All 4 of my grandparents are still living and the babies are their FIRST and ONLY great grand babies so it was only appropriate for them to meet! Jeff had to stay and man the fort with work here in College Station but Emily and Bryan were up for a trip which was wonderful because boy did I need the help!
We were scheduled to leave on a late flight Thursday night. The Monday before my Grandpa Hodges took a turn for the worse and no one was sure if he would make it to our trip on Thursday. So we were all anxious to get the trip started so we could be sure to have Grandpa meet the babies. My first challenge was driving to Houston with the babies by myself. I got to Houston a couple hours early so the car ride would be coordinated with their nap- score one for mom- it worked! We then got out of the car and hung out and Aunt Emily's for a while to stretch the babies legs :) Then it was off to the airport- dun dun dun!!! Our flight was at 8:00 which I thought would be perfect because the babies would be falling asleep- well I was wrong. Getting through the airport was the second big challenge- a stroller, 2 car seats, 2 pieces of luggage, 2 diaper bags and don't forget 2 babies! Bryan dropped Em and I off with all the gear and babies while he went to take care of the car. The rest actually went quite smoothly. Just before we boarded we changed their diapers and put them in their pjs and prayed for the best. Do to flight regulations you are only allowed one lap baby per side of the aisle because there is only one infant mask per side. So the plan was for Mallory to sit with Emily and Bryan on one side and Miles to sit with me on the other and get paired with REALLY nice and patient people sitting next to us! We fed the babies bottles during take off to help with their ears and they had no problems at all. There were great for the first 20 minutes until they both got so tired but they couldn't fall asleep because there was so much going on and they were so uncomfortable. So at this point they both wanted to be held by me and that is what had to happen to keep the screaming to a minimal. The man next to me I think was counting down the seconds till we landed because the babies kept trying to give him their pacifiers :) Once they finally fell asleep it was smooth sailing! The next challenge was picking up our luggage and being picked up at the airport and having to install the car seats in the rental car at midnight. I don't remember the details- but we were successful. Then we had a long drive to Grosse Pointe and then we were staying with Mrs. Burwell and had to set up pack n plays etc before we all got settled in bed. I had never been so tired in my life- BUT we did it!!! Emily and Bryan were rock stars!!!
Friday morning we got up early- no surprise because of the babies (and did I mention neither of them slept all night!!) and headed over to meet Grandpa and Grandma Hodges. I will never ever forget the look on Grandpa's face when he saw the babies- it was a look of pure awe. Unfortunately my babies were not in good moods because it was close to their nap times but we had to take advantage of the time Grandpa was awake. After the babies nap Grandpa got a surge of energy and we wheeled him out on the back porch and he sat with his and the babies. It could not have been prettier weather and you could tell he was just soaking up watching the babies play. Grandma Hodges was excited to meet them but also was OK not holding them :) That evening we went over to the Zoltowski's to meet those Great Grandparents and my Aunt Lynn, Cousin Michael, Erin, and Cousin Anna. Boy did the babies put on a show for everyone! It is amazing how they are the happiest babies ever when they have an audience :) We all sat around ate pizza and caught up- it was great! It was really special to share with my Detroit family such special parts of me :)
Saturday and Sunday we spent our days at the Hodges house soaking up time with Grandpa and Grandma well and maybe driving Grandma crazy a little bit because of all the noise the babies made :) I got told on numerous occasions to take them outside! Aunt Betsy came by one night with her boys Elliot and Charlie.
Our flight back was early Monday morning and it was a breeze compared to the flight there. It was almost empty so the babies got to sit in their 'own' seats and they just thought that was too cool! It was a trip I will never forget and one the babies will cherish pictures of in years to come!
Great recap! That was such a special trip...I am so glad that we were able to do that! Loved spending the weekend with those cuties :)
ReplyDeleteThe pic with Mallory and Aunt Betsy is so adorable!