dear diary,
you know how thanksgiving dinner tastes almost better the second day when all the holiday hoopla wears off and the saran wrap is peeled away from leftover mashed potatoes and turkey gravy to reveal an even homier meal? so, road trip day two is just like leftover mashed potatoes. tasty but more comfortable. equally delicious but settled in.
awaking this morning to sun streaks peeking through rubbery hotel drapes and the realization on cubby’s face after a bit of sleepy-eyed confusion that she is still on our little travel adventure…and we’re still having fun.
if day one was characterized by raw enthusiasm, day two is settled with nostalgia. i keep looking at her contented little face wondering what she gets of this whole thing. knowing it’s special…applauding ourselves for making memories for them and taking the time to lose valuable miles on the road to stop for something worthwhile…something kiddish, adventurous, memory-making. and yes, while i know there are many moms who accomplish much greater tasks, trekking with babies up mountains and enlightening their little souls with a bigger realm of nature in say african jungles and such, i am not ashamed to admit i’m celebrating mediocrity here and patting myself on the back for a simple jog across one stretch of highway with a baby…and doing it husband-less. gotta start somewhere.
(hello…look at the shirt. how ’bout them apples?)
so, we quickly realized we were not indeed as brilliant as we thought for finding a hotel next to a cracker barrel because…well, nine out of ten buildings in any given georgia square mile are most likely to be sitting next to a cracker barrel. seriously, georgia has an infestation of cb’s.
day two commences with previously-said thick rich coffee and egg & tomato sandwiches and continues with breakfast wrap-up video here.
followed by long road naps from the littlest two through the smoggy atlanta traffic…
…and then finally into the hills and valleys of southern tennessee (honk-honk).
all gas stations are, of course, left with the mark of roadtrip 2009 which, might i declare is an untrackable tag.
the drive has been simply enjoyable and after what seemed like warp-speed time, we landed in another cozy inn outside of knoxville where we ventured out in hail tonight…yes, hail (proof here) to find this pregnant mama the tennessee barbecue i ravenously craved.
and speaking of pregnant…not exaggerating here…not pushing out. seven and a half weeks in and this is what it looks like after i eat. it just appears.
which is just fine by me.
triple baby bath tonight…
i am so enjoying being with her for so long and the opportunity to be so present. and amazed at how great she’s been and how happy she is to just drive and be with us. (all our little roadtrippers are troopers…alas, they shall have golden carseats when we return.)
so proud of my roadtrip girl. and loving my vision of her contended little elfin face in that rearview mirror. (or hotel bathtub).
and as for hotels?
i think i like ’em. i love my home…i do miss my bed.
but there is something about setting up a make-shift home in a hotel room far, far away. like playing house when you’re little. tonight i sprayed my room spray and rummaged through the trial-sized treats laid out to find a bag of decaf orange pekoe which i brewed in the little bathroom coffee pot and poured into the pourous turquoise styrofoam cup. and i brought it over to my night stand where i propped up my pillow from home and cuddled with my girl who conveniently has felt at home wherever i am…and we watched t.v. without any guilty excuses for what else we could be accomplishing.
(those are my legs, her head, thank you very much)
yes, i like hotels. and i like the challenge of creating the perfect night…the perfect adventure…the perfect roadtrip wherever the wind might take us.
tomorrow, it shall take us north…to play in the mountains and kentucky bluegrass fields.
heidi’s summation of day two here.
JMH says
love the gas station tags! you are so darn creative, wish I had in my whole body the creativity you have in your pinky finger!
Love the belly – I heard that the second time round you show really quickly
Safe travels
Justine
Poppa says
Alright, it’s 7:16 am and I just gave you a Roadie Roundup Wake Up Call and no one answered…open the drapes, salute the flag and get on with your day–Poppa is waiting to squeeze a Little up here!! I know she will give me that coy grin that tells me she remembers me, but is too cool to show it. Love you and long for your arrival!
Kulio says
Can’t wait for you to get here!!! I love waking up to read about your travel day!!
Heidi says
sitting here, coffee in hand, tired face-lol. i just said tired face. crackin’ up!!!!
i love seeing how you capture the day highlighting the things i may have forgotten or not seen the same way. i just love this trip kelle!!!
i can not wait for our departure…going to kentucky!!!!
i don’t want this trip to end…even though i do want to see our waiting family.
xoxoxoxo
can’t wait to see what adventures and memories we will have/make today!
Stephanie says
OH MY GOODNESS….looks like you are all having such a blast! I LOVE the road trip tags, what a GREAT idea!
Awesome pics as usual…what memories for everyone! Continue to have safe travels! BTW…the BEAUTIFUL BABY BUMP….LOVE IT! 🙂
Heidi Lee says
LOVE what you are doing at gas stations with the tags.
It’s so fun being on this road trip with you..thanks for taking us! Excited to see and read what happens next.
Tisha says
ok i want to go find your gas pumps! lol. i’m in georgia right now, i wonder what people would have thought had i found one, freaking out jumping up and down no doubbt. 🙂
happy road trippin’!
Anna Ruth says
The gas tag is the best! And the belly shot, I have the biggest smile on my face. Love to see baby Hampton growing.
dig this chick says
Totally like playing house! I love hotels for that reason too. Thanks for all of your thoughtful updates. You know, you are getting closer to Montana….you gals could just swing on by for coffee or something…
April says
oh, how i just love reading about your road-trip adventures!
and the gas tags? ingenious! how fun it would be to come across one!
The Manrings says
so happy to see you are having such a great road trip….what an adventure. i feel your sense of accomplishment…last week i traveled, just sammy and i to st. augustine and i felt so confident about doing it by myself! you go girls….heheheeee. love love love your baby bump already. yipppeeeee!! safe travels!! xo
Melissa says
Road trips are the best. It’s fun to read about it from work; a little “mini-break.”
Love the growing baby, too. I am a sucker for pregos.
Kristin says
Hmmm…I think you guys should go through Chicago to come see the Demski sisters!! 🙂 hehe…
Leah says
oh my gosh you are too cute! you are so creative!! keep the travel posts comin’!!
Joanna De Beers says
Hey Kelle! Your pictures are so amazing. You could take a picture of the saddest looking weed and it would look good. Jeezee!
Congratulations on being pregnant!
The gas station tags are great! You probably changed someone’s life in such an easy way. That’s nice. 🙂
🙂 Joanna