Life is a Highway

Get ready for one long picture-filled post. I was going to do a bunch of individual posts, but I'm lucky to be posting at all, so everything is getting crammed into one. This is a four-post-in-one phenomenon, people. Watch out. :)

August sure has been full of adventures! One day I was talking to Steve about my personal adjustment to living out here (that's a post for another day), and in part of our conversation he said, "You know, you can take Jaden to the beach by yourself. You don't need to wait for me." I was a little surprised because a) I would have never thought to venture to the beach by myself with a baby, even though it's so close and b) I thought he'd feel left out if I went without him. But he really didn't mind and actually gave me a challenge to go to the beach one day a week before it gets too cold. Um, okay...if you insist. :) So I packed Jaden up one Friday and took him to the beach. And it was glorious...for about an hour. Then he was no longer interested in being on the towel and instead wanted to feel the sand and rub his eyes simultaneously. So we were done. But I like that activity: beach for an hour in the mornings once a week? I could get used to it.

Then the next weekend my mom came into town to stay with Jaden for a couple of days while Steve and I drove to Moline, Illinois. Yep, that's right. Illinois and back in two days. The reason: we bought a car from my parents (in Utah) and were giving our Accord to Steve's parents (also in Utah). So each car drove across the entire country--we just switched cars halfway through. Stan and Jake were so nice to take their whole weekend to drive out and meet us. We left our home at 6 p.m. on Friday, drove straight through and got to Moline at 10:30 the next morning, had a late breakfast with Stan and Jake at Panera, turned around and drove back to the Ohio/Pennsylvania border that day, stayed the night and drove the rest of the way back home on Sunday. It was an intense road trip, to say the least. (Most of which was done in the rain--how can it rain across most of the country all at once?) Intense, with about $70 worth of tolls. Ouch. But we have a new car and Spencer has a car for high school! I actually really miss Savvy, though. Steve and I were reminiscing about that car. We had our first kiss in it, talked for the first time about getting married, had endless meaningful conversations over the years, commuted to Provo every day, drove across the country together to our new home, etc. We also paid a lot of money in repairs :). But it was such a good car and I'm sad to see it go.

It was also hard to be away from my baby for two days. But he had tons of fun with his grandma, and I was so grateful she was willing to come stay with him. She even brought our whole family surprises! This year's BYU football shirts for Steve and me, and a bigger BYU hat for Jaden. We're a little excited for football season around here. I also got to take her to the beach while she was here. I was glad she got the opportunity, because she's only been here in November, January and April when this area is a ghost town. It was fun to show her all the touristy stuff that happens in the summer when everyone flocks to the beaches.

And lastly, I have to throw these pictures on because I just like them. Lately Jaden has had his first diaper rash. Holy moly, it was just one of those weeks where you think, "Wow, why didn't anyone ever tell me motherhood would be like this?" Cleaning up wet and poopy messes ALL day long because you're trying to let your baby air dry as much as possible gets really taxing after a few days. Add in all the sink baths and dirty laundry, and all thoughts of motherhood being glamorous go straight out the window. And then you realize that yes, EVERY mother you've ever talked to has told you to look forward to this very experience, but you didn't think it could be THAT bad. Well, it's not that bad, but just really taxing. We're almost done with it, though, thank goodness. No more cute bare bums on the floor.

And here's the last picture, I promise. We have a little concert pianist in our midst! This boy LOVES the piano. We hope it lasts. (And don't worry, Steve's right behind him in this picture. I wouldn't just let him sit there by himself :) ).

Whew! All caught up! Ten points to whoever is still reading this. Here's to hoping September is a little less wild and crazy. Although, it wouldn't be our life if that were the case...