Facing Forward

We turned the kiddos' carseats around yesterday so that they now ride facing forward. I know what you're thinking...yes, most people do it waaaaay earlier. (Even our pediatrician gave us the side-eye when we told her at C&J's two-year-checkup that they were still rear-facing.) However...I am married to Mr. Car Seat Safety 2012, so we waited until we were good and ready to turn them around.

Brian took their car seats out today for the first time since we installed them. Ready for some yuckiness?

Yes, it was an impressive pile of cheddar bunny and graham cracker dust. (Note that the seats of the minivan have nifty covers on them to protect the leather. Brian says this is the best decision we've ever made. Maybe a bit dramatic but they really do work well! The leather underneath all that nastiness looks new!)

We really talked up the fact that the kids would get to face forward and watch Mommy drive. I expected them to climb in and be all super-excited, but when have these kids ever done something I expected them to do?!?

Jensen was unsure...

And Charlotte was downright freaking out...

Yikes...maybe that's one good reason to turn them around earlier: so they won't be totally set in their ways and used to being rear-facing! Fortunately it only took a short ride over to Tita and Papaw's house to convince them that it's really fun to face forward and see all the sights. Jensen threw up his arms roller-coaster style and yelled, "Wheeee!" and Charlotte kept saying, "I'm going fast! And Jensen is going fast!".

Final verdict? Facing forward is fun!