New luggage.

In preparation for our upcoming trip to Victoria, I bought Ysabella her very own suitcase/backpack combo. Princess-themed. (There were only a few choices: Dora, Princesses, or Cars. Not the best selection, none of them being my first choice.) She's very excited and she walks around the house with it all the time. This luggage will not be filled with clothes, but rather, it will be her carry-on, filled with things to keep her occupied for the flight out west. Toys, books, crayons, pencils, colouring books, etc.

We are getting very excited to see everybody in Victoria, but honestly, I'm not looking forward to the plane ride with a toddler. Call me a chicken. I'm actually thinking of bringing her carseat on the plane with us. I figure she knows she has to sit in it when it's there. Period. (I know we'll have to carry it around the airport, but I think it's a small price to pay and it will prevent a lot of tantrums in the end.) I'm even willing to risk me not bringing a carry-on in lieu of me carrying around the carseat and hope that my luggage doesn't get lost. I'll keep my fingers crossed. You see, we've checked the carseat in the past and had it NOT arrive at our destination. That sucks. If it's just your luggage that gets lost, you can go about your life for a day or two. Buy a new toothbrush, a few pairs of underwear, you know, the necessities. Pain in the butt, but you can do it. But if it's your carseat that gets lost, tough luck. You're stuck at the airport with the toddler until they find it. Yes. That has happened to us. (The problem was remedied within a few hours, but it still was not fun.) I also figure having her sit in the carseat on the plane will free up Ed and I most of the flight. (Yes, we'll let her out to stretch her legs, etc.) She can fall asleep in it. Read books. Watch some dvd's. What do you think? Has anybody ever travelled with a toddler? Carseat or no carseat on the plane? Thoughts? (A friend of mine recently told me about a flight she took to a friend's wedding. A toddler was standing on her father's legs in the seat in front of her. The toddler was looking over the seat at my friend and ended up vomiting all over my friend. In her hair and all! Apparently it was quite stinky. Had to shower before the wedding. Not pleasant. I'd like to try to avoid that type of situation, if at all possible...)