Day 1

You know that nervousness of uncertainty you get when you have a new car, and you're just waiting for that first scratch to happen? Or you have to speak in front of a crowd, and you just want to get the the first few lines out of the way? Once the scratch happens, or the first few words are spoken, you can relax, because they're done. Well, that's what today was. We were worried about what to expect with all three boys in the car for the majority of daylight hours. We have the entire baby spectrum covered and thought we knew who would act up. Behind door # 1, Oliver. Brand new. Cries to communicate. Doesn't smile. Doesn't do anything, really. Door #2: Henry. 20 months old. Can speak minimally using adult language with emphasis on the words NO!, Owwwwww, Please, Woah!, Angus, Mummy, and Baby. Smiles, but also likes to throw things. Anything. And finally, door #3: Angus. 3 1/2. Walking that delicate tightrope between baby and boyhood. Can speak remarkably well, but for some reason has selective listening (i.e. When it suits him). Who can guess the winner? Did you say Door #2 as the wild child? You win (nothing)!! Truth be told, all boys did tremendously well, considering. It was only the last 90 minutes that Henry started to melt. By that time, we'd been on the road almost 8 hours, there had been no playtime, he'd watched 2 movies, and had pretty much had it. We tried to sing (Noooooooooooo!), tried to feed him ("Yes please! Nooooooooooooo!" followed by said food item being launched within the confines of the van), and tried ignoring him (Mummmmeeeeeeee!!! Mummmeeeeeeeee!! Mummaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy!!)

We stopped driving in Bangor (what is the correct pronounciation? "Bang-OR", "Bang'er"?), and checked in at the lovely Hilton Garden Inn. The service has been amazing, so if you're ever here, you should stay at the HGI. Ryan was trying to get the 2 older boys to sleep, and Oliver was crying, so I put him (Oliver, not Ryan) in the carrier and walked down to reception where they got me a lovely glass of wine, and proceeded to walk around the inn (wine in hand, baby in carrier), with nary a sideways glance from anyone. In fact, one older gentleman looked at me knowingly, smiled, nodded and said, "I remember when my three were babies..." I like Maine.

Current sleeping arrangements: Me, Oliver, Ryan: Bed #1, Angus: pull-out couch, Henry: playpen with towels as bedding (can you say 'middle-child syndrome'?).

Well, in the wise old words of Mel Blanc and (fittingly) Looney Tunes, "Th-th-th-that's all folks!" Good night.

TODAY'S GRADE: B+