Thanks to my years spent as a Flight Attendant, I will (perhaps) remember most airport codes...NERD ALERT!
Scott and I recently ventured (I say that lightly) out to Ohio with our 5 1/2 month old. Our choice of transportation was our brand new Toyota Hybrid Highlander. We decided to leave at 8:30 pm on July 27, to drive STRAIGHT to Cincinnati....did I mention, with our 5 month old?? HA! I joke, but we honestly couldn't have left at a better time. So at 8:30 pm, with a sleepy baby, we embarked on a 16 hour drive to Cincinnati. Our drive took us from Texas-Arkansas-Tennessee-Kentucky-OHIO.
Peyton slept the majority of the trip. We were able to make it Ohio in 15 hours, 4 pit stops (gas, potty, diaper changes), and with the help of
Yo Gabba Gabba (better known as baby crack). I pumped the whole way up and one of us was always in the back ready for a crisis. Oddly, Peyton who rarely took a binky prior to the trip, was not graciously accepting of one.
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| Ohio bound |
We spent the weekend in Cincinnati and visited with Scott's (and now my) friends. Carly, Justin, and Kellen got to meet Peyton for the first time. And I got to visit with Kellen, whom I hand't seen in 9 months!
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| Kellen showing Peyton his Helicopter |
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| Carly with the babies :) |
One thing I have noticed since having a baby is, I'm so focused on getting cute pictures of my baby, I forget to get pictures of Scott and myself. I guess there are worse things in life. But I really wish I would have gotten a few pictures of Carly and me. I also got to see Paul and Tami's house and meet her for the first time! She was 9 months pregnant with Noah. Again, no pictures!! Thankfully, the last day we were in town, at the Stone's cook out, Mike made sure we got a group shot.
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| left to right: Carly's parents, Ron and Carol, Megan, Casey, Kellen, Justin, Carly, Mike (kneeling), Scott, Peyton, ME, Timmy and Katrina. oh, and of course Odon's butt |
We had fun visiting with everyone in Cincy, but I was eager to see Scott's family and introduce Peyton to everyone for the first time and to Connie again. I love my in-laws and wished they lived closer!
On a side note, where did "great" when referring to your parent's grandparents and aunt and uncle derive from?
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Great Aunt Lizy got Peyton this laughing horse.
I thought it plus his diaper box made for a good horse and carriage. |
I feel like whenever we're in Ohio, we're always doing something besides just visiting. Scott and I got married there and I have been up there many times to do wedding related stuff (pictures, shopping for venues, showers, getting married, etc.) This trip included getting Peyton baptized. Peyton being baptized wasn't the initial reason for our visit, but with my sister coming into town (from NY), and Scott's parent's being there, this was the perfect opportunity to do it. Besides, this church has so much meaning to our family; it is the place we united our love, where Scott went to school, he was also baptized there, and his parent's were married there. With my nomad background, I always appreciate strong rooted families.
That weekend my sister and her family (husband and 2 kids) came down from New York. They stayed in the coolest loft condo in downtown Sandusky. It actually made me want to move to a loft condo.
Peyton's baptism was the following Sunday after we initially got to Ohio. His baptism couldn't have gone more smoothly! He was beyond good, he must have known God was watching him. His baptism took place during mass and the same priest who married us, preformed his baptism. It was very special.
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| all dressed in white |
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| Peyton and his Godmother, aka Aunt Millie |
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| these pics are adorable |
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| My baby boy |
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| Us with Peyton's God parents, cousins, and grandparents |
After Peyton's baptism, we went to the family cottage on lake Erie and had a light lunch, finger sandwiches, chips, and cake. We're simple people.
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| Connie got this cake for the occasion |
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| The cool thing about the cottage is that the surrounding cottages are all family dating back 5 or 6 generations. This is Uncle David who is really like a 4th cousin...I think |
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| Great Aunt Jeanne |
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| kiddos playing frisbee |
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| Vincent was so smitten with his baby cousin |
The journey back to TX was longer 19 hours. YIKES! Scott and I have done this drive a couple of times, but attempting it with a baby was VERY scary. We decided to leave even earlier in the night. I think we pulled out of Scott's parent's driveway just before 7 pm. Peyton was a little fussier on the car ride home, and bc the first trip was so easy I neglected to pump prior. Lets just say, there were several instances I spent hunched over Peyton's carseat trying to nurse him. Needless to say, we made it back okay. Tired, but in one long stretch.
