My Trip to WASHINGTON

I bought my ticket to WA one “busy” day at work at the end of March. Erika’s baby was suppose to be arriving April 4th (yes Owen’s birthday), and we were all so darn excited.  He ended up arriving on April 6th, I didn’t want to be all up in her new mommy grill, so I picked a weekend at the end of April…her 30th birthday weekend to bless her with MY presence! haha But it was funny…clicking “submit” was so nerve racking, my co-worker Lia laughed and motivated me to just do it already! No clue what I was nervous about…when I was younger I had traveled to Ireland alone…but in my adult life I didn't do much alone!  Hell…using the restroom these days without Owen checking in o me is rare.  But the tickets were booked and I was so excited to get up WA for the first time and see Erika! So hit click and tickets were booked…I was traveling….alone and so excited to see my best friend.

I was very sad saying good bye to Owen at 6:30am on Friday morning…he thought it was like any other morning…I, on the other hand, was so sad but didn’t show him my emotions. Packing for a weekend was a challenging task…seriously…you gotta bring jeans, shoes, sandals, comfy pants, pajamas…I just couldn’t decide. haha I had NO clue what I was going to…wasn’t sure about the “style” haha. But soon I found out…I coulda wore jammies the whole time and fit RIGHT in in Warden.  Mom brought me to the airport…seriously again I will mention how AMAZING my mother is. What mom takes the day off work to bring their daughter to the airport…yep…MINE sure does!~ I think she was a bit nervous that I was traveling alone as well…she was adamant about my phone being fully charged for the plane ride. haha  Security at LAX took my face lotion and afro hair cream…I was so bitter. Seriously TSA…what do you think I was going to do with that?!? grrrr. Just FYI for anyone traveling with only carry on bags…maximum allowed is 3.4 fluid ounces. boo

For whatever reason I could NOT calm my nerves. It was weird. I was very shakey…like as if I had taken too much of my inhaler, yet I hadn’t taken it at all.  I realized that oddly enough, Yosh actually calms me when traveling. I’m Mrs. In-Control…but when its only for myself it’s a bit different. I wasn’t this anxious when traveling internationally with a toddler…go figure?!?  But finally boarded the plane…and I felt like the president walking onto my tiny plane!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I relaxed a bit and got into my book…Bloom…written by an author of a blog that I read daily…love it.  Enjoying the Small Things

 

 

 

 

 

The funniest thing…was the awkward moments on the plane…the ones that stick out in my mind…first I got to my 2-person seated aisle seat first. When the 20 something guy who was sitting next to me arrived I hadn’t put the arm rest down…but now he was seated…and it was awkward to turn to him and say “hey can I put the arm rest down…you’re a weirdo”  haha So we both awkwardly left the arm rest UP the whole flight…yes awkward!  Or better yet…when the man sitting in from of me was asked by the flight attendant to move seats because he was “too large” to be responsible in the emergency exit aisle. yeah it was horrible.  Poor man…he took it well…and just got up and moved to an empty seat without making a scene.

Got to Spokane after literally RUNNING (boobies flying everywhere with the lack of a sports bra!) my whole way through Salt Lake City airport to be THE LAST person on the plane…yep almost missed my darn flight. FYI…Salt Lake City Utah is ONE hour ahead!! oops. Such an adrenline rush RUNNING to catch my flight…I felt like the family on “Home Alone”…you know the scene when they are all frantically running through the airport…bags in tow…oh it was horrible.
But I arrived in Spokane nicely…on time… I rented a car and drove the 90ish miles from Spokane and Warden…it was beautiful!

When I reached their home in Warden, I was so excited to see them. Their light blue house was cute…older…but cute. Chuck and Erika HATE their current home…and are moving into another rental on a golf course next month. When Erika came out of the house to greet me she looked like Mrs. Mommy…you wouldn’t have thought she barely acquired that role 3 weeks prior. Charlie rested comfortably in the nook of her arm and she looked like a seasoned veteran.  we kissed, hugged, cried….I could feel her vulnerability…and could only sympathize…remembering when Owen was 3 weeks old…man I was a hot mess!  The worries of nursing, pumping, bottles, gas, sleeping arrangements, bathing, everything…and I could sense Erika was dealing with all the same stress…but alone!  But I was there to help in ANY way I could!!

I swear it was love at first sight with Charlie and I….I adored him so much!

 

 

And I think he adored me too!

Words can’t express how amazing it was to get to bond and spend some time with him. He of course will never remember, but I will never forget. Thank you Chuck and Erika for sharing your little man with me. The newborn cuddles were magnificent…makes me definitely crave a baby!

 

 

 

My goal for the weekend was to emotionally support and encourage her, make her feel confident in her “job” because she freakin’ rocked…swear she was a total natural at the whole Mom gig…she did great.  Even the joy on Chucks face to see someone familiar in Warden…I swear I could feel the loneliness from both of them.  But a relaxed weekend would help…everyone!

I helped and did as much as Erika let me…and MAN I loved every second of it. I was updating facebook, instagram and my husband the whole time I was away. At one point Yosh texted “You are really loving this huh?”  and I responded “YEP…its official I want a baby” and he responded so sweetly “me too”!!

Erika got to use her stroller for the first time (Chuck was definitely jealous since he was working and unable to come with on the walk)…we walked “down town”…while Chuck patrolled the neighborhood…he didn’t feel comfortable leaving us alone for too long!

He was like “where’s waldo”…except it was “where’s the cop car?”

Everytime we turned around there was Chuck “checking on us” (or Charlie!)

Some view’s from our walk in Warden…

I DID give Erika some alone time, I swear I wasn’t up her butt the whole weekend (just MOST of it!)…Chuck took me on a “ride-along”…aka City Tour in his cop car…which was pretty cool. Warden is a VERY small town…population 2,500. Only 3 cops, 1 chief of police and only volunteer fire department! Yes it’s a different world there. BUT I wanted to prep myself in case I had to be used as backup! haha

Awesome to see Warden…it has some BAD ugly parts…very trailer-parkish…but some decent parts too…reminded me a bit of old town Fontana…few good people that have lived there a long time…but then a shit-head living two doors down.

Look at that gorgeous face…my goodness….I just wanted to eat him!

I was there for her 30th birthday…I know it wasn’t her best birthday…but Chuck and I TRIED to make it special…cake…Walmart and Woody’s haha

I got her that pretty necklace that says Charlie, has a pearl and his birth month stone…super cute from vintage pearl

Chuck and Erika: I love you friends…and THANKS for letting me stay with you this weekend. I can’t wait to see you again soon…and remember Erika…you are an amazing Mommy…and have a pretty darn awesome Daddy by your side.  ((hugs))

I loved being with friends…but MAN I missed my lil dude so much. It was the longest I have been away from him. I almost RAN out of school this afternoon to RUN to Martha’s to get him (he stayed with Mom last night since my flight was late into Long Beach)…the smile on his face…and the big bear hugs I’ve gotten all evening tells me my lil man missed me too!