Sunday our little girl was blessed. I think I've always overlooked this ordinance but as I arrived at church and sat down I found myself emotional. It really was a special day to have her surrounded by family and friends and be given a name and a blessing. As I dressed her that morning in her white dress, I thought to myself, " I hope this is the first a few special white dresses she'll be wearing." This is just the beginning of her life and it was nice to have a blessing that was given to bless her as she embarks in this scary, exciting, and joy-filled journey known as life.
need your experience
Okay, on a completely unrelated note, we'll be traveling (flying) during Christmas break visiting family, do any of you seasoned parents have any advice, tips that you've learned from experience? Things to bring/not to bring, etc. I realize that people have learned a lot by experience and instead of me learning everything the hard way, I'm hoping to gain some wisdom from you.
We love you all!!
11 comments:
What a special time. She looked adorable (and you look great too). Katelyn was blessed that day as well and I must say I was a little emotional too thinking about her growing up. As for travel, we flew with Landon when he was 8 months so I don't have much advice for infants, but I do know they make you take your formula powder can out to be scanned seperately so if you use it keep it where it is easily gotten to. And do whatever you can to change her into a dry diaper at the airport rather than the air plane's tiny bathroom!
Bekha is precious! That is a lovely white dress and the blessing was beautiful.
Kyra had great advice about the diaper change in the airport vs. in the tiny airplane bathroom.
Babies don't have to be in a car seat in the airplane so, if anyone has offered a car seat for you to use in Utah, so you don't have to bring yours, don't do it. Take yours! Just take a large plastic garbage bag, big enough to put the car seat in, then take the car seat on the plane with you. If the flight is full and they won't let you have the car seat, you can put the car seat in the big bag and they will stow it with the luggage. And they can grab it and give it back to you as you get off the plane.
It's so nice to have the car seat on the plane if it's not full. For one leg of our flight last Christmas Marley slept in her car seat. The other leg the flight was full and we didn't have a bag so, the stewardesses gave us a bag, but it barely covered the car seat and they really aren't supposed to give you a bag but they were nice enough to make an exception for us (they really had no other choice besides making us stow it without a bag and it probably would have gotten really dirty).
If you use formula, I would pack most of the formula in your checked luggage. If you could just take sample size formula or just make sure you have enough of it mixed up for the flight before you get on, that would be best. Last year they were having a parent open the bottle and they held a test strip over the opening to make sure it really was baby milk and not something harmful. Same with breat milk.
We decided to not go home for Christmas because it was so stressful last year. Not because we had a baby but because of the weather. Make sure you allow plenty of time to get to the airport safely, if there is bad weather. Once we got there, it was worth all the stress though.
Wowoa! This is long, I think that's all the advice I have.
Oh! Where will she sleep in Utah? Does anyone in Utah have a pack n' play you can use while you're there?
ok, I'm done!
These pictures are adoreable. And i am so excited you are coming to Utah for Christmas! I cant wait to see you!
We flew with Ruth last month and it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The part that made me the most flustered was going through security. Just remember to take your time, and you'll be fine. I've never flown with a small infant, but from what I understand it's typically pretty easy. If she has a pacifier or bottle make sure you have that on-hand for her to suck on (or just nurse her on the plane). It'll help her equalize the pressure in her ears. Also, take plenty of diapers and a change of clothes for the baby onto the plane with you. I'm not sure if she's big enough, but consider carrying her in some kind of sling through the airport. The Salt Lake airport takes a while to walk through, and it's nice to not have to carry the baby the whole time (we did, and we ended up taking turns). Have a fun trip!
I like to use my baby wrap sling thing! You can make one super fast, it's just 6 yards of jet set (from joannes) fabric. Then you can look online for how to tie it. It allows you to be totally hands-free and your baby will sleep beautifully all snuggled up to you. I prefer this over worrying about a carseat. Definitely don't forget extra clothes for you and baby. Also, to save luggage space you can plan to buy diapers when you arrive, or have someone already get them for you. Those things take up WAY too much space! Really, your baby is still so little that she'll probably just sleep the whole way. Traveling with a little infant is way easier than a toddler!
Take a stroller. You don't need to check it with the rest of the baggage, they will tag it and store it at the front of the plane so you will be able get it as soon as you get off the plane.
If you take a sling, just know that you will have to remove her from it on the plane and when you go through security.
Good Luck!
I love the new picture up on your blog. How sweet. She looks so pretty in her blessing dress. Congrats again. I'm so happy we were able to talk the other day!
my biggest advice... nurse (or bottle feed) right when the plan is getting ready to lift and right when it is landing, if possible. Though my baby wasn't as small, she didn't have any problems with her ears, and was a wonderful baby the whole time! (if you can help it get the window seat and have hubby set next to you, than it is was less stress trying to cover up on both sides on you.
Take a stroller and to put baby or stuff on... makes it way nice. And yes if somebody has a car seat you can borrow... use it and don't take yours.
Just like diapers, you can buy there, anything else you can buy there do that. Less to carry around and most of it will be used while you are there.
Have a great time!!!
She was beautiful, Alissa. Congrats, of course!
I've never traveled on a plan with an infant, but it looks as though you've got sound advice.
I'd personally look on the airline website. See what they say. Then you can stubbornly hold it against them if they try to tell you anything different! :)
Hi, this is JJ (Smith) Bennett. I found your blog through Caitlin Luke. I was actually in your ward visiting my brother and his family on Sunday, so I heard your little one's blessing. Is was great! Congratulations on all the exciting things happening! :)
Sorry but I'm going against Becky's advise and saying no car seat if you already have one provided for you. You really want to be carrying the least amount as possible at the airport. It is Christmas time and all the flights WILL be full. Bring your nursing cover and an extra blanket with you on the plane and this is why. You need to sit by the window and Victory in the middle and then he can hold up the blanket while you fiddle around and get her all set up to nurse. Then once you are all ready then the blanket can come down. People like to watch!!!
Nurse during take off and landing to help her ears adjust. Bring more diapers than you think and bring extra clothes. We have flown 7 times with Emerson and every time we got better at figuring out what worked best. She should do just fine.
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