Don't Mind Me

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The First of the Baby Watchers

So...

I'm posting a little out of order here. I'd like to think it's because I'm so desperately busy, but the truth is, I'm just busy napping and watching Mad Men on Netflix during nap time. And you know, that show isn't even very good. I'm into it because it's summer and I don't have cable so there isn't anything on (I can watch "current" shows on Hulu when there are shows that are current, but that's where the summer-time quandary comes in). Anyway, seriously, not the greatest show. I have no idea how it's stayed on the air so long or won so many awards. I'm addicted because it's what I've got, but there isn't a thing about it that would lead me to count down until next season. Though I have blown through 4.5 seasons in about as many weeks...

Anyway.

My sweet friend Melissa and her daughter Katie came for a visit last week. They were the first of the "baby watchers" since Erik's mom couldn't be here at that time due to Erik's sisters wedding. Melissa was my first close "Army Wife" friend, and her daughter Katie, born just a few months before G, was his first friend. We lived a few blocks apart in Hawaii and used to get the kids together to play quite often and have been eager to get them together again.

So, since there isn't a ton to do around here, we just hung out for a few days and even took the kids on a bona fide train ride (YAY Groupon!)! The first twenty minutes were AMAZING. The kids laughed with glee when the train started moving. The last 100 minutes, not so great. (What were we thinking with this two hour ordeal?!) But the day was redeemed by a trip to the cupcake shop afterward. And a long nap on the drive home. Poor Erik had to stay awake and drive, but I'm sure he was pretty into the silence.

Here are some photos from the train ride (that I'm way too lazy to edit).

She was pretty stoked about her ticket.



We were off to a pretty great start!

I call this one "Holy crap! I'm on a train!!"
 

   

And then the wheels kind of fell off, as you can see here...

And here.

And we got a little delirious.

This poor child looks entirely too much like me.

 

And a series of tantrums led to Melissa in one chair, Erik and Grant in another,
and Katie and I in seats by ourselves as well.

Then Grant gave up and moved back.

(((Don't ask me what all this space is about. I can't seem to get it to go away.)))

 

And then sadly, it came time to say goodbye.
Someone please remind me not to buy those kids of shirts for G anymore. They're not cute.

The Last Day

Erik has been off for about ten days (he went back to work today, sad panda) and yesterday was our last "official" day as a family of 3, since Grandma Pat arrives today and will stay until the baby comes. I was a little sad, to be honest. We went to church and then to brunch at the local (how do you say?) greasy spoon. We played trucks with G while we waited, quizzing him on what color each one was, which was bigger, which was smaller, which had lights, etc, and I realized he's not going to get that kind of undivided attention from both of us for a long time. I guess maybe it's good that he doesn't know what exactly is coming his way.

I had every intention of doing something sweet and fun with G, but we came home and I fell asleep on the couch for like 4 hours. Whoops. Then I acted on a growing concern that the baby wasn't moving very much and ended up on the maternity ward for another two hours to be monitored (she's fine).

The best of intentions...

I did end up (finally) shopping for his big brother gifts for Piper to "bring" him when she comes. He's getting a few books, a card game, a puzzle and a blue plastic airplane (so that hopefully the metal one can be hidden away until the baby is a little less fragile). And best of all, they'll come in a blue backpack covered in planes, trains and automobiles. He's desperate for a "pack pack" he can carry himself, so I think this little package will earn P a one way ticket right into G's sweet little heart.