Planes, Trains and Automobiles, minus the whole train part.

Because I'm sure you've all been waiting and as unable to sleep as I was... WE MADE IT! Alive and with minimal tears or distraughtedness... Caed was actually really, really wonderful. He is clearly the angel I always made him out/thought him to be. Also, I believe he lives his life attempting to prove me wrong. Maybe this helps the illusion. Ever behaving when I think he won't. (We won't mention the times when he loses it at the grocery store or in church.)

He slept for less than half of the trip to Calgary, making the drive seem a bit long. Smarties saved the day. One smartie every five minutes makes a boy happy and gets him through long car rides. Thank you Nestle. 

He ran around the airport for an hour. Our plane was late because of the storm, but that was actually nice because it meant more running around. The take off made him a little headachey I think, but it also made him sleep. 2 hours! Whoo! So dad and Caed slept and mom enjoyed a little peace and some book reading. When he woke up he discovered two adorable, sweet little girls behind us and entertained/was entertained by them. I'm sure in total they preoccupied him for an hour. He watched tv, read, snacked, played with toys, looked out the window, bounced on mom, we went for a walk and a diaper change. He only got upset a couple of times, and really, he didn't make too much fuss or noise. Amazing! Even the extra 20 minutes it took for our gate to free up upon arrival didn't seem horrible. I was so proud of him.

My kidlet is the best. That is all.

In Three Days.

In three days we are going to Ontario. We are taking this:

 (yes that is a hammer, and yes it's flying towards a window, and yes, his dad did grab him before the pictured motion was complete.) 

on  a 3 hour drive followed closely by a 4 hour plane ride. A one year old, energetic, little bit wild, boy sitting for 7 hours. 

Mama has a head ache.

He'll do his nap time on the drive. So that takes out 2 hours... 5 to go! I'm fairly sure the drive will actually be okay. He'll nap and sit and look out the window and we'll tell him it will all be over soon. 

Yes, we will lie. 

But it's only to keep everyone happy. And momentarily oblivious. 

We will then park and unpack our car, go for a short shuttle ride (which will be lots of fun because we can all sit on benches like grown ups) and spend an hour running around the airport. And when I say running, I fully intend it to be literally. We will run. If only to wear out the boy for a few, precious moments once we have boarded the dreaded flight. 

Dear Lord, please let this flight be empty, please let us get a row to ourselves and please, please let it be a flight full of understanding, sweet, deaf people who will not wish to strangle us, but only see his cuteness.

I have done research. We went and bought some little cheap toys and wrapped them up so he can open them throughout the flight. I have a baggy full of little snacks, all different so he can pick from a 'surprise bag' of treats. I bought head phones that are supposed to be comfortable for kids so he can watch tv/movies. I downloaded kid apps on my iPhone. We will take books. We will go for walks to the bathroom and smile at people. This will be ok. And even if it's horrible it will all be over in 4 hours. And it can't be horrible for the entire 4 hours. He has to be calm for at least a small portion of it. Right?.... Right?

Dear Lord, please let this flight be empty, please let us get a row to ourselves and please, please let it be a flight full of understanding, sweet, deaf people who will not wish to strangle us, but only see his cuteness.......

Dear Lord, please let this flight be empty, please let us get a row to ourselves and please, please let it be a flight full of understanding, sweet, deaf people who will not wish to strangle us, but only see his cuteness.......

Dear Lord, please let this flight be empty, please let us get a row to ourselves and please, please let it be a flight full of understanding, sweet, deaf people who will not wish to strangle us, but only see his cuteness........