We went to Branson this past weekend for a annual meeting, at The Chateau on the Lake, that Cullum Seeds organizes for some of our soybean producers. I get to go because I am the event planner and meeting coordinator, and my parents get to go because my dad is one of the program participants, so it works out well!
Last year at the meeting we knew I was pregnant, we had actually just found out a couple of days before we left. At that time no one knew but us, and it was really really hard to be around my mom so much and to hide it from her! The whole time last year I kept thinking about what it would be like bringing a baby along. . . . it was different than what I envisioned, but that had a lot to do with the fact that I thought I would have a 3-4 month old and not a 5 month old! Stratton was really good, almost surprisingly so. We put the pack and play up for him to sleep in and he slept through the night every night we were there! The packing was what was most unexpected! Who knew a little baby would need his own suitcase! But we had to bring just about all his clothes, you can't anticipate what is going to be happening, and what if he has one of those "4 outfit" kind of days, every day?! I had to be prepared for anything!! So we had a total of three suitcases, a large plastic tub of meeting materials, the stroller, the pack'n'play, the bouncy seat and a few odds and ends bags. . .the back of my vehicle was PACKED!
Stratton did great on the ride down there. We (Stratton and I) left about 2pm and headed to Hardy to pickup Jarrod, they are working in that area right now. That was about an hour or so drive and Stratton slept the whole way. At the Entergy office at Hardy I got him out and changed him. Then we hit the road and ended up stopping for gas less than 15 minutes later and had to get Stratton out and feed him. From then on he slept till about 15 miles outside of Branson! It wasn't a bad trip at all! And the trip home was even better he slept almost the entire way, we even stopped a couple of times and he didn't wake up!
We got there late Wednesday night and left Sunday morning, so we had a nice little getaway! The meeting went well, no hiccups this year! It was a little chilly for the first couple of days and it was rainy on Saturday, but it wasn't unbearable. We couldn't have ask Stratton to have been any better and it was great having my parents around to give us an extra hand!
[In front of a tree at the Chateau]
Thursday night after the meeting we went to see the comedian, Paul Harris. Stratton did pretty good, he was a little over stimulated I think! He just stared at the stage with the biggest eyes! There was a lot going on! About half way through he got fussy and my mom took him and walked with him for a little while till he fell asleep.
[Stratton went to his first show!]
Friday afternoon Jarrod and I went shopping at the outlet mall while my mom stayed in and watched Stratton. Then later that night we had dinner with Jarrod's sister and her husband, they just happened to be in town on a little getaway, too! We ate at the White River Outpost, at Branson Landing, which is one of our favorites. The best part is dessert! As you can see from the picture below Stratton really wanted some too! He just kept staring at Jennifer's cobbler with the saddest, most pathetic look on his little face!
Saturday we went to Springfield to the Bass Pro Shop, where Stratton took home a cute little stuffed bear that was completely slobber covered by the time we left and his first camo cap! After shopping and lunch we left BPS we went to visit my Uncle David and Aunt Paula who live in Springfield, they hadn't gotten a chance to meet Stratton yet! We had a nice visit and dinner with them before heading back and we ran by Branson Landing. Long story. . .but we shopped a little at the Landing and Stratton got to see Santa at the Bass Pro Shop at the Landing! Whew! What a long day!
[At BPS, Jarrod was parking the car, it was pouring rain!]
[Stratton loved his new bear and hat]
[shopping at the Landing]
We got up Sunday morning and grabbed breakfast and got on the road. We got home about 3:45pm and got the car unloaded, fed the baby and then off to church at 5pm! It was a busy weekend, but so much fun! It went by way too fast! I can't wait till next year, I am sure we will have a busy little boy running around by then and will probably have to go to Silver Dollar City!