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Jeff and Alyssa

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Relationships and Religion
A Desperate Mama

A Desperate Mama

Last updated on: May 5, 2015 at 4:51 pm by Alyssa Bethke

A Desperate Mama 2015-05-05T16:51:30-10:00 Alyssa Bethke

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Here we are in Boston, soaking up the food and sites. This is the first trip we’ve taken with Kinsley since moving to Maui. If I’m honest, I’ll tell you it’s because my anxious heart COULD NOT HANDLE one more trip. I needed time to settle and be and get into a rhythm. But after 2 months, Jeff had one plea—that we come with him to the Q Conference this weekend. After a lot of prayer, and other mamas rooting me on, I took the plunge.

And it’s been worth it.

Although not without some sacrifice.

WORD TO THE WISE. Never fly a red eye with an 11 month old.

Well, not with our 11 month old. When I put the Facebook post up of whether or not mamas would recommend traveling with an almost 1 year old, they said, “Go for it!”, “She’ll adjust”, “She’ll just sleep in the stroller.” HA. Perhaps if you have a mild, easy- going baby.

SURE THING.

However, our sweet little Kinsley is a party animal. If there are people around, she’s gotta be the life of the party. She has to be in the know. Curious. Observant. Ears that pick up a sneeze from another state. That’s our girl.

So today as we got up, moved hotels, and got settled into our new room, I went to lay her down for her nap. I went to the bathroom, and when I got out, there she was- head popped over the crib (like the picture above), just giggling at Moondoggie (PS if you’re wondering why I call Jeff that, my next blog coming will explain). She was too cute. And awake. So we took off her jammies, and went for a stroll around Boston. A long, long stroll. She finally fell asleep right as our cab was pulling up to take us home. This girl will thrive in college—10 min naps are the secret.

Well, getting back to the hotel in no time flat, I figured this girl must be exhausted. So I nursed her, put the sound machine on, turned off all the lights, and laid her down. 20 minutes ensued of Jeff and I huddled under our covers, no lights, just waiting for Kins to fall asleep as she cried, screamed, and threw her binky over the crib. No luck.

I picked her up (maybe bad choice #1?), and thought, “Hey, maybe we can all nap together!? Maybe if she sees us sleeping, she’ll sleep. Plus extra cuddle time is always a plus in our books.”

WHAT WERE WE THINKING!?

Another 20 minutes passed, as Kins cried, screamed, and laughed.

Moondoggie whispered, “Babe, just pretend like you’re asleep. See what she does.”

Sure babe.

So Kins began to flail. We got kicked in the face, the ribs, the stomach, the nose.

Kins does this super cute thing now where she’ll put her head to yours when she’s tired. It’s super endearing.

But not in this scenario. She slammed her head against Moondoggie’s. Slammed it against mine. Slammed it back into the covers. Backwards. Forwards. Side to Side.

Little one would not fall asleep.

So I did what any rational mama would do. I pulled out the ol’ milk supply, thinking “Oh, game over. This is a sure winner to get this girl to fall asleep.”

Guzzle, guzzle.

Then her eyes popped open and she was flailing all over again.

Just as I was about to give up, I finally decided to rock her and sing “Silent Night.” Her head slowly fell on my shoulder, and within minutes she was out.

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!! Pop open the champagne. Get out the chocolate cake. WE DID IT!

And now I am in the hotel bathroom, sitting on a towel on the counter with bible and notepad and computer laid out, feet in the sink, eating chocolate.

All in the day in the life of a mama.

Mom’s- what are you tricks and tips for traveling with little ones? Any funny stories you have of traveling with the littles?

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