Traveling with Abby is starting to be quite the adventure. The girl simply does not like to be constrained in any form or fashion, so going in, I was glad the flight was under an hour. I think I burned close to 1,000 calories each way trying to wrangle her in the airport and on the plane. My plan was to exhaust her running around the airport so she might sit nicely in my lap. I was clearly living in a fantasy world. I knew that deep down, but I tried (probably not enough as those sitting near us on the plane can attest to) to let her run free while I closely followed her behind with the stroller and carry on bags. Abby is not a big crier at all and didn't cry even with my arms draped around her. She just wiggles and wiggles trying to wrestle free with a few Monica Seles grunts and groans thrown in. I didn't succeed in exhausting her but I sure succeeded in exhausting myself!
I didn't take many pictures (no real good excuse) this trip but my nieces took a million. They are so great with Abby. They put her on their myspace pages and show her off..it is so cute. She is so lucky to have them, and I know they will be good role models for her as she gets older. We had a great time, and Abby got so much attention from my family and my sister-in-law's family. My sister-in-law's parents are her "adopted" grandparents too which is great because you can never have too many people love you.
Abby and Ashtyn
It becomes clearer and clearer every day that dogs will be part of my life as Abby gets older. She is just crazy about dogs. I can't get over her love affair with them. She is so happy around them, and she is so good with them. I didn't expect her to be so gentle and sweet with them, but you can see for yourself by watching this brief video of Abby and Murphy. The video quality is very poor, but if you can deal with the darkness of the video, it is worth at least a few awwwwwws even from the hardened cynics out there...
We were only in West Texas for three days, but it was great to be with family. It is so much more enjoyable and fulfilling now having Abby as part of our family and celebrating her first Thanksgiving. Aside from the sunshine and daffodils, there were a few humorous and horrific moments I will remember about this Thanksgiving too.
Most "You Did Not Just Do That" Moment
Abby and I are lined up in Group A to board the plane back home standing at the post for people with numbers in the 40s. Our actual number is in the 20s, several spots up, but because I had Abby in the stroller and a few carry ons, I decided not to assert myself just to gain a few spots closer in line because it was pretty crowded up there. A man approaches, shows me his number and tells me that we are standing in his spot. I show him my number and tell him that I am in front of him anyway, so what is the big deal? He insists on OWNING the spot and ever so slightly nudges us aside. I told him he had a problem (I toned it down since Abby was there of course), and his logic was absent. Why did it matter to him if I was supposed to be in front of him anyway? He was just your garden variety jerk who then got embarrassed when I showed him how silly he was being.
Best "I Just Can't Let It Go" Moment
Abby and I boarded the plane and chose the vacant aisle seat right behind the man who insisted he stand at his assigned number post instead of 2 feet back. My only comment to him was "Nice seeing you again. I hope you enjoy my daughter". And, yes, Abby got a few kicks into his seat. Purely unintentional, I promise.
Most "Am I Fit to Parent?" Moment
Abby running away from me in the airport into a construction area and grabbing a handful of plaster out of a wall being remodeled and shoving it in her mouth. For a split second, I became an Olympic sprinter and managed to get to her and scoop it out before she swallowed.
Most "Embarrassing and Am I Fit to Parent? Combo" Moment
Abby running away from me into the men's bathroom. I got trapped behind a big group and couldn't get to her before she made it all the way into the men's bathroom only a few feet away from the urinals. I was mortified as there were several men in there. I apologized and Abby laughed. I don't think she was laughing at anything she saw, but better laughter than tears, at least for Abby. Maybe not so much for the men though.
Most "I Really Wanted to Laugh But It Would Have Been Socially Inappropriate To Do So" Moment
On the flight to West Texas, there happened to be about 5-6 kids close in age to Abby, so before the flight several of the kids, Abby included, were walking around the gate area eating crumbs out of each others strollers and the like. Abby reached into a woman's purse who was sitting next to a family I was talking to and pulled out a tampon that was in the very top of the purse! What can I say, Abby loves anything that makes a crinkling noise. And in our defense, wo puts a tampon that close to the opening of the purse? Put it in the zippered compartment where it belongs. Am I right??? It was so so hard to telll Abby no and not laugh especially as many of the people around were cracking up. One person was not cracking up. That was the tampon owner. And, she didn't really accept my apology either. Oh well. Such is life.
1 comment:
She is getting so big!!! When are you getting her a dog?
Debra
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