Carrie's and Vivian's Visit

Monday, July 28th, Carrie flew up from southern California with Vivian to visit through Friday evening, August 1st. It was a first plane flight for nearly four-month-old Vivian. Frank and I had just returned from Seattle on the previous Saturday and we had a flurry of activity bringing out the baby paraphernalia, restocking the fridge, and cleaning (just a bit) in preparation.

You don't say! Really?

Frank and I were amazed at the changes in Vivian just during short time that had passed since her mid-June visit at ten weeks old. She holds eye contact longer, she smiles more consistently, she laughs, she grasps items, and she is beginning to babble. While she was here, Viv worked real, real hard and came so, so close to turning over from back to front but her left arm kept getting in the way! She finally mastered the roll the day she returned home. Frank and I did not see it in person but Carrie sent us a video of the accomplishment.

Vivian smiles now so much more than just a few weeks ago when we last saw her.

We had an outing and a visit every day Carrie and Vivian were here:
      Monday – airport arrival

      Tuesday – Toys R Us, San Francisco dinner, BART station, Becky visit
      Wednesday – library, mall, Ayn visit, tree #9 visit downtown
      Thursday –  outlet mall, Vickie visit
      Friday – Carrie run, Ted visit, Joann's, Alex visit, airport

Per Carrie, the Monday trip with Vivian went smoothly and Vivian was real good. She was much better behaved than the adult seat and armrest hog Carrie had to sit next to on the flight. We've all been there. At least it was a relative short flight, about and hour and twenty minutes. The baggage handlers damaged the stroller Carrie had gate checked, so we had to stop and file a claim at the luggage desk. It was cracked pretty badly at the handle. It could still be pushed but turning was dicey without holding it just so. Vivian was oblivious to it all and had smiles for Frank and me.

Tuesday morning Vivian tried out her new travel-friendly, inflatable bathtub. She had to get all gussied up because in the afternoon she was going in to the big city of San Francisco with her mom to have dinner with Carrie's friend Becky. I did not want Vivian and Carrie to go with a damaged stroller, so before I dropped them off at the Bart station to take the train into the city, we stopped by Toys R Us and bought a replacement stroller. We took it out of the box right at the front desk and assembled it there. Once on the train Carrie realized we'd left out a critical piece that held the car seat secured to the stroller. She could turn and go straight now, as long as she held on the car seat at the same time with her other hand. Oh, well. We tried. Once back home from San Francisco the missing piece was snapped in place and all was well. Carrie wrote a letter to the airline and hopefully there will be some compensation.

Have bath tub, will travel.

On Wednesday we stayed home in the morning because some service people were coming to measure for plantation shutters in our master bedroom. After lunch I had a meeting at the Livermore Library for a group of knitters/crocheter who are fashioning sweaters to decorate trees in downtown Livermore in celebration of fall and the arts. Once I get into that, I will post about it in my quilting blog. Carrie and Vivian hung out in the reading room of the library and Vivian nursed while I was at my meeting. After that, we left for our nearby Stoneridge Mall because I had a one-day-only coupon for 40% off at Gymboree. We bought some outfits there, and walked around just a bit, returning home before Vivian would want to eat again.

Vivian looks adorable in her sailor dress and
got lots of complements when we went out.

Later in the day Wednesday our neighbor Ayn came over and met Vivian for the first time. The weather was beautiful and we sat out on our back deck. Afterward we took an evening stroll in downtown Livermore so I could visit my tree and take measurements on it. Viv took it all in from the comfort of her stroller – now with all parts intact!

Our neighbor Ayn relished the opportunity to hold a baby
and Vivian obliged her willingly.

Length – 70 inches minus 24 inch hem height from ground
Diameter just below top , middle, hem  – 32.5 inches, 29 inches, 30 inches
Hmm... a figure like Twiggy. 

A sweater for a tree? Seriously, Grandma?

Thursday we went to the outlet mall in Livermore, Gymboree again. We got an early start to beat the heat and be sure of a parking spot. Carrie and I – and Vivian, of course – had a snack in Starbucks. Carrie and I had a wee sampling of chocolate at Ghiradelli's but nothing for Vivian there. Carrie bought a replacement pair of New Balance running shoes and I bought a Clark's handbag.

Vickie visited Thursday afternoon. She commented on the interaction between mother and baby as she watched Carrie put her face real close to Vivian's, look directly in her eyes, grin widely, and respond when Vivian reacted and smiled back. Vickie admired how much love was communicated and how the baby just seemed to soak it in and was made to feel so special. Vickie remarked that not all babies are so lucky, and it was so heart-warming to observe that exchange of mutual affection.

Vickie Visits Vivian... has a nice alliterative ring to it, don't you think?

Say "Hello there, Miss Vickie..."

Friday was Carrie and Vivian's last day here. They did not have to leave until an evening flight but the five days had whizzed by so quickly. Carrie had not even gone out to an exercise class or a run so Frank and I watched Vivian while she broke in her new running shoes. The weather was hot, Hot, HOT and she was gone almost an hour. Frank and I thought of calling her cell to see if she was OK and needed rescuing via car, but we did not want to alarm her into thinking Vivian was inconsolably upset with her gone. Vivian fussed just a bit, refusing to give in to a nap, but Frank was more successful than I in soothing her. She did drop off to sleep just before Carrie returned. Carrie came back from an almost four-mile run so flushed and sweaty that Frank and I were concerned. But it was nothing that a shower couldn't fix. Vivian continued to nap through Carrie's shower, but just barely. Those scant 30 minute cat naps of hers go by quickly!

Vivian's thinking... "I am tired, Mommy went for a run. I will not sleep. I WILL NOT sleep!"

Vivian is determined...
"Grandpa may walk me all around this darkened room, my eyelids are heavy,
 but I WILL NOT go to sleep."

Frank succeeded in soothing Vivian and settling her
so she could sleep in my arms briefly while Carrie was running.

Later in the afternoon Friday we all took a ride over to see our friend Ted since he, too, had missed meeting Vivian during her June visit. We talked a bit outside in the garden area, in the shade of course (because it was so hot). We set off from there for a short ride to the local JoAnn's Fabric store because they were reputed to have a sample of tree sweaters on two of the trees in front of the store. We drove by the trees (giving our critique and absorbing some ideas), picked up an iced coffee for Carrie at Starbucks, and drove home for a light mid-afternoon meal before it was time to depart for the airport.

Vivian visits Ted out in his garden.

It was not a trivial task, but as a team Frank and I deflated the inflatable travel bath tub. Its leak proof valves work much better for inflating than deflating. Carrie packed while Frank and I used our four hands for the tub flattening. We left a bit early for the airport because on the way we were going to visit Alex and take him along on the ride with his niece. Vivian slept on the way and Alex relaxed beside her.

Vivian is a planner like her mom.
She figured if she slept in the car then she could be awake for the whole plane flight!

There was not a lot of interaction between Alex and Vivian
but at least they were on the same wavelength when it came to slumber.

Alex switched to shotgun with Frank and they waited in the cell phone lot while I went into the terminal,
ostensibly to help Carrie but more honestly to maximize granddaughter time.

We said our final goodbyes then Carrie and VIvian passed through security.
Vivian had one more feeding at the gate before the plane flight home to see her Daddy.

Carrie was really good about sending us text updates when she and Vivian were at the gate and ready to board and when they had landed safely in Orange County. It was a great visit and we are so pleased that Carrie made the effort, especially with all the preparations it entailed, to come! The next time we will see them, other than Skype, will be at Vivian's christening in October.