Friends, the title says it all. We're back from a two week vacation, in which a lot of playing and not a lot of sleeping happened. We are still trying to recover. And the sun (and our kids) rising before 5:30 a.m. is not hastening that recovery time. Anyway, when we got home and I looked through all the pictures I took, I realized that I captured very little of the fun. I guess I was too busy with the kids to really be able to document it on camera. But I want to remember the vacation in as much detail as I can. So, I'm going to have to break it down.
Before I left on our trip, I was super nervous about traveling by myself with the kids. After hitting up all my Facebook peeps for advice, I realized that I was probably worrying a leeeeetle too much. Pretty much everyone assured me that there would be super nice people to help out along the way. Which turned out to be true.
Here is a picture of The Load. For posterity and such.
Before I left on our trip, I was super nervous about traveling by myself with the kids. After hitting up all my Facebook peeps for advice, I realized that I was probably worrying a leeeeetle too much. Pretty much everyone assured me that there would be super nice people to help out along the way. Which turned out to be true.
Here is a picture of The Load. For posterity and such.
Me with a) Abby strapped in a Bjorn on my front b) a big honkin' Britax carseat on my back c) pushing a stroller d) Thomas in the stroller e) my backpack one hung one handle of the stroller and f)Thomas's backpack hanging on the other handle of the stroller. Obviously this was not taken in the airport, as we all look very happy and relaxed (and there is a frog potty in the corner of the room). I didn't have actual airport footage of me with my load, but I decided it I needed a visual reminder of why I never want to do this again.
We were quite the spectacle. In fact, as we neared the security line for our departure, the TSA agent informed us that Kenta could have gotten a gate pass to get help us through security to our gate. We didn't have enough time to go back and get one, but I made a mental note to DEFINITELY take advantage of this on the return flight.
We were quite the spectacle. In fact, as we neared the security line for our departure, the TSA agent informed us that Kenta could have gotten a gate pass to get help us through security to our gate. We didn't have enough time to go back and get one, but I made a mental note to DEFINITELY take advantage of this on the return flight.
Getting ourselves on the plane was a little tricky, but lucky for us, there was a sweet flight attendant that was more than happy to strap Thomas's car seat in for me, almost amputating her hand in the process. We had a very nice lady sitting on the other side of Thomas, who endured 2+ hours of Thomas driving toy bulldozers across her notebooks and "accidentally" dropping pretzels in her lap. I actually have a picture of this nice lady which, coincidentally, happens to be the ONLY picture I took of all of our air travel.
Thank you, nice lady.
I was super nervous about making our connection in Atlanta, but a small miracle happened when I discovered that our connecting flight was 7 gates away from where we landed. I might have pumped my fists in gratitude towards the heavens and softly yelled "Victory!" after I discovered this news on the terminal monitor. I'm pretty sure a few people heard.
The second flight was quick. There wasn't a nice stewardess to install the car seat, but there was a really nice steward (????) who, when I asked him if he was okay holding a baby, responded, "uhhhhh, I can't remember the last time I held a baby". I promptly handed him Abigail, so I could get the car seat and Thomas situated. It was the happiest she had been the entire day. I let him know that.
The trip home wasn't quite so smooth. I was cutting it extremely close getting to the airport in enough time to get through security. The kids and I had been partying a lot and sleeping little for two weeks, so we were T.I.R.E.D. I was banking on getting my sister-in-law a gate pass to help us through, but no dice. The ticket agent said that because of security, I didn't qualify for help "just because I had a baby" (never mind the OTHER kid, stroller, car seat, and two carry-ons). I made my way grumbling to security. I was running late and trying to get through quickly, when we were stopped because of a "suspicious" item in our carry-ons. Actually, two suspicious items: water. I had forgotten to empty Thomas's sippy cup and my bottled water. I just threw my water away, but I had to unscrew Thomas's cup so they could examine the contents (for what? I have no idea). Once we were deemed to not be a threat to national security, I then gathered all of our belongings and tried to find a place where I could put my shoes back on. My hands were shaking because I was running so late, so I could barely buckle, snap, or tie all the things that I needed to. I was a mess. I might I have mumbled "airport security can die in a hole" as I scrambled to our gate.
Thankfully, all flights to Detroit were running a little behind, due to weather. I was grateful for a little breather. When it was time to board, though, I realized it was one of those little planes that you have to walk out on the tarmac to board. Bless all those beautiful strangers who scooped up my stroller and carry-ons so I could focus on getting my children safely on to the plane. Really, they were the best.
And it didn't stop there. The passengers on our last flight were just as amazing. After Thomas entertained everyone at the gate with his break-dancing skills (I'm sure some people were staring at me in horror for letting my child roll around on the floor - whatever), it was time to board our last plane. The flight went fairly well, for the most part. The lady across the row from me held Abby while I tried to snuff out a major tantrum that was brewing. Thank goodness for the magical bribery powers of mini M&Ms.
Before we knew it, we were home. If I hadn't had so much strapped to me, I would have knelt on the ground and kissed it. And I have never been happier to see Kenta. Okay. Maybe the day we got married I was happier. But this was a close second.
I might travel by myself with the kids again, now that I know what to expect. I'm going to need a little while to recover from it. And never again will I judge the noise level of a child on an airplane. And never again will I see a mother traveling alone with children and not offer to help in some way (assuming that I am also not traveling alone with kids.....).
So, all in all, traveling wasn't too terrible. I survived. Thomas earned his wings
The second flight was quick. There wasn't a nice stewardess to install the car seat, but there was a really nice steward (????) who, when I asked him if he was okay holding a baby, responded, "uhhhhh, I can't remember the last time I held a baby". I promptly handed him Abigail, so I could get the car seat and Thomas situated. It was the happiest she had been the entire day. I let him know that.
The trip home wasn't quite so smooth. I was cutting it extremely close getting to the airport in enough time to get through security. The kids and I had been partying a lot and sleeping little for two weeks, so we were T.I.R.E.D. I was banking on getting my sister-in-law a gate pass to help us through, but no dice. The ticket agent said that because of security, I didn't qualify for help "just because I had a baby" (never mind the OTHER kid, stroller, car seat, and two carry-ons). I made my way grumbling to security. I was running late and trying to get through quickly, when we were stopped because of a "suspicious" item in our carry-ons. Actually, two suspicious items: water. I had forgotten to empty Thomas's sippy cup and my bottled water. I just threw my water away, but I had to unscrew Thomas's cup so they could examine the contents (for what? I have no idea). Once we were deemed to not be a threat to national security, I then gathered all of our belongings and tried to find a place where I could put my shoes back on. My hands were shaking because I was running so late, so I could barely buckle, snap, or tie all the things that I needed to. I was a mess. I might I have mumbled "airport security can die in a hole" as I scrambled to our gate.
Thankfully, all flights to Detroit were running a little behind, due to weather. I was grateful for a little breather. When it was time to board, though, I realized it was one of those little planes that you have to walk out on the tarmac to board. Bless all those beautiful strangers who scooped up my stroller and carry-ons so I could focus on getting my children safely on to the plane. Really, they were the best.
And it didn't stop there. The passengers on our last flight were just as amazing. After Thomas entertained everyone at the gate with his break-dancing skills (I'm sure some people were staring at me in horror for letting my child roll around on the floor - whatever), it was time to board our last plane. The flight went fairly well, for the most part. The lady across the row from me held Abby while I tried to snuff out a major tantrum that was brewing. Thank goodness for the magical bribery powers of mini M&Ms.
Before we knew it, we were home. If I hadn't had so much strapped to me, I would have knelt on the ground and kissed it. And I have never been happier to see Kenta. Okay. Maybe the day we got married I was happier. But this was a close second.
I might travel by myself with the kids again, now that I know what to expect. I'm going to need a little while to recover from it. And never again will I judge the noise level of a child on an airplane. And never again will I see a mother traveling alone with children and not offer to help in some way (assuming that I am also not traveling alone with kids.....).
So, all in all, traveling wasn't too terrible. I survived. Thomas earned his wings
And when one of your little travelers is this happy:
Why not give it another shot some day?
3 comments:
Oh my gosh Kendall! I'm like totally hyperventilating and having a panic attack just THINKING about trying to do that alone! You are sooooo brave! I've flown by myself with a preschooler and a toddler but doing it with a baby would be so much harder because you can't just put them down somewhere! I'm so happy that there were nice people to help you and that you survived the experience : ) That pic of you all decked out in your travel gear is priceless! Definitely a good thing to document for posterity. (oh and so lame they wouldn't let your sister come to the gate with you! You should've raised a big stink. I know it's against your kind nature but when it comes to costumer service I'm telling you, the squeaky wheel gets the oil! ; )
update finally!!! i wish i could see thomas break dancing. also i want to hold abigail. and maybe squeeze her a little.
You are superwoman! ...and you give me hope! I am traveling alone with both kids in June, so this was just what I needed. I am a bit nervous, so hopefully it will go as well as yours!
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