Finally

I am home but the process was like pulling teeth from the mouth of hell. The fates were against me yesterday. Here's an abbreviated version of what went down:

-got on plane in Lubbock, no problems

-got to Dallas, one hour delay, no problem

-loaded plane, about to pull away from gate, pilot receives word that we have 2 hour delay

-two options, stay on plane, or get off plane but stay by gate

-obviously, get off plane. Baby+small space+teething=something akin to swallowing an ice cube whole.

-one hour later, board the plane for "early" departure.....but just end up taxi-ing for an hour

-five minutes from take off, pilot receives word, delayed 2 more hours....and we can't get off the plane because already left gate.

-1 1/2 hours later, get clearance to leave

-2 1/2 hours later get to NYC but don't land....circle Manhattan over, and over, and over again (for a little more than an hour)

-15 minutes before landing, guess who poops all over me.....I'll give you three guesses, talk amongst yourselves.......Side note: All day I was hyper sensitive to every grunt, toot, and red face. Of the 3 1/2 weeks I was at my parents house, P-ooper exploded from his diaper at LEAST 75 % of those days. I was scrubbing onsies clean and bathing Pete more than ever. I was checking his diaper every 5 minutes on this flight, and he only need two seconds to do the dirty deed...

-finally land a little after 9 pm (mind you, the original flight was supposed to land at 4:40), we landed

-get off plane and wait for stroller which was checked at the gate....waiting....waiting....oh what, there is no crew to unload gate checked items???? I can pick it up at baggage claim?

-I walk across JFK carrying Pete, carry-on, and diaper bag

-Sit and wait for baggage.

-2 hours later, enter hero, GK. He parked his car and came in to see what the hold up was. He's a take control kind of guy. And he waited through all this ridiculousness with me (Andy couldn't be there because of the MAN (ie work, I guess it could be a woman, depending on which manager he was working for that night) and gave me a ride home so I wouldn't have to fight for a cab or car. Its all part of the airport collective and I owe those guys (GK and Susanna) big! You guys are gold, pure gold!!!!!)

-a little after midnight, carousel starts up, and stroller and bag finally show.

-meanwhile I have been holding a "hungry hungry grumpy I want my daddy" little boy and there is no place for me to remove the "hungry hungry" from the equation and somewhat lessening the "grumpy" and not being able to do anything about the "I want my Daddy". Though, Andy did get home from work before we got home which is saying something because as a tax accountant, he doesn't see home before 11 or 12 most nights during this time of the year.

-drive home and be cheered by GK's happy disposition even though cirmcumstances make me want to shout profanities at the top of my lungs

-finally, make it home to Andy's furry face.....

I guess that wasn't so abbreviated. Deal with it, I did. So, it was a miserable experience, poop and all, but Pete was a gem through the whole thing. He had his down moments, but who wouldn't. All in all, I couldn't ask for a better boy. And in all reality, I would do it again in a heart beat if it meant being with Andy again. Usually an experience like that would sour my attitude for a few days, but once I saw Andy and he held and kissed me, well, it was all forgotten and I was happy again.

Now for your enjoyment, more P-ics from Lubbock. This little "ahoy sailor" outfit came after one of those dreaded P-oopy explosion episodes. The little seersucker striped shorts I made from a pair of capris that I cut into shorts for me and had enough to make some for him. Now we can be twinsies. Andy will love that.