Tuesday, October 8, 2013
So maybe this isn't the best time to write this considering it is in part a reflection - and when I think about the start of the trip, it looked and sounded much like this...
Yes, he's up, in the corner of his crib and yelling, Dada, Dada, Dada...I didn't go up, so he's yelling Mama, but he doesn't know she is at the store. Now he's back to Dada.
Jess says I am being soft because I will go up - but I know I will go up, realax him for a few minutes and then he will go back to sleep - or to sleep since he never really did in the first place. Anyway, I like this time. We get to relax and hang out and cuddle.
That's right, I said cuddle.
When I look back on this trip, I have to say, many of the concerns I had before we left were gone after we were there for a short time. By a short time, I mean, after the horrible flight over, and then the first few nights when he couldn't find his sleep groove. Though, we did get to cuddle a lot those first few nights.
The trip was a trip of firsts for the baby, first transatlantic flight, first football match, first boat ride, first time he used his passport, first taste of beer, first: lava field, whale watching, waterfalls, picking flowers for mom, hike on his own, castle, ruined abbey, spa visit, hidden beach, brewery tour, chick picked up in a bar...
This is starting to sound like this trip was full of debauchery and hardly appropriate for a 20 month old, but it was.
Sure Jess and I wanted to kill each other from time to time but we wouldn't have been in Europe if we didn't.
Advice - what's the advice for people thinking about doing this? Just do it. Make sure you have some stuff to make your kid feel like they are at home and comfortable - a few toys (that you can rotate), be sure that you have snacks, lots of snacks, especially pretzels.
Let your kid engage with people - sure I knew he had an awesome personality but seeing him with complete and total strangers (while supervised) was pretty cool. He was confident, friendly and brought a smile to pretty much everyone's face he came in contact with. Do things that might be out of your comfort zone - sure he's small but I'm sure there were many things he observed that will have an effect on him in years to come. Not to mention, seeing an being exposed to completely different cultures will hopefully help him be open to new people and ideas as he gets older. With any luck our next kid will have some of the same traits and get the same kind of exposure to different cultures.
I hope that he sees the pictures of the trip and wants to go back again to both places - both with us and on his own.
Maybe with his baby brother or sister?
That trip won't be next year though. Next summer, after No. 2 arrives, I will be happy just to get a house on a lake somewhere and relax. Two kids - the plan was for him to be potty trained by the end of this summer. Mmmmm, this is going to be fun, double diaper duty. So, one conceived somewhere in England, the second somewhere in Scotland, I'm pretty sure my boss won't allow me to go on vacation anymore.
Here's a few shots from our visit to the midwife today.
This kid is already causing a problem, from the womb. Seeking attention and flipping over and whatnot. The baby moved slightly at the start of the sono and then stopped, then started moving again when the tech pushed on it - and by move, I mean flip around like a maniac all crazy and doing flips.
If you're still actually reading after the big news, I would seriously consider moving to either of theses countries - for an extended time, even just a year. There is something about both that is just a simpler way of living - even in the cities. The pace is relaxed, the people seem cool and no one is outwardly being a dick, anywhere. Even on the road, there was maybe one asshole the entire time. I suppose I should start cleaning up the language with a second kid on the way, but to be honest, he has never repeated me, only Jess and I believe only shit and bullshit. But that's another story.
Actually, what I should be doing is figuring out how I am going to get the rest of the house ready since I don't have time to wipe my own ass, let alone another two asses. Anyway, in case you can't tell, I'm very excited for the arrival of No. 2 and I hope the baby (Neil says it is a sister), is just as awesome as he is, in its own way of course, and I am sure it will be.
Well, this concludes the blog. You know, the blog that I never finish. Well, consider it done. Even with a 22 month old and one on the way. Perhaps we will try to blog about this pregnancy, though we have already missed 3 months, or maybe life after No. 2 gets here. Probably not. Who am I kidding?
Thanks for reading - we hope you enjoyed it. I'm really looking forward to Neil reading it. Do we have to wait until he is 18?
Bye-bye!
