It's been one year since the first trip with my daughter. On August 14, 2017 — sleep deprived from worrying excessively the night before — we boarded a plane destined for Punta Cana. Why was I traveling alone, with a 2-month-year old, on 4-hour plane ride to Punta Cana you ask? Great question.

My daughter, Taegan, was born into an international family. I'm from the United States and her father is from Mexico. At the time Taegan was born, both of us also worked in different countries and traveled frequently for work. Complicated, right? It wasn't easy, but we made it work.

A few weeks after our daughter was born, her father needed to return back to work in the Dominican Republic. He visited us every two weeks in the United States until she was two months old which was when we booked our first flight to Punta Cana to visit him.

The next question you may have on your mind — how did that first flight go... with a two-month old? It was actually one of Taegan's best flights. Even though the flight time was extended by an hour due to weather, and she slept for no more than 30 minutes, the new environment around her kept her fairly entertained for the majority of the flight. Also, luckily, next to us was a mother with her 7-year-old daughter who helped me with the basics that I hadn't considered... for example, making a bottle with only one hand. That was the first important lesson I learned while flying alone with my daughter, don't be afraid to ask for help. 

Now, one year later, I've flown with Taegan exactly 30 times. And, I'm a pro at making a bottle with only one hand. Between family visits and work travel, this little girl has traveled more than most people do in their lifetime.

By no means do I know everything about flying — or traveling — with a little one, but I have learned a lot during this first year. So for those seeking advice before you take flight with your little one... I've decided to start this blog to share my experiences. And hopefully, you will find what I didn't before my first flight with my daughter — a little bit of encouragement, from someone who has been in similar shoes, that you can do it.