Pre-flight Checklist

I am overwhelmed by everything that has to happen today, everything that has happened in the last few weeks building up to today, the anxiety of the upcoming 24 hours of travel with a mobile 10 month old who hates confinement, and the indefinite amount of time between now and the next time I will be in the States (let alone at my home on Oregon or in the homes I grew up in in Michigan).

Today is the beginning of something huge. And I'm terrified. I wish my marriage felt stronger so I could lean harder on that. I wish I wasn't a hormonal mess because of the weaning so I could trust myself more. I wish I felt stronger and more confident in my ability to be a full-time mommy in an unknown world.

All I can do is get through one task at a time today, and hope that once the transfer is over and we get settled in Brisbane that things will feel better.

So, here I sit in the laundromat, getting all the clothes washed. We were out of clean clothes anyway, but also needed to be sure we avoided customs hassles - all those baby clothes covered in food and dirt would be a problem in Australia! When this is done, back to the hotel to pack and double-check shopping lists. We can't take food into Aus, but there's still 24 hrs of travel when we'll need snacks, and the supply of things like diapers and wipes needs to be evaluated.

Then check out of hotel, drive around the Bay getting paperwork notarized, shopping done (including some work-related stuff for Dylan), then off to the airport.

One thing at a time.