First Road Trips

James has been quite the road tripper lately (well, for the month of June). Which has given us (or maybe just me?) anxiety attacks and great practice, all at the same time.

However, I am proud to say, that we are getting the packing up the car and entertaining-baby-in-backseat thing down. We never really realized how many baby items you truly NEED to bring with you. Just for a night. Or even, just for a day trip! Not really sure how we are ever going to make it on an airplane with the amount of items we would need to bring or check. But, we'll find out in September! Florida, here we come!? (Tips for flying with an infant are welcome!)

James's first road trips were:

1. Cincinnati, OH: Mom's Work Trip 

• Ride time: Normal time 4 hrs. With baby 5.5 hrs.
• A week into being back to work and toss in a first family road trip! Due to a last minute client trip, we went down to Cincinnati for a night. Daddy Daycare (aka Phil) watched James and had quite the eye-opening experience. Let's just say, he underestimated the amount of "work" involved to keep up with a 5 month-old during the day. He now knows that you never leave a hotel room to go to a friends house for dinner for the night (while Mom is at a client dinner) without a bottle. And, that spending 5 hours with a baby might make you forget where those friends live, and you end up sitting on a neighbor's porch (a block away) waiting for 45 minutes for said friends to come home from work. Turns out, those friends were home (at their house) the whole time! And, a great quote from the first day was, "I now know what you mean when you say you can't remember what you did ALL day. What did I do? Changed diapers, feed him, changed him, made sure he didn't roll off the bed..." Oh Dad. Being a Mom is hard work, right?
• First night in a hotel room with a baby = success. We actually got the pack 'n play to open (3rd times the charm) and James slept in it the whole night (11 pm - 6 am).

Phil & James at the Columbus rest stop.
Our half-way break for feeding in the car and a quick walk!

2. Pittsburgh, PA: Erin's Baby Shower!

• Ride time: 2.5 hrs (Day trip)  
• Great to see Mama-to-be, Erin and her family! A lot in life has changed since our college days at Miami, but great friends still remain. Looking forward to finding out if Baby Kaple is a Mr. or Miss in mid-August!

 

Erin & Linds

 

 

James, 6 months old

 

 

That face!

My view from the back seat

 

Such intensity in his face. And, true multitasking skills.

3. Louisville, OH: Ann's Bridal Shower!

• Ride time: 1.5 hrs (day trip)   
• Looking forward to Ann and Matt tying the knot on 10.12.13!
  
  
  Linds & I with the Bride-to-be!
  
  
   
  James and his ladies at a fun cookout back at the farm
  
  
  
  James and the future Mrs. Schumacher!! 
  
  
  
  
  

  James had fun with Phil and the rest of the Dads while the ladies were at the shower. 

  Before (L) and After (R) Pic - I think Daddy Daycare did a pretty good job! ;)