This past week we embarked on baby Cora's first big adventure! It was her first time out of the state--I had to think hard about that, actually, because we live so close to the Alabama border--but she conquered quite a big trip for being such a tiny traveler.
We set out on this trip to Indiana to attend B's cousin's wedding. We left Wednesday afternoon and drove due north, stopping at a hotel in Tennessee. The next day we arrived at B's family home just north of Indianapolis. The wedding was in Fort Wayne, which was another 2 hours, and for one night we stayed another hour away at B's family lake house in Michigan. That makes me exhausted just thinking about it. (Yes, I'm still recovering!!)
We had to stop about every 3 hours to feed baby as we traveled, but we had a system. Basically, Cora is the fussiest eater in public when we don't have our comfy pillow set up like we do at home. She also takes
forever to eat and only wants to be held in one specific way which kills my arm. So I pumped. In the passenger seat. We fed her bottles, which she sucks down so quickly that we actually have to pace her. Yes, it was a pain in the butt rinsing out bottles and pump parts in rest area bathrooms, but it could have been worse (my arm thanks me). I also became acutely aware of places that didn't have changing tables in their bathrooms (I'm lookin' at you, Burger King). But once Cora was fed and changed, back she went into the car seat where she usually cried for about 5 minutes or so and then fell asleep. All in all, a pretty peaceful journey.
And if you're wondering, I absolutely do not agree with the "lean" system that some breastfeeding mothers use. (They sit in the backseat and lean over the car seat to nurse.) I don't care if you still have your seat belt on, it's not safe for you or your baby. Alright, I'll get down from my soapbox now.
Okay, enough about our systems. Cora has now been to 6 states! Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan. Soon enough she'll catch up to my 47, right?
Here are some fun pictures from our trip!
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| Cora in her fancy dress |
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| Cora got to meet all her aunts and uncles on B's side of the family! |
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| 4 generations |
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| We met this other baby girl at the reception who is only one day older than Cora! |
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| My fussy baby and me |
Glad you had a successful trip! I'm with you on the lean system. I have done a backseat bottle feeding before, but we try to time any long car rides to leave right after a feeding, and if we can't arrive in time for the next, we'll pull off at a rest stop and feed everyone all at once. And yes.....places with no baby changing area are awful.....I bought some disposable changing pads so I could just do it in the car!
ReplyDeleteWhen my kids were infants, my sister would assist in what I called "ninja baby changes". She would hold the baby up under the arms in mid-air, while I quickly took off the old diaper and put the new one on. It took some practice, but you're always in a place with no changing table when you REALLY need one, right? :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the trip went well!!
Oh goodness I love her dress! Sounds like an overall fabulous trip back home! Not being a mother I don't know about all the different methods and what not, but that lean method just doesn't dound like something I would ever do. I think your method would be how I would do things. You have to do what works for you and what you feel best doing!
ReplyDeleteI love the generational picture too! Such awesome moments in her young life!
LOVE the new blog design! And the new name too!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great trip! And no changing tables at BK? Really? That's just wrong!