California Trip

My 10 year high school reunion was this year. So far in Jack's life, we have only traveled with him twice and both times were fairly painful. We had also never flown with him but I want to start flying with him to see family soon. (Sure now that he's not free right?)  After our trip to Vegas when he was 9 months old, we definitely didn't want to fly or travel with him. But at 2 1/2 we decided it was time. We figured a trip with both of us that is short would be a good test run for further trips to visit Great Grandparents, siblings or friends back east. He did so good! It helped his schedule was messed up so he was constantly sleep deprived. But he slept in his playpen in the room with us and there was no screaming at night in the hotel. (phew!)

I'd seen a lot of friends post tips for traveling, and did some of my own research so although I was anxious to see how he'd do, I wasn't stressed about traveling with him. I was loaded with snacks and toys. Ironically, the same 3 toys kept him occupied the whole trip: Blippi Box video, Tractors, and putting pretzels in the tractors to haul around on his tray table. He liked the stickers and snacks plenty but those were the biggest hit. We were all pretty excited for the trip. Pictures started the morning of:

I wanted to get something for Jack to wear so people would know (and maybe have sympathy) it was our first trip with him. So I used crafty iron on letters and actually managed to make a non crooked shirt that read "my first flight". Of course we carried him mostly and buckled him in for the flight so few people saw it. But it made it easier to put him into pjs before we took off when I told him he had a new pj shirt.

Friday night we got in and into the hotel around 11, so midnight his time. He slept for about 20 minutes in the car but that was it. This was him 9AM the next morning. Poor guy! But we got up, got breakfast and headed to the beach. (Side note, he was disappointed that the McDonalds we ate at for breakfast had no play place. He thought it was pretty lame).

He absolutely loved the sand for his tractors. He couldn't get enough of it. He played a game where he would bury his 5 little construction vehicles and use his larger excavator to dig them up. Better than mom or dad being burried!

Pensive....

Family photo on the beach 

He was terrified of the water. He wouldn't even turn his back on it for a picture. I put my feet in to show him it was okay but he was not going to be as crazy as mom. He later claimed he would have but he didn't have his swimsuit. 

Playing at the hotel. He still has yet to discover what is inside the playdough containers. He was happy to have something to knock over!

Sunday morning we headed to the LA zoo. It of course was blazing hot. Thankfully the one meltdown Jack had at the zoo was quickly resolved by finding some shade and a blueberry flavored icee. Other than that, he was pretty stellar. We have been to Utah's zoo once that Jack would actually remember. But this time he was walking and talking. He wasn't so sure about the snakes and turtles. I think it was hard to see them. He also did not like the monkeys. He thought they were too scary.

Looking into the animal enclosure. 

Sunday afternoon we were able to meet up with some of Mark's family who lives in the LA area and have dinner with them. We don't see his dad's side of the family since they all live in California, and none of them had ever met Jack. It was a great visit and Jack did a good job of charming them all.

Our flight left at 12:30 on Monday. Of course taking off from LAX, that means you have to be there by 10:30 at the latest, and then factoring in the 1 hour (in good traffic) drive and rental car return, we left the hotel Monday morning by 9AM.

Our trip was great. It was a little busier than we originally envisioned but we had a lot of fun and Jack is a great flyer! I tried hard to take charge of Jack to really get a feel for if I could handle traveling alone with him. I think I could if I could get some sort of travel strap for hauling his carseat. Other than that, once we save up and can find good travel dates, we are clear for liftoff for more plane rides!

Special thanks to his various (great) aunts and uncles who spoiled him with some little presents. I think that's partially why he wants to go back is because he got so many new toys to play with! =)