{ seattle }

Andrew has been traveling for work this summer quite a bit. People ask me how I do it, and I tell them I just do it. I'm used to it. 

Plus, honestly, once I said to myself, "Okay, Shan. This is what you have to do. This is a sacrifice, but you're strong and independent and you can do it." I was fine. 

I've got my little routine down, but there are days when Baker is fussy and it's hard. Those are the days I can really empathize with single mom. It's not easy doing it on your own.

Andrew had already been gone for a week when he called me and said his trip was extended another week. I'll be honest, I was buggin when he first told me. I hate last minute changes like that. I'm a planner, and I like to know what's around the next corner. But alas, life isn't a road map. You just have to roll with the punches, so that's what we did. 

I needed a break and we missed Andrew terribly, so I used my sky miles, and Baker and I flew up to visit Daddy for a few days. 

I was nervous to travel by myself with Baker, but I figured people fly with babies all the time, so why not me? Still, I prayed he'd be good so I could avoid the evil eye from other passengers. Luckily, my prayers were answered and he did great (well, as good as can be expected from a baby).

Here are my tips for parents traveling with babies. 

Sit at the back of the plane if you can. That way, you can get out and stand up without being in anyone's way. 

Oh, and get an isle seat. Someone told me to get a window seat because you can rest against it, and you have control over the window (shutting the shade when they nap), so I got a window seat. Boy, that was a mistake. Yeah I had control of the window shade, and Baker kind of napped for a little bit, but when he was awake, he wanted to stand on my lap and he's wobbly and his moves are unexpected at times and he kept hitting his head against the side of the plane. Then he'd cry. Then people would give me mean looks. Not fun. Oh and crawling across two people to make your way out of the seat is super fun with a baby. Just get an isle seat peeps. Then when your kid gets fussy, you can stand and bounce him and disturb nobody.

Before you board, ask the flight attendant at the kiosk if the plane is full. If it's not, you can bring your car seat on, which in my case, made the flight a lot more pleasant. On the flight there, there wasn't a seat vacant. On the flight back, we had the whole back row to ourselves! Baker stayed in his car seat and slept 95% of the time. When he was awake, he happily played with his toys as he sat in his carseat. It was blissful.

I also came to terms with people who roll their eyes at you or give dirty looks when your baby gets fussy and cries. I realize these people probably don't have kids, or if they do, they're sucky, impatient, non-sympathetic parents and their eye roll invites bad karma to their parenting life. I was trying my best and that means I had nothing to apologize for.

I realized there are amazing, kind, helpful people out there who see a mom traveling by herself with a crap load of stuff (stroller, car seat, luggage, etc) and offer to help.

I also realized that thankfully, there were more people willing to help than there were eye rollers.

Anyway, I'll let my instagram photos tell the rest of the story. We had a blast. It was so so so good seeing Andrew and even better seeing him with his son. We laughed, played, did all the touresty things, ate delicious sea food, and enjoyed our time as a family. Seattle was beautiful and amazing. It will always hold a special place in my heart.