Getting ready...

So as Lyle mentioned, I've been getting us ready for this week trip to Florida for what seems like a long time now. Maybe it's silly to be stressed about it. But this is the first time Keegan is flying and I want to make sure it's a good experience for him, for us, and for everyone on the plane with us!

Little does Lyle know; I have packed many times in my head already. Trying to figure out what we need, what we can buy when we get there and where things will go. I've got it all planned out. Keegan will have a diaper bag. I will have a backpack with toys for him and a couple books for me. Lyle will have the bag with all the electronics stuff. We'll also have Keegan's carseat; that's just the carry-on items!

We'll need two big suitcases and probably one small one. Keegan's clothing is already packed, my clothing is already packed. I am going to pack his toys and dishes, snacks, water toys, portable bed, and portable booster seat tonight.

These trips always encompass so much more than just the packing. For instance Ruby is going to be kenneled. So I need to pack up food for her, treats for her, toys for her, her dog bed, and anything else I can think of to make her more comfortable while we are gone.

Next we have to get the cats set up. So we need to make sure all the nails are cut, water put out, that we have enough food. Etc, etc.

Then I have to stop the mail. So that it doesn't sit in the box forever.

I am normally a nervous traveler anyway. Even a routine trip out to the manufacturing plant in Oregon gets me in a bit of tizzy. Of course when I was going out every other month I just never unpacked my travel stuff. But traveling with Keegan just makes me nervous.

The thing I am most concerned about is something that I can't do anything about. Keegan is just getting over an ear infection. Unless he re-developes a fever I won't know if he has an ear infection, if he's gotten over it, or if he is getting another one. I know it really hurts to fly with an ear infection. So, I am crossing my fingers and hoping that he will be okay. I really just don't want him to be hurting while we are flying.

I guess the next thing that worries me is getting delayed. We'll have enough stuff in the diaper bag to probably survive with Keegan 12 hours. Since it's a direct flight I am sure we won't have trouble. But you never know! When you travel there are just *so* many unknowns.

I also really don't want to bother the people around us. Traveling, especially for business, can be harrowing. I know. I've been the person next to the lady with the 15 month old who crawls all over me for 3 hours. I've been the person next to the 2 year that throws pop into my lap. I've been the person sitting in front of a baby the cries the whole flight. To be completely honest, I have probably audibly groaned in misery to find out I am sitting next to someone with a toddler. It's not that I don't feel for the parent. It's more that when you are taking a 5am flight out after a week of working 20 hr days and you feel like crap and have a headache the last thing you want is to be pestered and cried at. A little harsh I suppose, but I understand, and I don't want to cause anyone abject misery on their flight to where-ever. That's part of the reason we got Keegan his own seat on the plane.

Oh, and I am also nervous about getting the carseat, carry-ons, and Keegan through security. I don't know why but security always makes me nervous. I always let out a huge sigh of relief once I am checked in, through security, and to the gate.

I do realize that I get crazy about this stuff. I am trying to calm down about it. What works to calm me down is to think of the worst case scenario. So, we miss our flight. Well, then we catch the next one or we go back home. So, Keegan screams for 3 hours on the flight (my absolute worst fear). Lyle and I will sweat it out, try to comfort him, and hope no one goes postal on us. So, his carseat doesn't fit in the airplane, then we gatecheck it. So, Keegan has blowout diarrhea. Then we'll change his cloths and stink out the place for a bit. Seriously I think the plane crashing is probably not in my top 10 for travel worries.

Ah, well, have I made you all tense yet?! And to think last year I was seriously considering taking Keegan to Japan. Good lord, we are just going to Florida, I can't imagine how I would be if we were traveling to a country where I couldn't speak the language.

Anyway, one a more interesting note. Keegan has learned how to curdle yogurt. On Saturday night at Chile's I was feeding Keegan some yogurt. When the waitress brought the drinks (mine was a water with lemon) Keegan saw the lemon and wanted it. For some reason Keegan loves lemons. He loves to suck on them and then make horrible yucky faces about how awful they taste. I think part of why he does it is because it makes us all laugh. When he threw the lemon on the floor and looked at me he had curdled all the yogurt over his chin. Ewww...

Keegan is also trying very hard to say "doggy". He points at Ruby and says "dawga". He'll get it soon enough.

This Thursday at daycare they are having a 50's dance. So Keegan is supposed to wear a white t-shirt and jeans. Would you believe that Keegan does not own a white t-shirt? Guess we are just not white t-shirt types. So, as if I am not stressed enough, I had to run out and get Keegan a white t-shirt lest he be an outcast at daycare. Ah, well life is interesting.

I am really looking forward to the warm weather though. Anything about 40oF is going to feel like Nirvana.