Extra-extro-vert

People energize Robert. He loves new faces, new places, and lots of googly attention from perfect strangers. Usually, it's just cute. This time, however, it saved me much turmoil on the plane ride home.

We had a "late" flight that left SLC at 5pm. Robert was all smiles. He charmed the flight attendants, the Asian family seated behind us, and every person within eye contact range. This boy is something else! Can you believe that midway through the flight one flight attendant actually asked if she could HOLD him? I let her try. The thing about Robert's extroversion is he loves people as long as they don't come between him and his family. Holding him was a bit much, but he didn't cry. Anyway, he was peek-a-booing and cooing and laughing with all these folks for most of the trip. He was supposed to be napping.

The end of the 3.5 hour flight was rough on Robert. We began our shaky descent and the pressure changes were severe. He started to cry, then scream, then flail and kick and wrestle his way out of our arms. Silly boy. The pacifier and special blanket slowed him down, but they still didn't keep him quiet. It was a long descent...30 minutes? He screamed and fought the whole time. Here's where Robert's social nature saved us. Our flight attendants and neighbors were suddenly sympathetic. They offered kind suggestions instead of mean glances, even letting us walk the boy up and down the aisle during less-than-smooth flying. It was a small miracle that meant a whole lot to me personally.

Seconds after we landed, he was asleep in my lap.

Silly, silly, extra-extroverted boy :)