VA Tripping: Part 1

Turns out Virginia isn’t just for lovers. It’s for families, too. And our little family of three (hopefully all five of us next trip!) had a marvelous trip.

That being said, I have to ask, what kind of Hubert vacation would it be without a few bumps along the way? Why, it wouldn’t be one at all!! Did someone get sick? Yes. Did someone end up in the ER? You betcha! Thankfully, this time it wasn’t Haeden causing all the ruckus. It was me. Who knew I was such a drama queen (shush, Robyn!)?

Everything started out well enough. We decided to break up the 10-hour drive into two days and left Thursday night after work and last-minute packing. Can I just take a minute and say, “Thank you, baby Jesus!” for the invention of the portable DVD player?! That thing was a life saver. So much so that when Friday morning it inexplicably stopped working, we had no choice but to stop at the next Wal-Mart exit to buy a new one. Completely unexpected but NECESSARY expense, you guys! I am pretty sure that Haeden watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse no less than fifteen times during the trip. We also tried Bob the Builder, Nemo, Cars and Wall-E but nothing else can hold his attention for more than ten minutes. That show is toddler crack to him. Dan wonders about the subliminal messages being sent to him, but I’m just happy he stayed quiet because there is no way I could stay in the car for 10+ hours with a whiny toddler. I would sooner ride back with a trucker.

Anyways, being the cheap bastards that we are, we decided that the hotels in Columbia, SC were probably too expensive and decided to look for a place further on down the road. That ended up being almost an hour down the road and because that was not enough punishment, the place was a DUMP. These things don’t phase Dan much, but I am a prissy little princess and do not like to be able to see foreign substances on the blankets or a bug crawling up the wall. Also, they didn’t even have a flat screen television in the room. What the hell?

The next day we arrived in Virginia ahead of schedule and met Robyn at work. After showing him off to all of her co-workers we grabbed some lunch at the local Mexican joint. I really get a kick out of the fact that you can pretty much go to any town, anywhere and find one of these joints. They're pretty much all the same no matter where you are --- warm chips and salsa immediately delivered to the table, at least two or three different waiters serving you (not that it matters because you usually can't tell one from the other) and the tall, laminated menu that includes a little foodie dictionary on the bottom because Taco Bell has no idea what a chalupa really is, and neither did I.

Dan took in the scenery on the thirty-minute drive up to Robyn's house while Haeden slept and my sister and I played catch-up. I don't know that you can ever really appreciate a sibling until they're no longer living across the hall/ town or at least within a few hours drive. We fought like cats and dogs growing up ("MOOOOOM! She's in my room!), but now I miss her like crazy. I used to look at her and see nothing but our differences and now I just see the similarities. I'd love nothing more than to see her on a weekly basis rather than two or three times a year. I know I'm never getting her and her husband out of Virginia and I can't blame them since it is gorgeous, but I sure do wish Virginia was a few states closer.

Anyway, later that afternoon we drove over to a little spot known as Little Stony Falls. It is my favorite place to go when visiting and I was so excited to show Dan. We have a thing for waterfalls and they will always remind me of our honeymoon. We had a great time until Haeden and I had the brilliant idea to take Haeden and try to walk across the creek via stepping stones. The very first rock I tried to step on turned, causing me to fall over and scrape my elbow and knee while simultaneously dunking Haeden's bottom half into the creek. Man, Dan turns his back on us for two seconds...  I sure hope he learned his lesson.

Since Haeden's shoes were sopping wet and it was too far to go back and change him, we stopped and bought him a new pair of shoes (not that I need a reason to buy either of us shoes). Then we headed to dinner at their local steakhouse, complete with peanut shells all over the floor. I love places like this despite the fact that I'm not eating meat and I am physically unable to throw my own peanut shells on the floor. I always end up piling them up in the middle of the table. I don't even realize it until someone mentions that I could just throw them down like everybody else. Guess it's just the neat freak in me. Tell me I'm not the only one?!

That night Josh was kind enough to sleep on the couch so that Haeden and I could have the bed. Robyn had decided that she wanted to sleep with us (Dan had his very own blow-up mattress, the lucky duck). I tried to warn her about Haeden's violent sleeping habits, but she would not be deterred. As expected, Haeden slept great while Robyn and endured kidney punches and face slaps throughout the night. She declined to sleep with us for the rest of the trip, but I refrained from telling her "I told you so". Aren't I maturing?!

Stay tuned for details on the rest of the trip - including our biking trip,ER visit and Haeden's first visit with his Grandpa and Grand-Mary! Never a dull moment!

Grandpa Chic

I like to think that I dress Haeden with a bit of style. You know how it is when you become a Mom - your wardrobe often goes to hell, but your kid? Well, they have got it going on. Haeden's clothing is not expensive by any means. In fact, most of it comes from Target or has been handed down but I think he usually looks like a little stud muffin.

That is until Daddy tries to help. Then he ends up looking, shall we say, Grandpa Chic.

Don't worry. I didn't let him go out in public like that.

Work it, baby, work it!

Kid's Got Rhythm

If you don't already know how much Haeden loves music then you're either living under a rock... or not reading this blog. He is obsessed with all things instrumental and he's recently taken to the lyrics, too. Every night before bed we sing two or three songs. His favorite I've been singing to him since he was just a tiny babe. I've never been good at remembering song lyrics when I'm not actually listening to the song and therefore I've always just sung "Hush Little Baby" or  "You Are My Sunshine".*  I'm nothing if not original, you guys.

I've also mentioned before that if music is playing, I am dancing. I can't help it. I have no control. Seems like someone is starting to pick up on this. Notice the lips. I would be embarrassed if I could just stop laughing. If only I looked this cute with duck lips.

* I decided recently that I wanted to learn this entire song and therefore googled it. It's depressing and not really all that sweet. Turns out there is a reason nobody takes the time to learn the entire thing. Go figure.)  

A Mishmash of Updates

Rather than continuing to apologize for the lack of posting around these parts (see the last two entries), I’m just going to jump ahead and update you on the past week and a half…

1. I have been rather unhappy in my current job. I’ve been here for a year now (7 total within the institution itself) and although I am thankful to be employed, I am pretty much miserable. Like, every Sunday around 4pm I start to feel really depressed. “Doom, despair and agony on me,” my mother would say. I don’t really know that the administrative world is where I should be. I think I have too much, well, attitude (re: problem with authority). I recently applied for another job, within the same company, and I wish I could tell you that they offered me the position and I’m over the moon excited to be starting a new adventure… but I can’t. They did offer me the job, but at a ridiculous pay cut of over 4 dollars an hour (insulting much?!), I just couldn’t take it. My happiness is important, yes, but so is paying the bills. Damn the man, you guys. So, I am basically just telling myself that it wasn’t meant to be. Something better will come along or the current situation will miraculously improve (or pigs will fly). I have to tell myself something or I will lose it someday and end up being escorted out of here by security.

2. On a happier note, the whole vegetarian thing is going splendidly. It has been two weeks and I’m doing well, cooking more (thanks to easy recipes by Jennifer) and even losing a little bit of weight. I have been careful not to replace meat with chocolate and other sweets. That’s my natural response to most things, you know. “Oh hey, I ate really well today. Like a bona fide health nut. I should totally ruin that with two ice creams.” Two because they’re low-calorie. Yeah, I don’t know why I bother either. Now this is not to say that I will never again eat meat. If I say that, especially out loud, it will only make me crave meat. I’m weird, I know, but me and rules don’t mix. If I try to tell myself that I can’t do something, it only makes me want to do it ten times more. Even if I don’t really want to do it. Does that make sense or is it just me? Actually, I just realized it’s not… it's my Mom, too. I'm not even twenty-eight and I've already turned into her. Ha!

3. Haeden has started to show some interest in the potty! He’s gone twice now. The first time he was jumping on my bed as I changed out of work clothes and he stopped and actually told me that he was going to go (in his diaper). I simply asked him if he’d like to go on the potty and replied, “YES! I a good boy!”. You would have thought that the kid was pooping golden nuggets with all of the praise he got. There were high-fives and m&m’s for everyone. He also counted to ten earlier that afternoon. That was exciting and all… but, you know, counting doesn’t exactly save me money, so we were a little more excited about the potty progress.

I’ll try to get back to my regular posting this week. I’ve got to make a list of all the things Haeden has been doing/saying. He’s quite the comedian. Also, this Friday we’re heading for the boonies western VA to visit my seester. Expect pictures, people. Robyn is camera happy and between her gorgeous scenery and my gorgeous son, there will be pictures GALORE!