The Adventures of Flying with a 3 month old...

Like I mentioned in my previous post Macy and I flew back to Orlando two weekends ago for my BFF's wedding. I was super nervous about flying with a baby and all it entailed. I had dreams about it for literally weeks. We flew out on Wednesday night at 6:30 PM, which is right around Macy's bedtime of 7:30 PM. We weren't due to get into Orlando until 11 PM (or 10 PM Texas time). The few nights that Macy stayed up past her bed time were not good nights for her. At the stroke of 7:31 PM she turns into Little Miss Cranky Pants and screams like a lunatic, so you could understand my fears.

We arrived to the Corpus airport 1.5 hours early so I would have time to make it through security, have her breast milk screened to make sure it wasn't an explosive liquid and still have time to change her diaper if natured called. So yeah, anyone who has flown in or out of the Corpus airport knows that is waaaayyyy too much time. Ummm, even with a baby who drinks breast milk and needs her diaper changed. The airport has a total of 8 gates and only 4 are actually serviced by airlines. I thought during the long wait in the airport terminal would be where meltdown #1 would happen.......and possibly #2. Well, Macy did great which gave me slight confidence when I was boarding the plane. But of course, the skeptical side of myself decided that I shouldn't get to high on my horse. I thought surely Macy was saving her energy for the plane ride!

But actually, Macy was great on both flights into Orlando. She didn't make a peep! I was a tad nervous on the last flight from Houston to Orlando since she was wide awake for the whole flight. I was just waiting for the bottom to fall out. I was pleasantly surprised and relieved when we landed and there were no tears. Whew, I dodged a bullet.

We flew back on Monday and lets just say I wasn't as lucky. The first flight from Orlando to Houston was eventful to say the least. I was lucky enough to sit by a wonderful older couple who didn't mind babies at all. I was shocked that they willingly picked the two available seats next to me when there were plenty of other seats unattended. Usually on Southwest, people see a woman holding a baby they continue down the aisle to find another row. The seat next to a woman holding a baby is ALWAYS the last seat to be occupied on an airplane. People will try to avoid taking that seat at all cost and only take it because THEY HAVE TO. Anyway, these people made my airplane ride more manageable and I am thankful we got to be seatmates!

For the first hour or so everything was going great. Macy was sleeping and I gabbed to the couple next to me about Macy, their grand kids and again about Macy. It was during this conversation I felt a small explosion in Macy's pants.......only to be followed by a large explosion. I knew it was bad when the couple's eyes got wide and the both said "Oh my!" at the same time. I thought great, now I am going to have to figure out how to change a poopy diaper on a sold out flight. Even better, my diaper bag is stored in my rolling suit case in the over head compartment. How am I going to hold a baby, get my suitcase down, get my diaper bag out and change her? Luckily the man who I was sitting with offered to get the suitcase down for me. By this point Macy was screaming because I was trying to wrestle with the suitcase and she was sitting in shit. The woman was kind enough to offer to hold Macy while I got things situated. It was when I handed her over I noticed the shit stain on the back on Macy's sleeper. Ugh, great. Poor lady......and poor Macy. And OMG, I totally handed my baby off to a complete stranger. Someone a few rows up from me mentioned that the bathroom in the front of the plane had a diaper changing table. I guess I was making such a ruckus that the whole plane was aware that Macy was in need of a diaper change.

So I finally gathered everything up and Macy and I headed to the bathroom. I was a little skeptical that the airplane bathroom had a diaper changing table but sure enough it did. I get Macy on the table, change her DISGUSTING diaper and I start rooting around in her diaper bag for a change of clothes. It then dawned on me that I didn't have any clean clothes for Macy in her diaper bag. I forgot to restock it and all of her clothes were in my checked luggage.....in the bottom of the plane. I had no choice but to leave Macy in her shit stained clothes. What else was I to do?!

Finally we get back to our seats and Macy is still screaming. At this point she was hungry because the last time she ate was over 2 hours ago in the Orlando airport terminal and she was going through a growth spurt. Of course I didn't have a bottle made so again I had to wrestle with my diaper bag to try to get some breast milk out and transfer it into a clean bottle. I guess the lady who was sitting next to me learned not to offer to hold my baby after the shit stain incident, so this time she offered to transfer the breast milk into the bottle for me. It was when she unscrewed the lid to the breast milk container that the third explosion of the day happened. I guess the pressure from the plane or the cold ice pack that caused breast milk to fly everywhere. Not only was breast milk on the lady but it was also on her husband, me and Macy. OMG, I wanted to die!! My own breast milk grosses me out so I can only imagine how these people felt!! Immediately the couple was mashing the call button asking for something, anything to soak up the breast milk that was everywhere. I was mortified! I quickly started to pat down the couple (one handed....remember I am holding a screaming baby) with Macy's blanket. Personal space etiquette was thrown out the window as I was seriously standing up wiping down the couple and their belongings!! But eventually I managed to get milk into Macy's bottle and she quickly settled down once she got some food. But after the scene I just made I wanted to crawl into a hole and cry! I was just counting down the minutes until I could get off the plane and never see these people again!

But the couple took everything pretty well.....considering. They were very nice and understanding about the whole fiasco. They insisted they carry my suitcase for me to my next gate for my connecting flight. It was there I learned that due to our delays in Orlando that I missed my connection. Luckily there was still one flight that day into Corpus. The couple left their phone number with me in case I didn't make it on that flight. They lived in Houston and offered me a place to stay on the off chance I got stranded. I couldn't believe how generous they were. I wish more people were like them!! Luckily I never had to take them up on their offer and I made it onto the Houston to Corpus flight with no problems.

Macy did have a melt down on the Houston to Corpus flight though. She was so loud that at one point the flight attendant got on the overhead speaker and sang lullaby's. It didn't make an impact but I was greatful the flight was short and relatively uneventful unlike the other flight.

We finally made it back to our house around 10 PM that night. We got home much later than anticipated which was not good for my pumping/breastfeeding situation. I will have to fill you in about that in another post. Let's just say I could have given Dolly Parton a run for her money......

BIG news.....I mean BIG!

After much consideration, Jason and I have decided that it would be best for our family if I stayed home with Macy. That means I quit my job.....which means we will no longer have a second source of income.....which means holy crap, I'll be unemployed! I gave my notice yesterday but I am still not feeling 100% about my decision. Don't get me wrong, every second of the day I wish I was with Macy. I have been dreaming of becoming a stay at home mom for the moment I laid eyes on my little girl so I know deep down I am making the best decision for my family.

However, I'll admit I am not sure that I am not making the right decision professionally. When I graduated from college 7 years ago, I didn't intend to on becoming a SAHM. Unfortunately, I am not retiring, I am taking a break from working for a few years which means at some point I will be entering the workforce again. How will potential employers feel about my leave of absence from a professional setting? Will it hurt my competitiveness? Am I crazy for quitting my job during this recession? Maybe I can get some sort of part time job or go back to school to explain the gap?

And the whole paycheck thing......it's a scary thought to give up a second income. It allowed us to splurge on things that we didn't need but really wanted. Will this mean I will never be able to buy a new designer purse or buy fancy shoes? Will we now live paycheck to paycheck?

Even with these legit concerns deep down I feel like I am making the right decision. My family comes first. We will be able to get by on Jason's income and I can worry about finding my next job when that time comes. I don't think I can put a price on spending my days with Macy......even if it is a large price tag. Twenty years from now it won't be important that I had a good job. Twenty years from now it will be important that I had this time with Macy. These are times I will never get back.

I have so many things in store for Macy and I! There are so many things I want to do with her. Whether it's making trips to the beach on a lazy summer day, the library when she is old enough or travel to Orlando more regularly to see the grandparents I know quitting is the right decision. Macy will be so much better because of it.

So wish me luck in becoming a stay at home mom!

Whew, I am back from Orlando!

Macy and I were in Orlando over the weekend for my BFF's wedding. It was a whirlwind trip and for once I was happy to come home to Texas. I never thought I would say that. For those who don't know, I desperately want to move from Texas back to Orlando. But it wasn't Texas I was missing, it was the slower paced life for Macy. She was a little trooper, but she was worn out from visiting with friends and family, shopping trips and photo sessions. Poor little thing snored when we got back home on Monday night. There is nothing cuter than a baby snoring! I have more patience for her snores than my husbands.....that's for sure.

But it was great to get back home and show Macy off! She got to hang out with both sets of her Grandparents who absolutely adore her. My brother Chris finally got to meet her and it was love at first sight! It's nice to have people around who think so highly of Macy like I do. She is one special little girl!

When I have more time I will have to fill you in about our adventures flying! But for now I will leave you with a picture of Macy's visit with the Easter Bunny. It's not a great pic but Macy wouldn't cooperate and take her hands out of her mouth.......

More Pictures of Miss Macy!

I heart my babysitter! She has sent me even more pics of my little girl! I can't get over a). the quality of the pics and b). how freakin' cute Macy is!

Dear Macy,

You are just over three months old today and I couldn't be more in love with you than I am now. I am amazed with you everyday and my life is more complete because you are in it. I can't believe I am lucky enough to be your mom.

You have just discovered your voice and like to babble, especially when we are in the car. Unlike your mom, you love to do sit ups. Sometimes you get fussy if I stop our sit up session too soon. If you are on my lap you like to be facing forward so you can see the world. You are very alert. You love to be outside in the sun and have the wind blow through your hair. Your favorite thing is to go for walks in your stroller. You are always so happy in the mornings. It's wonderful to start my day with your smiles. You love your baths but you always cry afterwards. It never fails. Once you get worked up it's hard to calm you back down. But once you do you are back to smiles. You love to suck on your thumb and right now that's the thing that soothes you the best. You are a happy baby. You wake up a few times at night, but once you eat you quickly fall asleep. You are still breastfeeding but more and more you prefer the bottle. You can still wear 0-3 month clothes but 3-6 months fits you the best. You love to get your diaper changed. That's when you are the most animated. You sleep in the bed with me and like to cuddle at night. You weighed 11 lbs 11 oz at your three month weight check.

I love being your mom and I promise to always do my best raising you. I might not always make the right decision but I will always do what I think is best for you. You will always come first in my life. I will try to give you the best possible life I can. I want you to experience things I never did.

I hope you are successful in life and in anything you do. I hope you never settle for anything but the best because that's what you deserve. I hope you are better than me. I hope you set your sights high and not let anything get in the way of achieving your goals. I know I will do everything in my power to help you reach those goals. But most of all I hope you're happy. That's the one thing I wish the most for you.

These last three months have been the happiest three months of my life. I am looking forward to what the future brings us. I love you so much.

Love,

Your mom

I am a Slow Learner

Here is another part of my birth story that I forgot to mention.....

The day before I had Macy, I had a doctors appointment where I learned I would have a C-Section the next day at 4:00 PM. They informed me at this doctors appointment that I was not to eat or drink after midnight so I would be ready for surgery the next day. Sounds easy, right? WRONG.

I decided to eat one last HUGE meal that night. We went to my favorite restaurant, Highway 77 Pizzeria (which serves food other than Pizza) and I ordered a Philly Cheese Steak Baked Potato and Cheese Sticks (someone please tell me why I gained 60 lbs again?). Not only did I load up on grease but I got my full share of sodium as well. After we ate I went home and passed out like a fat pig. Whatdoyaknow, I woke up at 12:30 AM DYING OF THIRST!! I tip toed out to the kitchen to sneak a drink and my husband caught me. I some how convinced him to give me the last Dr. Pepper (I had an addiction to Dr. Pepper when I was pregnant) so I could swish cold liquid around in my mouth and then spit it out (which is completely lady like, BTW). Initially he said no because I would cheat and swallow some. I swore I wouldn't and he handed over the Dr. Pepper. Yeah, I fooled him. I totally swallowed some.

After that I headed to bed to try to sleep off my dehydration. I am not sure how that works but I was hoping it would because I seriously thought I was going to die if I didn't have something to drink and soon. I tossed and turned and finally came to the conclusion I wasn't going to sleep. All I could think about was having something to drink.

I got out of bed the next morning and thought for sure the day would fly by making my last preparation for the baby. That wasn't the case at all. Literally, I thought about having a drink every 5 seconds. I did the swish liquid around in my mouth and secretly swallow some move multiple times that day. I thought I was so cleaver, even if it didn't make much of an impact on my thirst.

I made my husband promise me to have a HUGE bottle of Orange Gatorade waiting for me in the recovery room. I thought. "Fine. I will wait this out, have my baby and chug some Gatorade. Life will be good."


WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME THAT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DRINK AFTER I HAD A C-SECTION??!

Once I got back to recovery I immediately asked for my Gatorade and requested my husband stop at the cafeteria and get me a sugar cookie (you know the kind with icing on the top?!). I thought I was going to cry when the nurse looked at me and laughed. The world stood still when she told me I wouldn't be able to have anything to eat or drink until the morning. Excuse me?! Did you say tomorrow morning?

Fast forward to about 4 hours later.......I finally got some ice chips from the nurse! Apparently whining enough and having your husband ask 50 billion times when you can could get something to drink will score you some ice chips. The nurse caved, went against the doctors orders and gave me what I wanted. Little did I know this was her revenge for putting up with my whining. At the time I didn't recognize her plot to get back at me.....

I thought she was cool. She thought I was annoying. And I was getting ice chips.

Once I got my ice chips the nurse gave me VERY SPECIFIC instructions not to eat too fast. But, I was up to my sneaky antics again and every time my nurse turned her head I would scoop as many handfuls of ice in my mouth as I could get. OMG, ice never tasted so good! I also chugged my husband's Dr. Pepper when he wasn't looking.

Clearly my nurse gave me those instructions for my benefit. Why did I not realize that and listen to her? Because 10 minutes later I was puking my brains out and I couldn't stop! My poor husband, he had to hold a bucket while I threw up in it. Our relationship reached new heights on that day. Finally, I stopped throwing up. But not until my insides felt like they had been ripped out. Not only was I uncomfortable because I just had a C-Section but I just dry heaved for 15 minutes.

Do you think I learned my lesson? Nope. I did it again. I ate handfuls of ice and I was back to puking my brains out.

Me = stoopid.

After round two of puking I decided that I would wait until the morning before I had anything to eat or drink......like my doctor originally recommended.

The lesson learned is - LISTEN TO WHAT YOU MEDICAL STAFF HAS TO SAY!! They might be on to something.

Even More Pictures!

Macy's babysitter just sent me more pictures! I can't get over the quality. She really is talented!