Wednesday morning, bright and early, we will begin our journey to Utah for Christmas. Normally, this would be a time of excitement, anticipation, and getting lost in a good book to the dull roar of an airplane engine. Now I'm worried we're entering a war zone.
So, to take the edge off this post while I describe our battle plans, I'm going to surreptitiously spread a little Christmas cheer by showing some goodies we've enjoyed the past few weeks (baking and feeding people is my solution to boredom).
Here is our challenge: keeping a generally calm but super inquisitive baby happy during a 45 minute drive, a 2 1/2 hour flight, a 1 1/2 hour layover, a three hour flight, then another 45 minute drive. Yes, I've adjusted for time changes.
Whew! That deserves some Pineapple Cake:
Since we'll be in the back seat with Cambrie for the car rides, we're not too concerned with those. She'll be able to walk around a little during the layover, if all goes well, so that shouldn't be too bad. But five and a half hours of plane? Are we really that crazy? She will not want to sit still for that long, and walking around to expend a little energy is not really an option. Cambrie is not cuddly and hardly ever falls asleep in our arms. We don't have a mini DVD player, and we don't even have a cool phone, so keeping her quiet by numbing her brain with screen time won't work either.
So what is our plan?
No, not cookies. Here's what we have in the arsenal:
- A newly put together "Family Book" with photos of all her family members. She loves faces and names, so maybe she'll know all her aunts and uncles by the time we get out there!
- A camera. This might be just as good as a portable DVD player, as long as the batteries don't die.
- New and unhealthy snacks. We're usually mean. I don't think Cambrie has ever had a goldfish cracker; store brand cheerios are cheaper and healthier. But specifically for this trip, we're breaking out the goldfish, sugary fruits, and dum dums (last resort).
- New toys. The Christmas section at Wal-mart had lots of $1 stocking stuffers, including a little wind-up Santa. I'm hoping that'll buy us some happy time.
We also have the basics:
- Extra sets of clothes, diapers, and wipes.
- Her blanket, pacifier, and cat.
- Pencil and paper, favorite storybooks, and baby doll.
- A refusal to care about the grumpy holiday travelers that could be sitting right in front of us.
I'm really terrified of her having a major blowout, me trying to change her in a loud, cramped airplane bathroom, her screaming and writhing because she's uncomfortable and scared, and getting poo all over an already gross public toilet.
*Think happy thoughts of Lemon-Almond Bread*
I just need to tell myself over and over: it has been done before. I'm lucky I have just one child and (at least on the way out), Patrick to help me. It'll be no problem. We'll see. I'll get the whole plane to sing Christmas carols with me if I have to and if it'll keep her happy.
Ending on a cute note: Some of these cookies were for a Christmas cookie exchange. I put a sign up protecting them. I'll have to start putting these signs lower, where Cambrie can read them.
See the cookie in her hand? I had my back turned for two seconds, and this is what she does. I wish she were less cute, so I could scold her, or do whatever it is a mom is supposed to do in this situation.
Be kind to me on the plane, baby girl! I hope you enjoyed your cookie!
1 comment:
Traveling with a toddler can be a nightmare, but you're prepped up pretty well for it, so she should be a good girl. One thing that I did with Luke, and it worked great (though it was mean), was that I let him go to bed late the night before, and got him up early. He crashed on the plane, played during layover, and was a curious but well behaved toddler during the second flight. Also, make sure she is drinking or sucking on a binky while the plane takes off and lands; the air cabin pressure hurts their ears and scares them.
I'm glad you are stocking up on diapers- we were caught in the blizzard at the roanoke airport last christmas and as a result, ran out of diapers after our fourth day waiting for a flight. Not fun.
good luck and have fun!!
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