Packing 101 - Day 5

Today is the last day we have to pack! Day 5!

And if you're leaving for a trip tomorrow (like me) and are just now joining us at Day 5, you can find the packing list we started with on Day 1 here and catch up.

Day 5 is super fun because it means that we will actually be leaving for our trip the very next day! It's also super fun because, even though you're leaving the very next day, you're pretty much already done with your packing - you, over-achiever, you!

Today we will (obviously) finish all our packing. So look for, find, grab, and pack anything that hasn't been crossed off your list.

Today would also be the day that I pack home-made baby food for Abilene, put it in a cooler in the fridge or freezer and write down "baby-food in fridge" under the "Morning of" section of my packing list. That way I won't forget it before I leave. However, since I am visiting family, I'm going to make sure I have enough squeezable baby food for the plane ride and then make a list of what I will need for Abilene at the grocery store when we get there. Sweet! Less to physically pack!

So genius. I'll explain why I use squeezable baby food in another post.

As I said in Day 2, if I have doubles of anything that I haven't already packed (for example, using my old prescription glasses and an old contact case), I'll pull those out and use them between now and leaving so that it's less I'll have to worry about the morning that we leave.

For the record, I had Sarah Palin glasses before they were Sarah Palin glasses.

Abilene and I need to leave before the sun comes up in order to get to the airport in time. If I want sleep (and I have a cold so I want sleep) that doesn't leave a lot of margin tomorrow morning for packing last minute things. The last thing I want to do in the morning is open up my suitcase, dig to find my toiletry bag and shove more things into my suitcase. I want to have all those little things (like my glasses and contact case) packed before I go to bed so that I can literally get up and go.

Since we're leaving at the crack of dawn tomorrow, I'll put Abilene to sleep in the same footed-onesie that she'll wear on the plane. That way I only have one transfer in the morning between the bed and the carseat that she has to go through.

• Note: In the same way that you probably dress for comfort on a plane ride, do the same with your little ones. A footed-onesie (preferably a zippered one and not snaps) is just that: one-piece. No shoes, no socks, no accessories, nothing to lose and nothing to get in the way of quick diaper changes. It's less stressful for you, less stressful for the babe, and, hopefully, less stressful for the other passengers.

Totally ready to go!

Anything that can go in the car tonight should. For example, if the weather is nice and nothing will either freeze or melt in your suitcase, go ahead and put that baby (not your actual baby, the suitcase) in the trunk! Done and done! Anything that can't go in the car tonight goes by the front door.

I know that it looks like I have a freakishly large suitcase because it's just as tall as the light switch but, really, I just have a freakishly low light switch.

Lastly, if there's anything you've realized you do need to do in the morning, add that to the "Morning of" section of your packing list so that you won't forget to do it right before you leave. This could be things like remembering something in the fridge or turning down the thermostat or unplugging any appliances. Writing it down keeps you from running around your house like a chicken-with-your-head-cut-off in the last 5 minutes before you depart. And yes, that's exactly what you look like.

I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to sit down with your husband and watch a tv show or eat dinner or enjoy each others company the night before you leave for a big trip. Most people are stressing out, packing like maniacs and hoping that they haven't forgotten something. In our particular case this time, I can go to Club tonight with the hubs, hang out with high school kids and tell them how much Jesus loves them and not be worried at all about being home after 10pm because I know that all that's left to do is (pretty much) go to bed. What a blessing.

So there you have it! I hope that the packing list is helpful and, hopefully, that stretching out your to-do's a little bit (maybe 5 days is a little much for you) makes your everyday life much easier and much less stressful. See you in the South!