Louisville

This past weekend, Nancy, Jacob and I went to Louisville, KY for a veterinary conference.  I need 17 CE hours every year, and had none, so I had to go somewhere.  And my choices were limited.  So, Kentucky it was.

We decided that it was time for Jacob to go on his first plane ride.  We had no idea how that would go.  As you know, Jacob is a very good kid.  He hardly ever gets fussy, and always has fun.  However, he DOES NOT like to sit still...an unfortunate requirement of flying.

We took his car seat with us, complete with a handy little strap that Nancy bought that secures it to our suitcase, so we can pull him along as we pull the suitcase in the airport.  Definitely a good idea, and well worth it.  The flight to Kentucky was very uneventful.  Jacob slept most of the way, and watched Yo-Gabba-Gabba on the iPad the rest of the time.  A perfect angel.

In Louisville, we went to the exhibit hall at the vet conference, strolled around downtown (where Jacob got to run around in several parks, which he loved), went to the Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat Factory and Museum, and ate at a few cool restaurants.  We even took Jacob to the Louisville Zoo for a Halloween Trick or Treat Party.  He dressed as a very cute skeleton.  It was a great, relaxing weekend.

Then there was the plane ride back.

As soon as we got to the airport, our perfect little angel disappeared and out came his evil twin.  He was yelling at the top of his lungs, would not sit still, would not hold our hands to get through security...you name it.  When we finally got on the plane, he proceeded to repeatedly kick the seat in front of him to the point that the lady in the seat he was kicking asked to move seats (but alas, the plane was full).  So Nancy had to turn the car seat 90 degrees, which left her with about half a seat to sit in.  He also continued to yell intermittently. 

As we taxied out to the runway and were about to take off, the pilot came on the intercom and told us that Houston had issued a ground stop, meaning that, because of storms in Houston, no more planes bound for Houston could take off.  So we had to sit on the tarmac for an hour and a half before we ever took off.  With the amount of rain in Houston on Sunday, we are actually lucky it wasn't longer than that.  Thankfully, Jacob eventually went to sleep and slept about 2 of the 3.5 hours we were in the plane.  The other 1.5 hours were very stressful.  But we made it safely, which is all that matters.  Not sure we will be flying again with J for a while, though.

This weekend, Jacob is going to stay with his M and Pa again while we go to the Aggie game with some friends in College Station.  I hope he behaves better for them.

He has started to try to climb everything he sees.  His playroom slide, the slides at the park, steps in the park, our stairs at home, the couch...anything he can find.  He has started climbing to the top of his playroom slide, but has no idea what to do when he gets up there.  He can't climb back down, and he can't slide yet, so he just waits for Nancy to come get him down.  Then, you guessed it, he climbs up again.  And again.  And again.  Hours of fun.  Here is a pic:

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Louisville:

Jacob riding a racehorse statue.  Not sure why.

With Derek Jeter at the Louisville Slugger museum

Having fun trying to climb UP the slide at a Louisville park.

Photo op with random bear at the zoo.  This is not a real bear, so don't call CPS on us.

Nancy's sad face right after we found out we would be sitting on the tarmac for another hour plus.  Luckily, Jacob is asleep by this point.

The Mighty Mississippi River from 35,000 feet

First Plane Ride

The Ginormous Bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum

At a park in Louisville

Park in Louisville

I got to hold a bat that Mickey Mantle actually used

Jacobs sleeping arrangements in the hotel closet

Me with Mickey Mantle's bat

trying to crack a safe at the Museum

His Skeleton costume

Me and Babe Ruth.  I never knew Babe Ruth was stuffed and mounted in Louisville.

Random picture at Jacob's Little Gym

While we were in the hotel in Louisville, Jacob discovered himself in the full length mirror on the wall, and had a little fun with himself.  We thought it was hilarious, and I think it is hilarious that Nancy was about to wet herself laughing in this video, despite trying really hard NOT to laugh.