Traveling with a 1 year old

When I say that ^ statement does it make anyone else feel slightly overwhelmed??

Tonight we fly out for my first solo trip with Gavin!  (Okay that's a lie... not really solo because I'll have my sister with me... but no Jake on this trip!) Gavin has been to California, Florida, Utah, and Nevada already in his 15 months of life, so I guess you can say he's a seasoned traveller!  He was an easy traveler as a baby (thankfully).  Now that we have a toddler on our hands, I'm starting to get a bit nervous for our flight tonight!  We're leaving on the red-eye so hopefully the little guy will be tuckered out and sleep the whole time.  I doubt I'll get much sleep with 24 pounds & 30-some inches of cuteness sprawled on my lap, but if he is happy, quiet, and well-rested, then I'll feel pretty much the same!

How is it something so small need SO much stuff?  I'm packing for a FIVE day trip.  I mean seriously, how much does one need? Pre-Gavin, I would fit all my things into a carry on and pack one hour before leaving for the airport.  Now, I have a list that takes up a full page and it's like planning a logistical nightmare.  Part of that has to do with his food allergies and making sure I have enough snacks/cooking stuff to get by, but the other part is simply that toddlers have a lot of STUFF.  Car seat, stroller, Ergo carrier, clothes, toys, books, swimsuit, diapers, wipes, sippy cup, blankey, and the list goes on...

Me on the other hand:  Running clothes, running shoes, and Garmin watch.  I should be set. :)

Hola One Ones are all I need!

It's been 6 months since my last trip which is far too long! I am beyond excited to see family, friends, and run in a new place.  (Not to mention visiting places like TJ's & Cafe Rio at least once daily). The weather is still looking hot enough to melt this Alaskan... but hopefully I'll survive!  My broken toe is not being super cooperative so it's looking more and more like I'll do the half marathon, but we will see!  Either way, I'm going to have a BLAST!  And this little stud is going to have fun in the sun with family and friends! 

Flying with Baby!

Last night Jake and I embarked on our first Christmas away from Alaska in years! We were both lucky to be able to get the holiday off so we decided it was a good chance to visit my parents for Gavin's first Christmas!

 

This was our third time flying with Gavin, and it was a huge success! He has become a pro traveler. 



And we're off!



The keys to flying with a baby?

1.) Travel at night (leaving anywhere from 11pm-1am) - a sleeping baby is a quiet baby. And a rested baby is a happy baby! 

2.) Nurse, nurse, nurse! Especially on the descent. Helps prevent pressure building up behind their tiny eardrums (= pain). On a side note- Gavin has had 6 ear infections in the last few months and has flown with them twice (today included). As long as he is nursing or using a pacifier, he has been happy a clam. 

 

3.) Don't stress if they do cry. If you haven't learned by now... Babies cry, people get frustrated and then give you nasty looks. But there is a 99.8% chance you will never see those mean strangers again in your life. 

 

4.) Get a window seat for night flights. Not only to babies love to look out the window, but mainly they're great because you'll have more privacy for nursing and you can use the window as a prop in your constant struggle to get comfortable. (I've decided this is impossible- and heaven forbid your leg/arm/butt goes numb with a 20+ lb peacefully sleeping baby in your arms...) 

 

5.) If you do travel during the day, get an aisle seat. Then you can get up and bounce/walk as much as you need to. 

 

6.) Wear your baby as much as you can. The Ergo is a lifesaver. Two free arms are essential when traveling. 

7.) Bring extra clothes (For baby AND you!) and also Ziploc bags. Blowouts happen, and as much fun as it would be to travel cross country covered in poop... Just trust me on this one!

8.) I always pack snacks. I kind of have to these days to avoid dairy, wheat, oat, rice, barley, soy, corn, beef, pork, and nuts... Haha but it makes it so much easier on short layovers when you need to change a baby, feed them, and lug around ridiculous amounts of baby stuff through an airport.
 

9.) On that note, how does something so small need so much? Gavin has his own suitcase and it is FULL. I didn't even overpack. I mean you need clothes for every possible scenario! What if it's hot? What if it rains? Snows? And of course he needed two or three cute Christmas outfits, a swimsuit for the pool, his sound machine... Okay so maybe I did overpack. But better to be prepared than not. Haha :) One tip I have is to buy diapers and wipes when you arrive. Saves a lot of space. 
 

10.) Patience. This is essential for any traveler, baby or not. We will all get to board the plane (but extra thumbs up for pre-boarding with a small child!), the plane will eventually take off (even when you've been sitting at the gate while they fix a light in the cockpit for 30 minutes as they did today)... My theory is be patient, smile, and take deep breaths. We're lucky to get to travel and it's all part of the adventure.
 

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So back to our day, after eating breakfast, you can guess the first place we went.  





 

Gavin shares my love of TJ's. (And also PJ's. Why can't adults get away with wearing PJ's in public?) 

 

Shopping at Trader Joe's was actually kind of a sad experience because of all of my fave goodies are off limits due to Gavin's allergies :( But do not fear, TJ's never lets me down and I was able to get some goodies. 

 

The agenda for our vacation involves lots of family time, dates with the hubby, visiting with friends, lots of family time, multiple visits to Café Rio, and as many long runs through the red rocks as I can!

 

Cannot wait.