Cozumel April 18th, 2009 - Day 1

So, today marked our travel day.  The first time we'd take our daughter on a plane and on her way back to the resort we chose during our babymoon.  The day started damned early.  I am serious.  We had to get up at 4 AM to allow us time to shower and get prepared since our flight started.  Considering it is vacation, that's early!

The flight itself I'd consider a success.  My daughter, Haylie, had never flown in a plane before and we'd worried that she'd have a massive meltdown on the plane and be one of those babies that cried the whole time.  She did not.  I will say that being on the plane only managed to show that her attention span is not exactly able to compensate for 3 hours in a plane.  At 10 months, that's hardly her fault.

We got to Dallas, our first leg without what I would consider any issues.  She cried a couple of times, granted, but in the end, she was really only bored and only managed a 15 minute nap.  If I were her age, and needed as much sleep as she does, 15 minutes would make me grumpy too.

Damnit!  The second leg was delayed.  Fog in Dallas meant we'd take off late.  Much harder to convince our daughter to rest in the terminal and of course the delay meant that instead of her getting a nap at the hotel like she should, we'd have to hope for more sleep on the plane.

As an aside, I cannot imagine traveling with a lap child outside business class or higher.  Yes, I paid a shitload more for the tickets that way, but I consider it well worth it all things considered.  The stewardess on the second leg was so nice, it was incredible.  She even offered to hold Haylie while we ate, which was well outside her normal duties.

We got to the airport and despite having ownership in a time share, someone wanted to try to sell us another one.  Good Lord!  Oh well, we managed to avoid talking to anyone in any significant amount of time and in the end we got onto our shuttle without much trouble.  On to the resort!

We got to our resort well past check in time and that was handy.  The flight in had delayed almost 45 minutes and had to fly around a tornado in Houston which moved us another 45 minute out.  That was actually all in all quite handy.  We got in and Colleen requested a crib.  I was surprised, considering we'd packed the travel crib, but she seemed insistent.  This gave Haylie a decent shot at a nap, and we were ready to settle in.

Other than a couple of superficial issues, the room is outstanding.  We got the room our membership purchased, which included a Jacuzzi tub on the patio and a relatively well stocked kitchen.  We still got hit up for the sales pitch. What?????  OK, I told them we'd meet, but I also plan to bail on that pretty damned early.

Dinner was at the buffet.  Not terrible, not great.  In the end, we got to bed early and apparently, that will be the way we have to spend each day because the crib is in our room.  Oh well.

Cheers!