While, my hard-working husband flew to Boston for work, we drove down to Bedford. It's about 4 hours south of here.
We only had to stop once...mainly because of a cramp I had in my right side that lasted for about an hour. This cramp has been my er...companion(?)...throughout this pregnancy which leads me to believe it may be the baby laying on a nerve. The cramp causes tingling and pain in the front of my leg as well.
Anyway, after an hour of this and holding my belly up to attempt to get the cramping to stop, I finally stopped at a Harris Teeter around Charlottesville.
I took the kids in and we all had a potty break. Of course, while I was pottying, my children took it upon themselves to pull a plethora of toilet paper from the roll and then disperse it into the little trashboxes that are in most stalls these days. There were two in mine b/c we were in the handicapped bathroom. So those boxes were thoroughly filled.
After the bathroom break, we played with some toys in the store and I bought a couple of things I needed. Then we went to the entryway of the store and my children pretended to ride the green dinosaur that seems to be at every Harris Teeter. They only take quarters and of course, I was all out.
We did that for a few minutes and then I had to tear FJ away from it and head back to the car.
The rest of the drive was quick and peaceful and I had no more cramping thankfully.
We got to MaryBeth's house around 4:00. MaryBeth and I have been friends since 1992! We met at church the summer before we began high school.
She was in my wedding...she's the last bridesmaid on the end-
She was also at my first baby shower-
And I was in her wedding and that was the last time we had seen each other until this trip-
When we saw each other this time, it was like no time had passed at all!! We chatted for hours during the kids' nap/rest time and after they went to bed at night.
She was so helpful with my kiddos too. She knew just what to do and how to help and didn't ask any questions. She had such intuition which means she is going to be a FABULOUS mom come January!
She helped get my kids into the car and buckled in and took them out when we got to places. She found high chairs at restaurants and got FJ settled in and helped them get dry and clothed after the bath at night. She played with them and read to them and held them and she never tired of Miss A's hourly question of "what's scary about this princess movie?"
She's just wonderful!
MB's house is on a mountain and has the most beautiful scenery. I loved being there and thought about how wonderful it must be to live at a "getaway!
There was plenty to do and my kids were happily content doing so many nature-type activities.
As soon as we got there, we went out back to pick blackberries that grow along their house-
MB showed us a couple of local playgrounds. The first day we met up with a friend of hers and her daughter and baby boy. It was quite hot that day and there wasn't any shade but my children had fun and it wore them out enough to take a nice nap!
First Chloe scared away some deer...do you see the two small glowing eyes in the woods?
FJ liked this racoon that played the theme song from a Benny Hill show-
I was trying to get a photo of MB picking grapes but my setting on my camera was turned to something different and it focused on the branches instead-
After the nursery and grape-picking, we headed to a much more shaded park at MB's church. It was also gated and had equipment that was a little lower to the ground not to mention a bench for MB and I to sit on and rest-
After the park, we went to eat lunch at a cute cafe in downtown Bedford and then headed home for naps.
For some entertainment post-naps, we went out on their back porch and blew some bubbles-
We took some goodbye pictures before we left on Saturday-
Thank you, MaryBeth, for letting us invade your home for a few days. Thank you for all the help and for showing us around Bedford! We loved our trip and spending time with you, Billy and Chloe!! Love you!
