Ok gonna keep a running comment as I read...
First..any tips for going thru security? I've become a pro at getting myself thru security. What about a kid changes it? What should I be prepared with besides the normal (liquids in a baggie and easily accessible, electronics ready to pull out, boarding pass and ID in the outside pocket). Caden doesn't usually travel with liquid anymore, so sippy cup shouldn't be an issue.
What do they do with the stroller? I assume I should have the basket empty at that point?
If you don't have any liquids or pouch-type food, that will make it easier. One less thing to deal with. And it will also help that Caden is old enough to walk on his own and take direction from you on where to go/not go (I was just telling someone at work how much easier this is now that Izzy is at that point vs. when she was a new walker - because you have to have them get out of the stroller AND your hands are all full dealing with the other stuff you are bringing, so a kid that needs holding is challenging). For me, the biggest difference with a kid is just the sheer volume of STUFF. And I know I bring more than I need on the plane, but I want to be prepared with an arsenal of stuff to keep her in good spirits. For instance, when I travelled by myself for work recently, I put my 4 days worth of stuff in a rolling carry-on that I stashed up above (no checked bag needed) and had a backpack with just a few things for the flight, like a book and my laptop. Easy peasy. With Izzy, I generally end up with at least a "meal/snack bag", a toy bag, a diaper kit, a bag with anything I need, a carseat, and a stroller (I've gotten good at combining the bags within a bigger bag, if needed, to meet the carry-on and personal item limits, but I like to have them separated for ease of getting at them on the plane - which is never really easy). If you are bringing a carseat, that goes on the belt, so long as it fits. For mine, it has to go face-down and top-first and it works (barely). Same with the stroller. You'll need to fold it and put it on the belt, so long as it fits. Our B-Agile fits pretty well. And, yes, make sure to empty the basket first (though I do leave things in the parent console). One exception was when we checked in for First Class to Hawaii - they just took the stroller through open - just to be helpful, I guess.
Oh, and a side note, Caden will not need to take off his shoes or coat (though, if he's like Izzy, he may want to just to be like the grown-ups, but it's not required). Oh, and pay attention to what the TSA person wants Caden to do about going through the metal detector - it always seems to be different. He is old enough that they may just have him walk, but I've been told to carry her, to have her walk through first, to have her walk through behind me, etc. So, whatever their thing is, go with that.
Haha!! Caden gets upset when his food is broken too!!! It's still a tantrum trigger. I avoid it whenever possible.
Yes, broken food is the worst! There will be another example on the return flight.
I avoid it too. Especially breaking something in front of her - sometimes, if I do it out of sight, it doesn't cause a problem. Silly kids.
Awww all the airplane pics are so cute! Love the smiling one while reading Olaf
She still loves that Olaf book. One of my better spontaneous Target buys, I guess.
So did you take a "real" camera at all or just rely on iphone pics? I'm SERIOUSLY considering skipping the real camera and only taking my iphone6. But I'm scared I'll regret not having nicer photos. I may bring along my DSLR and just bring it some days. It's just heavy cause it has a steel body
We did not take a "real" camera. Last December, we brought a point-and-shoot (the most "real" camera we have
) and barely used it. Since it was just me on this trip, I figured I'd have limited hands anyway and might as well just use my phone, since I'd have it on me. Turned out there were some times where I WISHED I brought the real camera as a spare for my malfunctioning phone, though. By the way, I did the same thing in June, but Lauren was there with her fancy camera, so lots of quality photos!
For Hawaii, we used only Photopass, our iPhones, and the water camera my dad lent us (nice to have!) Worked for us.
Wow! I failed even more than I thought! LOL
Excuses:
I think I unsubscribed to your Dec TR once it was done, and I only go to the last page of your Hawaii PTR to read whatever was most recently posted, AND (final excuse) I read on my phone 99% of the time so I don't see any signatures!! Ha! See? I couldn't POSSIBLY have known lol
hahaha
I'm glad I'm here now! I'm gonna have to take lots of notes!
Haha, no worries. I never even thought to unsubscribe to a TR when it's done. Guess I'm too much of a packrat. That explains why I have 200+ subscriptions (ETA - just checked and it's actually 352!). I just let them drop down as the posting stops, but they pop back up if something happens later. That's good to have that insight into how others manage this, though.
Joining in! Sounds like you had a relatively easy trip through the airport. I commend you on traveling by yourself with a toddler - I'm not sure if I could handle it!
Hi!
Yes, it was a fairly easy airport day. I never knew I could travel solo with a toddler either, but it wasn't bad at all. It helped that I'd done that girls' trip with Lauren & Aria in June, so I had some experience. And seeing how she did it in her reports helped a bunch too. Plus, it was a short trip, so it went by quick and I never felt like I needed a break from her.
Is that thermos cup easy to clean and reassemble? Washing and reassembling Rory's cups make me crazy, so I'm always on the lookout for a new one.
Yes, it is!
I love them. They are dishwasher safe too. And they consist of the main body, the flip-top, the straw, and the spout - and they are all easy to clean and take apart/put together. We still use other cups at home, usually, but we bring these whenever we go out or travel (I have two - a plain one and a Minnie one!) My only complaint is that they very occasionally leak when closed. Back in April, when we went to NYC, we'd throw them right into a bag, full of milk. They were almost always totally fine, but there was one small leak. Since then, I put them in a ziplock and it's generally dry, but there have been a few leaks I've caught. I don't know why - maybe they're getting worn out or maybe I didn't get the lid on right - who knows? Still love them, though, especially when you're out and about for a long time.
I always get stressed out boarding a plane with my carry-on stuff, so I was getting a little anxious while reading about everything you had to lug on board- very glad that Izzy was able to walk and I bet it was completely adorable to watch!
CAnt wait to read the rest!
Yeah, it's never fun going through the security and getting on the plane with your stuff. Having a toddler and all of their stuff takes the stress up a notch.
It was nice that she could walk this time, though - makes it a bit easier to manage it all.
Travel and arrival day!
68 is warm in MN?
That makes me throw on pants here in FL. My sister in law is actually moving to MN next year, and I told her I'd be more than happy to visit her during the summer.
Ha, yes, I'd say most Minnesotans would call 68 warm.
Of course, it does get warmer - this was very early in the morning, so probably about the low for the day. But, for perspective, Thanksgiving morning here was zero degrees. Yep, zero.
Funny, you throw on pants, like that's unusual, where we would throw on shorts when it gets warm (well, unless you're a 20-year-old guy that throws on shorts in the winter too - which you do see around here - crazy!). Yes, visit her during the summer - maybe we can meet up?
Izzy was digging that blueberry muffin. Kids are funny about what they like/don't like in terms of food. Landon is fine with pieces of food. Unless it bananas. Or apples. That he has to eat by himself and whole.
Haha, I love that they all have their own set of rules.
Izzy likes her bananas whole too. She's okay with apple slices, though - plus, they double as boats, as we discovered last night.
So, you had to wrangle a car seat, stroller, carry on, and Izzy onto the plane and into your seats?
that's a hectic feat! I am impressed at your multi-tasking skills. I would have been way more stressed out.
Yeah, it's not the most fun thing to do on your own. Once that stroller can be left at the gate check, though, it's much better. But I do hate carrying the carseat down the aisle - it's SO hard not to hit anyone due to how narrow the space is, at least if others are already onboard. It helps that Izzy is older and can sit in a seat while I get her carseat set up now (and it doesn't take long to strap it into an airplane with the lap belt). Oh, and this is why I brought backpacks for our carry-on this time - I learned from June that tote bags work, but not as well as a backpack.
Izzy looks plenty occupied and entertained in her seat. Was she fine sitting in it the whole time? Did she get antsy?
Yeah, she did really well staying in her seat. Same with Hawaii (out for a bit there, but not bad, considering how much longer it was). She really didn't get antsy, so long as I had things to keep her happy with (snacks, toys, etc.) Plus, with a carseat, she always gets priority for a window, which is sometimes nice to look out of too.
But one-handed and in a hurry, often that is all I can manage. And, in my defense, it's really the only way to capture a character meet between a toddler and Goofy, unless you tilt up and down a lot. 
I'm sorry you had to cancel your trip. 
That's a huge bummer! So glad you are here, though. I will try to distract you until you go back! 
And she still was not even close. Next out of the bag were her Minnie sunglasses (that only function as a toy, since her nose isn’t big enough to hold them up on her face):
It wasn’t all smoking, either – there was some other terrible smell past that. Not sure what. However, it was nice that the walk wasn’t particularly long for a non-preferred room. And, if I’d had a car, it would have had convenient parking. Oh, also, we passed a small playground on our walk. Izzy wanted to get out and play (she loves playgrounds), but I told her that we were on our way to a much better playground called “the Magic Kingdom.” A Cast Member heard that and giggled. We made it back to Everything Pop at 12:44pm:
I looked at online check in and couldn't find a place to request a king room. I need to look again. I think when I looked j was only looking at AoA so maybe it's different at pop. 
Ha, I guess shoes are an excellent toy at this age. I just hope she doesn't become obsessed and need dozens of pairs of shoes in each size as she gets older. 
Maybe it is common, I don't know. 
