for the memorial service for Mom F.

2. Have I mentioned that I hate the idea/fact that I'm leaving my husband? I don't like being away from him.

3. I also have to make sure that I don't eat much -if any - MSG while I'm on the road because of my sensitivities to such. And fast food is LOADED with MSG. After my bad experience coming home after eating something I didn't realize had MSG in it, I plan to be even more careful this time (and also pack a change of clothes, just in case). But that pretty much means I can eat french fries on the road and not much else. Oh boy.

4. I need to make an appointment to get Little Man's 6 months pictures taken. I prefer going to our friend's studio to get pictures done, because they turn out just as good if not better and they are cheaper (because he usually gives them to us at cost or just above cost), but he's not really equipped to handle babies, and it has taken us 6 months to get the prints from the pictures we had done when Fuss was 2 1/2, so I'm thinking JCPenney, it is. They did a nice job when Fuss was 6 months old, it just was so darn expensive.

5. On that note, I also want some 3 year old pictures done of Fuss, but I might have my husband set up a "studio" in our living room and just take some formal shots himself and send them away to be printed professionally. I guess we'll just see how it goes when Little Man gets his done at JCP.

6. We were listening to music on my husband's Droid last night via Pandora radio's Glee station. It was sort of like listening to my iPod. Wow, I'm predicable. And I have the music taste of a 15-year-old high school choir girl.

7. But I'm starting to look OLD. ('You'd better get married soon. You starting to look old.") Wow, when I catch an unexpected glimpse of myself in the mirror lately - especially when I haven't bothered with make-up for the day (what is WRONG with me? I used to be better about make-up than I was about taking a shower...) I am really starting to look like an old woman. I don't mean I'm turning grey (thanks, redhead genes) or getting wrinkles (although, do the bags under my eyes count for that?) but I'm really starting to look less "college student" and more "mid-aged frump woman." Ugh.

On the road again...

So, apparently 3 years was the timeline for my daughter to be potty trained. And 6 mos was the timeline for my son to learn to roll over by himself. We've been very busy here at the House of Fuss.

In addition, we just got home fro our trip to Orlando and now I'm packing for our trip (sans Daddy Fuss) to GA. I'm feeling some pressure. So much to do, so little time, and how on earth am I going to make a long car trip with a potty training tot who likes to be able to sit on the potty A) whenever she pleases, and B) which seems to be every 15 minutes? (not always, but often. sometimes she holds it for hours....)

I am thankful that my friend M is coming with me, but I am baffled by her personal situation. She is currently separated from her husband. (It's a very long story) but they have 3 kids together, so you know, they'll never really be separated completely. But anyhow, so she committed to come with me, but her husband is trying to get Saturday off and he's talking about coming up, too, with the kids. Now, between us, we would have to take 2 vehicles anyway because of all the kids/carseats, But I can't seem to figure out if he would be caravan-ing with us, or if he would just happen to be going up at the same time. I have no idea where he and the kids would stay (we're staying with friends of the family) and I don't know if I'm expected to make arrangements or expected to "stick with him" when we travel... and it's just awkward.

We're all old friends from way back, so I understand why he wants to go. But it's still baffling. And it makes me wish my husband was coming with me even more.

I HATE being away from my husband. I really like being around him as much as possible. I like having his companionship, his help with the kids, his support, his strength (both physical and emotional)... so leaving him for even a few days always makes me sad. I'm kicking myself for telling him that if I could find someone else to go with me, that he wouldn't have to.

But we'll be fine. It'll be a whirlwind or a trip and we'll be home on Monday night. It'll be nice to see a bunch of family friends who I haven't seen in awhile. It'll be fun to spend that much time "alone" with M and really get to talk. (We never get lots of time to talk together.)

I'm almost packed and it isn't supposed to be nearly as cold this time, so I'm not as worried about the quantity of clothes or the weather/driving conditions, etc.

Honey, I'm Home

My baby is sick. According to the pediatrician, he has a standard cold and a mild ear infection. To hear him tell it, he is either in the depths of the plague or being tortured within an inch of his life. All he does is cry and scream. And he wasn't sleeping well (until this morning, when I finally got him to take a significant nap by starting him on my chest, and then moving him to an awkwardly-propped-up-but-on-his-tummy-sort-of position. And there is nothing I can really do for him. He doesn't want to be set down - ever - and I just am so tired, and so frustrated. I feel like I need to DO something and I can't.

I was worried that it was something more serious. The pediatrician didn't even consider that. He has a low-grade fever somewhat constantly and he's just so miserable...

My trip to GA was good, the driving was fine and I never came anywhere near sliding off the road into a ditch/snowdrift/deep ravine as my mother was sure I would. Other than nearly slipping on the icy driveway while carrying the baby into the house when I first got there and Fuss slipping on the same icy driveway twice during the week because she was hopping around, despite my instructions to do otherwise, we had no weather-related incidents whatsoever. I will post more on my experiences and observations after hanging out with a household (or two) full of kids later. Right now, I need to get back to cuddling my sweet boy.

10 on Tuesday

1. What book, movie or song has made you want to travel to a particular place? (eg. I went to Prince Edward Island because I was such a Anne of Green Gables fan)
I have a list. My mom and gramma and I went to Prince Edward Island because of the Anne books, I've always wanted to visit Charleston, SC because of a couple of books written by Alexandra Ripley and a series I read as a child called the Mandy books (I think) and I was so excited to visit New Orleans (multiple times and I'm ready to go again) after reading New Orleans Legacy by Alexandra Ripley plus a number of other books that I've picked up specifically because they are about N.O. after I had been there the first time.

2. Aside from your significant other, who would you want to take with you on a dream trip?
Possibly Fuss, though at this point in my life, going without kids would be ideal. I'd love to travel with my sister, too

3. Where would said dream trip be to?
Either Europe or the historical southern cities tour my husband and I have been planning for what seems like forever (St Augustine, Savannah, Charleston, Asheville, Williamsburg, etc.

4. If you were hosting guests or providing tips, what three things would you show visitors to your hometown? (be it where you live now or where you grew up)
Clearwater Beach, Busch Gardens, and a real beach like Reddington or Indian Rocks (Clearwater Beach has become completely touristy - no locals really hang out there)

5. If you had a long weekend ahead of you, where you head – beach, city or country/mountains?
City or mountains. I'm not a big beach person except for the sunsets...

6. Do you have a passport? If so, did you get it for a particular trip or just to have, in case?
Never had a passport. I've been to Canada twice, but that was before you had to have a passport to go/come back from Canada, so I never got one...

7. Are there any travel souvenirs you collect? If not, is there something else you collect?
We have a bunch of shot glasses from various places we've visited since we've been married and a few mugs for coffee, as well. I used to collect pins or key chains, depending on the trip, but I've given those up completely. I wouldn't say we actually collect these things seriously, though. But I do like to get a souvenir from places we travel.

8. If you could name a paint colour, what colour would it be and what would you call it?
It would probably be a blue or green and I'd name it after something in nature.

9. If you were heading away for a weekend citybreak solo, where would you go? (forget about practicality here and flight times, assume you can get to any city in the world for the weekend)
By myself? I have no idea. That baffles my mind. I've never been anywhere on my own (without meeting someone at the destination. I've traveled by myself) Probably some place with a great hotel and room service and shopping available nearby. I would likely spend a couple of days of alone time reading books and shopping.

10. Is there a song or a smell or something that you strongly associate with a particular holiday/place/time, such that it always takes you back?
Cajun spices and melted cheese or beignets and coffee (or more precisely, chickory) from the Cafe Du Monde and all of that reminds me of New Orleans, the best place for food in the world.

For more 10 on Tuesday click here.