Home Sweet Home

We made it! 22 long hours in the car over three days. That's too much time on the road, in anyone's opinion, I'm sure. I was convinced it would be a total disaster with Gavin, but it was only like 74% terrible. He slept less than one cumulative hour in the car over the course of the entire trip. Because we were completely packed in, it wasn't an option for anybody to sit in the backseat with him and read stories or play games, so whoever was the passenger during any given meltdown had to twist around and provide the best entertainment they could in an uncomfortable position. The videos loaded on the iPad saved everybody from losing their last nerve a few times. And each night, Gavin went to bed smelling like syrup and barbecue sauce...a true testament to all the health food we'd given him.

"Where'd Gavin go?" was a real favorite.

Pit stop at the park in Grants Pass.

The king enjoying his room service in Redding.

We stopped at an indoor shopping mall in Modesto for Gavin to work out some wiggles.

Daddy's little sidekick in Barstow...a place I'd never heard of until yesterday.

I learned a lot about myself over the last several days. Mostly that I've become an incredible snob and germaphobe in my old age. My standards for what constitutes a comfortable hotel room have really changed since my days of backpacking through Europe and staying in hostels. Luckily Dylan shares a similar taste in hotels and usually books our accommodations accordingly. Also, we stopped at what most people would consider to be a run-of-the-mill shopping mall in Modesto. It was hot outside, and we needed to be somewhere with a playground where Gavin could run. The place had a corn dog restaurant in its food court. I nearly chose to starve for lunch because almost nothing seemed acceptable to put in my body. It was crowded and just gross, and we washed our hands like three times before we got in the car. Fashion Square must have me spoiled, but from now on, I think I'm good on visiting the regular shopping mall. Man, things were easier in my 20's when I could sleep comfortably in a burlap sack if I had to, and I would eat almost anything. But knowing what I know and living what I've lived has brought me to where I am today, and it's such a better place!

As soon as I walked in the door, I was so happy to be back in my house. I am unpacked for the most part, but I do have some organizing and a few loads of laundry in my future. Gavin treated us to a tantrum at bedtime, and I went in his room to find him standing at the door. I've never seen him even try to escape the crib before, and I have no idea how it happened...but now we have this situation that must be remedied.

Well, it was like 110 degrees today...not the way I'd hoped to be welcomed back home, but nonetheless I'm happy to be here.