Flying with a 21 month old

Flying with a 21 month old wasn't bad at all. Security was about the same as ever too. The airport I flew out of did have the new scanners. However, they didn't ask us to go through them or receive a pat down; we simply walked through the metal detector as usual. In fact, when they motioned me to a checkpoint I was the only person in that lane! As with my past experience at this airport the TSA agents were very helpful. The gentleman on the one side of the checkpoint helped me put my items on the belt as I put them in boxes. Theodore very obediently stood there with me as I unloaded everything. Although I did forget to take my laptop out of my bag (totally forgot I'd packed it!) and it had to be re-scanned, the agents were very friendly and nice about it. Several female agents with nothing to do (we went through at a slow time) chatted in a friendly fashion with my 21 month old as we waited for my laptop to be returned and loaded everything back up. As usual too they helped me re-collect my belongings. Nashville is a very good airport to fly through if you have a toddler or a baby.

I can't say enough how much I recommend Frontier Airlines. I love their service. The cabin is very clean, and it feels a little more roomy. Blue leather seats. I find the flight attendants very attentive, polite, and helpful. The stretch seating option is very cheap, luggage is free or very cheap, and they *give* out fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. Yes, fresh baked. They bake them on the flight. Oooh, they're so warm and gooey and tasty! There's also DirecTV on board. It's $6 with the cheapest ticket option, but if you call DirecTV within 48 hours they give you a complete refund. With the other ticket options the DirecTV is included in the price.

Theodore did very well on the two flights. He didn't nap at all. He did catnap as we landed in Denver, but that was 5 minutes or less. Hardly counts. Yet despite that, he wasn't fussy. It made me enjoy my flight pretty well. On the second leg he did complain "mine, mine, mine" when he wanted my drink rather than his. It was very brief as I stopped him by the third "mine" and re-directed him to his, but an old man turned around and snapped "Can't you keep that $@&! kid quiet?!" which really upset me. I was tired. I thought of asking a stewardess if we could change seats and so not risk bothering him with Theodore's chatter (it had several empty seats). Decided to wait and see how things went, and although he chatted to me a bit on the rest of the flight that was the only time he actually whined and the old man complained. In fact, he was very happy on that flight, chattering about seeing "Brie" (my parents' dog).

Of course, it helped that I brought special travel toys with us. These included Lauri Toddler Toys Tote I bought at Toys to Treasure, Plan Toys Car with Person I bought at Little Ants a year ago, a Playmobil Propeller Plane, and a travel size AquaDoodle. Each of those kept him quietly entertained and some will last longer than others. Perhaps I'll tell you my experience/thoughts of some of them in another post...As we prepared to de-plane one flight attendant praised him for being "exceptionally well-behaved". That's what a mom needs to hear after having an old man snap and swear at you and your toddler!!! :(

We sat next to a charming young grandmother on the first flight. She slept half the flight and the rest of the flight she entertained Theodore for me. Her granddaughter is only a couple months old than Theodore. She had an ipad with her and showed Theodore some of the applications. Being a piano teacher she tried to get him to copy some notes on the keyboard application. He was far more interested in the application where you touch the screen and it creates stars, circles, etc that are colorful and repeatedly follow the path you finger just took. It did look very cool. I really appreciated having such a charming and friendly woman sitting next to us. Whoever she is, I wish her the best!

We're enjoying being with family and look forward to my husband joining us out here soon!

Thought

So I've cooked my way around the world. That was a fun experience. Looking forward to doing it again. Right now I'm cooking my way through "More With Less Cookbook". I have another fun cooking idea. I should cook through the favorite recipes of friends. Hm...

Just one week...

Just one week from now and I'll be taking my little one to see his aunt, grandparents, and good friends! Plus his favorite dogs. He talks about "Brrr-ee" every single day. I hope the trip with go smoothly.  A friend and my sister are picking us up at the airport when we arrive.

I think I've almost finished Christmas shopping. There are a couple things I need to pick up when I get to my parents' house. Beyond that, I'm done. Did some in early November, some on "Black Friday", and some since then. Due to a couple finds at Once Upon a Child my plan for Theodore's Christmas gifts totally changed. I had planned on a few Montessori gifts and some German story books. Instead, he's getting a set of 40 Lego duplos I found for $6  (new condition in box) and some train tracks, an engine, and a few cars. I bought some curves to go with the tracks I found at the used store, my grandfather-in-law, father-in-law, and husband got together and made the longest straight tracks I've ever seen, and I think I'm probably going to pick up one switch track at Toys to Treasure before I head out. I went to Little Ants and found a cute Plan Toys engine. Mother-in-law and I went to Toys R Us and picked up "Troublesome Trucks" and a caboose to finish off the train. My husband and I, talking it over, decided that every Christmas we'll get a couple items to add to the train set. Will be address to "Burkes Family Children" and unlike some items he receives will be for him and any other children we may be blessed with in the future. I'm excited!

I've spent yesterday and today cleaning, my room and then I scrubbed down the kitchen today. Next week I'll be getting together with a couple friends. Looking forward to it!

Missing...

Missing: Days when I could make a little extra cash by babysitting. "Having a child changes everything"- including your ability to babysit for pocket money. Oh well.

Busy busy week for me! Feels like two weeks rather than one. It's been great!

It started with Megan coming to visit from Indy. Soon as she left I ran some loads of laundry, did a tiny bit of Christmas shopping, packed up the car, and drove to my in-laws' house. The entire trip over there Theodore kept calling out over and over again "Nana! Bike! Nana! Bike! Go Nana!" Not that he was excited or anything. He loves his Nana! The bike he was referring to is a tricycle in her garage.

When we got to the house it was already dark. The next day was rainy, although he did manage a short stint on the trike when we got a few house of crystal-clear sky in the late afternoon. Most of the day was busy with some baking and a little consignment-shopping. My contribution was small, just some nice, moist banana sour cream bread. Yum!

Sean didn't come over until Thanksgiving Day, arriving a few minutes before we headed over to my MIL's sister's house for dinner 1. For some reason I still just don't feel comfortable over there yet. Perhaps I never will. Dinner ended just as it was naptime so we left and took him back to Granpop and Nana's house. Soon as nap was over, time to go! We were once again off, to dinner 2 at the house of my FIL's sister. Food at the first dinner is not nearly as tasty as food at the second, well worth just nibbling at the first dinner. Thanks to my aunt's advice on handling two thanksgiving dinners within a few hours of each other I've learned how to balance the two dinners and come away from both without feeling overfull, stuffed, or anything other than satisfied. Thank you Aunt B (you know who you are)!

There was a newer face at  Thanksgiving dinner #2 as my husband's cousin brought someone else into the family this year. She was saying at dinner her "other half" was finding it awkward coming, and she didn't understand it. I did. Figuring out the family dynamics- especially that family's dynamics- is a bit tricky. Once you discover them, though, it's smooth sailing. In the end you could hardly ask for a nicer set of in-laws. Just have to figure them out first!!!

Next day, Black Friday. Never did it prior to marrying in to this family. Always do it now. Why? Because it's their family tradition. The women in the family meet after breakfast (no 5am shopping) and look at the sales. At dinner the day before lists are passed around. Names are drawn. Individuals are responsible for: all the kids (everyone is required to get all the kids their own gift, though right now that means 3 kids), members of their immediate family (parents, spouse), and whichever adult (18+) name you draw out of the bowl. Newspapers are strewn over the table, stores selected. Time to shop!

Yesterday we left my little guy with his papa and grandpop. Got quite a bit of shopping done too. It was fascinating to observe the different shopping styles of the women! Very different. "Holler if you see something you like" "This, check. That, check." "oooh, how pretty! (*buy*)" "maybe I can get ideas and then shop later"  were each represented. Stashes grew (or didn't grow) accordingly. The time passed rapidly. MIL and I left early though, much sooner than the rest of the family. We had someone at home waiting for us. Today we went out again to different stores, and this time took T with us. T even napped while we were out so we didn't have to stop and take him home! Loved it! Once we finished we hurried home. I'm very satisfied with my success, my list is pretty close to done. Before the sun set we managed to take a family photo outside as well. Looking forward to seeing how it turned out. Hope we don't have to re-take it!