What was I thinking?

I vow to never again fly by myself with a baby. I am now safe at my parents' house, but getting here was a nightmare. Shawn picked us up and drove us to the airport at 3pm. Our flight was scheduled for 5:40. As we were on the freeway, it started pouring down rain with thunder and lighting. With rain comes slow traffic. We were starting to stress that we were going to be late to the airport. We finally arrived with good time still only to find that short term parking was full. The security guard said that since flights are being delayed, parking had been full most of the day. Just then two cars left, so we lucked out and go in. We grabbed our stuff and hurried inside only to see that there was a horrific line at the Southwest check-in counter. Because I'm traveling with a baby, I can't do express check-in. We finally get that all situated but are bummed to now learn that I'm considered a late check-in, so there's no guarantee my luggage will make it onto the plane, and I cannot get the official boarding pass because it's pass the cut-off time, so I have to get the pass at the counter at the gate. Oh and my flight still shows it's scheduled on-time, yet all other flights are flashing delayed. Whatever! We run to security line and see another huge line. Ugh! I kiss Shawn real quick, he kisses Inara real quick, and off I run. As I'm pushing her stroller and hurrying through the line I get sad because I really didn't get to say good-bye to Shawn and I'm not going to see him for a week. Just then Inara starts getting cranky and whiny. I get a couple stares from other people. Oh great. I'm the mom with the annoying kid. We wrap through the line a couple times and I'm about to start crying because I'm so flustered and nervous. Just then I see Shawn standing off on the side waiting to make sure we get through security alright. I start to tear up, smile at him, and wave my fist up at him and mouth, "I'm gonna kill you!" All I could think about was how could he make me do this all by myself?

We get to the security line and are confronted by a rude woman. She yells at me to take Inara out of the stroller and that I dropped her burp cloth. So I hurriedly get Inara out and push the stroller toward the woman. She then asks if the wheels come of the stroller or if I can take it apart. Uh, no. It's a Bob jogging stroller and it's all screwed together. She grunts and pulls the stroller through the gate. I then walk through the sensor carrying Inara and the alarm goes off. Oops. Forgot to take my cell phone out of my pocket. Rude woman goes, you can't walk through with that. No duh. Give me some slack lady! We get through the sensor and the other guard has finished searching the stroller. I put Inara in and begin to walk away when I realize I forgot to grab my cell phone off the conveyor belt. I run back and grab it after I realize I left my daughter. Oye vey!

I then start running toward an elevator because it's now 5:30! I got on the elevator only to realize I have no idea if I'm on the right one. I ask the employee who's standing next to me if this is a freight elevator or the one to the concourse. He reassured me I'm in the right one. I'm so exhausted and ready for a drink. I then see I have to take the tram to get to the right gate, so I start running again. Mind you, I'm pushing a stroller and lugging a heavy ass diaper bag. I have killed my back at this time! I make it on the tram and text Shawn to tell him I was right and had to take a tram. I see the sign for my gate and realize it's the furthest one. Figures! The airport is packed, so I maneuver my way through with the stroller and get to the Southwest counter and see the sign that says my flight is boarding. NO! There's another line at the counter and I'm stuck behind a crabby old woman who's giving the lady a hard time. I finally get up to the counter and I say, "I need to check a stroller and get a boarding pass for that flight that's boarding RIGHT NOW!" The SW employee says, "Oh that flight's delayed. I'll get you taken care of though." WHAT?! She then tells me they can't change the signs that are pre-programmed with all the flight info for the day, so to ignore the signs.

I get my pass and realize I have about 30 min. to wind down and get Inara fed and diaper changed. Thank goodness because she had a poopy one and I did NOT want to sit on a 2 hour flight with a smelly diaper on my lap. We finally start boarding around 6:45 and then sit and wait and wait and wait. The flight is totally full, but we don't have a pilot yet. He's coming from a delayed flight from Salt Lake City. The flight attendant asked if there was anything I needed. I said a free shot of tequila would be nice. We sit on the plane for 45 min and he finally arrives. Everyone cheers. By this point, I've got a squirmy kid on my lap who doesn't want to sit still and wants to stretch out. Thank goodness I got an aisle seat so she has some room to stretch. Also, I sat next to a totally sweet couple who were very understanding. The woman actually was a godsend and helped me throughout the flight. Inara kept throwing toys and the woman would help me pick them up. I was so very grateful!

We finally took off at 8:10. I made sure to give Inara a bottle at take-off to help her ears. She squirmed the whole flight, but didn't cry or make too much noise, but I knew she was passed the point of no return and was exhausted. She finally fell asleep 10 min before landing. Figures! I was impressed by my mad mommy skills in that I was able to get her in the Baby Bjorn carrier without waking her up. She was conked out. After I got off the plane, I had to wait for them to get my stroller out and we finally headed to baggage claim. I then hear from the speakers that due to all the flight delays it may take us 25 min to get our luggage. Right then I see my parents and I couldn't have been happier! The luggage actually didn't take that long and the good thing about having late luggage check-in is that it's the first ones off the conveyor. Yay! We get into the car and start heading home when all of a sudden Inara wakes up and starts spitting up/vomiting perhaps because of the altitude change and her ears not popping. I had been sitting in the front and mom was next to her, so at a red light, we quickly changed seats, I "illegally" took Inara out of the car seat to calm her down because she was crying so bad at this point. I could tell the kid had had one hell of a day. No sooner had I got her back in the carseat she was passed out. Needless to say, I was thrilled beyond belief to pull up to my parents' house. This was one of the roughest experiences I've had with a baby and refuse to ever do it again! Thank goodness I have 2 1/2 weeks to relax after this experience.

Yesterday we layed around all day and didn't do much. I made a few phone calls to friends here and spoke with my Aunt Jeri and cousin Kim. Kim had a baby girl Wed morning. Madison is 5 lbs 13 oz and has a full head of hair. Mommy and baby are doing great! I can't wait to see them. My brother and Lisa and Kylie came by to see us late in the afternoon. I then got to go to dinner with a group of friends, which was a great way to start my vacation! Inara is doing much better after a couple nights of sleep and playing with Grandma Nee Nee. My dad had to work a bunch yesterday and today. Hopefully, he'll have time this afternoon to play with baby girl.

Oh one last thing I can't forget to tell you about the nursery set up my parents have for Inara. They rented a crib, bedding, monitors and my dad bought her the Fisher Price aquarium we have back at home that Inara just loves. So she has a set-up just like home that way she will sleep fine. They even bought her a ton of diapers, wipes, formula, and baby food. And they made space in the closet and dresser for our stuff? Do you think they are excited to have her here? My mom even bought new sheets for the bed I'm sleeping in and left a couple chocolates on my pillow! Could my parents be any cooler?!?! I am soooo excited to be home with them!!!