Suzy Q Homemaker

In all honesty, I was a nervous wreck about this trip to Louisville.  Who wouldn’t be afraid to take a four-month-old on a nine-hour bus trip?  I was concerned about how we would handle crying, diaper changes, and sleeping.  The feeding I wasn’t concerned about because I didn’t have to pack anything special for nursing.

Here’s what I packed for Timothy:

• cloth diapers and diapering essentials for three days and then some
• clothing for warm & cool weather
• the pouch sling & the didymos wrap
• teething tablets
• toys
• car seat for bus napping

The best part about being on a bus was being able to hold Timothy when he needed to be held.  He wasn’t confined to the car seat for hours on end, so I didn’t have to do any fancy car seat nursing or ask to stop when diapers needed to be changed.  The motion of the bus also helped soothe him to sleep whenever nap time was in order.  Timothy rarely fussed and never cried while we were on the road.  It was GLORIOUS.

While we toured Louisville, I kept the didymos tied on so that I could easily slip Timothy in when we were walking around and then take him out when we were on the bus again.  How about some action shots!

Obviously, I didn’t take these pictures.  My friend Mary Ann did!  In the picture right above, I was actually putting Timothy in the wrap while we were walking to the Ohio River.  I became very adept at adjusting while walking, a skill much needed in a group of people with a touring goal.  There was no time for strollers or buckles!

I was asked constantly while we were on this trip how Timothy slept at night.  The truth was that he slept just as well as any other night.  Since we co-sleep, there really was no change in his sleeping routine.  All I had to do was lie down with him in our bed, nurse him, and voila!  If he woke during the night, it was only to nurse some more and then go back to sleep.  This is exactly how it goes at home and what I expected to happen while we were in Louisville.  I made sure to get a single room with a queen-sized bed so we wouldn’t be bothered by (or be bothering) other people.  Not that Timothy was fussy or cried at night, but still.

In the mornings, I had to make sure to wake earlier than I expected Timothy to in order to squeeze in a shower and get dressed.  I was quite proud of myself for being able to do this.  I thought for sure I’d have to pawn him off on someone so I could put my pants on!  Cause you know, on any normal day, Timothy and I usually wake about the same time and I can’t get a shower until at least after lunch.

Our only trouble with Timothy was when I had to be away during rehearsals and performances.  He screamed and screamed.  It was heartbreaking and I hated that we had to be separated for those short amounts of time.  I’m grateful for a good friend who was there to hold him while he cried.  I need to think of a way to thank her.  Is there a Hallmark card that says, “Thanks for holding my screaming infant?”

I wish we could have extended our trip to Louisville so that we had been able to sleep more and enjoy our sight-seeing with leisure.  Despite the lack of sleep and emotionally exhausting people-meeting, our concert was a huge success.  I’ve never sung in a space that large AND reverberant.  It was gorgeous.  Christ Church’s new Létourneau organ was everything I expected and more.  I don’t claim to be an organ expert, but not only is it beautiful to look at, the range of this instrument is amazing.

Dan Stokes, the director of music ministries at Christ Church is an energetic, enthusiastic, and downright adorable conductor.  I enjoyed working with him in the short time that we had.  I felt like I knew him from somewhere, but I think it was just the twinkle in his eye that made him so approachable and fun.  The eccentricity that he has of winking before cuing entrances makes you feel like you’re in on a major musical secret, the likes of which can only be shared between fellow musicians.

The guest organist Andrew Risinger played well, and as an aside, my choir director, Mr. Risinger, and a member of the Christ Church choir all studied under the same organ professor.   Of course, this concert wasn’t planned around that little nugget of info, but it was a neat thread that tied the whole thing together.

I was proud to be a part of Christ Church’s Inaugural Concert.  It marked the beginning of what looks to be an exciting new concert series in Louisville, KY.  Our church has a similar series called “Concerts with a Cause” to support our Dobson organ.  I have a feeling Christ Church is going to enjoy great success with their Sanctuary Series.  Not only will the community luxuriate in the music of a beautiful instrument in a fantastic space, but through these things, they will be treated to musical events that will make any person feel like they have experienced something of another world.

Read more about the new organ and sanctuary of Christ Church here.

I’ll be in Louisville, KY this weekend on a choir trip, so Jamie will be home with the three older boys.  They always fare well while I’m gone.  I hope that trend continues.  I doubt I’ll be able to blog while I’m there, but I’ll be sure to tweet my adventures.

In the mean time, check out the new giveaway on the shopping blog and I’ll be back Monday with a post all about my trip.  Have a relaxing weekend!

If you live in the Louisville, KY area and are looking for something to do this weekend, consider attending the Sanctuary Series Inaugural Concert at Christ Church United Methodist on Sunday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m.  My church choir, St. John United Methodist (look at the picture of our choir with Jimmy Carter–that’s me in the front row with baby Simon), is traveling this weekend to sing with the Christ Church Chancel Choir (take a look at their organ–it’s beautiful).

It’ll be my first time in Louisville!  We’ll arrive Friday night, tour Churchill Downs on Saturday, and the concert is Sunday. See more concert details here.  We are also going to sing during the service Sunday morning.  I just might have a solo to bless everyone with…

I hope to see you there!

If you do miss this concert or don’t live in the Louisville area, this concert will be rebroadcast on WUOL 90.5.  I’ll be sure to post the link when it’s live!