First Big Car Trip

Well....we did it. We made our first big car trip. Mitchell, Tex and I drove to Minneapolis. It was quite an adventure! It was sooo cold that I didn't want to leave Tex in the car alone while Mitchell and I went inside anywhere, so Mitchell got his feedings in the backseat of the car at various reststops along I-35. He did so well! He slept nearly all of the way. Both times, he would start to get a little restless with about an hour left. I'm not sure how many times I told Mitchell "I promise, buddy, we're almost there". Guess I might as well start practicing now since I'll probably be saying that for years to come! I promised him that I wouldn't make him get into his carseat at all today!

We even took the little guy on his first trip to the Mall of America. I would imagine this will likely be the only time we'll be able to get out of the mall without spending a dime on him. I can hear it now..."come on, grandma, please buy this for me..."

I have given into my addiction to Starbucks coffee again There was a sign for a Starbucks drive-through along I-35 somewhere in Iowa. Mitchell was sleeping soundly in the back, so I thought I should treat myself. I kept one eye on the mirror so that I could see Mitchell and the other on the road while I crept off the highway toward Starbucks. I ordered my Venti "skinny" vanilla latte, paid my $4 (what a rip off) and was merrily on my way back onto I-35 - feeling like a million bucks...until I realized that I had forgotten to order DECAF. Our hospital nursing class told us that any caffeine that I drink stays in Mitchell's system for up to 96 hours! I just pictured myself pumping Mitchell full of caffeine and then strapping him into the carseat for 5 more hours and somehow hoping that he would sleep....yeah, right! So as HARD as it was....I had to let my full Latte just miserably sit there, slowing grow cold until I dumped it at the next gas station fill-up. Ugh :(