[Have baby: Will travel chronicles one new family's road trip adventure from New York City to the south.]

This Friday, my husband, my baby, my wiener dog and I will set forth on a journey that is sure to change our lives. We're road tripping back to my home town of Louisville, Kentucky, with intentions of stopping off in Cleveland, Ohio for a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along the way out and hitting Lafayette, Indiana (known for nothing whatsoever) to see the in-laws on the way back. It's sure to be a total nightmare.

I know about a month ago when my husband Don and I first discussed taking a road trip the idea sounded like a good one. That's because it was all theory. Anything sounds good in theory--that's why it's called a theory. It was inevitable we'd have to take some sort of trip to see the family. After all, it's not every day I give birth (although sometimes it feels like it) and I have ailing grandparents I'd like to meet the baby and who are unable to make the trip to New York.

In the past, Don and I have taken many road trips together, although only one of them was over a few hours' journey. And only once before have we made the trip from NYC to Louisville. It was for the Christmas following September 11th, and we and our friend Amy were afraid to fly, even more afraid of the long lines and security at the airports.

That trip, too, was an adventure. There was no baby on board, but Amy brought all her pillows and was trying to detox by doing a day of nothing but fruit. This equated to stopping every ten minutes to Amy could go to the bathroom. It's a good thing I love her to death.

This time around we'll be stopping every ten minutes, too, only this time it will be to change or feed the baby, or to feed and walk the wiener dog, or to get out of the car for ten minutes before we both explode from the insanity.

Why do I know insanity will ensue? Several reasons come mind, while I still have one. For starters, I'm still getting used to the idea of having a baby. Also, this particular baby has something--something personal-- against his infant carrier, in which we intend for him to make the journey. Unless I am one of those lucky moms whose baby falls asleep from the vibrations of the moving vehicle, we're screwed. When my child is unhappy about something he has no qualms about vocalizing them.

Oddly enough, the baby isn't a huge fan of music, at least not what we tend to play on the open road. We're big conversationalists but our iPod/iTrip is our best friend. Something tells me 80's pop music and glam metal aren't going to cut it this time around. Ditto with jazz and opera. The baby likes them (actually seems to prefer them to other kinds of music) but only in very limited quantities. The only things he really likes listening to are me singing lullabies, baseball--preferably commentated by Keith Hernandez--and silence.

Add to this scenario the constant stopping to feed and change everyone and a seven hour trip becomes a fourteen hour trip. Well, I don't think it will take that long but I am basing my guesstimate on readers' comments. Either way it's going to take forever. I'm good in the car for about six hours; after that I either lose my mind or someone gets me a martini. I'm suddenly starting to understand why my father hated taking road trips when I was young.

Then why the heck am I doing this, you ask. Well, there are some positive reasons and some not so positive. On the plus side, my husband and I love to travel and we love taking road trips. Living in New York, one forgets just how green and lush the rest of the country is. One forgets how each quaint little postage stamp town along the was resembles the others with its town squares and mom and pop stores yet has its own unique flare.

I also want my child to get used to traveling early on. Don and I get around and there is no reason our baby shouldn't be along for the ride. The sooner he gets used to being out and about the better it will be later when we start flying him places (we feel at three months he's too young to fly). We want him to be an explorer and a wanderer, just like his parents.

On the not so positive side, we're taking this trip to see my ailing relatives. I'm lucky enough to still have all four of my grandparents but three of the four are not doing well at all. Lately, several of them have taken a turn for the worse. I want them to have the opportunity to meet their great grandchild. I would never forgive myself for not giving them the opportunity to enjoy time with my son.

So, we've made up our minds, plotted our course and rented a Ford Escape "or similar." We'll be packing up practically everything we own and hitting the road bright and early Friday morning. And by early i mean before it's light out so we can beat the notorious traffic out of the city.

Oh, snap--I have to pack! I'd better get on that since I'll be leaving in less than a day!!!