B has always hated flying Southwest but I never really minded. I like that you can choose your seat, the lower fees and they don't charge for checked baggage. When traveling with two unticketed/lap children you can't always ride in the same row together. If another person sits with you there would be 5 people in the row and only 4 oxygen masks so if the flight is full they ask the parents to split up with the kids. We were "lucky" on both trips because our flights were not full and when choosing a seat no one readily volunteers to sit with two stressed-out adults and two very little kids! We had the row all to ourselves so Annabelle even got her own seat which she loved. She wanted to be buckled in with her Shmoozie Bear. :) This seemed to be the first and last benefit of flying Southwest home...
So...we got to the airport 2 hours early (which I hate to do but understand it's a necessary evil when traveling with kids) to find out that our flight was delayed almost an hour. Ok, whatever, we can keep the kids entertained in the airport. Except at the most inopertune time Miss G's reflux kicks in full gear and she starts screaming and throws up all over herself and me! We were both soaked. Luckily I have 2 changes of clothes for her (moms of kids with reflux come prepared - HA!). I get her changed and what do you know, her and Annabelle both have horribly dirty diapers at the exact same time. My goodness! Both poo at once, not cool! Give momma a break!
We finally get the girls on the airplane which by this time it's 8:30 and well past their bedtimes. They are both very unhappy and begin skirmming and fussing. There is a ton of commotion (which is actually a good distraction for my intense fear of flying!). We reach cruising altitude and they are pissed - both begin screaming and Annabelle is trying to a make a break for it - she doesn't quite get that we are thousands of feet in the air but I'm still not sure where she was trying to go??? At this point the guys in front of us decide it's really necessary to recline their seats. UGH!!!
With a seat-back wedged in their faces both girls begin screaming even louder. Gwyneth had a very sour stomach and proceeded to throw up AGAIN all over the both of us. I'm smelling like a lovely bottle of spoiled milk at this point and we are now moving in to our last outfit for GG. I attempt to take her to the bathroom to change her clothes and yahoo - no changing tables. I ask the flight attendant if there is anywhere I can change her clothes and he tells me to find an empty row. I start walking down the aisle (soaked and stinking) and am greated with glares from my fellow passengers! Oh I'm sorry, do you think I want my kids to cry like this? Do you think we pinch them to get them to scream louder just to annoy you on your flight? Believe me, we're not having a great friggin' time either! So, I'm trying to find a place to change GG when I'm asked by the rear-flight attendant to return to my seat. What? Why? Because the baby is distracting her while she is trying to serve drinks!!! Oh, you gotta be kidding me!! I was very tempted to tell her where she could put her little bag of peanuts but found a bit of restraint. I got GG changed returned to my seat and what wonderful surprise did I find? On my way back, GG pooped again!! And the hits just keep on comin'. In order to keep me sane and to avoid getting yelled at again by the flight attendant, B takes GG to the bathroom and changes her very nasty diaper on his lap. Nightmare!
We finally get the girls to sleep and are terrified to move....plus, we can't because we have the a-holes in front of us with their seats reclined. We arrive in Denver with two sleeping children right at midnight. The flight attendant then gets on the horn and welcomes us all to Colorado - fine, but then does the Southwest comedy bit that I find annoying even when I'm not traveling with small children. It goes on and on and wakes up the girls. Both burst into tears - they just want to get off the plane which we completely understand because we are right there too! We are greated by more glares from our fellow passengers. We get our bags, get our car, and get home just in time to get the girls in their own beds by about 1 a.m.
All out-of-town family and friends be warned - we will not traveling with two little ones for quite a while. Purchase your tickets to come out to Colorado now. We will not be going anywhere until at least one of them is potty trained. ...And the entire traveling community breathes a huge sigh of relief!! ;)
Happy Holidays!
Oh my goodness! YIKES is all I can say. I've already been thinking that there is no way we are traveling with the twins (by airplane) for at least the first two years and now you have confirmed that!!! ;-)
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