Dallas Weekend

This weekend, Hannah and I headed to Dallas to visit my Grandmother and Aunt and Uncle. We had a wonderful trip!!!

First, this was the first time that I traveled alone with Hannah. All was good until I got to Abilene and realized that I needed to use the bathroom. The dilemma: How do you go to the bathroom with a baby? Do you hold her and use the bathroom? Do you sit her on the floor of a (dirty) public restroom while you use the restroom? You cannot leave her the in car... Hummmm.... Well, this is what you do... You get out the stroller and find a bathroom big enough to get the stroller in. A hassle, but that is how you do it. Second dilemma: We must stop and feed Hannah. Hannah can, but won't hold the bottle and feed herself, so I have to stop and hold her and feed her a bottle while sitting in the car, keeping it running so it is cool. Third dilemma: Changing Hannah. I refuse to use the changing tables in public restrooms so I have to change her in the car. However, I am uncomfortable changing her in the car with the car door open and my back turned to the parking lot of the gas station. So, I managed to change Hannah on the center console with us both locked safely in the car. Needless to say, we made the trip to and from very easily, only stopping once both ways and with minimal fussing and 2 long naps both ways.

Hannah did remarkably well the entire trip with only a small melt down at dinner Saturday night that was quickly remedied by bringing in the stroller and letting her lay down. She was a hit with all Grandma's friends and a real trooper sleeping in the pack and play for the first time. She was also very well behaved at Nieman Marcus during lunch and played nice with Aunt Harriet's dogs.

Another dilemma: There is not an elevator in the blue garage at the Galleria! What the heck!!! So, in 106 degree weather I park on B2 level near Gap, Banana, and Old Navy. Park the car in a big enough space, get the stroller out, get the baby out, get the diaper bag and purse out, lock the car and head for the nearest elevator. Find a set of stairs and see a pregnant girl coming down them (definitely in her late third trimester). I ask her, "Do you know where the elevator is?" She coldly responds "No" without even glancing at my adorable child in her stroller. All the time I am thinking, this will be you in a couple of months toting your child around in a hot parking garage with 2 bags while sweating profusely while you search for an elevator in a 4 story parking garage and you cannot be the least sympathetic or helpful. Humm, she has no idea how her life is going to change. Anyways, after spending almost twenty whole minutes wandering the B2 level looking for an elevator that I assume must legally be there for ADA legality, I hit the security button for a lady to inform me that there is not an elevator in the garage (remind me to notify the ADA people when I am less busy to find out whether or not that violates some kind of laws). So, we truck back to the car, reload the diaper bag, purse, stroller, and Hannah, get back into the blazing hot car and circle the parking garage first (street) level until we find a parking spot and can unload everything again (still sweating) and finally get into Banana Republic to meet Elicia and spend a few hours shopping and hanging out.

It was great to see and catch up with Elicia! Elicia, one of my very best friends in the world had never met Hannah! I love every time I get to see Elicia and I wish we were able to see each other more frequently.

So, I know that you are thinking that the parking garage and bathroom dilemma were enough for the weekend (enough for my already stressed and out of control life anyways) but there is more...

Saturday morning my aunt wakes me up at 7am to let me know that someone has stolen the wheels of my car. I sleepily told her that this has happened before... Oh no! Last time, the hub caps and emblems had been stolen, this time... My car is sitting on top of the neighbor's bricks without wheels or tires! So, at 7am I try and get a hold of Stuart who is basically signal-less at the ranch to figure out what to do about this problem. How do you tow a car to get new tires when it is sitting up on bricks??? Fortunately I got a hold of Stuart who within hours had some tires on hold at the dealership with someone on hand to deliver them to the house and install them on my car. By lunch time I had new tires and wheels and never gave it a second a thought. And hopefully this expensive problem will be covered by insurance!

I had a great weekend visiting Grandma at her new place. Her new place is fabulous and she has met some new friends and is really doing great! We were able to eat dinner with her on Friday at the Legacy which was also wonderful. Saturday, Aunt Harriet treated us to lunch at Nieman's (me and Mom's absolute favorite lunch place) and then a little shopping at my new favorite baby store Animal Cracker! Saturday night Uncle Barry took us to this wonderful Thai restaurant. Sunday Uncle Barry made (my favorite) Challah French Toast and then cooked a wonderful dinner of lamb, potatoes, tomato-cucumber-feta cheese salad, and asparagus. Uncle Barry is the best cook! I wouldn't mind living there but I would gain a hundred pounds! Aunt Harriet made Molten Chocolate cakes for dessert that were unbelievably amazing as well. I sort of want to drive 5 hours there and back next weekend just to eat their cooking!

So I am back now with another busy week ahead. I cannot believe it is August already and how fast the summer has gone by.

If you are interested, check out my sister-in-law's blog (faucheuxfamily.blogspot.com) to check out my adorable niece's new haircut done by herself!