Post-trip Commentary

In case you were wondering -- we survived! Like we wouldn't. Here are some highlights...
When coming to the decision of packing/checking our bag(s), Adam and I each have our own checked bag – most of the time this is not negotiable, especially when flying with a little one in tow. BUT, Adam was somehow (with smoke & mirrors – or was that beer & wings?) able to convince Rachel that we could cram everything the three of us needed for our trip into ONE checked bag. Yes, only one. It is just a long weekend trip (4 days total), he said. There’s no way we’ll need 2 checked bags, he said.

This meant that if we went over that coveted baggage weight of 50 lbs. we would incur a ridiculous upcharge and be scorned with the Scarlet Letter – uh, I mean the screaming neon orange ‘Heavy Bag’ tag. Luckily leaving RDU our ticket counter agent was a God-send and didn’t even bat an eyelash at the measly 2 pounds that we were over – Score!

Different story leaving ROC, this ticket agent (with an already obvious chip on his shoulder – because we didn’t use the electronic kiosk to pay via credit card!) had actually recommend that we step over to the side to see if we could remove the 2 pounds that we were over…seriously, dude?! Do you not see the infant on Rachel’s hip or the weary, sleep-deprived look in our eyes? That was not going to happen, especially on an airport floor – whether we had Daphne with us or not. We had to fork over the ‘Heavy Bag’ fee (for 2 pounds!). Not cool. Oh, did we mention that the heavy bag fee on Delta is $90 bucks!? Aaaaaand that is in addition to the $25 checked bag fee that we were already paying. Luckily before even arriving to the airport it had been decided that if we were over the baggage weight (thanks in part to all of the gifts that Daphne received), that we were going to pay regardless.

Security, on the other hand, was awesome and easy on both ends of our trip. We breezed right though. Rachel didn’t even have time to break a sweat. Kids (12 & under) keep their shoes on and Rachel carried Daphne through the ‘old’ style metal detector door frame. It also helped that Daphne was awake, alert, smiling and was able to wave and say HI at the TSA folks…they got a kick out of her.

If we remember correctly, our carry-on bags pre-toddler probably included cool stuff like the latest People Mag, a bag of Skittles, and an iPod. Throw all that in the river. Our carry-ons now included the following:

TOYS: So. Many. Toys. – of course they had to make little or no noise while on the plane; and different toys for wandering around the airports. We didn’t even break them out while on the airplane – didn’t need them.

SNACKS: snacks that Daphne normally eats but no guarantee as to which ones she will actually like on any given day. Some of the items we had: fig newtons, nilla wafers, yogurt melts, goldfish crackers, Baby Mum-mums, Cheerios, Plum Organic snack pouches, just to name a few. Yes, we were packing a mini-mart.

 

DIAPER STUFF: I think that between the carry-on bags there were 18 diapers and 300 wipes – we packed enough to cover us in case the flight was late or got diverted (thanks to the sequestration) or we got stuck somewhere overnight.  Hey, it happens. We held our breath for poop the whole way. Thankfully she didn’t do it. We’ve had to use the changing tables in the airplane bathrooms before – when she was teeny-tiny, so we knew our way around that. No big deal.

SLEEP STUFF: when you negotiate for sleep, make it irresistible. We packed extra comfy pants, extra shirt/onesie, and of course Piglet had to make the trip. There was little negotiating that went on, Daphne fell asleep shortly after take-off and / or once we reached our cruising altitude.

All-in-all it was a great trip! Daphne was able to spend time with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Andrew, Aunt Cori and her cousins Sofia & Lia. As well as some other family members and close friends that haven’t met Daphne in person yet – we know, we know…took us long enough!

So glad we were able to be there in person as we celebrated Sofia’s 1^st Communion – which is a huge milestone in our faith and in her life. The weather was actually cooperating and turned out to be a gorgeous day!

Enjoy the photos! 

Daphne fast asleep on our flight to Rochester

Daphne on the 'sofa' in the Rochester Airport

Cousins! (Sofia, Lia and Daphne -- with Piglet, of course)

 

All dressed up!

Love this sweet face!