We earned those wings

Flying for the first time with a baby makes any new mom nervous. I had read books, blogs and consulted the email archives of my mommy group to prepare James and I for our flight. While daddy is in and out of airports all over the world every week, we didn't have his expert assistance this go around.

First I knew to be prepared for the unexpected, flights get delayed, dirty diapers happen, I had back up, I was ready, but I was still hoping for the best.

As confident of a person I am, and firm believer and supporter of breast feeding, I had never done it in public prior to this trip. My car and the mothers lounge at Norstroms have been my semi-public go to's. Even with my hootie hider, feeding him while sitting next to someone I don't know in an airport is not, nor will it ever be my favorite activity-ha!

Since I was flying an airline that is not frequented by our family in order to have a direct flight, I had no status to help me out with lounges and comfy first class seats. I also booked baby in lap tickets and had hopes for an extra seat on the plane for him and his car seat.

On our way out of DC, I arrived to the gate early and was able to ask if there was an available seat for him, as luck would have it, our row had the only open seats on the plane.

He conked out the moment the flight lifted off the ground and woke when the pilot asked the flight attendants to prepare the cabin for landing--hello getting caught up on my google reader!

I couldn't of asked for a better first flight experience.

We weren't so lucky on our return. When I went to check my bags the curbside attendant couldn't find my reservation, after pulling it up on my phone I saw it was set for Tuesday, how could this be?

I had spent so long booking this flight, trying to get a good price and the perfect times. In order to get on one of the flights that day it was going to cost me $300. I didn't know what to do, so loaded my bags and baby back in my parents car and called my husband a continent away.

He thought the situation was outrageous and couldn't believe they wouldn't let me fly standby. A few minutes later he called to remind me, I didn't book the flight a booking agent did because you can't book a baby in lap ticket on the internet with delta.

A few U turns later I was back at the ticket counter and had a hot little ticket for the next flight in my hand. I semi ran through the Memphis airport, because I felt like I was behind the 8 ball, of course the gate agent wasn't even at the gate yet.

I was able to get a seat for James, score! Then the pilot came out to the gate (never a good sign). We were delayed, delayed again and delayed again. Our flight took off after we should have landed in DC-uggghhh.

Just when I thought having to nurse my little guy at the airport and on the plane was bad, then IT happened, the icing to my burnt cake- the blow out diaper to end all blow out diapers. I had mentioned to my parents that morning it would be my luck that he would need changed on the plane. And boy did he, while the fasten seatbelt sign was on. I have gone weeks not using that many wipes. It was everywhere, I'm glad for our change of cloths in the diaper bag, and will be giving the car seat upholstery a scrubbing as well.

Probably not the worst flying with a baby story, but I do think we earned our first set of wings!