The Stroller Route that Saved My Sanity
Hello Readers,
I am so excited to be writing here again. I am here today to post an Ode to the Stroller Route that Saved my Sanity.
My last blog post here was on Feb. 23rd, which was the day before I went into labor with my daughter Vera. My sweet, beautiful baby girl was delivered here at our house in a birthing tub and was everything we could ever dream of.
However, after a few weeks, she started getting really fussy; and after week three, was almost constantly crying during her waking hours.
With my husband going back to work and our two year old to care for — I was terrified of how I would handle the colicky babe I had just brought into our lives.
Enter: The Stroller Route.
Jake and I bought our house on Pleasant St. three years ago in the 8th month of my pregnancy with Zeke — which meant that unpacking and getting settled into our house took much longer than normal. I was working full-time at Wayfair and we just didn’t get around to getting to know our neighborhood very well.
But, I was determined to comfort Vera in any way I could, so I wrapped her up in my stroller in the early spring weather, and the rumblings of the wheels on the sidewalk soothed her better than my own tired arms could.
Our house is located basically right at the South Gate of BIW. Zeke loves watching the big cranes and construction vehicles go by. The shipyard is super cool, but I tend to avoid it and instead try to go on the residential streets of South Bath.
This is where I want to digress for a moment, because growing up, I knew the north end of Bath was the more sought after region of our little city. I want to argue against that because there is real beauty in the south end.
So, through trial and error, and going down lots of streets, I’ve come up with the perfect 30 min. stroller walk from our house.
I’ve met many beloved neighbors, gazed at beautiful crumbling houses, listened to many audiobooks, smelled roses and lilacs and cherry blossoms, felt the breeze off the river, and given head scratches to pups at the dog park. I’ve been able to walk to the Maine Maritime Museum, and to sit in the shade of the trees at the Corliss St. Baptist Church.
I still take strolls with the kids, but it’s usually many different paths. It’s nothing compared to the 3+ times a day I would take Vera during her tough hours, I love our South Bath neighborhood and I will never forget this perfect route that saved my sanity. (And sometimes still does.)
I am feeling particularly grateful for it, because before too long… we’ll be moving yet again into our latest house project. Stay tuned for Jake and Gia Flip a House: Part 2.
xoxo
the rockweed writer.
