I’m getting somewhat anxious for next week’s trip to Chicago for Christmas. It will be a huge disruption to the fragile schedule we’ve been working to establish, and generally a full week of total over-stimulation. Hell, it was like that for me when I was single, much less now with kids. It will be a lot of new, a lot of firsts. First plane trip, first time away from daddy (M will join us two days later), first overnight somewhere other than our house or the hospital. First time around my loud, enormous, baby-crazy family. It’s going to be nuts.
This weekend with M’s parents felt like a bit of a preview. Saturday, for the twins, was a lot of unfamiliar faces, being passed around, played with way more than usual, and general disruption. As a result, I noticed they barely ate and did not nap at all well. At least one lesson learned: try to take them to a quiet room when it’s time to eat. Their newfound awareness of everything around them also means that they are very easily distracted.
Overall, I think my biggest challenge is going to be to scale things back and take it easy. Christmas is a whirlwind in my family. In particular, because my parents are divorced but live in the same town, there’s a lot of back and forth. Plus, they each come from large families, so it’s a whole lot of people who want to meet the babies for the first time. Add that to standard Christmas things: shopping, parties, etc. I am usually in Chicago for about three days this time of year, and I spend it all running around like a chicken with my head cut off. This year, I’ll be there for nearly a week. Hopefully this will allow me to pace myself a bit more. That, and I’m just going to have to learn how to say “no” from time to time.
Good thing M will be there. He’s much better at saying “no” to my family. Or to anyone, really.
So, we have entered our one-week countdown. I leave next Wednesday, and my dad has arranged for a meeting in Boston the day before so that he can accompany the three of us on the plane to Chicago. We’re flying out of a smaller airport, mid-week, in the morning, which I’m hoping will cut down on crowds and delays. Now I just have to think about how on earth to pack. A new adventure, indeed.
We traveled to Chicago from Anchorage on Memorial Day weekend. The boys were 4 months and 1 week old. We had just established a napping and bedtime schedule of sorts, in anticipation of my return to work…approximately 8 hours after we landed at the Anchorage airport.
We kept them on Anchorage time, even though Chicago is 3 hours ahead of us. I don’t think the 1 hour time difference in your case will be that big of a deal. But, I would still try to follow their normal just-established schedule.
Surprisingly, the boys adapted just fine. At the 4 month mark, they don’t yet have separation anxiety, so it seems like being passed back and forth was not that big of a deal. However, this past trip (at the 10 month mark) they would cry in the hands of my mom, who was there within minutes of their birth and raised them for the first 2 weeks of their life! They finally “warmed” up to her on our last day. Either way, they were pretty clingy to us, which is fine…but, some family members hearts were broken.
I would highly recommend more “down” time right before naps and bedtime than you do at home. We took the boys upstairs quite a bit earlier than we would usually start the bedtime routine. It was just Brook and I with them…your family will want to read to them and help put them to bed, but I think you need to have M give ‘em a big N-O on this one. Quite time amidst all the ruckess is essential to a good nap/night.
As far as the plane. Pack extra outfits for both you and the babes (and your father as well)! Our first trip, Finn puked ALL (and I mean ALL) over me and I did not bring and extra shirt…of course, it was during the take-off of our first flight segment, so I smelled like baby barf for the next 13 hours. I also got puked on TWICE within a couple of minutes on this last trip. I think Mr. Finntastic might have a touch of motion sickness.
Also, bring plenty of ziploc bags…they serve all types of purposes.
We pre-measured all of our formula in little plastic bags and also use the Avent Tempo bottles that have the disposible liners. Also, we fed them on both take off and landing. IMPORTANT!!!!! Don’t start feeding them until you actually hear the engines roaring RIGHT before you lift off—you never know how long you’ll be taxing and/or waiting.
Bring just a couple of toys, but nothing that you can’t pack away easily. We brought their Woozits that we could link-a-doo to just about anywhere. At the 4 month mark, they will be so enthralled with the plane and all of the people, that they most likely won’t care about their toys.
We sat in aisle seats right across from eachother–they made us move for one flight, but not the others…so, obviously their policy is not set in stone. It has to do with the O2 masks, however.
Make sure you and your dad (and M on the way back) eat before getting on the plane. If they are going to sit on your laps, you can forget eating.
Bring a ton of those wipes (baby or the anti-bacterial ones) to wipe your hands down–and their hands after touching the grubby armrests….and after all of the million people who want to touch their cute little fingers.
Have one small bag (I have the Skip Hop Pronto) that you take in and out of the bathroom to change them. Don’t bring the whole diaper bag. Also, not all of the bathrooms have a changing table, usually it is only one that has the table…so, you end up having to wait until that one is open.
As far as the whole formula thing. I have some major beef with this. You can take pre-mixed formula on board, but you can’t take gel or ice packs to keep it cool…yet, you have to throw out the formula after it has been mixed for an hour. You can’t take water from home, so I had to buy bottled water after we went through security, which our pedi does not recommend for infant formula. But, what the hell. Anyway, I bought the water, then went to a coffee shop and got a cup of hot water and mixed them together to get…ta da!…WARM WATER! I made their “take off” bottles with this, right before boarding. I guess I could have just used the water from the bathroom sink, but….
During the flight, I’d get warm water from the flight attendents. One of them even mixed the formula for me. A nice gal.
Man, I feel like I could go on and on…but, I think I need to stop for fear that I am taking up too much room in your comments section!
Good to hear your dad is flying out with you!
I second the need for additonal clothes. Lily puked on herself and down my jeans. i changed her but had no spare jeans for myself. My flight was 2 hours so not a big deal (maybe to the person sitting next to me!).
I assume the plane will be full but it might be worth it to ask. If not ask for seats next to open seats. Having room to spread out is nice!
I flew solo with Lily 4 times in her first year. It’s much easier to fly before they are mobile! When a few months old she would eat on take off and basically sleep the whole time (again I never flew longer than 2 hours).
I would bring some tylenol just in case. The time Lily puked she was just starting to get sick. Probably from being passed around by all my family.
Good luck. Can’t wait to hear all about it!