The Flight From H.. You Know Where

Remember how excited I was that we now live Chicago and the flight to Utah is only 3 hours.. It's amazing right? Well, it's only  amazing when it actually takes 3 hours. 

On June 18, my mom dropped us off at the Salt Lake Airport. Our flight didn't leave until 4, so we went and got some lunch at Cafe Rio, I bought a book (Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan... HILARIOUS), and we sat in line to board. We had been sitting there for about 30 minutes when I looked up at the screen and it said our plane was delayed an hour. This was frustrating. Especially because toddlers come with a good behavior expiration. We had planned naps, snacks, and entertainment perfectly. We have this down... (this is her 14th flight in 2 years.)

So we sat some more and eventually got on the plane. The pilot came on the intercom and explained there was a giant storm happening in Chicago and the midwest, and all flights that aren't already in flight are grounded. 

We sat some more.

TWO HOURS GO BY.... SITTING ON THE PLANE. yes we are still on the runway, waiting for Chicago to tell us if we are free for take off... 

Every 30 minutes the captain would come on the intercom and tell us "Chicago, said 'not yet'. We will hear an update in 30 minutes." After 2 hours, the captain decided to drive back to the terminal and let us off to eat and get comfortable. 

When we got off, they said they would hear an update in an hour and we would probably leave then. This gave us hope, especially because they told us that we had to be on the plane with in 15 minutes of the announcement or they would leave us. We were NOT missing this plane. 

It was now dinner time, so we got Wendy's and ate dinner. Amelia ran around the terminal 65926 times, and we hoped this would wear her out. 

Well we had to wait longer than expected and got HOURLY updates... "Maybe the next hour will be better news..."

THREE HOURS LATER. we had eaten all of our snacks and played with our toys... CUE mom's anxiety. It's about to go down in toddlerland.

we got on the plane at 9:00. Yeah.. 5 hours after our first flight. 

Because of the storm, we had to go around it, so the flight actually took 4.5 hours instead of 3. 

For the flight... Amelia did GREAT. No complaints. She didn't fall asleep until we were landing. OF COURSE. We got into Chicago at 3:30am. We were supposed to get there at 8:30 pm (THE DAY BEFORE) (too many caps for one post?).... Ugh. 

Well, it took an other hour for our luggage to get to the baggae claim, because so many other flights were delayed. the airport was packed. Amelia was so tired, but not ornery at all... we really lucked out with her behavior. 

We got home at 5:00 am. Oh and toddlers don't sleep in, no matter what time they go to sleep. It was just a great day...

Pre-Flight... oH the bliss of the unknown

Trying to keep her happy during our 2 hour Tarmac tour

Hour 3 of flight... 

As we are landing... 

Sitting on my suitcase as I roller her around the airport

My face says it all...

Shall we try again this Christmas? I think we might pass this year.

Potty Trained in 3 Days.. SupaaaStaaa

By Golly. I think she's finally got it!

Potty training Amelia was such a terrifying thought. I always frowned at parents who told me their child was potty trained before 2 years old.. I also thought they were lying. Like that unspoken competition of "my child is better at pooping than yours" and they were cheating. 
Then one day, Amelia asked to go on the potty. And she went. Then she asked the teachers at the YMCA to take her potty. And then I knew. She was ready. 

I felt silly that I was so scared to potty train her. Seriously... I was SCARED. And looking back, I have no idea why I was scared. Here were my worries:
1. I couldn't drive more than 1 hour at at time.
2. It would be hard to go in public worrying that she would have an accident.
3. I didn't want her out of a crib. She is too much of a free spirit for that. 
4. I don't even know.. Failure? Being too early.

Just so you know, all of these don't matter. You can drive and bring the potty, or just plan ahead and think about water consumption and all that. Being in public is actually EASIER. I don't have to haul around a diaper bag, and everywhere has bathrooms. She wears a diaper when she sleeps, so there's that. And failure? Please... she is a champion.

I followed the Naked Potty Training guide. My friends, Elyse and Courtney, both suggested this website. Potty Train in Just 3 Days. Not only did it work like a charm, but it worked in just 2 days. Yep. On day 3, I took her to the gym for 2 hours and she didn't have an accident. She told the teachers she needed to go and that's that. 

Not quite sure what to do with these undies

New Undies for Valentines Gift

BatGirl!

Anyone need a plumber?

And then this happened.

Not Naked. just the best seat in the house.

Some tips:
1. Get a potty that they will be excited about. Amelia was OBSESSED with it. 
2. Make sure they are ready. Honestly, Amelia potty trained herself. 
3. Get a treat/treasure jar. Every time she went Peep, I gave her a sticker for her chart, and a Hershey's Kiss. When she went poop, she got a sticker again plus a toy. Poop is just scarier, so the reward needs to be worth it.
4. The first day, or two, might seem like they are just playing or they just don't get it. Don't give up. Go outside, give them a break and see how they do.

Amelia was potty trained at 21 months using this method, and it was the first try. This isn't mean to be a "My kid poops better than yours." This post is to say that it works, not too scary, and definitely worth it. 

**IF THEY ARE READY**