Tips for traveling with a baby

My 13 month old has been on 50+ flights ranging from 29 minutes (glorious) to 14 hours. We are traveling pros. We go somewhere at least once a month.

Here's what I've learned:

Travel with More Than You Need

Carry a backpack and pack two extra shorts, two extra shirts, a ton of extra diapers and start with a new thing of wipes. 

Travel with Snacks

I always pack Puffs (my go to snack on the go!), wheat thins, fruit that I've already cut up to bite size pieces (blueberries are my fav because no cutting is needed), Cheerios, graham crackers, and an empty cup. You can carry as much milk, water, juice, purées and liquids (if it's for the baby) through security. I always pack a snack for me and Bryan too in case we get a case of the Hangries.

Travel with transportation 

For the longest time (12 months), the moby was my go to method for transporting Bradley. He's now not interested in being strapped down, so we use a cheap umbrella stroller. If it breaks, it's ok. It's been on many flights and dinged a bunch but still works. Don't take your nice stroller.

Dress your kid at bedtime

Most of our flights back easy require a layover which means if we want to arrive before dinner, we need to fly out around 6AM. Yuck. So we dress Bradley in an outfit (shirt, shorts) so all we have to do is grab him and put him right into the car. (Pack the car first, then get baby.)

Let the kid go wild at the gate

Run. Walk. Crawl. Stretch. Explore. All that activity: get it out!! 

Suck on takeoff

Bring a pacifier, a bottle, a cup, a boob, whatever for takeoff.

Bring quiet toys

We have a special stash of airplane toys. No noises but lots of flaps, levers, spinners, etc. We pack 2 books (always his plane book plus the current fav), a figurine (The Count), a car, a ball (we have so many so if it rolls away were ok) and his lovie blanket with extra pacifiers. 

Take care of mom and dad

I always make sure to drive through somewhere on the way to te airport for coffee and Dr. Pepper. At the airport, we normally hit the Starbucks or magazine stand. Little splurges can take away some of the chaos and stress of traveling with a baby.

Well, there you have it! Did I forget anything??

Things That Make Me Happy

A short list of what makes me happy.

Working with Julie

Sending care packages

Eating lunch with Bryan

Watching Hell's Kitchen

Taking off my pants

Eating frozen strawberry bars

Thinking about Dallas vacations

Hearing that I'm doing great at my job

Wearing my robot necklace

Finishing my To Do list

Feeling the baby move

Looking outside at the sunny day while enjoying A/C

Reflections on Being 24

This year has been incredible.

Incredibly significant.

Incredibly sad.

Incredibly exciting.

Incredibly romantic.

Incredibly wild.

Incredibly incredible.

Last year, I had the best birthday ever on the heels of visiting Philadelphia and performing in Duofest. My life was about to change. I thought I was going to quit my job for grad school.

Turns out, I quit my job for an incredible job. Look how happy I am with my new job.

in DC

in Vietnam

in Tahlequah

in China

I went on several personal trips this year for awesome reasons.

Clemson Homecoming

Homecoming with my favs

Ben and Adrienne's SC wedding

Florida for Thanksgiving

(I was pregnant here and didn't know it)

Christmas in Kentucky with the Buckleys

Second City mainstage show

Florida to celebrate the baby coming

I had the most incredible improv year of my life.

my favorite show we've had

Jazz Lab Show

I taught classes in Oklahoma City

killed our show in my old stomping grounds at NCCAF

I had a silly handful of times. I cried a few times. I screamed with excitement a few times.

This year has been the craziest year of my life. I've changed.

I've gone from librarian to international recruiter. From skinny to pregnant. From depressed to satisfied. From lonely to loved. From poor to not poor. From oblivious to aware.

It's the year I grew up. I'll remember my 24th year forever.

It's the year I landed my best job yet.

It's the year we could afford 12 trips.

It's the year we found out that cancer can come back. Can come back worse.

It's the year we concieved our first child.

It's the year I was my funniest.

It's the year I went on my first international trip(s).

It's the year I got my own staff.

It's the year I both lost 10 pounds and gained 25.

It's the year I rebuilt my relationship with my sister.

It's the year.

And now it's over. What the heck will come from this next year?





Stop the Presses: I'm being an adult

The craziest part of being pregnant is the whole there's-a-human-being-about-to-depend-on-us-for-everything thing.

Which forces me to be an adult.

But, I'm already an adult. I remember to pay all my bills. I check my mail. I have a full time job and a salary and benefits and a parking spot. I live in a house. I make dinner (most nights). I plan vacations. I buy detergent and toilet paper and batteries before they run out. I return phone calls and emails. I budget. I even remind my husband to put out the trash (most Tuesdays).

Which means I'm being forced from being an adult to being a parent.

Together, Bryan and I have talked about how we want to raise our kids, where we'll take them on vacations and how we'll introduce trade to our toddlers.

But the logistics - like which stroller is best or which food to introduce first or what time is bedtime - have been confusing and so abstract that we've talked, looked and changed the subject without really deciding. We know that I want to return to work (can you imagine me being a stay at home mom?) after my maternity leave. We know that Bryan's going to continue to teach, though thankfully he'll have all his classes on the Tuesday/Thursday schedule to ensure some Daddy time.

Well who's going to watch the baby? I don't trust the day cares in this town. I've seen 'em, I've heard horror stories about meth labs and kiddos, day cares without licenses, and I don't like 'em. What's more: I just don't like the idea of a daycare. Just a personal opinion.

I've always wanted to have one dedicated nanny for my baby. I am not sure if we could afford a 40 hour a week nanny, but thankfully, we won't have to. Bryan has expressed interest in hanging out with the little baby on the days that he's not teaching, and I think that is awesome. I am so happy that my baby will have such good quality time with his dad and that Bryan will be bonding.

Ladies and gentlemen: be impressed. I have already found our nanny! I am so pleased with her. We're taking her to lunch for the official "hire" and discussion of pay, schedule and all that jazz. Even more, I'm so pleased to be able to give my baby the best care: the undivided attention of someone who loves children while allowing me and Bryan to continue our careers and enjoy the baby afterwards.

Who would we trust with this huge responsibility? None other than an Elementary Education major, daughter of the Dean of the Liberal Arts College, girlfriend of one of our improv guys and dancer/actress/arts extraordinaire. She sounds like a dream, and she's even better in person. We are so lucky.

That's one thing I can check off my list. YES!

NOTE: Of course, if we move, I'll have to change the plan.

New Year, New Me

2011 was quite a hot mess. I had a definite highlight (my birthday in Philadelphia) and some certain disappointments (mostly Bryan's mom's cancer returning). I am happy to put the last year behind us.

2012, you're my year. I'm already in love with this year. All my favorite years are even years: in 2006, I started dating Bryan and fell in love more passionate than anything I've ever experienced. In 2008, I graduated (with honors, yo), turned 21, accepted a comedy teaching job with DSI, performed like crazy and married my true love. In 2010, we had the best summer ever traveling to see all our friends all over the East Coast and we started a new life in Oklahoma in a "cute small" town. 2012, you're gonna be awesome. I know it!

I made some resolutions last year:
Be Nice and Don't Fart.

I was halfway successful. I didn't fart more than five times all year (that anyone could hear), and I'll continue to make this a life choice. How polite of me!

Being nice is harder for me. I'm not a mean person, but I find insults hilarious. It's probably too much Chelsea Handler, but I think a rude comment with a little language is funny. Maybe it's not. I'll try again this year. I did do a good job treating friends to lunches this year - and presents. If gifts count as being nice, I did it! If insults count as being mean, maybe not.


2012 New Years ResolutionsBE NICE: Treat each person as if they were the most important person to me. Treat Bryan like my true love. Smile at strangers. Buy lunches for friends. Hold my tongue during gossipy moments.

COOK MORE: I cook fairly often, probably about three to four times a week. I'd like to do more than that. I want to cook more nights than we go out or pick up takeout. Feed ourselves healthy, wholesome, homemade food. With my new pintrest addiction and Anne's Eats, I know I'll have no shortage of recipe options.

Welcome, 2012! I'm so happy you're here.

Oh, and Bryan has interviews this week in Chicago. Wish him luck! We could be moving to FLORIDA! Or New York!

Thankful Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for thanks. And thanks I have to give.

I'm thankful for:
My Best Friend and Husband


My Family


Bryan's Family


My Many Trips This Year









My mother-in-law or my second Mom


Comedy Improv




My Job and My International Friends/Students




Good Friends
A Safe House
Steady Jobs
Planes (to fly us outta here)
Good Health
and
The Internet

Packing Necessities

I'm leaving tomorrow for Florida, and like any trip, I wait until the night before to pack. Because I'm a genius. I always know what to pack, and with trips almost every other weekend, I've got this down.

Here's my list of must haves for any trip:

PAJAMAS - Nobody wants to be in jeans while watching movies with the fam. And nobody wants to see what you really wear to bed.

FACE WASH - Sisters, mothers, friends and hotels never have the kind that I like. And if there's gonna be pictures (or hell, memories), I want it to include a pretty face.

HEELS and FLATS - Give yourself some choices for those night-out outfits. Flats if it looks like we're walking half a mile from the parking garage to the bar or heels if you can park within a few hundred yards of the place.

A PRESENT - Who doesn't love gifts? I always try to bring a little something for my host.

DOUBLE UNDERWEAR - Maybe we'll go swimming. Maybe we'll stay an extra day or two. Maybe we'll get gravy on our dress and it leaks all the way through. Maybe we'll have so much fun that we'll pee ourselves. You don't want to borrow anyone's. Pack double what you'll need.

READING MATERIAL - Choose something brainless like Glamour or something by Chelsea Handler or Kendra Wilkinson. You don't want anything too academic because you'll break down and buy 3 copies of People or you'll secretly hate the chick next to you whose got a bangin' easy read who shoves it back into her purse after reading it.

POWDER - Keep it in your purse. Dab yourself right before you get out of the plane/car and get picked up. Dab it on your roots if you don't have time to shower. Dab your nose after the awkward conversation with Grandma. Use the mirror to check to see if Cousin left a bruise where he head-butted you.

CASH - Slip it to your younger sisters. Pay for the tip. Split bills with friends. Pay for the strippers. (just kidding)

I'm SO looking forward to this trip. I haven't seen my family since April and before that, it was Christmas. It's about damn time for some Mander fun!

Things I Will Miss About My Library Job

the bills: today I ran the bills for the last time. I'll miss seeing what patrons have checked out, and I'll miss signing my name on the bills.

the head counts: I love walking around the library and seeing where all our patrons are and what they're doing. It's fun to see what books get left out, and what notes are left behind after hours of studying.

my coworkers: I've met two of my best friends here, and my other coworkers are great to work with, too. They're a fun bunch of Oklahomans who know how to have fun at work.

my students: they are gone for the summer, but I have really enjoyed working with and mentoring my student staff. I've learned a lot about myself and how to be better in my one year with them.

putting books back on the shelves: it took me awhile to enjoy this task, mostly because I didn't have to do it often, but I actually really enjoy putting books in order and shelving them flush against the shelf.
reading: never before have I had a job where I was paid to read. I could flip through magazines, read blogs, reread Faulkner, start up on Plath or finish Atlas Shrugged. I really will miss this.

the books: I am surrounded by books. Old books, new books, returned books, found books, donated books, books needing to be shelved, books needing mending, books needing processing, books needing me, books on my desk, books on shelves, books on trucks, books on children. It's really some kind of heaven to be immersed in stacks of books.


the parties: each month we would dress up and party.

Preparing for my new job

Ways That I'm Preparing For My New Job
taking time off in between: I'm taking five days off in between jobs to destress, organize my closet and do absolutely nothing like watch Top Chef and eat Cheetos straight from the bag.

buying new clothes: I want to build myself a stunning new wardrobe of professional pieces that are great for the office, for travel and for public addresses.

moving my work accessories to my new office: today, I brought over my lamp, my pictures and my favorite emergency snacks. I even got a jump start on my new job by looking through applicants for a study abroad scholarship and providing my recommendations. I loved looking out my windows while I thought of thoughtful things to write. Later this week, I'll bring over my Clemson diploma and some other work necessities.

getting to know my new coworkers: today, I got lunch with my new coworker and learned some in house secrets about our boss and how things work. I've also learned more about her which will make next week's first week of work easier!

harness my enthusiasm for this new opportunity: I'm journaling and I'm telling everyone who asks about my new job how excited I am about this new job. I'm so excited. It's the first time I've had a real non-entry level position - with an office and a travel budget to boot. I am aware that it might not be as rosy a job as I imagine, but I am hoping to keep a positive outlook and use optimism to handle adversity.

Ramblings.

The weather has been as gloomy as the empty library I work in. It's so quiet without the students.

I need to clean my house. And pick a shade of gray for our living room paint color.

I weigh the same weight I was when I married Bryan two and a half years ago.

Mark Twain's autobiography is this summer's Atlas Shrugged: huge, smarty pants and engrossing.

Oh, and I was accepted to graduate school.