Each January for the past ten or so years, we've journeyed from wherever we are living to visit W's parents in the Florida Keys. They live in Summerland Key, which is at Mile Marker 25. For those who haven't visited the Keys before, MM 0 is in Key West and the mile markers ascend the further you go up towards Miami. So when you tell someone you live at MM 25, they know you live about a half an hour up the Keys from Key West.
Last year when we were here at this time, I was about thirty weeks pregnant with C. And although I enjoyed the visit, it was rough not being able to enjoy the Key West lifestyle. Kayaking was awkward, running was a chore and the Duval 'crawl' was...well....dry. I did get a lot of great pictures last year, including one of the 'Southernmost preggie lady.' And W always had a designated driver!
Yesterday we took off from home at about 8:30am to take C to the airport for his first plane ride and visit to the Keys! We were armed with a bottle, paci, toys, blankets, the Bob, the Ergo, and with wild hope that all would go smoothly. Getting through security was a breeze and the Southwest terminal was calm. C played on the floor and flirted with ladies and other little kids. When we boarded, their were enough empty seats to give C and his carseat a space with us. He was happy while we waited to taxi. Then the captain announced that there was a sensor going off. About an hour later and a bad alternator later, we had to deplane back to the terminal. The Southwest team did right by us and got us all on another plane in under forty-five minutes. Still all calm from the C man!
We took off about two hours after our original departure. C was happily munching on a banana and some O's. Then with a little coaxing he fell asleep for an hour and fifteen minutes. He played in our laps while we descended and never let out a peep. No ear issues. No crying. Wow - I hope it's always that easy!
We landed in Fort Lauderdale, changed the man while waiting for luggage and scooted out to the rental car area. Then into the SUV for a three or so hour drive down the Keys. The man ate O's and some cheese and chilled out for 90% of the ride. The sunset over Marathon was gorgeous. It looked like someone was painting rivulets of pink and orange water in the sky. C started getting fussy at about 20 miles to go. It didn't help that I gave him a bottle of water that was not closed correctly; he was soaked when we arrived! Poor baby.
But eventually we reached the house on First Street and got lots of hugs from Grandma and Pop and Aunt Wendy. C got cleaned up and then we all ate spaghetti dinner. Raye rented a highchair and a crib from a local outfit in the Keys, which worked out great! C is sleeping in the laundry room and so far it works!
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