And We're Off!

Tuesday got a little crazy with everything that needed to be done. Craig took the car out to the house to meet the movers so Anna & I were in the hotel on our own. I made a bunch of phone calls (canceling car insurance, etc.) and it felt like the phone was ringing off the hook. All the while, Anna was yelling, "pee on toilet! pee on toilet!" (she still hasn't gone on the toilet but it's obvious she really wants to be potty trained—finally we can get serious about it once we arrive in Doha).

At about eleven when I realized I didn't pack a swim diaper for Anna, I decided we had better go on a walk to wear her out a bit so she would take a good nap. We walked about 15 minutes (Anna-speed; picking up acorns, pointing out "all the pine needles!", etc.) to lunch and the book store. Then we walked all the way back. Anna took an awesome nap. So awesome, that we had to wake her at 4 PM so we could go get the rental car.

Craig & Anna got the rental car and I drove the Mazda down to Carmax where we were 30 miles over our 1 week or 300 mile guaranteed offer we had with them so I had to wait for them to do another appraisal. Then it was to take another 45 mintues (after waiting in line for 10) to get the paperwork done. I sent Craig & Anna to dinner and I waited at Carmax. Finally, everything was finished, they came back to get me and then we drove back to the hotel in time for Anna to get into bed.

I had wanted to take Anna to hear some carolers tonight but didn't get to since we were stuck at Carmax. I also saw a display of really awesome lights that we just ran out of time to show her. I really regret that she didn't get to see it as I know she would have loved it. I know we'll be back in the States for Christmas again someday though so hopefully it will still be as amazing to her then as it is now.

We finally figured out the sleeping arrangements last night, too. I slept in the bed (with Gertie), Craig slept on the pull-out couch in the family room, and Anna slept in her crib in the second room (that was obviously a no-brainer since Sunday night).

Oh, and we had to make a last-minute decision yesterday when the movers called to say that not everything we had designated for our air shipment was going to fit (it fit weight-wise—we were 3 pounds under—but not cubic-feet-wise). We decided to put Anna's crib in the sea shipment which I hope was not a big mistake! Our thinking was this: she seems perfectly content in the pack & play. The air shipment comes in 2-3 weeks. The sea shipment comes in 6-8 weeks. She's moving to a toddler bed soon anyway. The toddler bed is in the sea shipment as well. I'm thinking we'll give her the option of moving straight to the toddler bed when the sea shipment arrives. She might just be ready, especially if she's potty trained already. We'll see how it goes!

This morning I am meeting the cleaning ladies at our house early and then we just have a couple of quick things to do before the van comes to get us at 1 PM. I may try to check in at the airport or during our layover, but it may not be until we are in Qatar that I check in again. Wish us luck!