6 tips for traveling with young kids

when we got back from hawaii I was asked so much about how traveling with the babes went.

...and quite honestly it went GREAT!! 

sooo.... with that, (I'm no pro by any means!), BUT here are some tips and things that we found helpful while traveling with two kids under the age of three.

 harper (2.5 years) & tanner (9 months).

**now first let me start with this disclaimer: all could have gone the complete opposite as well. but some how the stars aligned for us and we sailed right on through those 6+ hours of flying. EACH.WAY. ;)

1. if you can take grandma. then TAKE GRANDMA. (or any extra set of hands to help for that matter). my mom went with us and it was HUGE.

2. for baby bring a wrap to wear for them to nap in. I brought my solly wrap (rather than my ergo because it's small and takes up a lot less space. and when traveling with kids there is already SO much you're lugging around. so go for a small one you can stuff in your carry on.)

I put it on prior to boarding our flight so I didn't have to mess with putting it on in the tight airplane space. I didn't actually put tanner in though until we were able to be standing and moving about. then in he went and it was naptime!

3. sit in the aisle seat. this was so helpful for me to be able to get up and down if I needed to keep tanner moving to keep him sleeping. and let me tell ya. IT WORKED. cause boy slept for 2.5 hours!!

4. for harper (busy little toddler) it was all about newness. things she hadn't yet seen before. new snacks. new (little, easy to pack) toys (think dollar store!), new movies (we brought a portable dvd player), and of course... the iPad! 

**make sure to not use everything up cause you'll still need some new things for the flight home!**

5. use the other passengers around you! ha! we were sitting by such kind people, and if they were showing interest in my baby and wanting to talk to him, by all means I was gonna let them!

6. when you book your flights, if possible try flying in the morning. the kiddos are still fresh in the day and not yet over it and getting tired for bed. our flights home were a little later in the day and the kids were just a little busier cause of it.

if you have any questions for me, please don't hesitate to ask! cause there is certainly so much more to it than six simple steps haha! ;) if I can help just one mama out with this, that makes it all worth it. I know the travel can bring on lots of stress and anxiety of what to expect. 

if there's a point where things aren't going great-- just get though it. cause once that plane lands and you're off, that part is over and you're now ready to enjoy the vacation!

Xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

Tanner Ross || 10 months

baby!! 

as we're rearing closer and closer to becoming a one year old, I'm trying harder and harder to hold on to these baby days. this boy is growing at lightening speed and there's no sign of him slowing down.
my precious tanner boy.
with the biggest, toothy grin (a whole seven teeth in there!!).
Brandon and I are always saying how his smile is just the biggest, happiest smile we've seen. it's so hard for me to capture it in a picture! he'd much rather smile at us than our phones ;)
it's been a big month these past 30 or so days.
baby boy's first Easter and then about 10 of those days were spent prepping for and being in hawaii.
so this  month went by FAST!!! and was so FUN!!!

age: 10 months

stats:

25lbs 2oz

birth: 8lbs 2oz  --  21 inches

2 days: 7lbs 11oz

12 days: 9lbs 1oz

1 month: 12lbs 4oz  --  23 1/2 inches

2 months: 15lbs  --  24 inches

3 months: 17.4 lbs  --  (from the scale at home)

4 months: 18lbs 13oz  --  27 inches

5 months:  20.4 lbs  --  (from the scale at home)

6 months: 21lbs 2oz  --  28 inches
7 months: 22.8 lbs  --  (from the scale at home)
8 months: 23 lbs  --  (from the scale at home)
9 months: 23 lbs 15 oz  --  30.2 inches

clothes: 12-18 month

diapers: size 4

Tanner name sign // Quincyjeanart

banner // hooray everyday

the boy gets it. gets it all.
he's COMPLETELY aware of his surroundings and will not handle being left out.
he's progressed with foods quicker than harper did and that's mostly because he is 100% aware if he is given something different than the rest of us. he's quick to vocalize his opinion and let it known that he better be getting some of what's on my plate too.
meal times had gotten quite stressful with shouting and yelling. as soon as I let him feed himself more and he mastered his new skill better... it has made allll the difference!!

sleep had gotten good! just one night wake.
then more life happened and rocked that boat. a cold and then traveling and being away from home for eight days threw it all off. we're working our way back to good again-- and hoping that sooner than later we'll get there!!

new things!
--learned to drink from a straw
--we've ditched the zippy for both naps and night sleep
--tooth #7! (5/5)

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
-------------------------
oh sweet boy how I never want to forget this fun stage you are in.
you're into everything and exploring is what you do best.
harper is your best companion. where ever she is and whatever she is doing. you want to be right there with her.
you love your daddy so big and light up with those sweet baby blues and your huge grin the second he walks in.
but boy oh boy you're such a mama's boy too! and I love every once of it.
-------------------------
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

P H O T O   D U M P:

9 months

8 months

7 months

6 months

5 months

4 months

3 months

2 months

1 month

birth

Xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

Tanner Ross || 9 months

N I N E.

and looking mighty fine ;)

this is a big one!! the morning I woke and realized he really is a nine month old now... the first real thought I had... it's really go time on birthday party planning!

for the last nine months I've literally had the thoughts about what we would be doing for this little guy's birthday party. but nothing serious (as far as theme) has stuck with me. ((until recently!! I've settled on the theme and am so excited for it!)) the added challenge and reason for having this on my mind from day one is largely due to the fact that his and Harper's birthdays are the SAME DAY. 

that makes for things to be double the sweet. double the joy. double the celebration.

birthdays for these two-- I've got my work cut out for me!

to thrown ONE party that suits both tanner's first and harper's third is going to be so fun, but no question it's gonna be a challenge and I certainly have lots to do until then.

anywho. here's our sweet tanner boy being all big at 9 months old!!

we love him so and his personality is just the best.

age: 9 months

stats:

9 months: 23 lbs 15 oz  --  30.2 inches

birth: 8lbs 2oz  --  21 inches

2 days: 7lbs 11oz

12 days: 9lbs 1oz

1 month: 12lbs 4oz  --  23 1/2 inches

2 months: 15lbs  --  24 inches

3 months: 17.4 lbs  --  (from the scale at home)

4 months: 18lbs 13oz  --  27 inches

5 months:  20.4 lbs  --  (from the scale at home)

6 months: 21lbs 2oz  --  28 inches
7 months: 22.8 lbs  --  (from the scale at home)
8 months: 23 lbs  --  (from the scale at home)

clothes: 12 month

diapers: size 4

Tanner name sign // Quincyjeanart

banner // hooray everyday

9 month things:
--more teeth!! #storyofhislife. numbers five & six came in this month. (3/20 &3/21)
--man can this boy giggle and give the belly laughs! it's the best and such a highlight in each day to hear that sweet + contagious sound! between harper and I we'll do anything we can during our days to get those laughs out of tanner!
--crawling everywhere. pulling to stand on everything. climbing stairs. he is on.the.MOVE.
--with crawling then came pulling to stand. so... down went the crib! brandon went ahead and lowered it all the way being that this boy is so tall and we'd likely have to be adjusting it down again in no time.
--balls! this little guy is such a boy! he loves to play with balls and is starting to throw them too. it's fun to see the differences between him and harper as a baby cause this is one thing that she never took a big liking to.
--here and there he's been giving loves and it's the absolute best. leaning his head in to mine and on occasion giving a big wide open mouth kiss. seriously the BEST and melts my heart.
--favorite foods: avocado, raspberries, whole wheat bread, string cheese, kiwi, yogurt
--sleep: hit or miss. sometimes one night wake up. sometimes three night wake ups. I believe teething and changes developmentally have a lot to do with it. naps though are so solid! he's pretty consistent with a 1-2 hour nap twice a day (around the hours of 9-11 & 2-4).


P H O T O  D U M P

love you baby boy!! and all the joy you bring to our family!!

8 months

7 months

6 months

5 months

4 months

3 months

2 months

1 month

birth

Xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

Tanner Ross || dedication day

at church on sunday we had our sweet baby boy, tanner ross hjelseth, dedicated to the lord.

it was such a special day for our family.

a handful of pictures here from tanner's big day spent with family :)

passed out for a late morning nap as soon as we got home. big morning for him!

 once he woke, he was ready to enjoy all the company downstairs :)

our sweet tanner boy.

we are blessed to be your parents and are ever so thankful to god for entrusting you to us. we pray that you will grow strong in your faith and always keep close to jesus. may you become a man who knows the lord and never strays. 

thank you, lord for blessing us with our sweet boy.

we love you with all we have baby boy!!

xoxo- mom + dad

xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth