When we found out I was pregnant this spring, we knew that we would need to get a new (automatic transmission) vehicle. I likely had this realization before Derek, because boy does he love a manual transmission. He bought the CRV last year before we were engaged, so while I accompanied him to buy the car, I did not have too much of a say regarding whether it would be a manual or automatic. I "learned" how to drive the CRV in the most basic way, but after a few months of stressful solo excursions in our hilly neighbhorhood, I gave up.
When we found out we are having twins, we quickly realized that a vehicle with a single backseat would not cut it. We briefly discussed a car with 3rd row seating (i.e., a Pilot), but picturing my 60-something year old mom climbing into the last row seat made this not seem like a very good option. So that leaves one route to go: the mini van!
We ended up buying a 2006 Honda Odyssey two weeks ago. In many ways, I felt like taking this step propelled us forward about 10 years in our lives, but then I realized that I am already 34 years old :) Most couples wait to break down and buy the M.V. until having their second child; for us, it looks like we're already there! Therefore, I have decided to embrace everything the M.V. has to offer.
First and foremost, I have some FREEDOM! Last weekend was my driving debut. I dropped Derek off at work at 7am so that I could drive me & Rachel to the shower that afternoon. After the shower, Derek seized the opportunity of having a built-in D.D. and drank some beers without worrying about it, knowing that I could drive us home!
All week I had been planning what I could today now that I have wheels. This morning I went to Massage Envy in Dedham for a 9am massage. I even became a member and decided to get massages every two weeks for the rest of my pregnancy (mostly because I have a way to get there now!). I happily drove to Braintree (with the assistance of the GPS) to go to South Shore Plaza. After the mall, I popped over to Babies 'R Us for a breastfeeding class and then stopped at Borders to pick up a couple of books (we're working on baby names right now). These are average errands that most people take for granted, but for me it's a world that has been largely unavailable since selling my little pink Ford Escort and moving to Boston four years ago.
In all likelihood, it's not the M.V. that I love (although those automatic doors and all that space is pretty darn nice); it's the ability to toodle around and go wherever I want. I had visions of driving to New Haven with the babies to visit Timery and Steve, and trips to the beach next summer. Derek's work schedule often makes it hard for us to do that kind of stuff together, so I'm ecstatic that I have some driving freedom again.
Even if it is in a minivan.
When we found out we are having twins, we quickly realized that a vehicle with a single backseat would not cut it. We briefly discussed a car with 3rd row seating (i.e., a Pilot), but picturing my 60-something year old mom climbing into the last row seat made this not seem like a very good option. So that leaves one route to go: the mini van!
We ended up buying a 2006 Honda Odyssey two weeks ago. In many ways, I felt like taking this step propelled us forward about 10 years in our lives, but then I realized that I am already 34 years old :) Most couples wait to break down and buy the M.V. until having their second child; for us, it looks like we're already there! Therefore, I have decided to embrace everything the M.V. has to offer.
First and foremost, I have some FREEDOM! Last weekend was my driving debut. I dropped Derek off at work at 7am so that I could drive me & Rachel to the shower that afternoon. After the shower, Derek seized the opportunity of having a built-in D.D. and drank some beers without worrying about it, knowing that I could drive us home!
All week I had been planning what I could today now that I have wheels. This morning I went to Massage Envy in Dedham for a 9am massage. I even became a member and decided to get massages every two weeks for the rest of my pregnancy (mostly because I have a way to get there now!). I happily drove to Braintree (with the assistance of the GPS) to go to South Shore Plaza. After the mall, I popped over to Babies 'R Us for a breastfeeding class and then stopped at Borders to pick up a couple of books (we're working on baby names right now). These are average errands that most people take for granted, but for me it's a world that has been largely unavailable since selling my little pink Ford Escort and moving to Boston four years ago.
In all likelihood, it's not the M.V. that I love (although those automatic doors and all that space is pretty darn nice); it's the ability to toodle around and go wherever I want. I had visions of driving to New Haven with the babies to visit Timery and Steve, and trips to the beach next summer. Derek's work schedule often makes it hard for us to do that kind of stuff together, so I'm ecstatic that I have some driving freedom again.
Even if it is in a minivan.
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