Our Mini Adventure

I have embarked on a mini adventure this weekend with the girls. Since it is a three day weekend, the girls and I have traveled up north about four hours to Fresno, CA where my mother and her husband live. My husband was not able to come, so this is where the adventure part sets in. Since having Stella, I have been conquering my fears of going out with TWO children, one step at a time. The first trip to Target, or the grocery store, or a friend's home. There was even a doctor's visit somewhere in there. Each outing with just myself and the girls has helped me become a little more comfortable with handling them alone. However, being that Stella is only about one month old, I was afraid of this "road trip" this weekend. It would be me and two little ones trekking up north in the heat, and you know that everything cannot go perfectly. Could I do it? Would they both potty in their pants at the same time and decorate their car seats with poopies??? And then how would I clean them while watching them both? How do I go to the bathroom? Maybe I should not drink any liquid for five hours and try to avoid having to stop and have a family trip to the potty. Was I prepared that they might both start crying at the same time and not stop for hours? And then of course there would be the inevitable stop to feed little Stella. What would Gracie do? Knowing her she would probably run off and I would have to leave our stuff and chase after her while feeding my newborn. In which case someone would most likely steal our stuff while I was trying to run down my screaming preschooler. You can see where my imagination ran wild....
Alas, things went rather smoothly on the trip up here. We did have to stop to feed Stella, and Gracie sat quietly and ate her yogurt parfait just like the little sweetheart that she is capable of being:) We all made a trip to the potty without incident (I convinced Gracie that while I was using the restroom, it was crucially important for her to watch her sister and make sure she did not jump out of her carrier and run away; she was the best "watchdog" ever!). Both diapers were changed and we were out the door and on the road. They both slept, I listened to some Frank Sinatra and drank my grande coffee, and in no time we were at my mother's door. And, for now, the fear has subsided and I feel a little more brave about what I can accomplish as a mom of two. That being said, it is so apparent that I depend on my husband, and that he really does a lot for us. Not having him on this trip has created in me a whole new appreciation for all that he does!
So far this visit has been nice, and I have to say that I am not scared about the road trip home. I feel as though I have "grown up" a little more as a mommy. I wonder what challenge I will take on next...