Jeff dropped Mattie (our cutie dog) off at the pet hotel and I packed things up. We got to the airport, and I nursed her in a corner on the floor, where no one could see me (there were no seats around anyway) while Jeff parked the car and checked our bags. Most people all around were so nice- a man came over to offer me a seat while I fed her, and another older man saw us later and told us, "get ready to experience great joy". He told Jeff, "it's a baby girl?....hold on, dad. She's going to make you crazy, and introduce you to worlds you never even knew existed." I was touched. He even came back later and told me, with a stern face, "now if she cries, don't you worry about a thing. Everyone understands." He reminded me of my papa...very caring and sweet.
We got through security just fine, although getting everything unpacked and on the beltway through the machine was a challenge. We got to the gate, and Jeff went to get tags for the carrier and stroller while I went and sat down. After quite a while, Jeff came back exasperated. Apparently, we were supposed to bring her birth certificate, and the lady at the desk couldn't believe they let us through security. No one told us! It doesn't say to bring it online! It turned out to be fine, and they just added her to the flight under my name.
She fed on the plane, the entire 1 hour flight. Easy. No problems, and people commented as they walked by "what a good baby!" We got to Lubbock, and I sat and waited while he got the rental car..."I can't believe we didn't forget anything," I was thinking, until I realized... we forgot the car seat base! How are we going to get her to the hotel? We'll never get her home! OH NO! We are stuck in the airport forever! Then I remembered. With my nephew, there was a way you could hook the car seat in the car without the base. Jeff came back and I told him, and he panicked until I explained. It turned out the car seat had directions on the side on how to install it without a base. Whew...crisis averted. It's all trial and error with this baby!
One thing we noticed while in the airport is that people stare at babies. I do it too. Your eyes just go to babies. Especially in church and at an airport. While I was sitting and waiting for Jeff to get the car, I noticed about 75% of people that walked by, looked at me and the baby. It's something I'm going to have to get used to. I responded to their looks with smiles...some didn't even look at me, but just glanced at the baby. It was almost like they were checking the cuteness..."ok, she's cute, I can continue on now". Jeff said she noticed it too, that people all want to look in the car seat when he's carrying it. He said one time a lady looked in when it was empty and almost made a disappointed face as she walked away. Everyone loves babies.
We went to graduation, and Gwen was amazing. Jean and Pete and I left after Jeff walked across the stage, and I fed her in the hotel room. Jeff came back, and we tried to put her down...4 times! She would fall asleep in our arms, and we would put her down, (in a deep sleep!) then she would wake up 5 minutes later crying hard. It was so frustrating, Jeff and I were yelling at each other in whispers. She did this a few days earlier, too. We don't know why. We tried to let her cry for a few minutes, but she would just escalate. Finally, at 12:30, we put her down asleep, and she woke up, but then put herself back to sleep. I think she was upset being in a different place maybe. It was not fun.
Next weekend, we go to RI for Christmas. Its a much longer flight (5 hours in the air) and a longer trip (1 week in RI). I'm pretty worried that she will have the same trouble falling asleep in their house, and I'm worried it'll mess with her sleeping routines, but it'll be ok. My parents will be there, and that helps calm my nerves.
Merry 1st Christmas, my sweet Gwen!
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