Well, we’re home again. We’re all in one piece, and still more or less like each other, so life is good. I’ve compiled a few highlights from our trip that I like to call, “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.”
The Good: There were open seats on the first three legs of our plane trips, so Mr Nolan got to ride in his car seat for 3/4ths of our plane rides. This meant better sleep for him, and more free hands for me to keep Mylie entertained.
The Bad: There were no open seats on the last flight. And though it was only an hour and a half flight, it was the last one after a long trip, and we were all VERY tired. Nolan had a major melt-down, during which Mylie kept wanting me to get things out of her bag for her. I guiltily kept watching the people around us put on headphones, then hats over their headphones, then hands over their ears… well, you get the picture. Luckily, it was only about 10 minutes or less and then he fell asleep.
The Ugly: Sometime during the first flight Nolan had a blow-out. No, blow-out doesn’t really do it justice. “Atomic bomb” is probably a more accurate description. Biggest one I’d ever seen in my life. And I didn’t notice until the plane was unloading and I picked him up out of the carseat to put him in the Bjorn. So, while everyone around us was leaving, I was desperately trying to clean up the mess right there in the plane, and keep Mylie from following the crowd off. Of course, the airline was trying to do the world’s quickest turn-around, and started boarding the plane almost immediately, so the crew all came on and each grabbed one of my bags and Mylie, while I scooped up Nolan and the “bomb” and hiked off the plane.
The Good: The wonderful Arizona sun in the spring time that was just the perfect temperature without being too hot. Especially when I found out it was snowing back home. Haha, suck-ahs!
The Bad: Apparently, the sun rises at 5:30am there. And so did my kids…5:45am EVERY SINGLE DAY. Oh, except for the day that Nolan woke up at 5, and took 45 minutes to go BACK to sleep at which point Mylie woke up. Lovely.
The Ugly: The major melt-down tantrums that both kids had the last night we were there, due to incredible lack of sleep.
The Good: Three words – shopping with Grandma! I finally was able to get some much needed pants, and even got to go into the dressing room by myself while she walked around with the kids.
The Bad: Somehow the four pairs of pants must have taken up over half the room in my suitcase, because there was WAY less room coming back than going there. I’m not really sure how that happens.
The Ugly: The price you have to pay if your suitcase is over 50lbs. Currently: $50, after May 5th: $100. Coming home, my suitcase weighed in at – are you ready for it – 50.0 lbs. How in the world did I manage that?
The Good: Baby Bjorns. No self-respecting parent should travel without one.
The Bad: Strollers. They are the most worthless piece of equipment for air travel. I’ve never liked taking them, and this trip solidified that hatred. If I hadn’t needed it on the other end, I would have left it home. As it was, I ended up leaving it collapsed and dragging behind me through the airport. The plus side – I convinced Mylie to “help” me carry it and hold on to one handle of it, therefore keeping her by my side.
The Ugly: The state of my shoulders and back after packing Nolan on front, the diaper bag on back, rolling a backpack and a carseat with my left hand and pulling the collapsed stroller behind me on my right side (and that doesn’t even count the checked baggage!).
The Good: Despite the exhaustion-induced tantrums toward the end of the week, my kids were incredibly well-behaved for the whole trip. Nolan was a charmer with his smile, and constant babbling, and Mylie showed off her intellectual prowess to any that would listen. Mylie never once attempted to run down the aisles of the airplane, and (for the most part) was content to sit in her seat and play with all the new toys or watch a couple videos. She’s so much more mature than the last time I flew with her, and it was actually kind of fun. And with the exception of the first ten minutes of the last flight, I never once felt overwhelmed.
The Bad: Mylie’s in the middle of potty-training. She’s not all the way there yet, but she was too far along to put back in diapers for the trip. So I stuck to my guns and made her wear panties for most of the time, with pull-ups at night time. It’s hard to be away from home and be in the middle of all that mess.
The Ugly: On our last day there, she pooped her pants 4 times. Seriously, who goes 4 times in a day? And the last time was right in the middle of Chuck E Cheese. I did finally cave on that one and put her in a Pull Up for the rest of the trip.
The Good: Swimming outdoors in the middle of April! Nolan is a natural swimmer – takes after his Uncle Cody. He loved the water, and didn’t even mind if his face got in it.
The Bad: Mylie is NOT a natural swimmer. I don’t know if we waited to long to get her in a pool (she was 1 year old), or what, but she has some severe anxiety about the water and getting her face in it. She clings to me the whole time, and is just tense. The funny part is, she loves to jump in the water from the side of the pool, which to me seems like the scariest part. She doesn’t even mind if I have her go all the way under before I catch her. But after I grab her, she will not put her face in the water again. Weird.
The Ugly: Mylie’s allergic reaction to… something. We’re not sure if it was something in the pool, or the sunscreen, or the sun itself. Or perhaps a food allergy, or clothing detergent. But whatever it was, she had a nasty rash and eczema on and off for the whole trip. It would clear up with some calamine and a dose of benadryl, but would come back.
All in all, though, I would say the “Goods” win out over the “Bads” or the “Uglies”. And despite my pre-trip anxieties, I would definitely do it again. Next time, though, I’m either bringing Nick or buying a seat for Nolan. And I’m making sure the shades are sun proof so my kids sleep in to a decent hour. But I give this vacation a big thumbs up! And now – I’m going to take a nap!!
I am the worst at leaving comments on blogs but that doesn’t mean I don’t check your blog often. I love reading yours because I always get a good laugh and I can always relate. Keep the new pics coming I cant get enough!
What an adventure!! You have such a great way of writing. I know the uglies were not fun for you….but they sure had me laughing. You are just so much fun. It’s good to have you home to FREEZING cold Oregon. Couldn’t you bring back some Arizona with you?