The GA Guinn Trips

So today we embarked on a new time in the girls’ life: extended individual time. Daddy decided to take Issy to the beach by herself! She is going to be gone away from Momma, Nana, and her sisters for 9 WHOLE DAYS! She has been away from me or Nana for extended times, but if I was gone Nana was there and vice-a-versa. The girls have NEVER been apart for more than a day or so.

We have been talking to her about it for weeks. Letting her know that she is going with Daddy to the beach. She is gonna see Grandma and Grandpa Guinn. She is going to go swimming and play in the sand.

She seemed to be really excited! I was really excited, because this individual time is something that I feel that the girls (especially Issy) needs and craves. I often say she is a singleton trapped in the family of triplets! So this morning at 4:30 in the morning, I loaded her and Frank into the truck and they headed to the beach.

She apparently napped for a grand total of 20 minutes on the way down (which I knew, but her daddy did not believe me!). She had a meltdown in the truck in the last hour, but it was because Daddy did not realize that she needs to eat before 12:30!

Issy seems to be having a BLAST! I called about 20 times today! And I am relieved that she is doing so well.

Makenna and Alyssa, however, are not doing as well! Alyssa broke down in tears when I let her talk to Issy on the phone. Makenna woke up asking for Issy. It’s like they can't find her and they DON'T like it!

Yet, we did some fun things today to help them. I went to the CPOMC consignment sale and bought the girls so dress up cloths, a kitchen for their playhouse, 2 twin mattresses and box springs (Best buy for $65 dollars per set!), and a CASTLE! Well, once I got it home, Nana realized that the girls needed a Barbie to go with their castle. So we headed off to Toys R Us. There we got the girls each a princess Barbie (Alyssa got Sleeping Beauty, Makenna got Cinderella, and Issy got Snow White (although she doesn't know it yet)).

We also tried out carseats. I am SO torn on this. I am wavering between the Britax Frontier and the Graco Nautilus.

Pros and Cons

Frontier:

Pros

Higher height and weight limit in the 5 point harness (80 lbs and 53 inches). I don't think weight will be an issue, but height will be!

Wider seat and longer crotch strap.

Cons:

PRICE- When you are talking 3 carseats at $279 a pop that’s a TON of money!

I don't think the arm rests look comfortable

Nautilus.

Pros:

Cup holder

Love the pattern

Looks more comfortable

Price

Cons:

Height and Weight: Only 65 lbs in harness and height is below the Frontier

It has the odd cutouts on the armrests, which I know I'll be cleaning crap out of all the time!

It is narrower in the seat section.

I just can't DECIDE! I don't want to do like I did with the girls’ seats NOW! I bought the roundabouts, because they were cheaper (although the safest rear facing of all the britax), but if I had just went ahead and paid the extra money then and got the marathon or decathlon. Then I wouldn't have to be buying the seat now and could probably have gotten them to the point of just needing a booster at the end.

Oh well live and learn!