First Road Trip!

Today, we had our first road trip! We've had some short excursion and overnight trips, but this was Evann's first time on a plane! We flew down to LA to celebrate my friend's (and distant relative) son's first birthday. Once again we were taught another of life's lessons and harsh realities regarding babies...when you travel with one, they come with many "accessories". Holy crap. My personal luggage has went from one carry-on piece of luggage to slightly less than a half of a carry-on piece of luggage. I'm sharing with my son...half of my clothes lost to diapers.

Thankfully, our friends in LA have a son who's turning one. It's good because we didn't have to take as much down with us since they have most of the baby accessories needed. We also wanted to test Evann with flying and a short trip to LA sounded just perfect!



I was anxious prior to the trip, I just wasn't sure how little Evann was going to be. I've travelled a lot and used to cringe with horror when a little baby was seated near me. I would silently chant, "Please don't cry, please don't cry..." only to have the little tyke, wail like it was going out of style.

Of course, dear Evann proved Dada wrong again. He was an ideal passenger and wonderful flyer (yes, I'm touching wood right now). He slept during both takeoff and landing, and for most of the flight. When he was awake, he was carted off by the flight crew and pampered like the prince that he is.



The Air Canada crew was awesome! I'll only fly Air Canada!



While in LA, we also decided to do another first. Give baby Evann his first haircut! We were convinced by my friend who had recently shaved the head of his one-year old son. Evann was great again. I held him while my friend shaved and he didn't make a peep. The end result, a cute little baldish baby.

It was a wonderful trip to LA. All that we did was eat and sleep. Literally. Everytime we were planning to do an outing, we'd go and eat first...and then get tired...and then decide to go back and sleep. It was great! It wasn't our first trip to LA so don't think that we totally wasted our time (though I didn't get to have In 'N Out). Having said that, next trip down, we'll be more productive and do more "touristy" things.

One trip down...a lifetime left! I hope Evann is always a good flyer like he was this trip. Next trip, we're going to go a little further, I'm not sure where yet, but stay posted!

Two Month Shots?!? OUCH!

Last week Evann turned two months old which is a nice accomplishment (okay, surviving another day after day isn't much of an accomplishment for us now, but it's big for babies). More importantly, two months is the start of many shots to come. This is a "tip of the hat" to those of you who don't have kids or are expecting kids. Prior to having Evann, I never knew how difficult it is to watch your kids in pain. For that reason, I tried to avoid being at this appointment, but Mommy L didn't want to go alone either so I sucked it up. Even seeing these pictures makes me a little misty (it must be the onions I'm cutting). Sniff.



It started off as another normal visit to the Dr.'s for poor, unexpecting Evann. He was happy as can be. Laughing and playing...for now.


But he knew something was up. He sensed a disturbance in the force.


Mommy L comforted him while the Dr. administered the first of four shots (I still don't really understand why there must be four shots instead of one BIG shot - I'm hoping it's for medical/scientific reasons and not for billing purposes). After the first shot, there was a look of confusion on little Evann's face. It was the look of "Hey. Wait a minute, something kind of pinched me. What was that?!?" He didn't cry...yet.


By the second shot, the waterworks were on. In fact the whole system was on. He may be little, but he was strong as Mommy L had to restrain him (I was cowering in the corner, rocking myself in fetal position). He cried so hard and with so much passion, it broke my heart not to be able to comfort him. But as quickly as it started it was over, the shots were expertly and promptly administered. Evann had little streaks of blood running down his legs as he was cleaned up and bandaged.



I swooped him up and picked him up. I was prepared for hours of crying and comforting, but the little Evann surprised me once again. He stopped crying once he was picked up. He was fine. He wasn't "Hey, let's do that again" fine, but he was calm and content.

I realized Evann is going to hurt himself and will survive. I can't protect him from everything and he's going to protect himself too. But I'm still not looking forward to the next round of shots. I also realized that once again, anticipation is way worse than reality...maybe I should go clean up the garage now. Maybe not. ;)