DSAMT Family Picnic 2011

Today was the rain date for the DSAMT Picnic that was supposed to happen earlier in the summer. Keith went canoeing and E and I headed up to the park in Nashville. Etta and I got up there at about 11:00 and I made the poor kid walk PAST the playground to the area where all of our friends were set up on their blankets. She was NOT happy about this and I decided that maybe if I let her play for a while, then MAYBE she would sit for a while so I could visit/eat. So, we headed over to the playground, but I made her stay in the play area meant for younger kids.

Etta is patiently waiting for Delaney to go back down the slide.

She did ok with this for a while, but then she started to want to wander/do her own thing. First, it was the swings that captured her attention, but before I could grab her she got knocked down by a swing. She was fine and didn't cry about this, but all of the swings were full, so this was when the first tantrum happened. She wanted to be on a swing and I wanted her away from the swings (so she wouldn't get smacked in the head again). Then, she wandered over to where the bigger play equipment was and I was SO NOT going to climb up in that thing to make sure she was safe. So, tantrum #2 happened. By now we were both hot and sweaty and she was refusing to drink and I needed to go find something to drink. I was able to redirect her back to the play structure meant for younger kids, but after she came down a slide, I realized that her skirt was wet. Great, a diaper leak!

Leading her away from the playground toward the car triggered tantrum #3, a meltdown of gigantic proportions! I literaly carried her under my arm kicking and screaming. We got to the car and I wrangled her out of her wet skirt and strapped that new diaper on her and now my poor kid was naked from the waist down. I almost just left at this point, and I probably should have, but I was feeling a little masochistic apparently. And really, I had not had a chance to visit with any of the other families yet. So, I pulled the stroller out of the back and strapped her naked ass in and gave her a cup of goldfish and the ipod and we went over to stand in the food line (which, I'm not sure what the deal was there, but it was a really long line that moved really slow). I finally fixed my plate and one of the other moms ran over to help me as I juggled my plate and drink and Etta's stroller in the grass (Thanks Dallis!). I finally sat down over on Amy's blanket  with some of our other friends (thanks for sharing your blanket, Amy!) and I ate and listened to Etta randomly fussing. She was hot and tired and hungry (but refusing to eat) and thirsty (but refusing to drink) and she wanted out of her stroller to play some more. So, I ate my food and we left.

Except, I REALLY needed to pee (you know, cause pregnant people pee a lot) and the only bathroom was a port-a-potty right by our car. Another mom, Amanda, was awesome and she helped me to the car and hung out with Etta while I went to the potty (thanks again, Amanda!). Then, we blasted the a/c all the way home!

We got home at about 1:15 and I was EXHAUSTED! I changed Etta's dirty clothes and I changed out of my sweaty clothes and I put E down for a nap. She ran around her room for an hour, of course, but she eventually passed out on the floor. Once I confirmed she was asleep, I also passed out!

I woke up when Keith got back home and I told him all about how awful my morning was and how I really should have just skipped the event since he didn't go with me. Etta woke up from her nap hungry and willing to eat (YAY!). I fed her a pb&j and some other snacks and then helped Keith prep some okra for the Fry Daddy. Etta's running around in a GREAT mood now. Happy to have a full belly and be in the air conditioning.

I really do love when our DS families get together. I love visiting with my friends and meeting new families, but this was the first big event that Keith wasn't there to help watch Etta and I didn't get a chance to visit with anyone really. I thought I would be able to handle it, which is why I told him to go out to the river, but I obviously didn't handle it very well, or at all. lol. We've had a talk about it and he promises to go with me from now on (or I just won't go). ;)