Skiing and snowboarding isn’t usually just a typical recreational activity or believed pastime, it’s a passion. One that is often passed down from generation to generation as families take the time to journey to the slopes, laugh, cry and bond. This is why “take a ski vacation” was included on our list of 12 travel challenges for 2012. Reid and I both share the love of snowboarding and are anxious to enjoy it together along with our children (next year ToddlerTravels will take up skiing!).

We had never been to Snowbird before but had heard countless remarks from colleagues, neighbors and friends about what a great place it is to ski. We decided to include it on our list and check it out. I was very impressed by some of the lengths they had gone to make it so family oriented and make it easily accessible for people of all ages and skill level.

I’m not going to lie, as we pulled up to the resort my stomach dropped a little as I saw the magnitude of the terrain (not sure how fear of heights and snowboarding mixes really). But was pleasantly surprised to find some green and blues that I not only felt comfortable with but enjoyed more than usual. I was impressed with all the runs that would make a beginner feel at ease, so brining little ones that have never learned before would be more than possible.

I also loved the fact that they have Camp Snowbird, a fun looking daycare (we did not actually get to use because we had a nanny on hand and BabyTravels is only four months old) that accepts children as young as 6 months old. See? It is possible to enjoy a day on the slopes with young children and make it fun for them too!

I was a little put out at first by how spread out the lifts were, until I realized they had shuttle buses that operate very regularly that will drop you off at your car or your lift of choice. What’s not to love about that?

The tram was really impressive (I didn’t get a chance to use it but Reid did and he loved it). Reid, who has really yet to find any terrain he is uncomfortable with, had a blast at Snowbird exploring the ins and outs and crevices (quite literally since there is a tunnel that takes you to the backside of the mountain). So to say that it can please the whole family really isn’t an understatement.

While ToddlerTravels did not get a chance to ski, she loved playing in the snow and swimming in the pools. A day has not gone by where she hasn’t asked to go back to the mountains.

ToddlerTravels enjoying the snow up at Snowbird

We just completed our ski vacation challenge for our 12 travel challenges in 2012 and we had such a blast! We spent the weekend at Snowbird in one of their awesome condos at the Cliff Lodge (more on that later). Because snowboarding and skiing works up a big appetite, especially for sweets, I decided to make some treats to bring up with us. ToddlerTravels had a blast helping to make these blondies and her favorite part was putting the M&M’s on top.  Make these for your next get-away!

Blondies:

2 cups Flour
2 Eggs
2 cups Brown Sugar
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
2/3 cup Butter
1 cup M&Ms or chocolate chips

Melt butter and add sugar and mix together. Add eggs and vanilla and blend well. Add rest of ingredients except M&Ms or chocolate chips. Put into a greased 9×13 inch pan, sprinkle with M&Ms and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

My goal is to offer you all of my nursing tips that I have accumulated to make it a more enjoyable flight for your little one and you- making sure that your baby is fed and you feel comfortable.

First off if possible, book your seat next to a window with your significant other sitting in the middle seat. This will offer you the most buffer and privacy during the flight. Also try to get a seat towards the front- but not the bulkhead. People tend to travel towards the back of the plane where the lavatories are- so being near the front you will have less passer-bys and it will be more quiet.

If you are not traveling with a partner and are alone on the flight- let your neighbor know you are a nursing mother right when you sit down. It will allow them time to either adjust to the situation or find another seat if they are uncomfortable with it. This is totally not necessary to do but I always do it as a courtesy plus I feel more at ease if I get it out right away to avoid a potentially awkward situation later.

If you prefer to be covered up while nursing, invest in a nursing cover. This thing has saved my life. The first five flights I went on- I tried using a blanket with disastrous results. With a nursing cover (or Hooter Hider as some refer to it) you have your hands free, you feel more secure, and you can peek in on your baby as she nurses. It’s a win/win situation. You can either purchase one at sites like this one or if you are cheap like me you can make one for about $6. Here is a great tutorial I used.

Some people suggest you should nurse your baby during take off and landing to help him or her pop her ears so they aren’t uncomfortable. I did always try to time it that way but let’s face it, babies are unpredictable and you can’t always time things right. If it wasn’t possible or if she was sleeping I didn’t bother to force it on her and found that a pacifier did the trick just as well and we never (knock on wood) had any problems.

If you are still really uncomfortable you can always nurse your baby in the lav. I don’t recommend it personally because they tend to be cramped and smelly and there is usually a line- but your baby’s well-being comes first.

My last advice is to take things in stride, relax and do the best you can. There will always be people who snicker (although it is rare), but just follow your instincts and do what’s best for your baby. Eventually the flight will end and most likely you will never see them again anyhow.

This year is going to be crazy, stressful and fun. We have partnered with the Deseret News to do a column on traveling with two kids two and under. We have taken on 12 challenges that we must complete (without breaking the bank mind you). We are excited to be able to update this blog with a bunch of fun new tips and reviews we will have along the way.

To catch up, here is the 12 in 2012 article and here is the first challenge completed.

Make surprise packages for your next road trip

Taking a toddler on a road trip can be exhausting, frustrating and stressful. But it really doesn’t have to be. Try some of these tips the next time you take your two or three year old on the open road and you will be surprised how it can turn a rocky ride into a smooth and even relaxing one!

Cut out the sugar. Try not to pack sugar intense snacks. A couple of treats to be earned along the way are fine, but pack healthy and fun snacks instead. Also, leave the juice boxes at home or for pit stops where you stop at a park for a picnic. They are sticky and full of sugar. Here are a couple of ideas for healthy snacks pictured below.

Snack ideas for road trips

Try to avoid the movies until it’s dark or you get desperate. Pack books or small toys. Make up stories together in the car, sing songs and have them point out the colors they see outside. Play the ispy game with your toddlers.

For times when you start to lose your toddler to fussiness or boredom pull out surprise packages. Before the trip prepare as many surprise packages as you feel will be useful and store them by your feet. You can either set a certain milestone (every 30 or 60 miles, etc.) or just use them as needed. Stop by the dollar store and pick up some fun small toys or activities and place them in bags for them to open. You will be surprised how fun it is for everyone and how well it works!

I created 8 bags before our last trip. Here they are in order in case you need some ideas.

A princess puzzle

Plastic colorful lizards

Bag of colorful pom poms

note pad and stickers

kaleidoscope

Winnie the Pooh flashcards

Klacker game

Tambourine- saved for last in case we got desperate enough. Never happened,

You can also hand out tickets for good behavior that can be redeemed at rest stops for treats or a souvenir when you get to your destination.

Treat tickets

What are some things you do to help keep your toddler entertained on road trips?

Well it’s official. BabyTravels is no longer a baby or considered an infant. We celebrated her 2^nd birthday on Saturday. While we were happy to celebrate her being in our lives we mourned the loss of our infant in arms privileges with her and are slowing realizing the cost and annoyance of having to purchase three airline tickets.Which will make it difficult when looking for cheap international flights. I’m not sure what change one day makes in all of a sudden you can’t sit on my lap but you must have your own seat, but rules are rules. I do have a sneaking suspicion that even though we purchase her a ticket she will still end up on my lap during the flight. At least we will have more wiggle room.

She will use the same seat as an adult, yet she weighs much less than my carry-on which gets to ride with me for free. So where did this rule come from? How did the airlines determine this age? To be honest she probably could have used her own seat starting at the age of 18 months. I did a little research and apparently this is an FAA regulation that children over the age of 2 must have a seat. I also found out that you can only fly with two infants at a time per adult and that you can only have a maximum of one lap child per adult. So I’m guessing what this means is that a mom with twins can fly alone with her twins but one infant would need a seat along with an adult. However a mom with triplets would not be allowed to fly alone and would need both parents or another adult to fly with. They would only need to purchase three tickets however all four of them could not sit in the same row of three seats due to oxygen masks.

I had never thought of that before, yet I doubt I would be daring enough to try to fly alone with infant twins, nevermind infant triplets! I do think it won’t be long till I am brave enough to try to fly with my two year old and newborn baby solo. I know it will be a challenge but I bet I will be up to it!

This pregnancy however, I have only flown a handful of times. And when I was about 23 weeks things were going great, I was feeling pretty good so we went ahead and booked two trips for when I would be 32 and 33 weeks knowing full well that those would be the last times I would fly before having a baby. Then at 28 weeks I found out I had placenta previa and was at-risk for bleeding and having a premature baby. I was sad and then the doctor told me to not travel. It wasn’t like I was going on a vacation, these were once in a lifetime family events. But I understood that my health and the health of the baby came first.

But now what? I had purchased tickets already, and not only purchased tickets but purchased non-refundable tickets because we got them at a killer deal. My doctor gave me a note that said due to obstetric complications I was medically unable to fly. So crossing my fingers I gave the two separate airlines a call. The first was Southwest and once I explained the situation they were more than willing to work with me. They would not refund my money but they did give me and my flight companion, flight credit that was good for up to a year. They did not require my doctor’s note. The second airline was Delta and they were a little more difficult to work with. They did require my doctor’s note but only the information from it. Because I had used reward points to book the ticket they were able to refund them without further issue. At least that is what happened with the second person we called. The first wanted us to use them within a year similarly with Southwest.

Things ended up working out fine for me and we were lucky about that in many ways. If this happens to you don’t get discouraged. Know that unfortunately unless you bought a refundable ticket, the airline is under no obligation to refund you. However, most of the time they will be willing to work with you in some form or fashion so that not all is lost. My advice would not be to call and say “I’m pregnant and can’t fly,” because most likely they will not understand the situation. You want to stress that you are medically unfit to fly and were told so by a doctor and have a note that explains everything. Just keep calm and do what is best for you and your baby!

BabyTravels has been on almost seventy flights and we have NEVER had an issue with her needing a pat-down or even being touched by a TSA agent. But we all know that there have been You-Tube videos of toddlers being patted down and other such outrageous events in the media lately that this is surely a response to the out-cry poured out by angry parents and media officials.

The changes should be in affect by the end of the week and should help out when it comes to holiday travel. I am looking forward to not removing BabyTravels shoes anymore. I always cringed when she walked barefoot on the floor and I always thought it dumb I had to remove shoes from her when she was a little infant. What are your thoughts?

It was hard at first, but as I kept getting these cute pictures and getting the reports, and how much fun she was having with all her cousins, that I am so glad I didn’t hold her back! So here are a few of the adventures cute little (not so little anymore!) BabyTravels had in her Midwest Adventure:

Enjoying some beautiful wildflowers. I'll pretend that she picked them for me, but let's be honest she was having so much fun she probably forgot who I was!

BabyTravels washing her hands in the beginning of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park.

Visiting Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji.

Digging holes with cousins in the sands at Rainy River.

Playing ring-around-the-rosie and enjoying the cool air.

Enjoying delicious (and I mean DELICIOUS!) cheese curds from Earl's Drive-In

And lastly, but most importantly enjoying snuggle time with new baby cousin. Hopefully getting some good practice!

We all know that for a large part the focus in Las Vegas has shifted to families.  Large hotels and casinos both on and off the strip have added attractions that appeal to both the kid and kid at heart.  For the most part they hope to keep the kids happy and entertained while the parents have the opportunity to gamble away their children’s college funds (ok, totally joking).

While some of the attractions may not be suitable for babies or young toddlers there are plenty of family friendly activities on the strip that will keep your baby happy and amused.  Here is a list of some of these we have found babytravels to enjoy during our many trips to sin city:

Bellagio Atrium and Fountains: Each season and for special holidays the atrium at the Bellagio changes to showcase vibrant colors, flowers, and shapes all that will appeal to a little one. Once you are finished exploring the Atrium you can head outside for the fountain show.

MGM Lions: Your baby will love the one of a kind Lion habitat at the MGM Grand. They can watch the lions play, sleep and eat and if you get there early in the morning you can even see the lion cubs.

Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Casino: You will find Chilean flamingos, swans, koi ponds, ducks and turtles!

Mirage Secret Garden: The secret garden is home to dolphins and white tigers and is a fun place to explore for all ages.

Mandalay Bay Shark Reef: Young children love aquariums and the Shark Reef does   not disappoint.  There are 2,000 different species including rare crocodiles, jellie fish and endangered sea turtles.

What are your favorite baby friendly attractions and activities in Las Vegas?