Saturday, May 11, 2013

Family Vacation Station


We did it! We had a totally American good old fashioned family vacation, just the three of us, to a city we have never been to, that didn't involve visiting other family, motorcycles or boats. And we had a blast.

I guess I kind of get it now why families do this. In the hectic day-to-day world of work, busy weekends, and personal obligations, you need to actually pack your bag and leave town in order to just look at each other and pay attention without thinking about what else you should be doing.

Sure its a lot of work with a one year old (especially when you are too cheap to buy the extra seat - why not take advantage of the rules?), but I actually found it more pleasant to travel with her than without her.

First, you get the family boarding lane for airport security, where you can bypass the masses and line up with the sweet old ladies in wheelchairs, who, if not totally senile, just looooove wittle babies and will keep you all entertained in line.

Then, when you get to the boarding gate, you can let little walker stretch her legs and run around a bit, maybe meet another cute one year old named Wyatt who would become her bestie for the entire trip there. Trade travel tips with other parents while you down your airport beer. (Always take the airport beer option.)

THEN, if you are on a decent airline, you get to bypass 65% of the population by boarding early. On Southwest this serves a good purpose because anyone who ends up next to us a) chose to do so willingly, or b) is the last person on the plane and can't complain.

Also, if your baby is well behaved and flashes dimples at every new person she meets, everyone will congratulate you on the behavior and demeanor of your baby while you travel. Anyone who doesn't is obviously an asshole.

The other surprise bonus is carrying a big stroller, which I insisted on for those all day walks around the city because then baby can sleep, and we can also change diapers in it. In the airport, you can put all your carry-on bags in the bottom of the stroller, check your big bags, and sail through the airport with ease, parting the seas of people with your giant pink stroller and be-dimpled baby.

We rented an airbnb space and a big old American car with a baby seat, so we had a fridge to put milk and beer and sundries in, a bath to clean up baby, and it was small enough that she could run around and we always knew where she was. I had some hairbands in my toiletry bag that I tied the cupboards together with.

But one lesson learned - might be worth it to get a babysitter for the wedding. Our friend Michelle got married and looked so beautiful but chasing after a new to walking toddler for 3 hours was really a distraction. Hard when you are out of town to arrange, but I will try next time for sure.  

Even though we argued about Matt's driving (Seattle is a very un-aggressive driving city and he is overly aggressive, and he also was not used to a brand new American car and its responsive breaks), we all agreed that we had a really great time exploring a new city and are looking forward to doing it again.

Maybe New Orleans? I hear its not 100% un-baby friendly!

And we gotta kid this kid used to travel, I think she is doing A-ok so far. (Thanks to Paula for the Yo Gabba Gabba tip.)