It only took 5 planes, 3 states and a District of Columbia, 3 airlines, 2 countries, 2 TSA breast milk vapor inspections, one rental car, and no stroller, but we did it!  We took our infant on an international trip.

If you read my previous post, you already know it was an ordeal getting to Quebec for the wedding of our friends Amy and Greg.  The wedding and festivities were wonderful.  I’ll post about that tomorrow, but  today I’ll tell you about what we learned traveling.

This is at some airport, somewhere along the east coast.

1. Continental Airlines sucks-  We won’t be flying with them again since they’re the money sucking whores of the skies.  This airline cancelled our flight to Burlington, VT 30 minutes before takeoff.  Instead of helping us catch another one, they shoved us off to standby on another flight they knew was already booked before promising us another 36 hours later.  There was no way we were staying in Newark for that long, but of course they refused to help us fly in to Montreal.  Even with an infant getting fussy, they brushed us off before Greyson had to nearly jump the counter to make them find us a flight on another airline.  That of course meant going back through security before flying delayed to Philly to Burlington.  What was supposed to be 6 hours of flying took 16 hours once we drove across the boarder to Quebec.
2. If you’re without a stroller, bring the baby carrier-  My husband admitted he was totally wrong in leaving our totally sweet stroller at home.  During one of our delays I had murderous envy in my heart as I watched another mom push her sleeping babe in the same Bumbleride Indie we have.  It had a simple tag on it so they could check it in at the gate.  I TRIED explaining to Greyson how that worked.   I considered knocking her over and tossing Charlotte in with this kid.   Our salvation?  We brought the Ergo Baby Carrier!  Charlotte napped snug against my chest as I raced across the airport.  Good workout!  Greyson prefers carrying her on his back.  The great thing about the Ergo is it goes either way.
3. They have to test your freakin’ bottles- They did the little “vapor test” on my breast milk.  Really?! The TSA agent even acted like she was surprised a bottle would be more than three ounces.  If they had needed to test my boobs, we would’ve gone home.  I support the War on Terror and I know my boobs are bangin’, but I promise they’re not explosive.
4. My baby loves reading SkyMall-  Charlotte must have been looking for a designer dog bed, or desktop waterfall because she loved the SkyMall!  We let her tear the hell out of those things as other passengers gave us the stink eye.  Whatever!  It says we can take copies of it and it’s free.  Letting her tear it meant she wasn’t crying.
5. Vermont smells like pot-  But, it’s beautiful!  I was a wonderful drive 1 1/2 hour drive to Sutton, Quebec with all the leaves changing!
6. Canada isn’t cold all the time-  This was my first visit with our neighbors to the north.  You tell a southern girl she’s going to Canada and she runs out an buys her baby a new parka.  Oops, it was like 75 degrees the whole time.  (Excuse me, 23.8 degrees Celsius.)  I kind of expected to cross the boarder into a blizzard with a Mountie on a moose waiting to take me just a few kilometers to a Doctor’s appointment for some free universal healthcare.  None of that happened.