Nuggets First Travel To Arizona! Part 2 : The Trip

It was so great to be able to visit my parents in Sedona I want to go back already! The morning we flew out Minnesota ended up getting a huge snow storm. Good thing our flight was early! dodged that bullet.

The hubs couldn't make it but I was lucky enough to force my bestie to come along. (As if she needed any convincing to take a vacation away from winter aaaand a rambunctious toddler - every mamma needs a break every now and then!) We basically ate, hiked, soaked up sunshine, drank, then woke up and did it all over again. Probably the most perfect vacation agenda I could ever conjure up. And guess who loves to hike? Mr. Noah that is. Indeed he is my son.

Coconino and bell rock hikes

It is absolutely gorgeous in Sedona. It's a funky hippy like town with fantastic food and trails. I'm serious If I lived there I would be hiking every single second I could. My parents backyard butts up against the coconino forest with trails super close by. Then for more challenging hikes my mom stayed back and watched the pirate while we drove 10 minutes down the road some amazing trails.

Devils bridge hike and coffe pot hike

He loved being half naked most of the day!

Grand Canyon 

I would be lying if I said I didn't seriously contemplate coming back home. Soooo sick of winter. but alas, I returned to the frozen tundra of the North. Just in time for yet another polar vortex. Worst welcome home ever. Good thing that is done with now and spring is on its way! Hooray! Once nugget poo wakes up from his nap I am going outside and going running. Like the Forest Gump kind of running. I will start and never stop until I see ocean, grass, warmth, a palm tree. Or until I get plantar fasciitis - which ever comes first.

-Over and Out

Nugget's first travel to Arizona! Part 1: The flight

Visiting my parents in Sedona was amazing! A much needed break from the longest, coldest winter of my lifetime. Not going to lie I was expecting the worst for the plane ride and all the car time with Noah but the pirate definitely threw me for a loop. Just when you think you know your child, BAM. They completely surprise you. Something tells me he will be doing that to me for the rest of our lives!

The Plane

I really was prepared for the worst. The thought of flying with one very active 1 year old is a tad terrifying. 

Mom brain:

• No way he's going to want to sit still
• What if he cries and screams
• I hope he can clear his ears
• What if people are rude and complain and give the hairy eyeball?
• How am I going to keep him on my lap
• Are there changing tables on planes?
• What if he has a poop explosion? Poopagedon 2014?
• Can I bring food and milk on? 
• What kind of toys should I bring?
• No toys that talk, squeak, or rattle or are obnoxious in any way
• How do I entertain him for 3.5 hours sitting in a tight space?
• WOOF. 
• OVERWHELMED.

When all is said and done he really did fantastic. Above and beyond all the expectations that I had. The hum of the plane was a good soother so he took a short nap the ride there and an even longer nap the ride home. Snacks! Snacks! and snacks! and more snacks. And lots of variety in snacks. That is my advice for a 1 year old! They didn't have milk on the plane so I suggest stopping at a coffee shop in the airport to get some warm milk for take off. It really helped calm him down. And as a special treat he had apple juice in his sippy cup. I usually diluate any juice I give him so the straight up apple juice was a good surprise for him. That sucking motion really helped his ears to clear I think. Having him drink take off and landing worked well. I tried giving him a nuk for his ears too but he wasn't too interested in it. We tried looking at books and singing his favorite songs and looking out the window. And when he wanted to stand I just let him stand in between my legs in front of the seat so he could stretch and move.

 

On the day of travel home we had a layover instead of a direct flight. That worked well to have time split up. I just let him walk and walk and walk around the gate so he could get some energy out. He was a little hyper and goofy the last flight home. He was laughing and screeching kind of loud but I honestly didn't even care at that point. He was still a good happy boy and the plane had 50 open seats so people could have moved if they wanted. I was concerned that he was going to turn into one giant ritz cracker by the end of the flight though. SO MANY CRACKERS CONSUMED.

That's all I have!

• Snacks
• Juice
• Leg stretching
• Window
• Snacks
• Warm milk
• Games
• Books 
• Songs
• Aaaaaaand snacks

-Over and Out