Cross Country Journey (part 4 + meeting piper).

lots of water towers, but this one was my fave...smiley.

stopped by a mall in iowa

(where trish used to live!)

we cruised over a major waterway

it was HUGE!

I hardly remember this part of our trip because we were racing the clock to try to beat Devon getting discharged from the hospital. She had Piper and Patrick all ready to get home for the first time as a family and I was hoping to catch them at the hospital before they left (to give them private family time at home). It was a super stormy day and Jamie did such a terrific job of keeping our truck on the road....I think we were listening to Sweetness At The Bottom of the Pie (hilarious read). 

But all the while, I was thinking of how many life events I've been able to go through with Devs and how lucky I was to be able to meet her first born child within the day. We've been friends since the 7th grade and I was going to meet her baby so soon?? I couldn't stop grinning and kept our rest stops super short this day.

Eleven years ago...

omg, look at my crazzzy acrylics. i must have thought they were so hot.

We finally got to Chicago with a gorgeous rainbow floating over the city. It was a huge arc across the entire sky and I couldn't get a picture because we were busy trying to exchange our moving truck for a rental car! By the way, fun moving tip....when renting from a nationwide trucking company and wanting to safely long-term park, you can leave it with them on their official lots. It worked out great for us to leave it at the O'hare lot (locked at night), rent a car from the airport, and get around Chicago in our own ride (public transportation with a dog can be a little tricky). 

Once we got into town, I abandoned Jamie at Katherine's, and raced over to the Larkins for a quick visit, to hold Piper for the first time, cry, and sit with my friend....a new mom. It kinda blew my mind. Patrick escaped for a quick nap while we girlie-chatted in the living room with the baby. She was so gracious to let me come over that first night.

The next morning:

Me = so proud.

Piper = grinning as best she could. (i think her tongue was out!)

Devon = not looking like she got discharged the night before. pretty.

Dev wanted to take a picture kissing Piper.

I joined in on the fun.

There have been a few times in our lives together that folks have thought us an actual couple. The few that stand out in my mind:

1. Showing up for evening swing dance lessons in northern orange county one summer while we were home from college.
2. Mass pre-summer emails sent out to future camp co-workers were signed off as "devon and leslie". Led to many a confused reaction when we tried to explain our non-couple status upon arrival.
3. We moved into a big, yellow house in Sacramento and sent out "New Address" postcards. Our high school english teachers returned it with a HUGE house plant and a super sweet "congratulations on your new home together" card. We hypothesized the card must have led them to believe we finally pulled the trigger and purchased a home as a couple. 
4. And most recently, the photo above. 

It's like piper is OUR baby, devon!!