We just returned from Lucy’s first overnight and first out-of-state trip. We fully intended to write about this momentous occasion before we left, but it turned out that planning and packing for the trip took almost as much time as the actual journey.
The impetus for our trip: Jon’s boss’s daughter’s wedding. Jon considered just attending himself, but his colleagues threatened him with a horrible fate if he showed up without Lucy. Combining the wedding with a visit to see our favorite city-turned-country friends, the Marions, clinched the deal.
p{color:gray}. Photo: Jon all primped for the wedding, Lucy getting jiggy.
Still, we were a bit apprehensive about taking an overnight trip with Lucy this early in her life. Would she sleep? How would she fare during the three-hour car ride — and then the two hour-long trips to and from the wedding? Would she scream through the whole ceremony?
But Lucy did fabulously! Turns out she is quite the traveler. She cried for about 25% of the trip to Wisconsin, but then was peaceful and sleepy for all other driving adventures. She even indulged in an ultra-luxurious two-hour-plus nap on the way home. And nighttime sleep? Lucy fell quickly into dreamland, despite the unfamiliar surroundings, and she slept great, even through a bout of Sunny the Dog’s barking at 3 am.
At the wedding (at the First Presbyterian Church of Waunakee, Wisconsin), we discovered the joy of a truly well-appointed cry room. It was heavenly: one-way windows, sound-proofing, comfy couches, and a sound system. Lucy got a good meal, Mama and Papa got front-row seats to the ceremony, and no one heard Jon cracking wise throughout the proceedings. (Another highlight: in his homily, Woody Anderson noted, “Love is often difficult, but not complicated.”) At the reception, Lucy got to wander around with Mama in her new cheetah-print wrap while everyone made googly-eyes at her.
Although our landing back at home was a bit rocky with a lengthy sleep-protest from Lucy, the trip was definitely worth taking. Next stop: Paris?
Congratulations on your first successful traveling endeavor! It can be stressful! We first traveled with Benjamin when he was 6 months old and I can remember how stressed out I was! It gets even more complicated when you have to plan meals and such for the baby – at least when they are still nursing exclusively that part is covered!
Man Lucy, you were so close we could almost see you! Traveling is a pain. We have to do some business trips one this weekend (with 4 teens too) thin two more spaced two weeks apart. Who ever is planning my life sure isn’t thinking what it is like to haul a 7.5 month around! But we will survive. Congratulations on a peaceful trip. Nicole you are so right. I am loosing sleep over the food thing. What do you do when you have to go to a church camp. ARG. I just hope they cook food she can eat.
Great job, Ann! When we went to Canada last year with a 7 month old Gabriel we simply stopped at the first grocery we saw and stocked up on all his favorites…between that and nursing he came through like a champ. : )
Well Katrina, if Maddy is more into finger foods (which is how Benjamin was) you have a few options – the gerber graduates they sell (cans of veggies such as peas or chopped carrots) work well as they do not need to be cooked or anything. Benjamin loved cheese, so a block of cheese that can be chopped and kept in the cooler is a good option too. Fruit (like grapes, for example) should travel reasonably well and can be kept in the cooler too. Also, you might try the snack size fruit cups – Benjamin loved (and still loves) the diced peaches.
I can’t remember the cry room at that church… I think I was too busy getting married to Kelli when I was there.
From the sanctuary, the cry room looks just like a mirror on the wall. But it is fabulous and SOUNDPROOF, for real!