Notes to Self

After a sleepless night (due to pregnancy) I concocted a brilliant idea. My sister after one brief day at home was readmitted to the hospital and was feeling more than a little down.

Me (at 5:30 am) Wednesday: Hey, I was thinking. Do you want to go see Megan this weekend.

Doug (sleepy): Sure.

Me: We just have to find somebody to watch the dogs.

Doug: I hadn't thought of that yet.

Me: Well, I was thinking we could get a hotel with a pool and let the kids play, see Megan, maybe Jim and Marley would come over and swim with us.....

Doug: Sure, you work it out, babe. Love you.

(Exit Doug)

Me: I should ask him for more things when he first wakes up.

Me: Zzzzzzzzz

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After two crazy days of planning, packing, running Beast and the boy to my parents (the dogs), cleaning house*, packing, finishing school for the week, we are headed to the cold, snowy state of Michigan.

*Thanks, Mom, for instilling in my the fear I will die on the road and someone will have to come clean up my home after I'm dead. It has served me well. Love you!

I, being pregnant in mind as well as body, remembered the underwear, diapers, clothes and forgot all shampoo, body washes, and random other things have decided to write a few notes to self that would have been helpful before the trip.

1. When pregnant, never buy a bathing suit in a pattern that looks like a picnic table cloth. Every time you put it on you will feel as though you are bringing the watermelon to the picnic.

2. Painted toes go a long way toward helping you feel better about the above situation. Why, I have no clue. (Any help on this one ladies?)

3. When visiting a hospital with four children under the age of 7 it helps to have a wonderful strong man who is willing to play patty-cake and make little girls giggle.

4. Watching your kids play in the pool is so much fun.

5. Watching your son get a well deserved dunking is also fun.

6. Chocolate milk and powdered sugar donuts are a wonderful pregnancy snack.

7. Sparkly shoes are a girl's best friend, giving your child a camera can result in some great pictures, babies in bathing suits are one of the cutest things on earth, if you're going to wear a hat with your bathing suit - wear it with pride.


8. For the love of all that is good in life, do not ever think it's a good idea to see how well your toddler does sleeping in a "big girl bed" for the first time in a hotel.

9. Remember hotels do not plan for more than two people in a room. Save yourself the trouble and ask for towels and the multiple items you forgot on the way up to the room.

10. Fights over who gets to push what elevator button are inevitable. So is Mommy's patience wearing thin. Plan for these things, take many, many deep breaths and remember soon you will be back in your own comfy bed. Once there, try to sleep. As fun as the weekend was (and it really was), a repeat in the near future is not good for anyone's health.