Operation Papal Visit

After having my dad fly out to Italy to see Jason and explore with us, I wanted so badly for the rest of my family to meet baby Spartacus. I asked Matt about going home in August a few months ago but told him not to sugarcoat it and tell me his honest opinion about Jason and I flying to the States. Well I asked for honest, and I got honest. "I'd rather you wait until October," he said. Fair enough. You are my husband, and the father of my child, you have a say in this and I respect your wishes, and I never brought it up again.

Well that last part isn't true. I didn't bring it back up, until a week before I wanted to fly home. I had been talking to my mom and my sister earlier that day and I got an aching to surprise my sister the day before my nieces' first birthday. It was Wednesday and her party next Saturday. I know my sister wants to be able to drop everything and fly out to Italy to love on Jason but it just isn't possible with her job being a full time gig (no last minute call outs are allowed for her). On top of that she has a soon to be 1 and 3 year old as well as her oldest who is a preteen and thinks he can run the world no problem (love you B!)

My mom was able to make it out here fortunately when Jason was born but I know she didn't get enough lovin' in; honestly, is there ever enough time to love on a baby? So I know she would be thrilled to see baby J too. And lets not forget that I am a daddy's girl and would love to be able to surprise him as well with a visit.

Back to the not bringing up flying home in August thing again. I dropped the subject for a couple of months, and after talking to my mom and sister I figured I would bring it back up. Matt had been out with the guys for "Man Night" and had a couple drinks, I had no intention on changing his mind but wondered how easy it would be after he had a drink or two. "Hey Maaaaaaatt. What do you think about me flying home next week?" I'm thinking there is no way in hell he will agree to this. "Only if you don't fly standby," he responded. Wait a minute. Did he just give me permission to buy a ticket and go home?! Is he out of his mind?! "I don't do full price tickets, standby is the only way I will go," I rebutted. We talked about flying home on a Military flight which was my preference since there was a flight home next Friday but my chances on making that flight were low. I brought up flying stand by under my mom's benefits from Rome to DC (which is what I did last year to surprise my family for my sister's C-section). We called it a day and went to bed. I was okay if I didn't go home, but it sure would be nice.

Thursday morning Matt goes to work, when he comes home I asked him if he started the paperwork for me to catch the military flight. He did not. It wouldn't get up his chain of command quick enough. Well I guess flying standby from Rome to DC is my only option left but Matt wasn't having that. He had researched flights while at work and found a couple of affordable options. I'm not paying full price for a ticket. So I called mom and she told me that the flight I wanted was over sold by 28 seats, but there were seats still for sale. Matt was sold, I wasn't. I couldn't pay full price for a ticket. I was going to be nauseous if I had to enter my credit card number and click confirm. I didn't have it in me to be so selfish when we were going to fly home in just two more months. Matt told my mom to buy the tickets then I would HAVE to transfer her the money. Ultimately Matt turned to me and said, "If you don't make a flight home, you will be devastated." And he was right. Mom booked my flight and Jason and I were flying to DC in a WEEK!

Since no one knew we were coming home, mom and I called the surprise Operation Papal Visit.

Matt took off work and drove us to the airport, I really didn't want to take the train with the baby, his car seat, his diaper bag, and two bags of luggage. He was able to go past Passport Control to Security with us. I was so nervous about going through security because I was wearing Jason in an Ergo Carrier, and I didn't know if I needed to take him out of the carrier and put it through x-ray. Putting on an Ergo Carrier one handed is not something that I have mastered while holding Jason and I wasn't planning on the Italian TSA agents to be super helpful. On top of that I was nervous about the process of having 2 bottles of pre-made 8 ounce formula, that once opened is only good for two hours. I crossed my fingers that I could wear him through x-ray and the formula would not be a hassle. Apparently Italian TSA is not as strict as TSA in America. They took the formula, x-rayed it, let me walk through with Jason in his back pack with just a little pat down between the two of us and that was it. I stressed over nothing!

I asked the gate agent if they board families first,  to which they do; however, they never called families to board first, so I cut the line after first class boarded and was given the okay to go ahead on the plane. I met some wonderful flight attendants that my mom emailed prior to my flight, and a couple of them worked with my mom or knew her from Facebook. Jan, my favorite person on the flight recalled my mom posting on Facebook about me delivering Jason even though I told her not to post anything. She was so happy to meet Jason after having read all of moms "non-updates."

I sat window seat with Jason on my lap, and two Italian teenagers sat beside me. They weren't of any help when it came time to Jason getting hungry and me not being ready for him. Asking the kid next to me to open a bottle and pull off the aluminum cover was just the first headache while dealing with a hungry crying baby. It didn't help that he had no concept of personal space and also elbowed Jason's head while he was sleeping not once but twice, putting him into a crying fit. I made sure the return flight was an aisle seat so I could get up and move about with Jason whenever I needed to console him.

Other then that, Jason did amazingly well on his first flight. It was 10 hours long, he was in my lap the entire time with the exception of a sweet lady behind me wanting to hold him for 20 minutes while I got everything together for landing, and of course amazing Jan the flight attendant entertained him, let me be kid free for a few, and helped me clean bottles. Did I mention she was amazing? My angel in the sky for sure.

Once landed mom picked me up in Dulles and we went to her new house to spend the night. Mom was soaking in her Mimi time. He's much chunkier than he was at a week old, weighing almost twice his original weight, and a couple inches taller. Jason was full of smiles and giggles. We headed down to Virginia Beach (it only took 6 hours instead of 3 1/2). Jason was born to travel. He was so calm the entire trip down, he didn't even complain about Mimi listening to Dr. Laura Podcasts =]












First up was surprising my sister. Mom and I kept coming up with different plans to surprise her, and when we pulled into the driveway, all plans went out the window as mom snatched up the car seat and ran off with Jason into the house. As I chase behind her and get into the house I hear my sister ask my mom why does she have a car seat? My brilliant nephew B chimes in "It's Jason!" One look from across the room and he knew it was him. I pop my head around the corner and see Jen burst into tears. She was sitting at the table with her husband working on party decorations for Emmy's birthday tomorrow. Needless to say decorations took a back seat. Not even five minutes of loving on him was Jen already changing a diaper, she was so happy to do so! Now THAT'S love!

Next up was dad! Mom "wanted to stop by and see his renovated kitchen." I walk through the back door and dad jumps out of his chair to the sound of my voice. I don't know what it is about surprises, but I love to do them! Dad grabbed Jason right away and pranced around the kitchen with him. Yes, he pranced. He then proceeded to take him to the bathroom and look at their reflections in the mirror. This was a frequent event during our stay. "Who's grand daddy's buddy? Are you grand daddy's buddy?" The bucket in my heart was over flowing with happiness and joy from just the first 36 hours being stateside.

Mom had to go south to North Carolina but would be back for the birthday party tomorrow. I claimed the guest bedroom and made myself at home. Chase had almost blown my cover about being home because he saw a picture my sister had posted on Instagram of her and baby J. So he wasn't surprised, but dad still was despite Chase dropping hints 4 minutes before I walk through the door. 

It was getting late and I needed to go see my Aunt and Uncle so I could snag their spare vehicle. Aunt Mary was smitten over Jason, so much that I hated telling her we had to leave and get dinner and sleep. 

Saturday morning we go to Jens house for the birthday party. The birthday girl loved seeing her cousin and just wanted to pet him and stick her finger in his mouth. She was so curious about him! Jen out did herself with Emmy's precious Strawberry Shortcake themed party. It was a great opportunity for Mimi to snuggle with Jason on the couch and Aunt Donna got her cuddles too. I was able to give my sister a helping hand in the finishing touches before everyone arrived. I was just so happy to be there. I let the world know how awesome my husband is for letting me make such a spontaneous trip. He claims that he is getting a 2 week break from my crazy but he just wants me to be happy. 

Over the next week and a half, Jason got to meet his Aunts and Uncles: Jenny, Chase, Alan, Mary, Donna, Mike and Jackie, his cousins: Brendyn, Camdyn, Emersyn, and Aimee. As well as adopted Aunts: Kirsten, Kim, Amanda, Mercedes, Susie, and Gigi.

We stopped by grand daddys office to meet his co-workers. Everyone thought Jason looked smashing in his new hat. He and grand daddy even matched! They could have been twins if it weren't for the age difference!

Overall, the two weeks home was spent with friends and family, whereas I am normally out shopping or eating! It was so worth the money spent on tickets to be surrounded by so much love and happiness. Jason definitely missed his daddy. His eyes lit up when Matt picked us up from the airport.   Matt and I are over the moon that he adjusted to the time change immediately, both there and back! Ready for round two in October to go see our friends and family in Illinois.