travelling with an infant and a toddler

I DREADED the day we had to board the plane.  I, of course, dreaded the good-bye aspect of not knowing when we will be in the States again, but I dreaded holding a child on our lap for 20+ hours of travel.  I dreaded being so tired after already being so tired and knowing that a good night's sleep after the travel wasn't really an option either.
When we arrived at the OKC airport (at 5ish am, after going to sleep after midnight) Ann had already pooped out of her diaper into her pants.  We weren't even on a plane yet. (things get better from here)
We went through security so easily and made it to the gate in time for Catherine to have time to play.

We arrived un-eventfully in  Chicago with plenty of time to get to our gate, feed kids, and get ready to board to the long flight.  We had to check in at the desk to verify our documents and that's when I got the seemingly bad news.  We couldn't be seated together because their aren't enough air bags on any one row.  The god news was that she could seat us across the aisle from each other.
After we boarded we found out that it was actually great news...in order to be seated across the aisle from one another we had gotten bumped up into economy plus.  When we sat down we didn't have  other passengers around us so we just kept waiting for them to board.  And we waited.  and we waited.  and then they closed the doors and we realized....We actually have this much room!

Ann and I had 3 seats.

James and Catherine had 3 seats. 

Catherine took full advantage of the extra space.

Even with the extra room, traveling with the kids is still exhausting.  Below is us in the Beijing airport waiting for that last leg of travel.  I must say, the Beijing airport is moving up in class and style.  First, the bathrooms now seem to always have toilet paper, hand soap, and paper towels.  Maybe this is true in other places in Beijing too, but it certainly wasn't common  five years ago and isn't common in our city yet.  Second, they had an indoor play are for kids.  It was great and Catherine made some little friends.  Third, it's the most breastfeeding-friendly place I've ever been.  seriously.  They have nice, clean nursing rooms at almost every bathroom.  They have a nice comfy chair and are painted like a kid's nursery..  It was seriously impressive.  Props to you, Beijing!

 

And here we are...on the plane that brought us home.  We boarded on time, and then sat on the runway for almost an hour.  All 4 of us slept.I should have taken of my coat.  Mom wearing a coat, holding a sleeping child wearing a coat=SWEATY.