April was busy as could be with lots more travel. When I found out the Arizona trip I booked overlapped with all of our Arizona families being out of town, I took Jordie up on her offer to take me and Beckham with her to Michigan for my niece Elle’s 2nd birthday party. Danielle not only lives half a county away, but she is also a very busy ER nurse, so I was very grateful to be able to spend time with her and her family. 

While we were there, we caught a glimpse of Detroit visiting the Detroit Historical Museum and while driving back to Danielle’s place in the suburbs. Being from the west where there seems to be a housing shortage, I was absolutely shocked by Detroit’s blight. So many buildings sat abandoned, mere ghosts of their former beauty.

 

Beckham was a happy camper the whole 4 hour flight back, but he was wildly energetic and also did not do so great on his formula. His diaper blew out while we were taking off, and I was just glad I had packed an extra set of clothes (mind you, just one) in the backpack. He had three more stinky diapers over the next three hours, and thank goodness we had enough fresh diapers and didn’t require any more changes of clothing. 

A week later, Danielle and the kids flew up to Utah for BYU Women’s Conference. I watched Elle while Danielle and the other ladies in the family went to the conference. I took her and Beckham to see farm animals, including baby goats. Danielle said beforehand that Elle loves cats, but when my cat Atticus followed her like a shadow all over the house, she was terrified.  It took 3 days and her mom’s encouragement to be able to hold him. I also gained a newfound appreciation for mothers of more than one child when, while I was trying to give medicine to a screaming Beckham, Ellie grabbed the toilet bowl scrubber and starting scrubbing the inside of my shoes.