When I take a trip (especially one involving two cities, a mini road extravaganza and two children), I’m always convinced that I’m going to leave my belongings somewhere.

So I wasn’t surprised when on our drive from Atlanta to Memphis, Rick turns to me and says, “Where are our DVD player and laptop?”

“They’re on the back seat,” I say with relief.

“That’s a problem. Because I also packed a laptop in the trunk,” Rick explains.

Oh. Unfortunately, that was one too many laptops.

Turns out, we inadvertently stole a computer from my friend Lanie’s house.  Nothing says, “Thank you for letting us stay with you” like taking off with a family’s high tech gadget.

After committing robbery, we arrived in Memphis to see my super fabulous sister and brother-in-law.  We had an awesome first day at the Memphis Zoo and then Dylan and Summer came down with the dreaded stomach flu.

Throughout the 12 hour, very messy ordeal I learned two things…

1. My sister has an unbelievable amount of extra bedding at her house. It’s like she’s somehow been anticipating an emergency need for six extra sets of sheets and comforters because of children who can’t quite direct their vomit into a bucket.

2. She is really the superstar sister of all time because she actually cleaned up my kids’ throw-up.

Of course there were no words to express my gratitude so I just gave her a new computer we had happened to acquire during our trip.

Either that, or we Fed-Ex’d it back to Atlanta.

On Sunday, it was hard to say goodbye…

(And yes, Dylan got married while in Memphis. Child brides are totally cool there.)

We only had to turn back once on the drive to the airport because we had, of course, forgotten to pack OUR laptop and DVD player. And when I say, “we,” I mean “Rick.” Not that we need to blame anyone here.

The only consolation prize to leaving Memphis… Cyndi Lauper was on our flight home.

I was hoping she would serenade the plane with “True Colors.” Honestly, it was the least she could have done after our whole stomach flu fiasco. But I think she pretty much just had a beverage and some peanuts like the rest of us. Why do celebrities have to be so ordinary sometimes.

If you want to feel like you’re in New York City when you’re in Atlanta, go to the Georgia Aquarium. Because it’s so popular, you’ll be pushing your way through the massive crowds and strollers. And I understand why everyone is going because it’s a very cool place.

It’s apparently the word’s largest aquarium.

With more than 8.1 million gallons of water.

And houses more than 100,000 animals.

Including whale sharks, beluga whales and two manta rays.

So you can totally understand why this was the ONLY fish Summer was interested in seeing….

Seriously.

I kept trying to point out the amazing whale shark exhibit and she kept begging me to show her the “fake fish” again.

That fake fish is named Deepo (the mascot for the aquarium and named after Home Depot, the company that financed a large part of the aquarium).

Deepo lives in the gift shop.

He seems nice. As far as stuffed fish go.

After saying goodbye to Deepo and visiting friends in Atlanta, we road tripped through Alabama and Mississippi on route to Memphis to see my sister and brother-in-law.

It’s kind of like a multi-city book tour except I never wrote a book. And instead of book signings, we pretty much just stopped and ate at Arby’s.

By the way, if you’re looking for organic, healthy food options, I20 through Birmingham might not be way to go.

And then a little later down the road, we stopped at a gas station where the sales clerk looked at me and my belly and said, “Bless Your Heart” which I think is Mississippi for “You look absolutely divine” or “I love your book!” or maybe “Please don’t give birth in my Quick Mart.”

Last week a reader tactfully mentioned that a clip of my husband may have been on “The Daily Show.”

I checked it out and this very testy anchor is indeed named Rick but is gratefully not my husband…

So my Rick lives another week without being skewered by Jon Stewart again.

But my husband has been hobnobbing with the talented and goldilicious. He recently sent me this photo…

Yes, that’s a grainy but real picture of Rick with Apolo Anton Ohno who was at my  husband’s TV network recently to show off his medals.

Rick said to Apolo, “My wife has a crush on you.”

Which is sort of half true but I don’t appreciate being outed like that. A girl deserves her privacy. I mean it’s not like I divulge all my husband’s personal information on this blog. Well, only if it’s funny.

Anyway, I’m basically at home every day doing things like trying to convince the girls that it’s not necessary to eat breakfast with their heavy snow mittens on while Rick is hanging with an Olympic speed skater who has won 8 medals.

So Rick and Apolo chatted for a few minutes. I can only assume that they mostly talked about me.

Or maybe they touched on the Olympics.

And according to Rick, Apolo is very little so now I’m thinking those bandanas must help to elongate him.

You all are good. A bunch of you correctly identified me. I must give special recognition to Tully’s Mama who not only got the most bumps right but was also sweet enough to compliment me on having a nice rack these days. Here are the baby bumps revealed…..

Contestant #1: Jenna Elfman

Contestant #2: Isla Fisher (I’m still in awe of Lisa who was able to recognize Andy Samberg’s hand.)

Contestant #3: Kelly Rutherford (I had to pay homage in some way to the return of “Gossip Girl.”)

Contestant #4: Jennifer Garner (Clearly a fellow crackberry addict.)

Contestant #5: Halle Berry

Contestant #6: Me! Me! Me!

Contestant #7: Heidi Klum

Contestant #8: Demi Moore (Somehow she still looks the same today. But replace the belly with rock hards abs and a hot young husband.)

I really wanted to include this picture in my baby bump guessing game but I just couldn’t stop wincing every time I looked at it.

mama bird notes:

A special thank you to Mom in the City for highlighting The Mama Bird Diaries on her “Top 30 NY Mom Blogs That I Love.” She wrote such sweet things about me that I’m sure she made them up. Thank you Kimberly!

Man, you all are pushy. And because I’m a believer in succumbing to peer pressure, I’ve posted a picture of my belly below. Now you just have to figure out which one is me. And extra points if you can identify the other baby bumps. I’ll give you a hint. One of these ladies is definitely Heidi Klum.

Contestant #1

Contestant #2

Contestant #3

Contestant #4

Contestant #5

Contestant #6

Contestant #7

Contestant #8