Reunited
Greetings to everyone!
No, the title of today's entry is not a reference to the 1978 Peaches and Herb song. After six weeks, our little family reunited at the baggage claim in Orlando International Airport!
I was a little concerned about the flight out. I hoped Xavier would nap on the plane. Instead, he napped for 20 minutes in the car as we drove Pena Boulevard.
Once at the airport, there I had a bigger concern. I had to manage a large checked bag, two carry-ons and Xavier. We had to get from reserved parking, through ticketing/baggage checkin, through security, bathroom break and diaper check, then wait at the gate. I only have two hands. Fortunately, Xavier stepped up.
I woke him from his nap and lifted him out of the car seat after the luggage was staged to roll. Xavier helped get the elevator. He stood quietly in place while checking luggage. He took over his own carry-on waiting in the security line (he did decide to open up his suitcase in the line to examine its content, then let Dad put things back together).
We did the bathroom break where I instructed him a few urinal etiquette rules involving roaming eyes. We changed his diaper, then went to wait at the gate. We had about 15 minutes to wait.
Xavier, however, could not understand why we needed to wait at all. No one was deplaning, the door to the jet way was open. "What's the holdup?" he was thinking. He kept trying to pull me to go down the jet way.
Finally (for him) we got to board. We were standing first in line. They called for handicapped, elderly and families with small children. Except for the lady in the wheelchair ahead of us, we were the first to board the plane. If you have to travel by air, travel with small children (rent one if you have to). They are fast-pass tickets! You do not go through the back-scatter scanner, but through the normal metal detector. The TSA goes out of their way to help you through. You get to board the plane first and have access to all the overhead bin space you need.
Xavier did not sleep on the flight, but he did behave quite well for three and a half hours. We arrived in Orlando International Airport twice. The first time was about 7:30 PM; the second time was about 7:45 PM. The plane was nearly on the runway, one or more wheels may have already touched the ground, then suddenly we were climbing! A steep climb. The official story we were told was there was another plane on the runway.
Over the last six weeks I was concerned (and I know Rebecca had the same concerns) that Xavier would not recognize her. He did not really pay much attention during our nightly Skype calls. Even though I had pictures of Mommy at the dinner table and we went through the family album together and I had Mommy as one of Xavier's speech flash cards, still he seemed uninterested.
When I saw Rebecca walking through the crowd to the baggage carousel, I told Xavier "there's Mommy!" and I pointed. Xavier dropped from my arms and ran calling "Mama! Mama!" The reunion was a success. Throughout the trip, especially the first few days, whenever Mommy disappeared, Xavier grew concerned. "Where's Mama?" he would ask with a concerned look on his face.
On Friday, after Rebecca finished some things on the base, we all went to the pier for lunch. The family was together again!