We took the first flight out of Dallas on Friday morning. (HUGE thanks to Brittany for driving us to the airport at 4 am! It's so nice to have someone here who can shuttle us to the airport so we don't have to pay for airport parking!) I was hoping since Max wouldn't be used to being up at that hour that he would sleep but nope, too many new things to look at.
We decided not to take a stroller so Peter and I took turns holding him as we walked through the airport. Max did a great job and was such a happy baby. (I've thought about possibly taking Max places on my own but man, it's such a hassle...especially getting through security. I don't think I'm crazy enough yet to attempt that on my own.)
This was Max's first right on an airplane! I planned to nurse him during take off and landing so that he'd be sucking and hopefully wouldn't have a problem adjusting to the changing air pressure. It worked great!
Checking out what was going on outside the window
We flew Southwest Airlines which meant we had a layover (I don't even remember where anymore). It was perfect though because it wasn't a very long layover but gave Max a chance to get off the plane, get some space, play a little and then we got back on a plane and had our final leg of the trip.
Playing with Dad in the airport
He was dressed warm because I knew it would be cold on the plane - which it was! I was so glad I was prepared.
Here's Max in the Vegas airport. We made it! Max was awesome on the plane. He didn't fuss and cry. He was happy and played with toys, the water cups (I gave him sips of water from a cup for the first time), etc. It was really nice to have Peter there because we could tag team and switch off keeping him entertained when one of us has had enough.
Kimberly had the day off so she came and picked us up and we were able to hang out all day. She was so excited to see Max but unfortunately "stranger danger" kicked in for Max and he was scared of her. :( He would smile at her and be happy as long as she wasn't trying to hold him. We hung out at Kimberly's almost the whole day. We met her boyfriend, Ted, and played with Tyler and Kaitlyn.
That afternoon all of us (including Kimberly and her kids) met up with my childhood friend Kari and her daughter at a park. The big kids ran around and played while we visited. Kari is expecting her second child and I am so excited for her! It was fun to talk to her about being a parent because the last time I saw her was days after I found out I was pregnant with Max. I feel so lucky to have her still in my life as a friend 20 years after we first met. (That makes me sound old!) She is an amazing person and I only wish we lived closer. She inspires me to be a better mom, to eat healthier, to entertain and socialize more. Well, within reasonable limits given that I am a working mom and limits me on some of those. I am so mad I didn't get a picture while we were together! GRRR!
After that, we hit up Whole Foods grocery store to get some organic baby food for Max. I didn't bring any of the stuff I had made at home because I didn't know how well it would keep. This was the first time Max was going to get pre-made, pre-processed baby food. I DID still buy organic though. Looking at the prices of the baby food reaffirmed my decision to make my own. Not only is Max getting healthy, natural, organic foods without all the crap but I am making it at a fraction of the price of the stuff you buy in stores.
Naps didn't go so well since Max was out of his routine. We tried every day and had limited success. If we finally got him to sleep, he didn't sleep very long. He did okay at night though. I knew that when we were away from home that we wouldn't keep his normal schedule but I didn't realize how off it would really be. Poor kid...time just flew by and I'd look up and realize if we were at home he would be eating right then. Although the lucky boy did get to nurse at each feeding versus taking a bottle twice a day at Brittany's.
One of the best things about being on vacation was knowing that I got to be with Max all day, and not just for 2 weekend days. For 4 days straight, I didn't have to leave him once and drive away wishing that I was still with him.
On Saturday we took it easy in the morning and just hung out. Max was pretty clingy and didn't like it if I left a room, which was new for him. At one point I put him in the baby Bjorn so I could move around and keep him happy.
Max is so big! He sat in the front of the shopping cart for a little bit. Poor Kaitlyn is so bored and tired of waiting that she just sat down on the floor.
I REALLY want Max to know and love his Grandparents just like I do mine. Unfortunately Max won't have the benefit (at least for the foreseeable future) of living by his Grandparents like I did. They all live a plane ride away. It's hard to be a good long distance grandparent. I know because I saw my mom work hard to be successful at this. She was conscious of it and put in a lot of effort to be in her grandkids' lives. She was an awesome long distance Grandma. But like I said, it takes conscious effort. And that effort just isn't a priority for the rest of Max's grandparents. Because of many different reasons, I just don't see any of his grandparents taking ownership of ensuring they have a close relationship with him like my mom would have done. I don't begrudge them that. I don't expect them to go to the efforts and lengths that my mom would have done. (And I'm not just talking about them flying out to Texas to spend time with him.) I DO have anger and hurt towards my mom for making the choice she made which meant that Max didn't get the benefit of that special relationship with her. I imagine when we meet again, I will need to "clear" with her about this. It's really the only thing I continue to feel anger about in regards to her passing.
Anyway, back to the point...I have realized that if I want Max to have a close relationship with his grandparents, then it will be up to Peter and I to make that happen. It kind of stinks when I think about it but again, it's important enough to me that I will suck it up and do what it takes. Maybe one day things will change and having a relationship with my son will be a priority for them and we can share responsibility for that. (I will say though, that my dad is a great Grandpa when he is in person with his grandkids. Again, truly I get that it's HARD to be a good long-distance relative - Aunt, Uncle, Grandma, Granddaughter, etc. I can't say that I'm good at it either.)
Dad and Marriann came by for about an hour that evening. They were so cute when meeting Max. It was a special moment for me.
Marriann reading a book to Max (take the focus away from stranger danger)
Max checking her out
I tried to get a picture of Max by my dad, but again he was too busy checking Grandpa out to pay attention to the camera. I wish Max didn't have stranger danger, even though I know it's normal at this age. It would have been nice if all these family members who just wanted to love on Max and hold him and play with him could have done it.
It's a theme! Max checking out Aunt Kimberly
Standing up
Max had gone days without pooping. Kimberly shared some of her DigestZen DoTerra oils with me and we tried those to help him but they weren't working (or at least as fast as I could have liked) so Marriann also brought some Rosemary and we gave Max a bottle of 1/2 water 1/2 prune juice. He, being willing to eat basically anything, drank that bottle right down. (The next day, we had success! Whew - it's stressful to me when he doesn't poop.)
Tida, Kimberly, Jason, Peter, Ted
Our friends, Tida and Jason (who used to live in Dallas but now live in Vegas like 5 minutes from Kimberly) came over and played games. It was SO MUCH FUN!!!! I laughed so hard. It was a great time!!!!!
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