It's hard to believe how fast time flies! Even harder to believe that it was almost eleven years ago that I took my Gianna on her first plane ride ever and that it was my first time traveling with a baby!
At LaGuardia Airport - January 2005 - Gianna's first airplane ride The year was 2005, January to be exact, and Gianna was eight months old. My parents had just purchased their second home in Boca Raton, Florida, where they were spending their first Winter as snow birds.
As a new mom, I had battled the first few months of Winter with a baby - the hats, snowsuits, blankets, so when my mom invited me down for a visit, I was more than happy to take a break from the cold and duck down to the Sunshine state for a few weeks.
Yes, that's right, "weeks." With a little baby, I had no schedule to keep or school to worry about, so why not?
As a new mom, I had battled the first few months of Winter with a baby - the hats, snowsuits, blankets, so when my mom invited me down for a visit, I was more than happy to take a break from the cold and duck down to the Sunshine state for a few weeks.
Yes, that's right, "weeks." With a little baby, I had no schedule to keep or school to worry about, so why not?
Gianna playing quietly on the plane Since my husband had to stay in New York and work, this was going to be a Mommy & Me trip. Ironically, I was very calm and excited to be getting my little sweetie in the groove of traveling at an early age.
The good news is that my daughter's temperament was always very easy going, relaxed and mellow, which made her a pleasure to take anywhere.
The good news is that my daughter's temperament was always very easy going, relaxed and mellow, which made her a pleasure to take anywhere.
Taking a snooze inflight It was like a little adventure setting off with my little baby. I'd never traveled with a baby, let alone, my own, before!
We couldn't have asked for a lovelier day to fly!
I had opted for a separate seat for Gianna so that I could set up her car seat, rather than hold her on my lap for the entire flight, knowing that would be more comfortable for both of us.
Security was a bit of a challenge. I never realized until I had a baby, just how rude most people are when you are trying to negotiate your way through doors, lines and other public places. I'm not sure what it is, but my experience in the airport was not much different.
Everyone is in a rush and there I was, pushing a stroller with a diaper bag and a shoulder bag. Security was the worst. Trying to maneuver the baby, take off my shoes, put all my belongs in the bins and then to make matters worse, folding up the stroller and moosing that and the car seat through the x-ray machines was one royal pain in the rear!
We couldn't have asked for a lovelier day to fly!
I had opted for a separate seat for Gianna so that I could set up her car seat, rather than hold her on my lap for the entire flight, knowing that would be more comfortable for both of us.
Security was a bit of a challenge. I never realized until I had a baby, just how rude most people are when you are trying to negotiate your way through doors, lines and other public places. I'm not sure what it is, but my experience in the airport was not much different.
Everyone is in a rush and there I was, pushing a stroller with a diaper bag and a shoulder bag. Security was the worst. Trying to maneuver the baby, take off my shoes, put all my belongs in the bins and then to make matters worse, folding up the stroller and moosing that and the car seat through the x-ray machines was one royal pain in the rear!
Outside Grandma & Grandpa's house in Boca Raton, FL Fortunately, we made it through unscathed after re-assembling all my bags, the stroller, Gianna in the car seat (whew!), we were off to find a comfy place to sit by the gate.
By this time, my little girl was hungry and I so I quietly fed her until we were ready to board.
I have to say, I was having a blast! I loved the idea that it was a "mommy & me" adventure!
By this time, my little girl was hungry and I so I quietly fed her until we were ready to board.
I have to say, I was having a blast! I loved the idea that it was a "mommy & me" adventure!
One of our many meals in Boca Having traveled the world for years, long before my bundle of joy came along, I was usually fast and furious getting through the airport.
However, motherhood will slow you down for a few years and during this trip, I just put it in my head that I was going to take my sweet time as I was in no rush and had no schedule to keep.
And it was the best decision since I was able to stay calm, smile more and enjoy this experience with my little dumpling.
However, motherhood will slow you down for a few years and during this trip, I just put it in my head that I was going to take my sweet time as I was in no rush and had no schedule to keep.
And it was the best decision since I was able to stay calm, smile more and enjoy this experience with my little dumpling.
My sweetie's crib at Grandma's Florida home Boarding the plane was pretty uneventful, aside from feeling like a packhorse. I had to surrender the stroller base before getting on the plane, now adding the weight of the carseat, with my 8-month old in it!
But, it was only a short walk to our seats and then it was clear sailing.
Because of her age, I had to secure the carseat in place "backwards" facing the back of
the chair, which was great since I got to look at Gianna the entire flight.
But, it was only a short walk to our seats and then it was clear sailing.
Because of her age, I had to secure the carseat in place "backwards" facing the back of
the chair, which was great since I got to look at Gianna the entire flight.
My biggest concern was how she was going to react to take off and descent with the air pressure, which we all know can cause some ear discomfort.
That's why I timed her bottle for both of these times. She sucked away during takeoff, played a bit in her car seat and then fell into a peaceful slumber for most of the nearly three hour flight to West Palm Beach airport.
I had her pacifier all ready for the descent. She was so quiet and well behaved that the people behind us didn't even realize there was a baby on board until we were de-planing!
That's why I timed her bottle for both of these times. She sucked away during takeoff, played a bit in her car seat and then fell into a peaceful slumber for most of the nearly three hour flight to West Palm Beach airport.
I had her pacifier all ready for the descent. She was so quiet and well behaved that the people behind us didn't even realize there was a baby on board until we were de-planing!
We were met at Palm Beach Int'l by my mom and dad who had smiles ear to ear to see their first and (at the time) only granddaughter.
Being parents too, they were worried about my traveling alone with the baby, but were thrilled to hear what a pleasant experience we had.
Being parents too, they were worried about my traveling alone with the baby, but were thrilled to hear what a pleasant experience we had.
Now interestingly enough, my plan was to go for a ten day visit; soak up the sun, bond with mom and dad, help them settle into their new snow bird retreat and head back home to New York.
What happened though, was a quite a surprise to me.
With a bedroom all to myself and Gianna, we fell into a nice routine. We'd wake up early to a gorgeous warm breeze and together, the two of us would go for a leisurely morning walk around my parents' development.
Gianna was quite the attention getter with her stylish baby fashions as I pushed her along in her stroller.
As for me, I was loving the nice long invigorating walks each morning, which were not as enjoyable in New York with the cold weather and necessary layers of outerwear. I was quite literally, falling in love with Florida and the life of a snowbird!
What happened though, was a quite a surprise to me.
With a bedroom all to myself and Gianna, we fell into a nice routine. We'd wake up early to a gorgeous warm breeze and together, the two of us would go for a leisurely morning walk around my parents' development.
Gianna was quite the attention getter with her stylish baby fashions as I pushed her along in her stroller.
As for me, I was loving the nice long invigorating walks each morning, which were not as enjoyable in New York with the cold weather and necessary layers of outerwear. I was quite literally, falling in love with Florida and the life of a snowbird!
As my trip was coming to an end, I advised my husband that I would like to stay a bit longer, extending my trip by another week. After my third week, I thought, "hmmm, it sure would be nice to stay long with all the nasty, cold weather in New York," and so then came another week.
Well, when all was said and done, my daughter and I managed to spend six weeks in Florida during the Winter of 2005!
To this day, it was one of the best trips ever, with so many memories of time spent with my little girl!!
-Elisa
Well, when all was said and done, my daughter and I managed to spend six weeks in Florida during the Winter of 2005!
To this day, it was one of the best trips ever, with so many memories of time spent with my little girl!!
-Elisa