After we got the bags checked Nate dealt with all the passports and bags and I dealt with Belle. No strip searches and the agents were all super nice! They even helped open up the stroller for me :) Once inside we had about an hour before our flight left so we really tried to get Belle to take and afternoon nap to prevent crankiness.... too much going on for her to sleep though!
Time to board and I take my seat in the tiny jetliner in the solo seat by the window with Nate across the aisle from me. At this point Belle is high pitch screaming while the rest of the plane boards and I can see their faces drop when they realize a baby is on board. This makes me nervous and really angry at them for being so selfish. Of course I was once in their shoes so I really can't complain.
Belle continues to fuss and I know that she is hungry but I really just don't feel comfortable pulling out a boob while people are boarding.... ughhh!! I start to sweat and finally say f- it and prepare to feed her.
She arched back in protest, a new thing she does now, and bumped her head on the armrest. Ohhhhh noooooo. Now the tears and screams begin and I immediately feel terrible because it's my fault. I sweat even more.
I finally am able to get her to calm down a little enough to start eating when the stewardess informs me that I cannot sit in that seat and I must move next to Nate. Great. Now I have to pack up the food bags and haul my a$$ over! In the process I bump my head in the small plane and I am almost brought to tears. I sweat some more.
We settle into our seats finally and the plane takes off. Short of a few more tears and ear piercing screams the flight went ok. It went good enough for the people immediately around us not to make eye contact with us after the flight but for the people at the end of the plane to comment on how good she was.
While we exit the plane I can't help but think of the next 14 hrs ahead of us and cringe. Might as well make thing interesting and have Mexican food for dinner.... it's like rolling the dice before a 10.5 hr flight!
Luckily we have access to the Continental lounge, thanks Nate for all your frequent flights, and they have a family room that was completely empty.
I set up the room so Belle could try to get a nap in before the flight. At this point I thought she would have passed out because it is 6pm and she has been awake since 1030 am. She does fall asleep and takes a pretty good nap. Enough to get over the crankiness.
We board the flight and get settled into our seats only to find that a 6 month old Brazilian baby boy is sitting behind us with his family. This makes my worries melt away that I won't be the only one.
Brazilians LOVE babies and kids in general. To prove this to you while the rest of the plane was boarding three teenage boys (Let me repeat. Three teenage boys. ) walked by and whispered to each other in Portuguese about how cute she was- Actually they called her a he but who cares! My baby is cute and not a nuisance!
Side note: what teenage boy thinks a baby is cute?? Aren't they supposed to run from babies?
Well it turns out the flight was pretty uneventful. I had to hold her the whole time except for when Nate held her for a little and then once when she slept in the little bassinet. Who cares cause it's over!!
Ohhh what a long flight. I didn't sleep at all really. I nodded off right before the lights came on for breakfast and Belle managed to sleep through most of it.
Through immigration and customs in a flash and almost leaving the airport without the carseat (I would have cried cause it's new- Yes she out grew the infant carrier already).
We make it to our new place filled with boxes, beds set up without sheets and a couch with a working tv! Couldn't be happier. Nate has to quick shower and run off to work but at least he got to sleep a little on the plane.
Two full days of recovery for the three of us and I finally think we are starting to settle. Boxes still line the apartment but it doesn't matter. Life is great and we are happy.
Tchau,
Sara
