We took our first roadtrip as the fab four this past week. We packed up the Jeep {soooo, I forgot how much crap you take with a newborn … and how much the Jeep shrunk once we had Jonah … and that it used to take me all day to pack when we first had Barrett.} We left on Wednesday night and did half the trip and because of fitting in feedings and the current detours on I-80 et al it took us a bit longer than it normally would {5 hours to Kansas City is normal, right?}.
From Kansas City, Barrett and cousin, Davis, hopped in with Gma and Gpa E and Adam, Jonah and I made the remainder of the trip to St. Lou in much silence. I know, you’re thinking you misread. But Jonah came through with flying colors and we were spared {for the most part} from the insanity of a screaming baby in the backseat. Having become quite accustomed to Baby J screaming his way throughout Omaha, down to Wilber, down to Beaver Lake and anywhere else we travel, we were pleased as punch with his general disposition while traveling. I’m assuming that part of this beauty can be attributed to an increase in meds two days prior and part of it, to God’s good grace, I suppose. The ride home was a bit hairier {have I mentioned lately that Barrett won’t nap on the road? Yep. It’s awesome.} but in the end, we survived and in parenting, I call that a win.
This was our fourth annual Eickman family summer vacation {a birthday gift from my parents to each of us kiddos} and each summer, we look forward to spending time with my siblings, their spouses and children. The trip grows larger each year, as it has increased by at least one little addition with each trip … the first year, in Des Moines, we had just one little boy in tow – Davis. This year, there were 5 little men – Davis, Drew, Will, Barrett, and Jonah – and with one more baby currently on the way, this trend will seemingly continue for the forseeable future.
As I’ve mentioned before, for me, traveling with little ones is a trip not a vacation. A vacation includes drinks, no babies to feed, sleeping in {or at least waking up on my own accord}, eating whenever and wherever and not scheduling around naptime. However, for the next many moons, our lives will be trippy and there’s not a thing wrong with that.
Barrett and the cousins played their way through the days with trips to The Magic House {the most incredible Children’s Museum I’ve ever stepped foot in} and Grant’s Farm while Jonah and the magic cape nursed their way through St. Louis, bellying up to the boobfet at the Magic House, Grant’s Farm, happy hours, gas stations and the like. We did one dinner out {quite a feat with 5 boys aged 4, 3, 2, 18 months and 2 months} and enjoyed swimming at the pool. The boys provided much entertainment and had us in stitches for much of the trip.
Given our current sleeping situation, I think Adam and I were beyond exhausted at points but we wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Good times were had by the whole gang and while we didn’t get to see all of St. Louie, I was actually rather fond of the destination. Not sure where next summer will take us but if nothing else, perhaps they will meet me in St. Louie, Louie…
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