In which I act like a rookie

Just because I feel the need to demand acknowledgment from whoever can give it, I just spent the last couple of hours updating the Blathering attendee page. Would you like to know why? WE SOLD OUT, SUCKAS! We have a bunch of new attendees, plus everyone decided to fill out their attendee surveys, like, yesterday, so I had some work to do. Now my eyes are crossed. 

Whenever I tell real life people about the Blathering they're sort of speechless. For various reasons. Some people can't believe that I'm going to meet people I only know from the internet (although, to be honest, I've been doing this a while now and most of my real life people have accepted this strangeness.) But other people just can't believe so many of us can just go away for a weekend! Like it's no big thing! 

Well, in my own case, it's a HUGE thing. When Phillip goes on a business trip he doesn't have to worry about childcare or what we'll eat or how we'll get to all our scheduled events or if we'll REMEMBER our scheduled events or (ESPECIALLY OR) if I will go particularly out of my mind during his absence. It's just what I DO, right? I will be away Wednesday through Sunday and I've been planning childcare and the drop off pick up schedule since, oh, MAY. I'm worried about Phillip going out of his mind and I am really counting on the various grandparents to spell him if necessary. I believe my mom has an overnight already scheduled. 

SPEAKING OF OVERNIGHTS OMG HOW COULD I FORGET TO TELL YOU THIS? Emma is going to stay overnight with my parents this weekend. No big deal, right? BUT IT'S TWO NIGHTS. Two nights! I am... irrationally nail bitey!

Jack's first overnight was at seven months. Molly's was... maybe even earlier? No wait, hers was later I'm sure, due to the fact that she was overly attached to me and surly with everyone else. And yeah, the first time was always anxious-making, but mostly I think I'm pretty good at shipping my children off. I don't fret, I don't really care how things are done, I expect everything to be different at Grandma's house, whatever. 

We haven't had EJ stay overnight because, for starters, she was swaddled until she was over nine months old and my mother is completely baffled (and offended, if you really must know) by swaddling. And since that was the only way to get EJ to sleep, there was no hope for a sleepover. But now my issues are more about the fact that she still wakes up once a night and we still feed her a bottle (I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW) and that is a huge drag for someone who is not her mom or dad (well, it's a drag for her mom and dad, quite frankly.) BUT ALSO. She is just super attached to Phillip and me. I don't know if I've written about this very much, but I feel WAY more bonded to EJ at this age (really, from BIRTH) than I did with the other two. I don't know why. I think she's a very expressive and communicative baby, at least with me, and I am JUST as worried about missing her as I am about her missing me. 

WHO AM I?!?!?!

We have friends coming into town and staying with us, Labor Day weekend is our annual weekend with good friends (ie: Intensive and Intentional Couples Therapy Which is Nine Thousand Times More Awesome Than It Sounds) and it will just be EASIER without Emma. All the other kids will be with grandparents. I've planned to send Jack and Molly off since forever. But when I was talking to my mom the other day she assumed EJ was going too and then I suddenly had the OPTION!

Phillip Cheung: Um, yes, let's send her to your parents', are you kidding? 

Me: WAAAHHHH!

I feel RIDICULOUS. I've been SUPER OKAY leaving my kids. But I'm seriously feeling like EJ is my one and only and I've never done this before and what if she MISSES ME? 

Okay, maybe a large part of my CRAZY is because it's two nights. Two nights is a big deal for a baby who doesn't sleep through the night and loves snuggling with her mommy. (It is also a big deal for the mommy.) But that's just the way it is this weekend and it WILL be so much NICER and EASIER for us if we don't have any kids at all. We'll be free to focus on the things we want to focus on with our friends, and have the flexibility to go out and do whatever whenever. 

I feel like I'm leaving her at home and flying to Palm Springs all over again. 

And I think she will be fine! Honestly! She loves my parents and my mom is great and swears up and down she doesn't mind getting up at three in the morning and Jack and Molly, Emma's favorite people on the planet, will be right there too. I AM BEING A HUGE DORK. 

I am being a huge dork. I am being a huge dork. I am being a huge dork. 

Okay, so I owe you 1) a princess party post and 2) a picture of my almost-kindergartener wearing his brand new backpack because OMG I DIE. I ordered it online, it arrived today, it was met with a Barely Contained Expression of Glee, and it was worn all during quiet time AND packed with all the quiet time essentials. I cannot wait for him to pack it for real and take it to school on his first day. 

Comments

[Jennie]

I just love you, my friend, for this entire post. (I do hope you have a great, fantastic weekend with friends and maybe a little extra rest...)

xo

[Hillary]

I love seeing what my boys squirrel away in their backpacks, which, of course, are just toys for them because they're so young. But they're so serious about packing them up and taking their most precious treasures.

[Carrie]

You will miss her but you will be fine! I promise!

My MIL showed up to take care of the kids (I'm on a press trip right now) and then gave me $ for the kids for back to school. She is watching my kids for free, and gave me money. Grandparents rule!

[Sonya aka Glam-O-Mommy]

On vacation in Canada right now and am bummed to hear The Blathering sold out! I was going to look at buying tickets when I got home in a few days. :(

[Erica]

Auuuurrrggggh Google unfollowed you for me now I have to figure out how much I missed. I am not organized enough for this, Google! Hell.

[HereWeGoAJen]

I still have barely sent Elizabeth away for overnights. Basically just the Blathering. So I am right there with you.

[Crystal]

My kids have never been away from either of us for even one night. My oldest is five. I envy you...:)