A Wedding Weekend

Carter with his parents and grandparents at Joel's reception, right after he spit up on his shirt and his daddy's tie!

This Saturday Carter went to his first wedding and his second wedding in the same day!  A few months back I got a text from my friend Joel asking me if I knew our friend Rachel was getting married on the same day he was.  We all ran cross country together and they were two of my best friends all through high school.  Joel and I remained close after graduation and Rachel and I lost touch.  He then followed with you’re coming to my wedding right?!

When the invitations came out we were excited to see both weddings were in Kansas City, Joel’s at 4pm and Rachel’s at 6:30pm.  Upon further investigation we realized Joel’s reception site was only half a mile from Rachel’s wedding and reception site.  I was thrilled I would get to go to both weddings.  Having Carter made things interesting and he would probably sum the day up with "get in the car seat, spit up, get out of the car seat, change, repeat".

Friday evening we headed to my parents' house to break up the drive and so Thomas could watch Harper while we were gone.  On Saturday we left earlier than we needed to so we could stop in and visit one of my best friends, Melissa, who had never met Carter.  She and her girlfriend took turns playing with Carter and were both impressed with how happy he was.  Then she curled my hair for me which looked adorable early on in the evening, but it was WINDY and my hair just couldn’t withstand it!

Since we hadn’t seen Melissa in quite a while we had a hard time leaving.  By the time we were in the car and headed toward the wedding we were in panic mode.  According to the GPS we would arrive at the wedding site at 3:56 and Carter needed a diaper and clothing change.  Uh oh!

Family photo!

When we made it to the chapel we saw the best (only) option for parking was a parking garage next door.  Ty pulled in and had to search for a spot, leading us all the way to the 4^th floor.  I quickly pulled Carter out of his car seat and changed his diaper in record time.  I grabbed his clothes for clothing change #1 (a tie onesie and khaki pants) and chased after Ty, who was walking very quickly, dressing Carter as I walked down the 4 floors of the parking garage in heels all while my hair was blowing in a tornado around my face.  

By the time we made it to the chapel doors I had sweat running down my back.  As we walked in I looked over to see the groomsmen lined up and ready to enter the sanctuary.  I gave Joel’s brother a distressed and sorry we’re late smile, glanced at the clock on the wall which said 4:02, and was ushered down the aisle to seats next to my mom and dad.  We sat down and I felt relieved, whew, we made it!

Ready for wedding #1: Joel and Isabel

I started out with Carter facing out in my lap, but he kept talking, so I turned him to face me.  Next thing I knew he was trying to nurse through my dress, so I passed him off to Ty and he was quiet after that.  The ceremony was very short and sweet.  We headed to the reception site and I nursed Carter in the car.  As we were heading in he spit up on his pants (clothing change #2).  We pulled off his pants, went in, and chatted with friends for a while.  Then Carter spit up on his onesie and Ty's tie, resulting in clothing change #3 when we got to the car (we then put him in a polo onesie and khaki shorts).  The couple made their grand entrance and then we headed to Rachel’s wedding.

Ready for wedding #2: Rachel and Drew

Again I sat with Carter facing out.  It must be something about the slow music because once the wedding party began to walk down the aisle, Carter started talking.  I passed him off to Ty who was able to hold him against his chest.  Carter was getting tired at this point and began to suck his thumb.  Rachel’s wedding was also short and sweet.  We headed to the cocktail hour to congratulate everyone and then went back to Joel’s reception (my parents had only RSVP’d to the first wedding, knowing they couldn’t go to both receptions).

I'm so glad my mom had me get pictures with Joel and Rachel!

Carter received a lot of attention and even got snuggles from the parents of the groom.  We got to see them cut the cake and do the first dance and then decided Carter had had enough.  Ty’s Aunt Tina lives in the area so we headed to her house so Carter could get a bath, jammies, and nurse.  

 

With Joel's parents at the reception.

The poor boy had quite the day getting in and out of his car seat multiple times which is one of his least favorite activities.  He was in and out of his car seat at Mel’s, in and out of his car seat to Joel’s wedding, in and out of his car seat to Rachel’s wedding, in and out of his car seat to Joel’s reception, and finally in his car seat to head to Aunt Tina’s.  I hated putting him back in his car seat to leave her house and stalled as much as possible, but finally at 9pm I knew we had to leave.  

 

Snuggles with Aunt Tina

Once he was in his car seat he was out and only cried when Ty stopped to get gas and then once randomly about half-way to my parents' house.  I sang to him and he fell back to sleep.  When we got to my parents' house I took him straight to his crib.  He fussed for a bit and then fell back to sleep.  I was so proud of him!

Zonked out in his car seat

We headed back home today and poor Carter was just done with his car seat and I couldn’t blame him.  About 10 minutes from home he started crying big crocodile tears.  Poor guy just couldn’t take the car seat anymore.  We made it home right around 7pm, I gave him a bath right away, and he was hard asleep by 7:30 (about 30 minutes earlier than normal).  Our busy weekend sure wore him out! 

Out for the count after his busy weekend