Baby on board

We have been looking forward to showing you the ocean ever since you were born. We love the ocean - it's were we met, where we got married. We didn't take you there before Thanksgiving, as it is a long 6 hour drive to Charleston. The days leading up to the trip, I was quiet nervous. What if you wouldn't sleep and fussed the whole time? How would we all fit into our car with Bella (LARGE DOG) in the back (which meant the stroller stayed at home)? Would you be able to sleep in the travel bed? What if the whole thing would turn into one big stress fest, hurrying from one house to the next with an unhappy baby?

The weekend before the long awaited trip, symptoms of the cold arrived. Papa and I were suffering from a soar throat, congestion, etc. In addition to my already long list of worries about this trip, I was stressing out and started to think that maybe we better stay home. Since we were getting sick, I was convinced that you would end up with a cold as well (you never did).

Even though it seemed impossible, we proceeded to leave Tuesday night around 6pm. I felt absolutely miserable but was willing to do whatever it took to get there. Long story short, we had a rough start to what was a wonderful trip. You and Bella slept the whole way there and the drive didn't even seem all that long (non-drowsy cold medicine worked pretty well too). We arrived around 12:30am Wednesday. After we got you out of the car seat and changed your diaper you were wide awake and smiling. We were all very happy to be there and very tired.

We woke up to glorious weather on our first day. Temperatures were in the low 70's and we automatically felt much better. You enjoyed hanging out on the waterfront park and you seemed to like your first glimpses of Charleston. That evening you were surrounded by lots of family at the annual Thanksgiving oyster roast. You fell asleep at your normal bedtime in my arms. You didn't mind sleeping in other arms either. Here with Sidney, your second cousin:

Thursday we all went to the beach. It wasn't as warm as the previous day and more overcast, but the air from the ocean still felt great and Bella got more exercise than she gets all year long. Hopefully that made the trip for he worth it as well.

After two very relaxing hours on your aunt Angie's dock, we went over to your great uncle's house for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. There, you met some more family and enjoyed hanging out with everyone. You had quiet a large meal of pears yourself.

Friday we spent most of the day with grandma Margaret. You even took a nap on her very high bed :)

Here we are at the coolest wine bar in Charleston enjoying very good wine and food until 9:45pm. You fell asleep at your normal time in my arms while I was enjoying some more wine and nice live music.

I am extremely impressed how well you adjust to all different kinds of places and situations. None of it seems to face you and when you are tired you will sleep no matter where you happen to be. Reminds me of myself. I can drink a cup of coffee and go to sleep pretty much anywhere.

The next day we drove another 3 hours to Patrick's house for another awesome Thanksgiving dinner. Yup, you slept again the whole time even though we drove in the middle of the day. This year the food seemed especially good. With the turkey, which was fried, we had Persian style rice with pomegranate seeds, cranberry chutney with ginger, buttery carrots, and onions cooked in balsamic vinegar. The combination of flavors were perfect. Desert was Deidei's tiramisu. You were sitting in a high chair at the head of the table next to your cousins Louise and Violette. It was precious to see you sitting there with everyone, like you have always been with us. Moments like these are still incredible to me. Here you are enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with your family when last year this time I barely looked pregnant. Giving and living life is exciting.

Sunday we spent the day lounging around and eating some more. We left to drive back home close to your bedtime. You slept the whole way again. You didn't even wake up during the hour long traffic jam.

None of my worries about the trip were an issue. I am extremely relieved to know that we can easily do this trip again. Can't wait until we will be there again in a couple of weeks for Christmas for some more family love and fresh ocean air.

I am sure not every trip will be as smooth as this one, but I am thankful that our first trip was such a great experience.