bye bye baby

This time next week I will be on a plane to Las Vegas. I am going to a national Public Affairs/lobbying conference for work. While I am ecstatic to go this conference and have some time away from home I am also dreading leaving my baby. I have never been away from Margot for more than 8-10 hours. And that is pretty rare, usually I see her at lunch making our time apart more like 4 hours. Needless to say 3 nights and 4 days is going to be a bit of a shock to all of our systems. I know I'll miss her like crazy. I'm sure Chris will really miss me like crazy. And a small part of me is worried that she will be completely traumatized by my absence and think I'm never coming back. I'm also super excited -NOT- for four days of pumping, storing and then transporting breast milk in an air plane. And truth be told Vegas is not exactly my favorite destination.

But putting all my worries aside for a moment lets me look at the positive side. So here's my list of things I'm looking forward to about my impending departure:

• Time on an air plane to read a book--such luxury
• almost a whole day in Vegas before the conference starts to hang out (hopefully by the pool)
• 3 nights of sleep without anyone to wake me up
• a luxury hotel
• the jacuzzi bath tub in my luxury hotel room
• fine Vegas dining
• stimulating adult conversation about politics with cocktails

So while I'm sure I'll by missing my baby like crazy by the end I am going to try really hard to enjoy all this me time and luxury while I have it.