The Road Back Home

I had mixed emotions leaving Virginia. On one hand I was sad to leave after such a short trip. It was so sweet to see Carter play with his second cousins and his immediate connection with Madeline was heart melting. On the other hand I was so excited to be headed back toward home to see Ty Ty. Carter and I are both missing him like crazy! Carter randomly calls out for daddy during the day and when he hears me say "Ty" he excitedly yells "daddy" and starts looking around to find him as though he may somehow magically appear at any moment. His face lights up when we FaceTime Ty and he is desperate to hold the phone and even reaches out toward Ty's face on the screen asking to be picked up.

Carter wanted to sit and read a book with Uncie Jeremy while we waited on dad to check out of the hotel.

One of our many facetime sessions with Ty.

The 7 hour drive leaving Virginia on Thursday was the worst drive of our trip so far. I was over the car and ready to be out, Carter was still good although a bit fussy, mom was bored and stir crazy, and dad seemed to be experiencing some road rage. Jeremy appeared to be calm, but who knows what he was really thinking. Dad ended up with stickers in his hair and M&M's thrown in his lap, but we made it!

Dad left the stickers in his hair until we arrived at our destination.

Friday morning we took our time getting ready and then headed to Cincinnati, Ohio to visit family. It was so refreshing to have just a 2 hour drive! That drive back home from my parents' house is going to seem like nothing! My mom had seen a pamphlet at our hotel advertising the Solomon Northup (the man whose memoir inspired the movie "12 Years a Slave") tour at the Freedom Center. We all thought it sounded interesting, but our hotel reservations ended up being for smoking rooms.  With dad's asthma and allergies and Carter's sweet little lungs, that was a no go.  So mom and dad dropped Jeremy, Carter, and me off to look around the museum while they searched for a hotel. Carter wasn't interested in riding in the stroller and proceeded to run and occasionally scream in the museum which was extremely quiet. I attempted to read and learn, but it just wasn't happening with Carter. 

Carter ran wild through the museum while I chased pushing the stroller.

I finally decided to give up and go out to a balcony area when Carter tried to climb into an exhibit and I slammed the stroller into a different exhibit on accident while grabbing him. There was a line of people waiting to go around us but we were blocking the area with the stroller. I was finally embarrassed and gave up! Carter got bored on the balcony area so I texted Jeremy that we were leaving the museum and went for a walk. We walked in the pedestrian section of a bridge and Carter had a blast watching the cars drive by.

He kept pointing to the cars, saying "car!"

We later walked across the blue bridge in the background.

Mom and dad came to pick us up in time to arrive at Danette (my dad's cousin) and Greg's house when they got off work . We were all so excited to meet their 9 month old son, Leo. He was just the happiest guy, full of smiles and charm. He loved watching Carter. Carter really liked Leo too, but he's still learning how to treat babies and slapped Leo on the head a couple of times, but other than that he was sweet with him and played nicely, even holding his hand and giving him a hug. My dad's uncle, Uncle Dave and his wife, Aunt Kathy, drove an hour to see us. Carter loved them both, staring at Uncle Dave in awe and giving Aunt Kathy the only good bye hug he dished out!

Carter giving Leo love pats.

Sweet baby feet together while they played.

Carter and Leo playing nicely.

Carter was transfixed with Uncle Dave.

Leo also enjoyed facetiming with Ty.

From what I can tell Carter treats babies very similarly to dogs. He slaps them for attention and because he's excited. It's disappointing that he starts all over when he meets a new baby. He was finally doing really well with Julianna when we left Virginia, but we were back to square one when he met Leo. I know he'll get there eventually/grow out of it, but it makes me sad for the baby and for the baby's parent.

Saturday morning we were all in consensus that driving half-way to our next destination, St. Louis, was the way to go. Just the thought of 7 hours in the car made me anxious. When we made it within 30 minutes of where we planned to stop for the day Carter became frustrated and fussy. His attitude began to quickly deteriorate during the next 30 minutes and we were all so glad we'd decided not to power on through!  Once we checked into the hotel we headed to a nearby mall to walk around and eat dinner.  Carter played on the toys that take quarters, but was not interested in them once they turned on.  At dinner Carter and I shared a meal and he dominated, eating half the plate of pasta.  After dinner we took Carter to the inside play area and he had a blast.  He met a little girl just a month younger than him.  When he walked away from her she half-hugged him so he turned around with both arms opened wide and gave her a giant hug.  It was so sweet.  If only he'd do that with kids half his age as well, we'd be set!  Tomorrow we will stop by to see Ty's Aunt Netta, cousin Megan, cousin-in-law Scott, and baby Garrett.  Carter has met Garrett before and was always gentle so I'm hoping for softer touches tomorrow!

Playing in the ice cream truck toy at the mall.

Playing in the mall play area with Grammy.

Hugging the sweet little girl at the mall play area.