Flying alone with a baby is like childbirth...

...I will probably do it again one day, but no time soon! The pain is all still too vivid.

Ben and I took our first solo plane trip to visit Mama D and Aunt Can Can and so many of our friends and family in Midland, Texas. The plan was to have a big "meet and greet" for everyone to meet Ben for the first time.

Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a turbulent ride through the next section of this blog.

Everything started well. Ben slept the entire flight to Houston where we were expecting a 2 hour layover (9am-11am). We shared some Shipley's kolaches (yummy) and then made our way to our gate. Delay, fog in Midland. More delay, changing the tires on the plane. Board the plane (1.5 later). Switch seats because gate attendant put us in the wrong seat for an 'infant in arms.' Sit for 30 seconds and pilot says flight is canceled. Off the plane. Call mom, need to cancel meet and greet. Hold back the tears. Notice everyone from my flight is in one really long line. Darn it! I am supposed to be in that line. Now, third from last in line to get a new flight. Assigned a 4:50pm flight. Sister Trisha brings some food for me and Ben and to hang out for a second in baggage claim. Back through security, more waiting. Delay, something mechanical on plane. Seriously? Finally get on the plane and make it to Midland in time to see the missed field goal and the interception to win the game.

Whew. See what I mean about still remembering the pain?

However, through all that craziness, we ended up having a fabulous time (and an uneventful flight back home). A few people were able to come by my mom's house or meet us at a restaurant to see Ben. He wasn't his usual friendly self with all the people coming and going. He was more clingy than I can describe. I think he got too used to me holding him after an entire day in my arms at the airport. (The left side of my body is still sore, by the way.)

He has now met all his great grandparents which was very important to me. Not many people have great grandparents alive and Ben still has all 4. What a blessing!

I didn't take near as many pictures as I might have liked, but here are a few (or a lot).

Meeting Paw Paw (my dad's dad).

Meeting Maw Maw (my dad's mom).

Opening his first 1st birthday present.

Great Aunt Lisa (my dad's sis) showing him how the birthday puzzle works (the animals make sounds).

Trying on Aunt Can Can's shoes.

Aunt Can Can took a picture like this with Ben last time she saw him in July. Ah...

Kisses for Mommy.

Kisses for Aunt Can Can.

Meeting Uncle Zack for the first time.

Aunt Can Can's way to get Ben to stop whining when he was overwhelmed with the guests. He loved zooming all over the house.

I found this! Oops, the diapers were too close to the pack n play.

Ben was scared every time the doorbell rang. This time, he jumped in Mama D's arms and then stayed right there for a few minutes, just touching her face. Long enough for us to get the camera and snap a picture. So sweet.

I got to make a diaper cake with my sister for a teacher friend at my mom's work. So cute and so fun.

If you made it to the end, congratulations! Hopefully, the 11 month blog coming up tomorrow.