Memorial Day weekend

I can't believe May has come and gone.  I feel like time is speeding up and there's no way to stop it.  Memorial Day weekend was a lot of fun, although busy.  Alex and I have gotten in a pretty good rhythm lately.  We have our routine and right now it works for us.  It doesn't allow a lot of time or flexibility at this point, but that's ok.  I figure the more we can be consistent now, then later, it'll be easier for all of us.  That doesn't mean we never stray from her routine, we do now and then, and right now it seems to throw her for a loop, which makes me a little nervous leaving her for 6 days while her daddy and I go to Aruba, but that's for another day.

The reason for straying the most often is going up to the cabin.  Mark's family has one near Wisconsin Rapids and we try to get up there as much as possible.  Which means a couple of things.  First of all, traveling to and from the cabin.  Thankfully it's a brisk 1 1/2 hour trek, which isn't bad, but it can be challenging if this little monkey is in a mood.  We've been trying to schedule the car ride when she should be napping, and some clever arranging of blankets to cover up her car seat and make it dark, have resulted so far in some successful naps at least most of the time.  For a child who takes really short naps, this is an accomplishment!  When she decides to get fussy, it's a very frustrating and looooong ride with me climbing back and forth between the front and back seat at times.  I'm sure some fellow travelers are getting a nice butt shot of me climbing back and forth!

I'm ready to go :)

Second, it's getting out of her environment and crib, where she's comfortable and sleeps well.  It also puts her with us in the same room.  There are only 3 bedrooms and when Mark's parents and Brother and my Sister-in-law and their 4 year old are there, we all share our room with the kids.  I can only say that it sucks.  Alex takes after her mama and is a light sleeper, so sleeping in the same room with her is beyond difficult for me.  I hear every squeak, noise, and shuffle.  Not to mention we usually let her cry if she wakes up a lot, and we keep her in her crib in the morning.  We can't do that at the cabin, as letting her scream would wake everyone else up, so EVERY TIME she fusses, we pick her up, yeah, that's great for when we have to go back home and start all over again.  I would want to let her cry, but once again, not fair to the 5 other people trying to sleep (6 if you include my husband, and let's be honest, he probably wouldn't wake up anyway :P).

Uncle Scott & Rylee, and yes, Alex sitting there with the remote! Haha

Alex and her Cousin Rylee who is obsessed with her in the best way

 Needless to say, we only stayed 24 hours, because with that many people it's chaotic and we can't really let Alex do her thing.  I think it'll get easier the bigger she gets.  In any case, it was nice to have some family time during the weekend also.  As a family we drove over to Hixon Forest and went for a little hike.  It was nice, except next time we either need to get an off road type stroller or put her in her carrier.  The stroller we took was not made for the bumpy gravel trail.  However, it was a beautiful day and a fun weekend.  I get happy and sad when these things happen because it's fun to take her on these little adventures, but I get sad since she's getting older and less like a baby every day :(.

Ready to go for a mini hike

Sportin the shades

Alex and her papa in Hixon Forest

Alex and Me for her first hike in Hixon