After cracking a molar while in Istanbul, I decided to fly back to my Hingham, hometown, dentist rather then venture to a dentist here in Southern Italy. I had heard that the option for Novacane was variable to non-existent, and knowing my low-pain threshold, I quickly logged onto Orbitz to find Evan and I some cheap, last minute flights to the US. After hardly having time to unpack from Istanbul, we were back on a train to Rome's Leonardo di Vinci airport and then over to Boston's Logan airport via London.
Lesson # 1---never attempt an International trip without a stroller!! I had thought the stroller would be too much of a pain loading on/off trains and planes with my luggage in tow, but Boy! was that a mistake! I arrived at each 'transition' along the route looking sweaty and disheveled, with 20 pounds of Evan strapped to me in the Bjorn, a backpack on my back, my baby holster (i.e large fanny pack containing bottles, toys, pacifier etc) and my large roller bag being dragged behind me. If any of you have ever read the book "Slummy Mummy" and remember the character....I was her!!
Lesson #2---consider forgoing feeding Evan prunes with his morning cereal on any days that airport changing stations are involved. I had Evan propped on the changing table in the restroom at the airport and Holy diaper Explosion!! Just what I needed!! I had so much stuff with me, but did I have enough baby wipes for something as massive as this..of course not!! In a matter of seconds, there was poop everywhere, Evan had thrust both hands in it, and I was looking more and more incompetent to the 'spectators' watching this all happen as they primped in the mirror from their long flights, washed their hands etc. I was sweating even more than before---say hello to Slummy Mummy again! Can I please just get my bags checked and get onto the plane please!!
Finally, on the flight after being delayed due to French air traffic controllers being on strike, we took off heading 'the long way' to London, since we couldn't even fly over French air space. Thankfully, I made my connection in time, and was on my way to Boston...hooray!
As we exited Logan's baggage claim area, Tom was there to greet us with a big "We love you Kim" sign. He had left work early and drove all the way down from Vermont to pick me up and to meet his nephew Evan for the first time. How nice was that!!
Driving from the airport to Hingham, I immediately noticed just how orderly the driving seemed and how 'easy' things already felt. What a huge difference it makes when you can understand what everyone is saying, when you can read street signs, and when you actually know where you are going. A convenience/luxury you can easily take for granted until you are plunked into a foreign country.
The trip to Boston was great. Some highlights:
-Spending quality time with family and friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, college friends, Hingham friends, work friends etc. Just so great to see everyone and catch up.
-Visiting Nana and watching her with Evan. She loves babies, and thankfully that's the truth considering she had 8 of them.
-Dunkin donuts coffee
-Going grocery shopping and knowing what I am buying. The ability to read labels is a huge help when it comes to shopping!
-Watching Evan with family and watching them get to know each other.
-Hanging out by 'the pool'..even if it was just a blow up, inflatable one.
-Meeting some of my friends' babies who were born when I was either out of state or out of the country. So fun for Evan to meet so many potential future wives:)
-Going to the 4th of July parade and festivities. Really made me feel 'at home in the US'. In Italy, there have been so many Saint's days and holidays, but I always feel a bit out of the loop not even knowing that it is a holiday until I try to shop and find the stores closed.
-The luxury of babysitters--thanks Ma & Pa!
-Getting my haircut and being able to explain what I want the stylist to do. Another communication thing that is easily taken for granted.
-The support of friends and family which allowed me to conquer the 'cry it out' method and get Evan on a schedule that seems to work for the both of us.
-Time at the beach in Brant Rock, Hingham Harbor and Egypt Beach. It was fun for me, although Evan still is a bit scared of the ocean--not sure if he doesn't like the waves, or if it's the sand, but 3 beaches=3 strikeouts with him liking it. Maybe it had to do with the borrowed pink beach hat I had him wear. He was maybe just too self conscious and wanted to get the heck off the beach before any of his baby friends saw him:)
During our trip home, we were able to fly down to Pittsburgh to see Josh's side of the family, and introduce Evan to them. Poppy had come out to Seattle when Evan was first born, but the rest of the gang had yet to meet him. From Boston, it was a quick flight, and Evan flew like a pro.
Some highlights from Pittsburgh:
-Being picked up by Dara at the airport and seeing Leah and Chloe's excitement about meeting their new, baby cousin for the first time.
-The irony of going to "The Olive Garden" for lunch---if you ask me, it is still pretty good Italian, and you got to love the bottomless soup, salad and breadsticks:)
-Watching Evan check out Uncle Ed for the first time. It was as if he was wondering..."is this Daddy? Did Daddy shave off his goatee?"
-Evan and cousin Aubrey meeting for the first time. They really checked each other out.
-Watching all the cousins playing together in the kiddie pool and on the 'love sac'.
-Going to take a shower while leaving Evan in the care of Ed, Dara and the kids, and coming back downstairs to find Evan all 'girled' up with a pigtail on his head, playing with dolls, on the pink barbie couch. Nice touch Blank family! ha
-Poppy's reaction at just how much Evan has grown and how different he looks. He's a real little boy now!
-Being able to see, in person, how much Evan looks like Jason, since at one time or another, it seems that all the Blank kids look like Uncle Jason.
-Getting to meet baby Lilah, and see how much Zack had grown, and visiting with Robin, Aunt K and Aaron.
We plan to head back to the East Coast for a few weeks in December, so we'll be seeing everyone again soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment