Tag Archives: plane

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Reunited

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Wednesday, 10 September 2014; One Year, One Hundred and Sixty Two Days Old.

Ayla was reunited with her Daddy tonight, when he flew down to join us in time for Ayla’s procedure.

Hubby asked that I didn’t say anything to Ayla about picking Daddy up as we headed off to the airport, but I did accidentily mention it to her yesterday and since then every knock at the door or sound upstairs has had Ayla pointing and saying “Daddy?”

We got to the airport early and waited at the gate. Ayla was restless by the time people started disembarking and she was wandering around excitedly, dodging legs and carry on baggage as they hurriedly headed for the baggage collection area.

I saw Hubby well before Ayla did, and he squatted down next to her. Ayla stopped in her tracks and stared at him; studing his face as if to work out whether he was real or not.

Then it clicked. Ayla ran the last two steps towards her Daddy and threw her arms around his neck, refusing to let go. Ayla kept looking back at me, smiling, then patting her Daddy’s face as if to say
“Nawww Mum! Look! Daddy’s actually here!” – so cute.

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Delays

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Thursday, 3 July 2014; One Year and Ninety Four Days Old.

We left Melbourne today and headed for home, but the journey wasn’t as smooth as we’d hoped for!

Instead of being a three hour and fifty minute flight, we were on board the plane for over five hours.

We were delayed waiting for passengers on another flight and then we were the 13th plane in line for takeoff, which had us waiting on the tarmac for almost thirty minutes.

Ayla was tired and ready for a nap the moment we boarded, but with all the delays I couldn’t keep her awake until takeoff; she passed out in my arms before the plane had even moved.

I was worried about whether or not Ayla would sleep through the pressurisation of take off, given that she wasn’t sucking or chewing anything to help her pop her ears, but Ayla slept like an angel.

Until we were about 20 minutes in the air.

Then Ayla woke up, still tired because we’d got her up early and she’d only had one short nap, and Hubby and I were faced with occupying a one year old for nearly the entire four hour flight.

To say it was fun would be a lie, but it wasn’t awful I guess.

Thankfully we had plenty of toys and snacks to keep Ayla happy and amused but she squirmed and squealed and wanted to run about as much as she could.

We eventually arrived home and Ayla seemed pleased and excited to see The Dog and especially Cat Cat.

I caught Ayla trying to pick Cat Cat up, and after that was unsuccessfully Ayla resorted to kissing her on the head. It was super cute and lovely to know Ayla was happy to be home.

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Flight No.11

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Thursday, 26 June 2014: One Year and Eighty Seven Days Old.

I was anxious about how Ayla would be on the plane today, even though it was her 11th flight in just 14 months of life!!

My concern was unprecedented of course, Ayla was content and happy to sit with Hubby and I, eat snacks, have a couple of little snoozes and push buttons on the built-in screens.

I thought that because Ayla’s walking now she might have wanted to explore the plane and make as many new friends as possible, but it turns out all her previous flying experience has taught her well.

Ayla did have a little bit of ear pain on landing for the first time, and she went awfully quiet when we stepped outside into the cold Melbourne winter air but all in all we made it safe and sound.

My great aunt was waiting for us at our hotel and took us out for tea with my uncle. It was their first time meeting Ayla and it was lovely to catch up and great to start the trip with a couple of friendly faces!

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A medal

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Saturday, 8 February 2014; Three Hundred and Thirteen Days Old.

All things considered, Ayla was a dream on our journey back home today.

Thankfully Ayla had somehow managed to sleep in two five hour stints last night, she even got in a 30 minute morning nap as well, so I took comfort in the fact I wasn’t boarding the plane with an overtired baby.

Just a teething, hyperactive, hungry one.

Ayla is still refusing to eat food and I’m worried I don’t have the milk she needs to keep her full and happy. I’m starting to think that might be why Ayla seems constantly on the go lately… I know that when I’m hungry I certainly can’t relax!

On the other hand, and most likely, it’s probably teething. `Ayla’s top gum is riddled with lumps and bumps and I’m pretty sure I can see four definite teeth trying to push through.

If I’m right, and Ayla has four li’l toofie-pegs coming through at once I owe the girl a medal, not a rousing!

Whatever it is though, Ayla was generally happy on the plane. I was grateful for two air hostesses with a passion for cute babies who happily held and played with Ayla during the journey, and I was grateful to a grandma from Jabiru who was next to me. Oh! And I am eternally grateful for having a spare seat in our row!

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Seasoned pro

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Wednesday, 29 January 2014: Three Hundred and Three Days Old.

I am so lucky to have a baby who is as forgiving, placid and easygoing as Ayla.

Up at 4.45am this morning Ayla was happy to wait with me as we huddled under the front patio in the pouring rain and waited for a taxi to arrive and take us to the airport.

Once there, nearly twenty minutes late mind you, Ayla sat comfortably on my hip and I sweet talked our way into three adjoining seats in Row 5 at no additional cost, and Ayla quietly clung on to me as we charged through the security checks,

The two of us spent the next half an hour sitting side by side on a departure lounge couch, sharing a toasted sandwich and watching other red-eye warriors prop their eyelids open with tooth pegs… Or coffee.

The flight itself was great, thanks to Row 5 but ultimately due to Ayla’s awesomeness at traveling; this is her third interstate trip since she was born and Ayla’s evidently a seasoned pro, happy and content to play with her toys and smile at the passengers behind us through the gap between seats.

I didn’t even have to feed Ayla during landing because her ears handled the change in altitude all by themselves, and I was able to somehow bundle Ayla into the Baby Ka’tan and be ready to “disembark via the front door” without a fuss.

Our luggage arrived on the carousel and we made our way to the pick up area where Ayla’s Grandma met us and helped us load our things, smothering Baby Ayla with cuddles and oodles of long awaited love.

From the airport we headed to a shopping centre no less, and while Grandma finished work for the day Ayla and I killed time browsing and stocking up on nappies and fruit.

We finally made it home in the late afternoon and by then Ayla’s eyes were hanging out of her head, as were mine.

Although we’d been able to jag a little over an hours sleep on the plane it was a massive, long, tiring day of travel and Ayla took it all in her stride.

I would have completely understood if Ayla had reached breaking point on the plane, in the car or even at the shopping centre but my baby girl is a trooper and she helps make even the most exhausting day a pleasure.

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Aeroplane

Saturday, 22 June 2013: Eighty-Two Days Old.

First thing tomorrow morning, Ayla’s going on her first aeroplane trip!

Hubby can’t come because of work, so sadly it’ll be just us girls braving the cold for two weeks.

I’m not looking forward to being away from hubby for so long, and I’m worried about him missing out on two whole weeks of Ayla’s development.

Plus, traveling with a baby is HARD!

Not only is there a seemingly infinite amount of clothes, socks, headbands, nappies, wipes and wraps to take, there’s a pile of paraphernalia including toys, linen, playmats and the breast pump!

I’ve heard that the actual act of flying with a baby is pretty simple – feed during take off and landing – but it’s getting to and from the plane with all our gear that’s going to prove most challenging.

Wish us luck!