Florida part 1: getting there...

note from the author: normally i wouldn't do a whole blog post just about getting to the actual place i am blogging about, but it was kinda eventful so i wanted to write about it, again so i can remember it all.

so getting ready to leave for this trip was interesting. i was so dang excited about going away alone with Brett, but i knew i was going to have such a hard time leaving Dylan. weirdest feeling ever. two complete opposites at the same time, basically from the time we started packing all the way until we came home. so packing the night before, i was packing for both Dylan and myself. he knew he was going somewhere, he saw all his stuff going in a seperate bag than mine, and he was getting excited. i dreaded when he would realize he wouldn't be going with us though. but excitement was there too so that kept me at bay.
the morning we left, i made sure the house was clean, laundry was put away so we could come home to a clean house. we got everything in the car, and went and bought tons of food and snacks for Dylan to have at Grandma Hancock's while he was with her. then we went and picked up Heather, Brett's sister, who was so nice to take us to the airport. Dylan was so excited she was with us, i am pretty sure he thought she was coming with all of us out of town. i had avoided telling Dylan we were going to the airport because he knows exactly what that is and what it means to go there (he has been on a plane 10 times). Brett decided to share the news as we got on Bangeter, and Dylan went crazy. he started clapping, laughing, kept saying over and over "planes! planes! airplanes!" ugh, i was dying inside. i knew he would be a wreck when we left. so i sat in the backseat with him and just spent the last few minutes of our ride there just cuddling him and taking photos so i could look at him whenever i wanted while we were in Florida.

then we got to the airport. and we stopped at the terminal, and Brett and i got out. we got our bags. then came the moment i was dreading. we opened Dylie's door, and he is just so excited to be there. he is trying to get out of his carseat because hello, we are all going on an airplane. Brett hugged him first, we just left him in the seat because we didn't want to make it harder on Heather than we had too. he didn't really get what was going on. then Brett said his goodbyes and it clicked. panic set in. he started crying and kicking and screaming and yelling "go with you mama, go with you!" i started too lose it, but put on a strong face as i hugged him and kissed him as best i could through his tantrum. we gave Heather hugs and thanked her, then we shut the door and i lost it as we walked away. i knew it would be hard to leave, since i had only been away from him a total of 2 nights in a row ever. i was sure at that point he hated us, and that 7 days would kill our relationship with him.

then we got to the counter, checked our bags, went through security in 5 minutes (there was no line. so weird, yet very convenient). we had an hour to kill. so what do you do when you aren't super hungry, but know you won't have time to eat until you get to Florida? Cafe Rio at the airport of course. once we went there and sat down to eat and just talked, we texted Heather. she said she gave him her phone a little after they drove away and he was fine and was happy as could be. i was okay then. i didn't worry, i was just super dang excited. excited to ride an airplane and actually enjoy the ride and know i could do whatever i wanted and not have to worry about keeping a little boy happy. and excited to get to paradise.

we boarded and the flight was great. except for the fact that they didn't give us any snacks whatsoever. i got my bloody mary mix just like usual, but no pretzels, no chips, not even one small peanut was served. United airlines are cheapskates, but whatevs.  luckily i had packed for such an occasion and those gummy worms tasted divine.

we got to Pheonix and had about 20 minutes until our plane left for Florida. i needed to use the restroom. and guess who had come to pay me a visit? aunt flo. all over. all over everywhere. of course she would come after 5 months of not making any sort of appearance. she would of course have to come the one day i at 30,000 feet. let me just tell you, i have the most unpredictable period known to man. i never know when its coming. it's honestly a miracle Dylan was ever conceived, especially since we weren't even trying when that happened. but anyways, i panicked. i obviously hadn't packed any feminine products, didn't even cross my mind. but as i sat there looking at the mess i needed to get out of, it then struck me why my lower back was killing me the day before. i should've known. so lame.
so anyway, i run out to Brett who is waiting with our carry-on, and that carry-on happened to hold a pair of clean garments that Brett had made me put in just in case our bags got lost. i didn't think it was necessary, but he insisted. ummm, talk about divine intervention. i told him what was up, we went and bought some tampons from one of those little airport stores with the most awkward cashier man on the planet (seriously, what guy says "oh boy, lucky girl. best time of the month." i wanted to punch him). i ran back into the bathroom, got my new garments on, put my nasty shorts back on and met Brett in line. then we were on a plane. then we were floating. and all was right in the world, we were heading to the land of Mickey, sun, beaches, roller-coasters and fun.

and after 4 hours of being in the air (and seeing lightning up close and way more personally than i ever hope to do again), we made it to Florida.