The Run Down

Here are some highlights from our two weeks stateside.

First stop: Music City. Nashville, TN, that is. We'd never been but had heard that it was a very friendly city. That is a wild understatement. The locals seemingly got the memo that we were hungry for some English-speaking interaction and stopped us at every possible moment to hear our tales or to just quickly blurt "beautiful baby!" while crossing our paths in an intersection. I was elated to show off my language skills to a baby who may rightly be quite skeptical that I should be relied on as her verbal guru, given the fact that I need my iPhone translator app just to make everyday drug store purchases. Since the last time I was in the states I may have inadvertently prompted the young woman working as a cashier at Whole Foods to hit the SOS button at her register as I giddily interjected myself into the conversation she was having with a co-worker, it was wonderful to be in a place where over-sharing with strangers was not tolerated but totally welcome.

Edie took to the car seat better than expected, though she resisted sleeping in it for many days. At one point, I caught her eyes closing, her security blanket begin to cover part of her face, only to have her dig deep, pull the blanket down and yell "BOO!" She'd never been a fan of peekaboo until it because a tool in her arsenal against rest.

The photo doesn't capture much Nashvillian, but I was very remiss in my photography during those first few harrowing days. And doesn't she look silly? A baby in a grown up hat, y'all!


Yes, Michigan! We spent one day in Ann Arbor, not taking in too many sights given the frigid temperatures. But we did go into the original Borders store and not-so-slyly get a photo with a UofM flag in the background.

Also during our trip, Herr Doktor turned 30. Family and friends joined us for a 5:00 pm pizza dinner to celebrate, and then Old Man River was gifted a night out on the town while I took babycakes home to sleep. He played Wii rockband, drank beer, and did not miss us very much during those all too brief hours.

We wish we could have seen all of you during this trip, though we were fortunate to see as many as we did. Love to all!