from south dakota to florida - a road trip story
Day 1
Hour 1 (somewhere outside Watertown, SD)
Spirits are high as we embark on our journey. We have known we would be moving since December, so it feels good to actually be doing it! I want to say the most stressful part is behind us, which is packing and cleaning the house in Stillwater. We’ll see what I’m feeling by Day 3 of driving with a toddler and a dog.
5 minutes later
Strike that, sprits are not high. Pippa is already screaming in the back seat. We’re praying the Sand Man comes soon and makes her nap.
I already want snacks.
Hour 6 (somewhere between Stillwater, MN and Milwaukee, WI)
About an hour ago we passed through Stillwater for the last time to pick up our canine family member, Pablo. It was strange and bittersweet to drive those highways and pass the familiar landmarks for the last time. Something so average takes on new significance when you know you won’t be seeing it again in the near future.
The goal for this road trip was to pack healthy foods and snacks to avoid fast food as much as possible. Today was kind of an exception, since we had the wedding rehearsal and the wedding itself the past 2 days, with no chance to shop for and prepare things like fruits and vegetables. We got away with some IsaLean shakes, IsaLean bars, and one fast food stop so far. We’re planning on making a late night stop at the grocery store for tomorrow’s meals!
I’ve been so thirsty and chugging water like crazy - slightly inconvenient in light of the almost full-term baby nestled up to my bladder.
Pippa is halfway through her Curious George movie for the second time already today.
Day 2
Hour 1 (Oak Creek, WI)
After a stop at Hotel Rasmussen (my parents’ house), we feel somewhat refreshed - at least showered. We even had the chance to pick up some fruits and veggies from the grocery story, make some PB&J sandwiches, and fill up our water bottles. We are stocked up for the open road! Devices are charged, Curious George and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse are downloaded, and we’re read for Day 2!
Pippa is in a fairly good mood, even considering the long day yesterday and lack of naps. She got to see Auntie Abby and Maggie (Abbys and May-May), so that helped!
It’s Father’s Day, so we thought we would treat ourselves to some Starbucks to kick off our 8.5 hour day of driving.
Hour 5 (Somewhere in Indiana, approaching Louisville)
We are somehow all still sane. Pippa finally fell asleep in the middle of eating her apple slices, and I even got a nap in while watching Bridesmaids. There was an incident with Pablo eating Pippa’s sucker, but I think she actually fed it to him in an effort to share? She didn’t seem too upset about it. Justin won’t stop singing the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song, so I just keep reminding myself it’s Father’s Day and I have to be nice. I really have to use the restroom (thanks Baby), but Pippa’s sleeping and I don’t want to wake her up.
Day 3
I’m not going to sugarcoat it, folks. Day 3 was tough. We had a wonderful overnight stay with some very hospitable and kind friends in Nashville, TN. We woke up refreshed and ready to hit the road.
However, by midday, temperatures were high, and tempers were short. The 2 year old was fed up with her carseat, and not even Curious George could coax her out of a screaming fit. The pregnant woman was uncomfortable and crabby. Justin spilled a bottle of water all over himself and the driver’s seat. It was a perfect storm of humidity, exhaustion, back aches, and dehydration. We all yelled a little bit. We all said things we didn’t mean. Pippa yelled for chicken a lot. I melted a fast food worker’s face off with my laser beam glare after she asked me if I was having twins. At one point there was a meltdown because we had to change Pippa’s diaper and buy some cold bottled water, but when we pulled into the gas station, we failed to notice the MegaBus in the parking lot. Needless to say, I wasn’t going to wait 10 minutes in line to get in the bathroom to change Pippa’s diaper, and I wasn’t going to wait 10 more minutes in line to buy bottled water. We thought we would try pulling over to the “grassy” area to let Pablo out and change her diaper, but instead of grass, there was mostly rusty cans and garbage. More regretful words were exchanged.
(This all seems hilarious in hindsight, and we now refer to that whole horrible hour as the Rusty Can Incident).
But we made it. We’re about 30 miles outside of our new city, and we’re all still alive and well. There are palm trees outside our window.
As good as it feels to have arrived in our new home, I would never wish moving across the country with a toddler while 9 months pregnant on my worst enemy. It’s...not fun.
A few days later
Currently we’re settling into our new home, counting our blessings, and still marveling that there are palm trees in front of Target, and that we’re 10 miles from the ocean. Change is good. Life is good. God is good.
