My Trip to Mobile

This past week I traveled to the exotic and exciting Mobile, Alabama for the annual SEAHO Housing Conference. On the eve of the trip, Jeremy helped me pack by taking a suitcase, running into his room and frantically throwing in all of his trains. Then he said, "Ready to go Pop's House!" It was precious but sad, as I had to explain to him that not only was he not going to see Pop, but Mommy was leaving without him.But, leave I did. After an extremely long ride in a van with my work pals, we arrived in Mobile. We stayed in the Battle House Renaissance Hotel, which is a historic hotel in downtown Mobile. It was really pretty, and the bathroom was huge!The conference was pretty good. I attended a few beneficial programs and my own presentation was received well by my audience, which was once again a packed house. I don't know why I am the only one in 10 states who ever presents on apartment-style housing, but I guess if I keep it up I will be considered an expert. One of my old RAs, Holly, who now works at Valdosta, presented with me this time, so maybe she will take some of the pressure off. That's one of the things I love about conferences: the chance to see old friends. It was great to see Holly, and a big thanks to Alicia (another of my former RAs who has gone on to become an amazing housing pro) for the beautiful clothes for Violet! Look how full her closet is getting!Here are some photos of my roommates and I. Kristina and Amanda are Hall Directors on campus and they graciously put up with an exhausted pregnant lady for the entire trip. The strangely dressed girls are the Mobile Something Maids who are famous and depicted in the carpet design of the convention center. I hope I can one day be immortalized in carpet.We had to wear matching shirts for some parts of the conference since TN is hosting the conference next year. Unfortunately, when I replied with my t-shirt size a month ago I automatically put my regular size forgetting I would be 6 months pregnant when I got there. Oops. I had to beg for an extra large that still did not button over my belly, so looked crazy, but whatever.I especially enjoyed the food in Mobile. We went to two restaurants while we were there (the rest of the time we had conference food). First, we went to Wintzell's Oyster House and had yummy seafood, then Hopjack's, a pizza place where we had things like brie and bacon dip, pizza with filet mignon as a topping, and famous fries made in duck fat. It was amazing.I also learned that Mobile was the original location for Mardi Gras and they have a huge parade as well, but theirs is a bit more family-friendly than New Orleans. Mardi Gras began the day we left, so we got to see some fun prep as we got the heck out of there before the crowds descended.

And I for one was ready to get home. Brian had filled me in that Jeremy missed school on Friday with a 103 degree fever and a bad cough, and the thought that my baby was sick without his mommy broke my heart. Naturally, his daddy was more than enough comfort for him, but for MY health, I needed to hug my little man. Which is exactly what I did at midnight when I arrived home. That little sleepy smile and the drowsy, "It's Mommy!" made both of us feel better, I think. That and the impromptu trip to Target for a new train (Spencer!) and to finally set up a registry for Violet. Being a mom = getting way more satisfaction from providing for your kids than for yourself. I enjoyed being free from changing diapers, getting to sleep in, and not having milk spilled on my suit, but I have to say my weekend with my baby(s) was better than my whole trip to Mobile!

Final shout-out to Anderson who was undergoing eye surgery this weekend. We hope all went well! You are the toughest 1 year-old pirate I know!!