Illinois, I Love You

6.24.2016

Last weekend, I took R with me to Illinois for a fun girls' weekend! In case you haven't been around very long and are confused about my obsession with Chicago and all things Illinois, I grew up in a Chicago suburb and went to a small, private college less than an hour outside Saint Louis. My grandparents and some aunts, uncles, and cousins live in Illinois, and I still have college and high school friends I keep in contact with who live all over the state. I've been back many times in the past eight years I've lived in Oklahoma!

I was nervous to take R on an airplane by myself, but she did great on both flights. (Just as an FYI, I reviewed my post on traveling with a baby, and everything was applicable this time around. I essentially did everything the same! Southwest Airlines did need to check her birth certificate, so I was glad I had brought a copy. Neither American nor United checked it when we flew with her in March.)

We flew into Saint Louis, where a college friend picked me up from the airport. We went back to her house, where R and my friend's daughter had a good time playing together. They are just two weeks apart in age! The cuteness was too much to handle.

Then, another college friend drove down from Springfield, IL, and picked R and I up so we could spend the weekend at her house. She has a three-month-old, and I was so excited to meet him! I want to be respectful of my friends and their babies on the Internet, so I won't post pictures, but just imagine the cutest thing you've ever seen and you can pretend you were there. While you're doing that you can imagine R swatting him in the face and trying to sit on him.

Our flight was early Thursday morning (5:30 flight), and we came back Sunday afternoon, so R and I partied hard for close to four days and had a lot of fun. Never in my life would I have expected to have fun with a ten-month-old, but it's a real thing!
^^^She slept great in the pack-and-play for the three nights we were there! After she woke up to eat around 5:30, I brought her in bed with me and we slept a little longer. We also took a few naps together in the afternoons, and it was glorious. And sweaty. She is small, but she is a giant furnace.

One highlight was R's first trip to the pool! The first time, she didn't like it so much and basically cried the whole time and glared at everyone. We went back the next day, and she seemed to enjoy it much more as long as she was holding on to me.
^^^ Two different days, two different swimsuits! Both from Target for less than $10. The hat is from Gymboree from my mom. I die.
^^^ My friend's air conditioner broke while we were there, and Springfield was setting blazing temps, so it got toasty in their house. At one point I gave R a damp towel to cool off, and then she wore it around like Mother Theresa and I couldn't stop laughing. Also, that tongue is out all day every day. 

Also x2, I tried off and on to put a bow on her throughout the weekend and see how she would do. She went in long spurts where she left it on, but ultimately it always ended up in her mouth. We still have work to do!
She did so great on both flights! I nursed her during takeoff, and then she promptly fell asleep and woke up right as we were landing. She laughed and clapped and cheesed it up to all of our seat mates, and it really couldn't have gone better. Plus, I didn't throw up, which was a legitimate fear of mine after last time coming back from Virginia when I used the barf bag twice in a row. I have problems.

I'm so thankful for friends in exotic locations like Saint Louis and Springfield to spend the weekend with. I'm also thankful for $89 flight deals from Oklahoma City to Saint Louis, which is basically the only cheap place to fly out of here. Amen.
Rachel Emily said...

I'm so glad to hear you have had good experiences traveling with R! Camden and I are meeting Nathan in Florida at the end of a business trip in September so I'll be flying solo with him and I'm nervous. I'm glad you said the thing about a birth certificate to, I'm not sure I would have thought of that and...I haven't gotten his yet. I suck. Have a great weekend, girl!

Laura J said...

Oh, thank you so much for linking back to your traveling with a baby post! I have been trying to find one that isn't completely ridiculous telling me to bring my whole house!

Rebecca Jo said...

I'm a plane barfer too... any kind of trip barfer ;) Glad your girl was cheering & enjoyed the ride.
Those moccasins R has on? OH MY GOSH - you have such a stylish girl.

The Girl who Loved to Write said...

So fun!! I am also cracking up at her Mother Theresa towel. And THAT FLOPPY HAT. Pure perfection right there.

Emily said...

I keep telling my close friends that we all need to have children around the same time so they can grow up together and play together! Planning around when to conceive children based off of friends does sound fun ;)

We're going to Chicago (my first time!) next week. I'm so excited!

Ali said...

Sounds like a fun weekend! My daughter is a little hot box when she sleeps, too. Always sweaty, and yet she still demands 500 stuffed animals and two blankets to sleep with.

Caroline @ In Due Time said...

What a fun time. I am so glad you got to go and props to you for flying solo! You are rocking motherhood

Michelle said...

The thought of flying alone with G makes me sweat. Good for you! Though honestly it might be easier than a long road trip.

Julie @ Just the Joy's said...

Ah those bathing suits and that tounge hanging out... I die! So precious! Glad you had a great (and cheap) trip! Sometimes you just can't beat taking a nap with them!

Jenny Evans said...

Sounds like the best time ever! So glad the flight went better than last time... couldn't have gone worse, I guess!

Audrey Louise said...

That's a super cheap flight! That's awesome! I just love all the tongue pictures, haha! I'm glad you guys had a fun trip and made the best out of sour pool days and broken a/cs!

Kristen @ See You In A Porridge said...

She is small, but she is a giant furnace - hahaha. she is rocking that towel. glad it all went well and there was no puking! glad R ended up liking the pool, that hat is too cute.

Rach said...

Hooray for fun friend weekends! That sounds awesome! And I love hearing about R's experiences with the pool! So glad she is a fan now! :)

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