Alas, the trip was nowhere near perfect but it was SAFE and that's the most important part.
Where shall I begin? Well, let me TRY NOT TO go into great detail about how I prepped for pulling a U-haul trailer with all of our stuff behind it, from NYC -> Kansas. The summary: We had a decent amount of stuff but not enough where it made sense to pay a moving company to move it (lol remember that statement). So, the logical plan was to get a trailer hitch installed on our Jeep. In most towns, this would be simple, but in Brooklyn, this has about 4,526 steps involved. One being: don't die. You might avoid this by choosing a decent neighborhood to have the hitch installed, not taking a toddler with you, and realizing in advance that you could be waiting in said neighborhood for three hours, with said toddler, for three hours did I mention three hours I repeat three hours. Regardless, it gone done. We survived.
So, back to the story because I'm sure your stomach is in knots wondering where in the HELL I was going with the U-haul fiasco. Well, friends, here's where it gets even more fun. I had scheduled to pick up the u-haul at a location close to my home, at 8am Monday morning. Lucky for me, I managed to choose an EVEN SKETCHIER location than the place I had the hitch installed. I showed up promptly at 8am, which the manager loved because he had barely had his first sip of coffee when I approached the window. Obviously there was a window made of a bulletproof glass because like I said, I choose only the finest U-haul distributor locations. Have I said U-haul enough in this post? Should I be getting paid to give them so much screen time? #questionstojotdownforlater After waiting for quite some time and being glared at for, I don't know, being punctual, I finally got the U-haul and headed back to my house to load it up.
Below, the picture on the left was taken when we were still young, innocent, and optimistic. The picture on the right was taken three hours into the journey when the Jeep's transmission started overheating because apparently, DESPITE EVERYTHING I WAS TOLD, it was unable to pull such a load behind it.
The reason I really wanted to find a pool is kind of sentimental. Aside from a method of tiring Riley out before getting back in the car, I wanted to carry on a tradition my Mom started with my sister and I. Whenever we stayed at a hotel, she would take turns waking one of us up early to go down to the pool and get breakfast. It was fun to get one-on-one time with Mom, and even more fun because, hello, POOL! Oh, and breakfast, breakfast's my favorite.
Except...all of our bathing suit apparel had been left behind with the moving truck. So, Momma improvised. Luckily we were the only people at the pool and nobody was around to witness me in my sports bra and workout shorts. Except, well, now...everyone reading this. Oh well, I don't think "bashful" is a word ever used to describe me so...

Now, Riley was pretty stellar on the roadtrip. However, once we got to Kansas - different story. This is the part where I completely underestimated and took for granted that she is fourteen months old. I figured, a toddler won't notice much where she is or what she's doing. I was wrong. Oh, how I was wrong.
I then did what all frazzled mothers do, turn to Facebook. I'm part of a truly awesome group for military spouses that I know I can always turn to for gentle advice or encouragement. When I asked for input, I was reminded that of course the move could have thrown her off. But also that toddlers can be assholes. Loveable assholes, but assholes nonetheless. Someone also mentioned the WonderWeeks app to me, and it has so far been spot on with Riley's behavior. Hearing these things gave me the insight I needed to calm the hell down, take a breath, and gather my patience.
As luck would have it, the moving truck showed up less than five days after us. With the arrival of Riley's familiar things, an addition of a fun pool, and the normalcy of a "new" schedule, her behavior has been steadily improving. Or maybe I'm just numb to the craziness?
So, this is me saying we're alive and well and enjoying life in the Midwest.
I'm going to try to pop back in over the next few days, but if I don't, just know my next post will involve a HUSBAND THAT IS FINALLY HOME OMG!!