Trip to Chicago

Couple of weeks ago we took a trip up to Chicago for one of Belinda's cousin's event. We exploited the opportunity to test out the waters and take Stella on her first plane ride. Now, while Belinda and her mom were as excited as excited can be I was a nervous wreck.

What if she cries from wheels up to wheels down? What if the people next to us give us nasty looks the whole way? Well, all that worry was for nothing now that it is said and done.

We took off on a Saturday Morning bright and early to catch the direct flight. Its was fun and games packing the night before but it all got done. Once I was finished packing my things I went off to Wal-Mart for some last minute purchases.

We were told by others who have traveled with children, and her doctor, that the best thing to do is get some new toys for her that she has not seen before to distract her along the way. I took two bags on this trip. One was a suitcase with all my things for the trip and the other was a large bag full of new toys for the flight coming and going. I paced the aisles of Wal-Mart finding all the best toys that I thought she would like and that made hardly any noise. At the Wal-Mart I went to the sporting goods section is right next door to the toys so I went ahead and bought what I labeled as "last resort" items.

Ear plugs.

They were right there by the ammo and rifles. They listed the decibel volume they could reduce and I kept trying to think what decibel Stella could reach on any given day. I bought three boxes. I had already played it out in my head. Should Stella reach def con four I would push the stewardess button and ask her if she would not mind offering them to the people around us. I thought it was either this or by a round of drinks for the plane and that was going to be too costly. Well, never reach def con four. Was a great flight coming and going. I described the fling portion of our trip with Stella as one of those night when you have a really drunk friend you are trying to get home. You just keep saying yes to all their questions as you try to quietly walk them out of the bar. You hope your friend doesn't fall or start to yell obscenities and anger the other patrons, and when you finally get to your car you just hope the drive home they will fall asleep in the back seat. That's is how I would describe traveling with an infant.

Once we were there it was smooth sailing and fun times. I was able to meet some of the extended family for the first time and they treated like they had known me for years. I ate so much food I felt I needed to buy a second ticket just for me for the flight back.

It seems the hub of the family is in Elgin. That's where everyone in that area use to live at some point but has since then spread out around the area. (Stella, this is also the town where you mom was born.)

We stayed with Belinda's cousin's in GILBERT, ILLINOIS! I tried to find a Gilbert's restaurant, but the only thing with my name on it I could find was the liquor stores. Oh well.

Here in San Antonio Stella has very few cousins to play with. Once in Illinois there were plenty of cousins to play with. The thing about Stella is it seems she likes to play with kids that are older than her. Yes, this makes me worry. But the one cousin her age, she got into a fight with. I mean, here he had let her use his pack-and-play, his highchair, and his toys and still she fought with him. Now, before you think it was an episode of Gerry Springer, it was more like any toy he had she wanted, and she would try and take it from him. While I was not there, I was told that they did at one point push each other and that's when the parents got involves. Aye, que mi Stella!

Aside from that one time, she greatly enjoyed all the new faces.

(If anyone from Elgin is reading this, I do apologize for not getting more photos of all the children I was simply in a food coma most of the time.)

Stella, don't take it personally but on one of the days we were in Illinois I convinced your mother to leave you in Elgin so we could see the city.

We got to see many of the standard sight. The Navy Pier, Millennium Park, the SEARS Tower (Why the British are changing the name of an icon I do not understand), and a few others. We walked a whole day in the city and were shown around by Belinda cousin's.

It was great to finally meet that part of the family. I had always heard about them but until then had not met them yet. I always find it interesting how meeting family helps explain the person that Belinda has become.

It is our hope that once Stella is older we can take her back up to Chicago to meet her family and this time not fight with her cousin. Until then I hope that we will one day have the opportunity to return the favour of hosting them in San Antonio and showing them the hospitality we were shown.

Here are a couple of other photos from along the way.












Stella walking around the Chicago airport before heading home.