Travel Tips

Luke and I were just on the east coast for 12 days and he completed 5 successful flights. We started by flying to Philadelphia (via Houston). I was ok with the layover because I didn't know how he'd respond but once he was perfect I wish we would've taken the 6.5 hour direct instead of the 4 hour then 3 hour flights. But, who knows what you'll get when you're flying with a 7 week old so we played it safe. The biggest challenge was our amount of stuff! Since we were going for 12 days and to so many places we had a lot of stuff. When we went through security, Julia and I had 9 bins!

Auntie Jules and all our stuff!

THE AIRPORT
We did have some checked bags because of the length of our trip. I then brought my chico caddy stroller and carseat through the airport for gatecheck. I wore Luke in the Ergo carrier and piled everything else on the stroller. We brought a small cooler with pumped milk, a travel boppy, my diaper bag and Julia's bag.
At security, I had to put my bags, stroller and carseat through the scanner but they let me wear him through in the Ergo. I had to have my hands swiped but that's it. At PDX they put the bottle of breastmilk I had in a machine but at the other airports (EWR and PBI) they didn't bother.
Once we were on our plane, I prepared myself with anything he could possibly need during take off (I was scared of the pressure on his ears). I had a bottle, a pacifier, my nursing cover on, my nursing tank unhooked, etc. We were ready. AND he slept through takeoff (and landing)... no worries there!

DURING THE FLIGHTS
 

While we were on our flight, we took turns holding Luke on the travel boppy. I was skeptical of the overpriced pillow but it was worth it because we didn't have to hold him, he could just lay across our laps. He slept for most of the flight but woke up for short amounts of time to play. He nursed a few times but I pumped while he slept and had bottles for him as well. We changed his wet diapers in the seat- just a fast switch! He never cried on all 5 flights- I have a traveler! Whew!

ON OUR VACATION
While we were away we stayed in a bunch of different places. We started out at my parent's house, then spent 2 nights in a NYC hotel, then a night at my grandmas, then a condo in Florida. We brought with us the Summer's Infant Travel Bed and it was great. It gave him a place to sleep and also a place to play. He slept well the whole trip. In Florida, he went to the beach and the pool so we kept him covered up with the Sun Suit by iplay.

Luke was a great traveler and I'm so relieved. It's nice to know we can keep up our lifestyle, especially since we already have more crosscountry flights booked for next month!

2 months!

It's been a busy 2 months for us! Luke has been so many places and has changed so much. 

I'm really happy I decided to do the 365 day photo project because I love seeing him change.
At 2 months he is so much more alert, interactive and smiley. He now likes tummy time and tries to push himself. 

He loves baby shower, being worn in the ergo, sleeping in his stroller and dancing! 

Luke has successfully been on 5 flights already, read about our travel tips here. 

He's been to the coast twice, wine tasting, lots of farmers markets, a bridal shower, a wedding, 

swimming in the pool, the warm beach (Florida), a 60th birthday and his first fathers day for his daddy. Busy boy!
 

I am so proud that he's been exclusively breastfed (he had one night of 4oz formula) for 2 months. 

With my breast reductions I didn't think I'd be able to provide him with exclusive breastmilk for a whole day! 

I'm so surprised that my supply is sufficient and hope I can continue. Everyday I can breastfed him is great for now.

Luke and I have stayed really busy hanging out with other moms and going to appointments. 

At 2 months, we finally graduated from our Lactation Consultant but I'm really going to miss her! 

We are still breastfeeding on demand and giving a few bottles a day. He's up to about 12oz of breastmilk in 

bottles a day because he's too active to nurse all day long- he loses focus way too fast. But, he's growing with what 

we're doing so we'll keep it up!

At 2 months, he now weighs 10lbs, 9.5oz and is in the 9th percentile (we were hanging out in the 7th for a 

few weeks so we are thrilled). The extra bottles of breastmilk have given him a little extra chub on his thighs!

6 weeks!

I've been a mom for 6 weeks now and am definitely loving it! It's incredible and so much fun. I know when he's more interactive it's just going to get better but for now I'm loving the smiles he just started giving me!

Luke got his vaccinations this week since we will be flying at 7 weeks. He had a little extra fussiness that afternoon but still slept like a champ overnight. He didn't cry (scream) nearly as much as I expected.

My brother was in town this weekend so we were entertaining him and his fiancee for their first visit to Oregon. We went to our favorite farmer's market (Portland State) then wine tasting in Dundee (Erath Winery and Red Hills Market for lunch) then out to dinner at Rogue Brewery at night (worst service ever). It was a busy day but Luke loved being worn by Paul all day. Paul and Jess couldn't get enough of him and love their new nephew! Sunday we drove to the coast to show them our favorite local beach (Cannon Beach) then drove down the coast to show them the views and stopped at the Tillamook factory on the way back.

My sister is here for 2 weeks and she's the BEST nanny ever. I see her being invited on some vacations with us. She's great with Luke and so helpful around the house. He loves his Aunt Jules and is going to miss her so much during the school year while she's in college. Hopefully she can come with us during her spring break.

We leave this week for our whirlwind tour of the east coast. I'm excited, I hope Luke does well on the flights since flying seems to be a huge part of our life.  He will have to take 5 flights so it better go well!

We finished our 3 session infant massage class and loved it. Luke really enjoys his massage and it also helps with relaxation and colic. I highly recommend infant massage! We're still going to mom's groups and enjoying that as well as walking with friends. We've been really busy. I'm debating joining a stroller fitness class but I'm not sure if my body is ready for that yet. I'm still really out of shape and honestly, I'm not sure if I want to rush out of the house in the mornings since he has a good nap in the mornings.