Our little one officially has her first set of wings on Alaska Airlines and her first set of sea legs on Regent Seven Seas as she joined us for my work's 29th Annual Advisory Board Meeting.
Last Wednesday morning (4am in the morning) we were all set for Isabelle's first flight to Vancouver. First off, can I just say, traveling with an infant requires a whole LOT of things! Isabelle's stuff took up half of our largest suitcase and, as a reminder, it was just the two of us that I had to pack for! Mom and Dad Ilich came to pick us up at 4:15am but upon their arrival to our place, we realized that the biggest trunk between our cars was my Mom's and there wasn't nearly enough room for all of our suitcases and her travel system stroller (we cant wait until she is a little bit bigger and can fit into the oh so compact, umbrella stroller). So, Papa had to take Isabelle and I to the airport separately which, besides getting him up at 4am, was fine :)
We all got to LAX safe and on time...showing off Isabelle's new passport, using the elevators to get up to the gate level and collapsing EVERYTHING to go through security. Man, that was an adventure in itself! I just thank God that Grandmama and Grandpa Ilich were there with us. 
The flights were wonderful, not a peep out of her. I nursed her each time we took off and she was pretty much sucking on her pacifier or asleep when we landed. We got pictures with the captian, which I will have to post later since its on a disposable camera because my battery was completely lost its charge and I had to buy a new one in Vancouver. On the fight over, Mom and I were handing her off to one another to eat, use the restroom, etc. but, the flight home was a different story. Isabelle and I left in Sitka on Monday, Grandmama and Grandpa Ilich stayed for three more days into Anchorage, and flew into Seattle with our friend (and an Advisory Board Member) Kathy. I was very lucky to have her there to assist me through Sitka's tiny, scrutinizing everyone who went through, security gate and getting us settled in. It was quite funny, though the tickets were booked through separate travel agencies, we were seated right next to one another. That flight was great. The leg from Seattle to Burbank however, was just the two of us. Thank God, once again, for preboarding!
As the other first class passengers started boarding right after me, I noticed "the look", which I hadn't before since I was preoccupied with Isabelle and my Mom or Kathy. I suspect they were probably thinking, "Oh crap, a baby. AND she is in first class!" And the person who got assigned to sit next to us, was probably thinking the same thing. Boy, did Isabelle throw all of them off. She slept the entire flight! After about a half an hour after take off, the lady next to me started talking with me and even offered her tray to put my drink and dinner on. She actually opened my dressing and cut portions of my dinner so I could eat with one hand. She is itching for the day her boys give her grandkids. One is married but just got shipped off to Iraq a month ago (sending him best wishes for a safe return home). I said I would keep my fingers crossed for her :)
As for the cruise, Isabelle was the star of the ship! She had everyone saying hi to her, passengers and crew alike. Only one 10 minute meltdown in the cabin with Grandmama after we left Ketchikan and that was it! I was soooo happy :) We cruised the Inside Passage and Tracy Arm and visited Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and disembarked in Sitka. We went shopping and found silver bear earrings for Isabelle and saw a Lumberjack show in Ketchikan (Isabelle slept through it until the super charged chainsaws came out). We went whale watching in Juneau where we saw two Orcas as well as two Humpbacks, one was a mama with her calf, and a bunch of sealions. As for Skagway, at 76 degrees, we took a nice leisurely stroll around town then back to the ship to relax. All in all, it was a great trip and, although without her papa, a wonderful first time adventure for our little one :)
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