E is traveling, so I have been a single mom for 13 days. Not that I'm counting. Seriously, how do people do this? Raise children on their own, not for 13 days bu for weeks and months and years? It is all I can do to make sure we are both fed, dressed in clean clothes, and achieving basic levels of hygiene. I barely have time to take out the trash, let alone hold down a job.

To break up the two and a half weeks E's away, baby and I went out to my parents' house in Maryland. The week before the trip, I agonized over whether or not to go. It would be so great to get out of the apartment, and have someone else to hold the baby while I shower, etc., but I worried how well he would sleep.

Also, in addition to three bags (for two nights!), I had to take the swing. Technically, I guess I didn't have to take the swing, but since it's the only place he will nap during the day, it was in my best interest.

Getting ready to go: Pack bags. Fold swing. Put baby in Bjorn. Take swing, and baby, down to lobby and leave it there (swing, not baby). Come back up, take baby out of Bjorn, put him into car seat. Put car seat into stroller. Gather bags. Take bags and stroller out to car. Load car. Drive around front and park. Run inside and get swing. Curse while trying to cram swing into hatchback. Finally remember to fold down seat. Slide swing in. Shut hatchback, get in and drive away.

But once we got going, the weekend went better than I could have hoped, and interestingly, the effects have been lasting. Our baby has always been pretty fussy, crying a lot between meals and not napping very much. But since we got back he's been doing what everyone always told me he would do: eat, sleep, eat, sleep. I guess a little time away was just what he needed.

It was nice to be back home though. We watched the snow/sleet storm from our windows.

P.S. He took a 3-hour nap in the swing. It was worth it.