A few weeks before Owen was born, the Clever Girls and Toyota team offered extended Ride and Drives to some of the bloggers participating in their TWIN promotion.
I filled out the request form and moved along my merry way unsure if I would be selected but figuring I’d throw my name in the hat.
Much to my surprise, less than 24 hours after Owen’s birth, I had a voicemail on my phone from a guy saying that he was delivering a car to our house the next day and wanted to confirm that we would be home around noon.
Ummmm…no. We were still in the hospital. It wasn’t the week I requested (after all, I was having a scheduled c-section) but for whatever reason, they didn’t have cars available later in the month and it was kind of a “now or never” situation.
Although the timing wasn’t ideal, Andy couldn’t resist the opportunity to drive around a BRAND NEW (Brand. Spanking. New. As in, the car only had 225 miles on it…and they had to drive it almost 200 miles to get it to us.) Toyota FJ Cruiser for five days, so we had them deliver the car directly to the hospital.
I would imagine that was a first.
It was actually pretty perfect for Owen to ride home in a Land Cruiser.
Had he ridden home in the GMC we bought recently, it wouldn’t have been right.
After all, all the other kids rode home in Cruisers, and I don’t think Andy has quite wrapped his head around the fact that there is something other than a Toyota in our driveway.
I don’t care how many babies we bring home from the hospital…I will never get over how impossibly small they look in a car seat.
The car was super fun and sporty and…youthful?
But truthfully, it’s totally impractical for our family of 6. The back filled up fairly quickly with just our hospital stuff. I would imagine a double stroller would eat up all of the trunk space.
Henry insisted on coming along to bring Owen home…but I think it was more because he wanted to ride in the FJ than it had to do with his new brother. (He has since loudly announced each and every single time he sees an FJ driving along. I’m pretty sure he’s obsessed.)
Andy about gave me a heart attack when he said “You know, this car would never work for our family, but it will be a perfect used car for Henry in ten years. It’s a cool car, it’s super safe, it’s a Land Cruiser…I can’t wait!”
Hold on. Back up the train…
TEN YEARS?! My first born will be learner permit age?! We’ve been married for ten years and I am here to tell you that it DOES NOT feel like a very long time. AT ALL.
Excuse me while I go freak out in a corner and possibly throw up at how quickly time is rushing by.
After all, tomorrow Owen will be a full two weeks old.
And that STRESSES ME OUT. 2 weeks???!!!???!!! Already?!
Stop. Just. STOP.
I want to savor these sweet moments a little longer.
When brothers hold hands and sisters giggle in their room.
Time is lame. I say we start a petition to stop it.
Who’s with me?!
Disclosure: I was selected for participation in the TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of Toyota.
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Jeannett I am really with you….
Tha car is very cool and little Owen is perfect on it. . … but it is too little for your party of 6….
It is incredible how time goes very very fast . . .for me is 8 year of marriage and two girls aged 6 and 3.
Incredible
Cheers
Maddalena
Curious what GMC you got…and if you like it. We are going back and forth between the GMC Yukon and Chevy Suburban. We have way outgrown our current SUV.
We got a GMC Yukon XL Denali. It’s basically the Suburban with the extra trunk space. It’s a great truck with plenty of space for all of us and tons of space in the back for all of our gear and double stroller. Our previous SUV just didn’t have enough trunk space once you put in the third row seating. So basically, we had to get a new car for the storage space! Also, we went with the Denali version because it has the bigger engine than the standard Yukon XL…not that we need it for everyday use, but when you are hauling our family of 6, all of our gear and towing a boat in the summers, Andy just felt more comfortable having more power under the hood. :) Good luck!
jeannett´s last blog post ..Bringing Home Baby…in style!
How fun!! – driving home from hosp in a brand NEW CAR – sounds like a game show, hahaha.
And I know, the time thing kills me. My oldest is 12 and I hyperventilate at the thought of possibly only 6 more summers with her at home. :(
Kerry @ Made For Real´s last blog post ..Summer Book Club
Yeah…too bad I had to give the car back! A game show would be much better! :)
jeannett´s last blog post ..Bringing Home Baby…in style!
I really like the FJ, but the 4 door (specifically the back doors) looks so awkward. What was your impression? Is it practical for a family of 4?
If you’ve ever had a truck with an access cab, the doors open the same way. I don’t know that it would be practical for a family of 4, unless your kids were out of carseats. It’s a pretty small backseat. The FJ seems more like a car for someone who is single or an empty nester. Take it for a test drive at a local dealer…who knows, you might love it!
jeannett´s last blog post ..Bringing Home Baby…in style!
Welcome, my dear, to the world of 4 children . It never feels like a lot. Until I see some harried looking mom with four kids hanging on her and think to myself “Wow That’s a lot of kids” Until I count and then realize UH I GUESS THAT’S WHAT I LOOK LIKE….As far as the time thing is concerned, your mother-in-law gave me GREAT ADVICE many years ago when my chickadees were much younger. She said, “God makes them nasty when they are teenagers so you don’t feel bad when they move out for college!”
Ohh… wow. That made me think about how many years my 4 year old has until he is driving, and it made me sad. Kinda like that blog post (I can’t remember who blogged it!) about how many summers we have left with our kids at home. Sobering. Wish I could actually hold on to these thoughts during the rough parenting days (every day???). :) Thanks for the reminder!
I think that was Nester that did that post. Yeah, time is awful. I wish it would knock it off already.
jeannett´s last blog post ..Bringing Home Baby…in style!
Congrats on that baby being on the outside now!! I am currently enjoying my sweet Toyota ride for the week. But the 4Runner is pretty tight for our family of 5. Those 3rd rows don’t amount to much when you lose your whole truck. Still the technology part ROCKS. i might weep when I have to give it back :(
He rode home in style. My granddaughter will be two weeks on Sunday. It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that she’ll be two next week. ;)
Southern Gal´s last blog post ..Another Year
So so sweet! And how awesome that you were able to bring your beautiful baby home during a ride and drive. It most certainly was the sweetest ride and drive to date! Congratulations again!
Kristi {at} Live and Love Out Loud´s last blog post ..Melancholy {Wordless Wednesday}
Congratulations! Hope you are getting some sleep and enjoying your gorgeous new baby!
Glennia´s last blog post ..100 Cars for Good: Voting Open Through August 21
Congrats on that beautiful baby boy! I agree with you newborns looks so little in those huge infant car seats. Oh and I am with you on the petition to stop time. My baby will be 3 soon. :(
The car is looking cool and also it is having spacious cargo storage. The little Owen is looking cute in this vehicle. I’d just like to say thanks for sharing your wonderful experience with us through this blog.