The Preparation

Going on vacation is always a process. The house work to be done, the errands to run, making sure the bills will be paid on time when you are vacationing over the beginning of a new month, packing, and making sure your overworked husband doesn't starve (I know he is a grown man, but sometimes I just assume that without me he'd starve). It gets busier with kids and even more so with kids, being 7 months pregnant and traveling without your husband! You all know OR can imagine what I'm talking about.

When I e-mailed my dad our flight information this is how I told him to look for me:

"A somewhat slender lady with a HUGE balloon sticking out about halfway (that'd be Anna). I'll be pushing a very worn and beaten stroller with a struggling child strapped in trying to stop the stroller by dragging his feet on the ground (effectively destroying his shoes). There will be a diaper bag draped along the back of the stroller and probably (hopefully not, but probably) a carry-on luggage somehow also attached. I'll be pushing the stroller with one hand and dragging a regular sized bag in the other with a car seat somehow attached to the afore-said luggage.... maybe I should rent a cart. :)"

Just the thought tires me out! Without Aaron, I nearly panic thinking of getting through security, to our gate and on the plane with some degree of sanity.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm super excited for this trip! It's one of my favorites of the year. However, I'm anxious. Last year's trip was also just me and Eli. He got sick and missed his daddy causing him to be unpleasant for ANYONE to be around. I think some of my childless siblings, decided to never have kids if there was even a possibility they'd be like Eli. So I'm more than a little anxious for how he does this trip. I wish I could completely chalk it up to him being sick, but his personality is SO strong willed and stubborn that I can't EVER guarantee an outing without meltdowns.

I'll also miss Aaron. Something we discuss every time I vacation without him is how long is reasonable for me to try and get everything I want to do done, but not too long.

So while I am dying to be with family again, I've been procrastinating getting prepared.