Jet Plane Success!

We made it with mostly all smiles all the way from Orlando to Dallas! I was beyond thankful for the happy little girls I spent the morning with. Charlotte could not have been in a sweeter mood & mellow Elo was quite adaptable to the new adventure.

 

 

We arrived bright and early to the airport in Orlando. Robby was just the BEST and helped me get all the way to the security check where he bid his ladies farewell. There was a couple in front of me that had a 7 month old baby with them. They immediately looked at me & said, "You are so brave! We are scared to fly with one baby!" I said that I was sure I would survive no matter how rough it was : ) We arrived at our gate & had over an hour to sit. Charlotte is at the perfect age where watching people board a plane, load the luggage & see it back away from the gate provides the perfect amount of entertainment while waiting. Eloise was content in the stroller to watch out the window too. Charlotte kept grabbing her hand pointing saying "Look Eh-wheese, pane! peepul! wow!"

We took a trip to the potty before boarding and Charlotte went on command....very unlike her! Once we got to our seats, I put Char next to the window while Eloise & I occupied the middle seat. I was watching each person board wondering who might be the lucky one that would get front row seats to our circus on row 22. Much to my delight, the kindest man in his 50's introduced himself to me & said he would be joining us on our row. He asked if I needed anything before he sat down....how thoughtful! I told him that what he asked was very thoughtful & asked if he had children. He replied with "I don't but I have 5 older sisters who have given me 17 nieces & nephews." Wow, I figured he might have more experience than me with caring for 2 kids at once in a limited space. Turns out, he works for Parkland Hospital which is where I worked when I lived in Dallas & he was also a christian. We had lots to talk about & he even offered to let Charlotte watch a movie on his iPad.

The biggest help was that he offered to hold Eloise when I took Charlotte to the restroom.I did think for a second about if this man could hurt my child & what Robby would do. I figured he couldn't kidnap her so I accepted the offer. This was a good thing.....seriously, have they added an extra row on the back of the plane & downsized the restroom? I consider myself a petite person and I felt quite cramped! It would have been difficult with a baby strapped on me, trying to get Charlotte on the potty etc. When I brought her back to our row he asked if I wanted to trade kids & get Eloise's diaper changed. Wow! This was so great to have my own personal assistant on the airplane!

 

 

Take off was hilarious! Charlotte was squealing so loud the people a couple rows in front of us were turning around smiling. Charlotte LOVED the bag o'tricks! She really enjoyed the buckles, brushing the dolls hair, eating all the cheerios & coloring. Her favorite was the bag of felt shapes. She had no interest in sliding them onto the ribbon snake but much preferred laying them out on her tray table & handing them to me as I requested each shape by name. This provided 40 minutes of distraction! She learned pentagon, crescent & octagon which sound so cute in her own little way she pronounces things : )

 

 

Eloise, oh Eloise. There is a reason Elo rhymes with mellow! You wouldn't have noticed this little girl was on the plane until Char unintentionally smacked her over the head with a book. She cried for about 30 seconds then calmed back down. She was content under the nursing cover enjoying a long leisurely in flight meal & then per request of the big sis, she joined her in her seat!

When we were landing, Charlotte was squealing again. Once we were on the ground, She kept saying "more please mommy!" I think this girl will like roller coasters when she is older : )

My new friend even waited for us to make sure we didn't need help with bags. I told him that the Lord answered my prayer in giving me such a kind & helpful person to ride next to on the big flight!

Great Gran was waiting for us at baggage claim. I passed Elo to her, got our bag & headed out of that crowded place to start our long awaited trip!