Traveling with a Newborn

Can I still call this little guy a newborn? He just turned 2 months old! He's still just the sweetest little thing. I had fun with an impromptu photoshoot with my boys and got a few decent images the other day. Even if I'm not shelling out money for a professional photographer, at least I have a few images to document their changes and cute faces.

I have blog in my head, and I just haven't gotten them all out yet. I'd like to keep better track of things that Jonah is doing, my feelings as a new mom *again*, the second child, this age gap, Jonah's stats and things that I will want to look back on, and about Zachariah too. Some days I miss blogging. Some days I think it's too much to keep up with one more thing. But how can I not share these pictures of my adorable little guys with my internet friends?!!

So on to the topic I really wanted to write about. I'm going to be traveling this weekend. By myself. With both boys. One of whom is a little baby. This little baby is not to keen of riding in the car. He's been known to cry just because he doesn't like it. However, I will say that he's getting better. After Matt & I went away for 2 days with him, he seems better. We were in and out of the car stopping different places a lot then. And he finally let the ride lull him to sleep. Since then he's been a bit better. Still he cried for the last 20 minutes of the trip up to my parents' house last weekend.

When he cries, there really is nothing that helps. Jiggle his seat? Nope. Talk to him in a soothing voice? Nope. Give him a pacifier (which he's still only so/so about)? Nope. Have his big brother hold his hand or touch his face? Nope. None of that helps. When he's really mad, even if you stop and get him out, you can't put him back in his seat or he'll just start crying again. So we do let him cry for a little bit. I don't think it's ever been more than 15-20 minutes, and he cries off and on during that time. But sometimes you just have to drive and pretend you don't hear it. I hate it, but what else can I do? I'm very thankful it's getting better.

Knowing all of that, I'm still taking the chance and driving a 5 hour trip alone with both boys.

My parents invited us to go on vacation with them. We have one planned ourselves for later in the summer, and Matt didn't want to take this week off work now. But it worked out that I could go if I wanted. At first I didn't want to do it alone. I knew I'd have to drive by myself. It's not the driving part that bugs me, just the crying baby that does. And how do I manage stops if one is crying & needs fed and the other has to go potty? Well, I've talked myself into it. It helps that Zachariah is big enough to use the restroom by himself. And he knows to stay near me when I tell him. Jonah will likely just want fed right away, and I can handle that too.

Since it's only a 5 hour drive, I'm hoping we won't need too many stops. We'll need to stop for lunch, so a fast food place will be easy enough to handle. I can take Zachariah to use the restroom them feed the baby while he's eating. And I'm hoping maybe one more break for Jonah will be all that's needed. But I'm not under any time constraints, so if it takes us 8 hours to get there so be it. I'm not going to worry about that. I will keep in touch with my family (who is taking a different route because of where they are starting from) along the way and Matt too.

I just want to have a great week with my family. And in a way, I think this little trip with just me and the boys will be a bonding experience. And if it's terrible, then I can have help on the way back since I'm going back to my parents' house for one night afterwards.

Wish me luck and a sleepy baby who will be content in the car. If you follow on Twitter, I'm sure I'll keep up there. (It might be entertaining. We'll see.)

Attitude

 

So many people, while talking to me, will ask how Zachariah is adjusting to being a big brother. I usually say he's doing well. And well, he was. Then this week we starting having problems.

Zachariah has been a really great big brother. He loves to dote on Jonah. He likes to hold him and take care of him when he can. So far that only involves holding the baby and giving him a bottle. Bit he's happy to help. Zachariah really hasn't acted jealous at all. 

Then in the last week I started getting a bad attitude from Zachariah. It happens usually when Matt isn't around. It's talking back, disobeying, defiance and a general argumentiveness. 

After one particularly bad night, I lost my cool.  There was some yelling on my party, then throwing of toys (he was supposed to be picking up) on his. That bought him a go straight to bed card. Matt was tired of hearing of the bad behavior towards me, so he had a talk with Zachariah the next morning. He was banned to his room the next day after school other than dinner. He was only allowed to read on his bed or think about why he was in trouble. He did sincerely apologize to me when he came out for supper. And that seemed to put an end to the trouble. That and the threat for more things to be taken away if the bad behavior continues (like his field trip next week). 

For now I think we're past this. I knew a time would come when Zachariah tested me. I just don't put up with it. I sure hope he doesn't try it again. There are only 2 full weeks (after this) of school left. Trouble like that might make for a long summer. I'm thankful for Matt's support. And I know that Zachariah is a good kid. I just want to see that side of him only.