Let's be frank: trekking across the country with your parents is not for the faint of heart. They're travelling with all this extra baggage, tripping over themselves while they fold up awkward strollers, flagged as they go through security, super paranoid about nap times, and are, as a rule, pretty sleep-deprived and exhausted travelling companions. But they are a necessary evil, if you're an infant like me.
The three of us did a whirlwind tour of Washington, D.C. two weeks ago that made all the airplane diaper changes so worth it. We had a rocky start, when I really misjudged the right time to projectile vomit all over myself, my car seat, my clothes, and my monkey pacifier. Yeah, that happened in the security line. We had to cut our losses and throw away some items before even getting in the air, but such is the life of a jet-setting baby.
I do want to pause and pay tribute to that monkey binky, though, which really served me well for my first, warm-up flight to Orange County, a couple of days prior to my five-hour jaunt to D.C.
After a quick outfit change -- and I do mean quick! Mommy might qualify for Baby Olympics! -- we made it onto the plane just seconds before the stewardess closed the door. I politely let Mommy read her Kindle for the better part of the flight and cat-napped, knowing I needed to be perky and ready to hit the ground running when we landed in D.C. And boy, was I right! They stowed me in a jogging stroller, and we all did some speed-walking to take in a lot of the major sights along the Mall. We especially loved seeing all the monuments come alive at night!
This is so typical for infant travel, but it still annoys me: You would hardly know I was even there, since in most of these photos I'm hidden in the stroller, covered by a Hooter Hider, or just (rudely) cut out of the shot. Trust me, things get better when you reach toddlerhood.
The Mall
Washington Monument
World War II Memorial
View of Washington Monument from Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Oh, wait! I actually emerged for some photos!
The White House
Phew! We didn't get to bed that night until about 10 p.m. I got lots of strange looks, but people, I was still on Pacific time, okay?
We had grand plans to get up early the next morning, but those luxurious hotel black-out curtains kept us all snoozing almost past breakfast time. I took my first shower, and lounged around a little before we headed out. Toes are so underrated!!
We finally headed out, and boarded a tour bus for a trip to Arlington National Cemetery.
We did lots of other fun things that day, like the Smithsonian Museum of American History, but Mommy's camera battery died. We recharged it just in time for our private tour of the Capitol the next day. Shortly after this picture was taken, we ditched that bulky stroller in Senator Shelby's office (R-Alabama), and set out in the Bjorn for a walk with one of his staff members, Jim, an attorney who actually helped author the Credit Card Bill. His brother works with Daddy back in San Francisco, and he knew all the ins and outs of the buildings, told all sorts of interesting stories, and we even got to hitch a ride on the underground trolley that connects the Senate and House chambers to the staff office buildings!
The Capitol was much more ornate inside than we expected -- it even inspired Daddy to take a ton of pictures of architectural features! Who knew he had that in him?
Our last stop was the Supreme Court Building, and Jim was nice enough to take a picture of all three of us. Maybe they should have woken me up for this.
Yes, Mommy is wearing tennis shoes. Don't judge. Do you see that load of bricks that's strapped to her shoulders?
We squeezed in a trip to the Air and Space Museum, and then celebrated our last night in the city with a dinner at Old Ebbitt's Grill, right around the corner from our hotel, and right across the street from the White House.
Thumbsucking and good wine: quite a pairing!
So pack your Bjorn, your Ergo, or your carrier of choice, and don't be afraid to tackle our nation's capital!
