Moving on up

We're leaving.

Our house, my garden, our village, our jobs, Charlotte's daycare, (most of) our friends, our state, even our geographical region.

I'm 90% excited, 5% terrified, and 5% neutral. That 5% terror, though, is hiding, and it only pops out in the darkness. Come daytime, excitement rules.

So, let's back up a minute and I'll explain how we got here: Matt accepted a very exciting job offer in North Carolina back in November, and he moved down in early December. He's got a small apartment and is planning on spending a week back here every 4-6 weeks until we can get the house sold.

We needed some sort of change, no doubt, and this definitely qualifies as a change.

Other changes:
Charlotte talks, a lot.

Things that remain the same:
I'm running.
I'm dreaming about gardening (even though I know this will have to be a year of rest in that arena).
I'm active on Instagram: http://instagram.com/joie_12

Stay tuned! Mellow Your Soul is getting a makeover and a little more pep in its step this year. Everything else is changing, why shouldn't the blog?

Lord, I was born a ramblin' man

Last weekend, Charlotte and I traveled to DC to celebrate my grandmothers. Here's thematic installment no. 1 of our trip. I call it: how to travel with a mobile 6 month old and not lose your mind.

We got to the airport three hours early because I figured there'd be a long line at security, it being the Friday before Labor Day and all. Not only was there virtually no line, the TSA agent actually opened another lane for us. Then I had to fill three hours with a mobile baby.

So, we played with the suitcase for a while. I also instagrammed a lot (follow me: joie_12). The awesome gate agent re-arranged things so that Charlotte and I had a row to ourselves, so she flew in the car seat.

Sleeping on the plane. This didn't actually last very long, and I was forced to resort to SkyMall to keep her entertained.

I learned an important lesson: just because you CAN carry the diaper bag, carseat/kid combo, and a carry-on duffle, doesn't mean you SHOULD. It wasn't so bad in Albany, but National Airport is a lot bigger. I earned some calluses on my hands this trip!

On the way back, killing time with Mimi before the flight. I had already checked the duffle bag at this point.

Despite the relative emptiness of our return flight, we were forced to gate check the car seat. This ended up not being an issue, because Charlotte (and I!) slept for the first 45 minutes of the 65 minute flight. I really enjoyed our snuggly little nap. 

The last twenty minutes were spent playing and making googly eyes at the baby two rows up.

Breaking news

We Matt lowered Charlotte's crib mattress tonight, probably 2 weeks after we should have done it. I'd read online that it can be helpful for the kid to spend a little time in the crib once the mattress is lower, because otherwise it can feel too much like a new place? I don't know about that, but I don't like waking up multiple times to tend to a screaming baby, so I put her in there with a few stuffed animals.

I took this photo, and while trying to come up with a cute caption for Instagram (follow me: joie_12), some movement caught my eye.

And then I had to quick get out of Instagram and take a picture. Ok, several. Then I ran downstairs to get Matt, who came up, and she was STILL standing.

Then she got all excited and started bouncing like she does in her jumper or exersaucer.

And she fell over. Oh, mo.

I have a feeling she will sleep very well tonight! Lots of exercise for this little munchkin.