Yesterday my little brother, Greg, graduated from Oklahoma City University (OCU) law school...one hell of an accomplishment for a kid who just turned 25-years-old two weeks ago. Not to mention the fact that when mom died he was in the middle of his second year finals.
Words cannot describe how proud of him I am. Greg and I are different kids - I am neat and tidy, Greg is disgustingly messy; I was always an "average" student, Greg was bright, intelligent and wanted to continue his education by attending law school...we are more different than alike BUT that does not mean I love him any less.
Since mom's death I hurt for Greg. A daughter is always "daddy's girl" and the son is typically "mommy's boy" and this held true in my family. Don't think that mom and I weren't close, or the same for dad and Greg - mom just protected Greg, and dad protected me. Greg and I both lost our best friend and mother on May 12, 2010 but Greg also lost his protector - the person who made sure his bills were paid, reminded him to register for school, washed his clothes...you get my drift.
So with Greg's graduation in OKC, came our sweet Allie Parker's first flight...and it was the flight from hell!
Over the past month or so, we've noticed a change in Allie - she's FEISTY! She knows what she wants, knows how to get it (SCREAMING!) and will continue until you obey her request, or should I say "demand?"
Our morning Friday began bright at early - 4:45 am. The alarm went off and I immediately jumped in the shower, got ready, finished packing. We packed up the car and woke Allie up around 6 am for our 8:15 am departure out of New Orleans. Our flight from NO to Houston was over an hour and a half delayed leading to us missing our connection to OKC. Are you getting my drift on how horrible this was? She was tired, hungry, agitated that she couldn't get down and crawl around - poor kid, she just wasn't happy!
I thought I lucked out on the flight from NO to Houston. Since I've been a road warrior the past 6 1/2 years, I was able to secure the front bulk head row on the 737 we were on. Ben was 9D and I was 9F - the middle seat was wide open so I thought we had hit the lottery. The bulk head row has extra foot space so my thinking was she could sit in the floor and play while in the air. Well this all sounded phenomenal UNTIL Mr. Butthead, the business traveler jumped on our flight - last minute - and took the last available seat on the flight - our middle seat. I could have murdered this man. Ben moved over to the middle seat and gave Mr. Butthead the aisle seat. Five minutes before we took off, the flight attendant offered Mr. Butthead a first class seat and he turned it down because there was not enough room for his luggage. I almost punched him. Who in their right mind would WANT to sit next to two parents with an 11-month-old bull in a China shop on a flight that's almost two hours delayed at this point? So there we had it, our bulk head dream was shot thanks to Mr. Butthead and his damn luggage. I almost wanted Allie to throw a fit the entire way just to annoy him. :)
When we landed in Houston, of course she slept in her stroller the entire layover. I didn't want to wake her up so we let her snooze until we got on the flying tampon - aka regional jet. We were 15B and 15C, 4 seats from the toilets (back of the plane). We are about to shut the boarding door so I whip out my bottle o' Similac, put the nipple in her mouth and all of a sudden I feed a sudden gush of water on my leg...on my white pants. Yes, Allie's diaper was indeed full and she peed all over me. On a full flight. A flight that just as this happened, the boarding door closes and her mom and dad and left horrified, soaking wet, wondering what the hell to do now.
Since Allie was young we've fed her a bottle at bed time, then laid her down in her bed, and she goes to sleep on her own. This is PERFECT...when at home. NOT when you want her to close her sweet little turquoise eyes and pass out for 57 minutes. She wouldn't nap to save her life on either flight.
Once we got to OKC and checked into the hotel, little princess was free at last and decided to enjoy the hotel life for the weekend. We stayed at the Embassy Suites so she was treated to an awesome breakfast of pancakes and fruit each morning.
After we checked into the hotel, we went to Greg's house to hang out with him and his roommate, Pat. Allie had not seen Greg since Christmas so she was excited when we got there.
Night number 1 of sleeping in a hotel room with a baby - FAIL. While we did stay at an Embassy Suites - which has two rooms separated by a door - she still did not sleep well. We got her down Friday night at 8 pm, but she woke up at 3:30 am and did not know where she was. Ben got her to sleep another hour in bed with him, then he got up with her from 4:30 to 7 (letting me sleep), then we switched and he slept from 7 to 9:30 or so. Yes, we are a remarkable team. :)
Look at those tired eyes...Papa B's lap is the only one she will actually sit "still" in for longer than 5 seconds. Too bad he didn't fly with us. Bummer.
The weekend was great because Allie got to spend a lot of time with dad, Greg, Mama, Papa, Aunt Sandi and Uncle Steve. AND, we got to see some of our Oklahoma friends including April & Dave Haskin, and their sweet son Sam, Autumn & Tim, and our old neighbors, Jolyn and Britt. We miss everyone and hope to visit again soon.
Saturday night dad took the crew (including Autumn & Tim) to Charleston's for dinner. Check out Papa B and sweet girl...
I cried 50% of the day yesterday. Seeing Greg graduate really knocked my socks off and was as I always say, so bittersweet. Here he is with his roommate, Pat, who is from St. Louis.
Ben stayed in the lobby with Allie and watched graduation on a TV screen so I could sit with dad. Doesn't she look relaxed and thrilled for Uncle Greg? I think at this point she was ready for some normalcy!
After graduation, Allie, Ben and I had to rush to the airport for our 6:15 departure (that was delayed to 7:15...ugh). Here we are getting creative with our "child entertaining" on the flight to Houston. Isn't it fun to put a wet wipe on your head 3,000 times, then pluck it off? I already know my child is going to be a girly-girl with her love for lip gloss, mascara and eyelash curlers! Hey...you do whatever you can to entertain them at this age!
We landed in Houston with literally 27 minutes to spare. Ben and Allie ran to our gate while I waited on the stroller and car seat that were checked at the gate. We were exhaysted by the end of the trip and Allie finally gave up and took a 45 minute nap on the flight to NOLA!
Traveling by car with Allie is one thing...air travel is a completely seperate issue. I am pretty sure the Ross' will NOT be traveling via electric bird anytime in the near future...unless it's just the two of us! :)
