Trips and Visitors

During the past three weeks we took our first family vacation and were visited by both sets of grandparents. So I can't be blamed for lack of blogging, right?! Emma enjoyed all the activity and new experiences. Our trip to Hilton Head was fantastic. I ended up over packing, which is much preferable to the alternative. Emma did well with the 3 hour drive and didn't seem to be bothered by unfamiliar surroundings. It's a good feeling to know that it is possible to travel with an infant. And it only took me 48 hours to pack. After packing all of Emma's gear, packing for myself seemed like a piece of cake. Plus, I am no longer the member of our family hauling the most stuff on a trip. We all enjoyed spending time outdoors in the beauty of Hilton Head Island. I think it would be even better to return again in later years when we can take advantage of the miles of bike trails.

I've been a bit sentimental today as Emma turns four months old. It seems like a lifetime ago that she was kicking around inside of me. And I'm sure I'll say this a million times over the next few years, but I can't believe how much she's grown. She is such a joy! Happy and easy going, she brightens our lives in countless ways. Four months later I am feeling a lot more confident about my ability to be a mom. I no longer take 30 minutes to pack a diaper bag nor do I get nervous about taking her out all by myself. I am finding that I love being a stay-at-home-mom and my mixed feelings about leaving my teaching job are fading away. However, I do have these moments after we've played on the playmat, read books, sang songs, and had smile time when I wonder, "what do I do now?" I ask Emma what she wants to do and she looks up at me with big eyes and seems to say "I don't know, what do you want to do?" I can't wait for the fall when it cools down and we can spend more time doing things outdoors.