A Quick Trip To Houston

In case you missed my last post, Mike has recently started some new and intense training. This training keeps him ridiculously busy during the week (and sometimes into the weekend), so while he was working his tail off last week, Addie and I flew down to Houston to visit some of my family! It was a really quick trip (Monday afternoon through Friday afternoon), but we had such a great time! A few highlights included:

Addie finally meeting her Aunt Camille

Addie's first time in a pool

Four nights of delicious food and three extra sets of hands to help me out :)

I think it's safe to say she had a great time! :)

Our trip was so much fun and traveling with a three month actually wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. It's probably not something I would choose to do again any time soon, but Addie did really well! In the weeks leading up to our trip, I did some research on flying with a baby and found a ton of really helpful information. These are a few of the things I found most helpful:

Wear your baby

Addie is finally coming around to the Solly Wrap, so I wore her in it traveling both ways. It was so convenient to have both hands free! Technically once you're on the plane, you're supposed to have baby physically in your arms for take off and landing as opposed to a wrap or carrier, but I had some very forgiving flight attendants who were kind enough to overlook that rule when Addie was sleeping ;)

Bring a stroller and valet check it at the gate

Even though I had Addie in the Solly, I brought the BOB and it made my life so much easier. I had the diaper bag as my carry-on and it was basically stuffed to the brim (read: heavy). So instead of wearing Addie AND carrying a heavy ass bag on my shoulder, I plopped the diaper bag in the stroller and wheeled it through the airport! I meant to order a travel bag to put the stroller in when I gate checked it, but I completely spaced it and luckily the stroller made it through totally unharmed. I might get one in the future to ease my crazy mind, but it's definitely not a must have.

Breastfeeding mamas... Wear the most nursing friendly clothing you own!

I have this shirt I lovingly call my circus tent because it's striped and it is HUGE. Like, huge enough that I can comfortably breastfeed my 13+ pound baby under it and not show any skin. It's amazing :) But seriously, my circus tent + high waisted leggings + comfy shoes = perfect travel attire. I brought a nursing cover and I used it on my first short flight from Jacksonville to Charlotte, but on the second (much longer) flight, there was a mix up and I ended up in a middle seat with ZERO room for putting on/adjusting a nursing cover, so I was really glad to be wearing the circus tent, and I'm sure the people on either side of us appreciated it too :)

The circus tent! And an appearance by the nursing cover, which ended up making a better blanket ;)

BREATHE :)

Is it going to be easy? Probably not. But just remember, your baby is adorable and most people love to help a mama and her precious baby. Breathe deep through the tough parts and try to remember, it's not going to last forever so just hang in there! Oh and be sure to locate the closest Starbucks in whatever airport you may be in. That definitely helps too! ;)

So there you have it! Flying with a baby certainly isn't easy, but it is totally doable and so worth it to be able to spend a few days with some of my favorite people!

Coming up for the Beards.. We have some more family time planned for this weekend. My dad and his parents (Addie's great-grandparents!) are coming to stay with us for a couple of days and I can't wait for her to meet them! Mike will continue to be crazy busy with training so Addie and I will do our best to stay busy as well! Happy Labor Day Weekend y'all!