Picture this.......JuJu, Sadie Marie, Me.......Baltimore Thurgood Airport, Baltimore, Maryland. Two suitcases, three carry-ons, a cooler, two purses, diaper bag, stroller, and a partridge in a pear tree. Well, not really, you can't transport trees on planes. I have done this before, by myself, and I must admit traveling with a companion is the shiv when there is a baby involved. It's always easier with two sets of hands. Sweet Auntie JuJu, of course volunteered to fly down to the SEL with us and help out along the way. We are in no rush, we get there in plenty of time to spare, but there's always a little (OK a lot) of anxiety when traveling with a six and a half month old. We actually breeze through security and make our way over to the food court for dinner, we choose the Silver Diner, and have plenty of time to make our 720 flight. Sadie Marie has been sitting in a high chair for a few weeks and of course being the pyschotic first time parent I still hose them down before she sits in them, if I don't have my cover, which I don't because from the list above you would NEVER think I'm traveling light.
Anyway, Sadie Marie is a freaking pro, she eats her dinner, we eat, and she plays. Awesome job kid. You need to start a "How to Travel" course for babies and teach it online. They let us board the plane first and we nab some seats in the second row, since you can sit anywhere you want on Southwest Flights, and we depart on time. Shit, I can't believe this is going so good. I'm a pretty good flyer, but of course with all these things going our way, I wonder if the landing gear is going to stick and screw up our good luck. JuJu has said many times over she's jinxed when it comes to flying----delays, lost luggage, cancelled flights, etc. So I'm just wondering if I can expect to make this trip unscathed.
The flight goes good, Sadie Marie nurses on take off and thus goes to sleep for most of the flight. Then JuJu plays with her while we land. I was worried about her ears popping since she was awake and mine were killing me so I was waiting for a meltdown, but none came. She was happy as a clam. Awesome.
We land, luggage arrives, and mom and dad are waiting. Easy, Peasy, One, two, threesy. We get to the SEL and start our fun filled three week escursion in Alabama. Start it off with a bachelorette party for JuJu the next day.......I'm not as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was. Thank you Toby Keith. I now FULLY understand what you mean. I'm 31 years old. I got 10 years on almost everyone I'm going out with and when we get to the bar it shows, but of course, mom mode kicks in before we leave and I threaten their lives.
Me: "I only have one rule, NO ONE goes off alone and if you leave you must tell me first!"
Them........looks of confusion.
Me: "Sigh" It's going to be a long night.......
Reagan: "Have fun" Snicker, Snicker.
Me: Let's go.
We hit the bar and first off, if I'm going to get my, just had a baby, but it was six months ago and it's no longer really an excuse, ass on the dance floor with said 20 year olds I need drinks, lots of drinks. So while we await the band to play I try to start pounds some red bull and vodka, but it appears tolerance is not something you necessarily earn, but are born with, so I tell all my pals to go and have fun, I will watch our stuff. Of course I'm worried about purses getting stolen. I'm 31 and have a child but what I'm secretly worried about is my seat getting taken and I won't have anywhere to sit my old ass when I pull a muscle.
Fast Forward 4 hours we go to an actual dance club where I can no longer walk, but not because I'm drunk more like BOTH myankles have decided to roll everytime I take a step which makes me look like I'm having a seizuere in my platform shoes. I, in what is clearly my best decision making state, decide they are more hazardous to my health than going barefoot in a bar. Awesome. I gather the troops and we depart, only to decide that the bachelorette and her sister want to hit up a late night bar across town. Well, of course I can't let them go alone, so the other girls head back to the hotel and off we go in a cab. We get to the bar, I immediately fall asleep on a table and an hour later I woke.
WTF.......I grabbed JuJu and told her to get Leah we were leaving. At 5 AM we roll into the hotel and I had never been happier, except I remember I had to pump our some toxic alcoholic breastmilk before going to bed.......oh well, by the time I got upstairs I completely forgot that and grabbed a piece of pizza. Ah, the pizza.......I guess I ate half, passed out, woke up about an hour later on top of said piece of pizza, went back to sleep to find the slice on the arm of the pullout couch staring me in the face with several more bites missing. When I finally woke for the morning, it was no where to be found. Awesome. I felt like a dirty college frat boy when I woke up and realized I had CLEARY eaten that piece of pizza.
Anyway, I survived and went on to get everyone out of there with the room in tact before 11 AM. I had to get back to my little nugget! Hands down a great night, that I hope to NEVER repeat!
On to the wedding! Whew, was that a crazy day. The Doss clan knows how to throw a party. We started out with a brunch in Marion and what could very easily be one of the most fabulous houses I have ever been in. Decorated to a tee, it screamed the simple elegance of a civil war era mansion. I mean the bathroom was bigger than my bedroom. The casseroles were to die for and of course it was my little brother's wedding day. Makes me tear up just thinking about it. I got to see JuJu, then after she left to go get beautiful, John Rob and his crew came in. Sadie M was taking it all in and of course she was prepping for her big moment as one of the two cutest flower girls EVER. Fast forward to 5 PM, after we get pictures taken and get the wagon situation down, the wedding starts. Royce and I decided our rehearsal up high and down low high five would not be a good idea as we crossed paths and once in place I see my little nugget coming down the aisle in her tutu and I almost tear up again. Of course the first time was when John Rob walked out to await his bride, but I held it together. Luckily, Jordan made me fabulous with a quick hair makeover so I wanted to hold it together for photos! It was tough, it always is. I always end up thinking about my wedding and the vows make me remember saying them to him over eight years ago and it makes me feel blessed for every day good and bad we have had. I know right, who knew I could be so sentimental.
Well, we got them two married off and we went to a reception fit for the pages of Modern Bride. We had muscadime whine, the kegs were flowing, the cupcakes were fabulous, and everyone had a blast. It was a great evening and I am so happy that JuJu is now my sister and tied to our family forever!
Moving on from the sappy stuff. Christmas was also a day of firsts for our new little addition. She LOVED it. I mean the kid is a pro at opening presents. I should have just given her empty boxes because once she got all the paper off she could have cared less what was in there. Of course, it's always like that the first year, but luckily she had cousin Elsie to show her the ropes. Sadie Marie was memerized by Elsie. She knows she an older kid, but I swear it's like she knows there is more of a connection there than just a buddy. They played, Elsie snatched some toys in true toddler fashion, and then entertained us the rest of the day! I swear she must have snatched some five hour energy! She was sooooo funny!
We relaxed the next week, watched Twilight, I got to spend a fabulous night with Aunt Angie and Elsie and then New Year's finally came around. Cunnie watched Sadie M while I picked the baby daddy up from the airport and went to Reagan's to take her and Matt to their first movie. After seeing Sherlock Holmes with her, I now know why that was their FIRST movie ever. Of course it's never a good idea to ask Reagan or myself to try to sit still for two hours, but it's a BAD idea to ask us to do it next to each other. After about an hour and a half I looked over and the baby daddy was asleep. Sheesh. So of course, Reagan and I start making fun of the movie........we tried to watch. WE FAILED.
Next we were off to the hibatchi place where they make you catch food in your mouth and it was fantastic. We then proceeded to go to Reagan's pad and watch the ball drop. We decided we needed to play a game to pass some time until midnight so she pulls out some dominos. Of course I know how to play, grandmama taught us, I just need to remember.......we get out the rules. Well, I guess there are about 100 ways to play dominos rather than just putting the matching ends together like I thought. I guess I was about nine the last time I played........So, after an hour of trying to figure the rules out, we starting playing and then kinda just made shit up as we went along. Then it's time for the ball to drop, at 11:54 p.m. we turn the TV over to Ryan Seacrest talking about New Year's Even in NYC and I go on telling them about how we spent NYE in NYC just two years ago but it feels like a lifetime ago, blah, blah, blah and the a commercial break......we continue our domino game and I realize its 12:03 AM...WTF Ryan Seacrest, you missed it douche bag. We start staring at the TV and realize that Times Square behind Ryan is empty, they are cleaning up. We missed it? I'm a retard. I freaking live in the Eastern Timezone, I should have knows those assholes would drop the ball at 12 midnight EST and expect those on CST to watch it at 11 PM. I thougth they replayed it, guess not. Sorry, CST, nobody cares. So CLEARLY, we were disappointed, but we had a good NYE nonetheless.
As you can all see, my holiday was FANTASTIC! The only downside was I missed quite a few holiday parties in VA while I was gone. BUMMER, but I will be here next year! In any case, here are some photos of the nugget at 7 months.
Love y'all,
A
