the drive up north
The drive up to Northern California was not bad at all. We left a little after midnight, which gave us only five hours of guaranteed baby sleep. Sure enough around 5:30 in the morning, Baby Bug started stirring. I managed to keep her occupied with various toys until we stopped at a pancake house somewhere near Santa Rosa for breakfast.
(So much for the sandwiches I packed. We didn’t even eat them. That always happens. If I pack food we don’t eat it. If I don’t pack food, we starve to death and end up existing off gas station junk food.)
Baby Bug is a hoot at restaurants. She hams it up for everybody. If there is anybody within shouting distance who doesn’t immediately notice and coo at her, she shouts at them until she gets their attention. I realize that doesn’t sound very cute at all, but to us it is. Her shouts are happy self-confident “look at me” shouts, if that makes sense. The stuffy old man who sat across the aisle from us seemed to think so, especially after Baby Bug charmed him with her cackles and sweet smiles.
After filling up on pancakes and waffles with strawberries on top and making a complete disaster of the table and the floor beneath the high chair, we hit the road and headed for the redwood curtain. The only hard part for me was entertaining the baby on the winding roads. I get car sick so easy and looking at the baby is worse than reading a book while driving. It was quease-city for me for a good few hours. Thankfully, I didn’t lose my breakfast and we made it to the in-laws in time for spaghetti dinner and a beautiful sunset off their deck.
Baby Bug is getting really good at meeting new people. She lets everyone hold her and almost always beams her best smiles, unless of course she has just woken up. Then she’s the grumpmeister. But she warms up pretty quick. She especially likes meeting the animals. She loves dogs. Which is pretty important since they are part of the family too.
8 Comments
erika
:) It sounds like you had an awesome time. You were missed!
Gramma
I remember with awe the majesty of those redwoods.
BeachMama
Great to hear the trip went well. I used to pack a huge cooler of food that would last us for part of our trip too! Now we use a smaller cooler for space reasons and Hubby usually finishes all the sandwiches before we get halfway to our destination. Then he fills up on junk, we really love road trips, hope you enjoyed it enough to do it again :).
Kuky
I get queasy in the car too. Especially watching the baby. If you find a solution for that please share. Last time that happened, we had to switch. The hubby entertained the baby and I drove.
comfortablycrazy
But the grumpmiester is sooo adorable. Can’t wait to see that grumpy morning face again.
P.S. I refrained myself and ony bought her two presents, sort of. Well, at least there’s only two boxes.
Jora
I’m just curious — were you guys in or around Eureka? my husband’s family is from that area and the pictures are very familiar!
Kaguya Hime
Hello Miss Josephine!
Remember me? I scooted in a few months ago and helped you name a few of your pictures from Paris. I’ve been reading ever since, but haven’t had the chance to comment (nor have I really had anything amusing and/or thought-provoking to say!). Just wanted say hi, and say that Bug’s pictures are adorable. The latest entry–the one with the horse? Too cute! I thought horses were dogs when I was little too!
And ohmygod, you were close to Santa Rosa! I live in Rohnert Park, which is falling-down distance from Santa Rosa, so reading that y’all were in my backyard was quite exciting! You could have had pancakes at my house! Seriously!! ;)
–Kaguya
josephine
Hi! Yes, Jora we were in Eureka. Toby and I are both from there originally. And yes! Kaguya we would love to have pancakes at your house!!! We are thinking of moving to the area one of these years so we will have to keep in touch.