Baby on a Beach

As you now know, I was on vacation last week.  A tropical Caribbean vacation.  It took a couple planes to get there, one being a 10 person puddle jumper, and once on sandy ground there wasn't much to do other than soak up sunshine.  Picture clear blue water, tiki umbrellas and a light ocean breeze.  My husband and I read lots of books, wore lots of sunscreen and ate lots of dessert.  It was peaceful and relaxing.

You can imagine the scene, yes?  Remember the photo from Tuesday's post (below)?

Okay.  Add a baby to that photo.  Add a 6 month old baby.  Add a stroller.  And a baby bjorn.  Does that image work for you?  Can you picture a baby on that beach?  Day two of our vacation, there was a 6 month old baby on that beach.  He was breastfeeding one tiki umbrella over.  

You know I'm baby crazy.  So first things first, I ooohed and ahhhed at the baby's cuteness.  He was adorable.  Once I moved on from him and his fantastic striped onesie, I pondered whether I would have the balls to bring a 6 month old to the Caribbean.  Then I pondered whether it was balls or whether it was an easy going attitude or whether it was lunacy.  The parents seemed functioning and stable, but appearances can be deceiving.

I started to consider all the reasons why one would or would not bring a baby on vacation and cem up with three considerations: Will bringing your baby enhance/detract from/not effect your vacation? Will bringing your baby enhance/detract from/not effect other people who are vacationing beside you?  Practically speaking, is it even an option to bring or not bring your baby?

Image from a story on Raising Kvell
about a family's trip to Barbados with
their toddler who got croup and needed
foreign medical attention...ugh)

First, only you know whether you want need mommy/daddy time or family time.  Are you going to stress without your baby (are your in-laws feeding him donut holes...again) or are you going to miss your baby to the point of not being able to enjoy the away time?  Have you not have 5 minutes alone with your husband since the baby's birth?  Next, is your baby mellow and adaptable or is your baby cranky and high strung?  The adorable baby on my vacation didn't cry, at all.  It's likely he went unnoticed by most sunbathers.  I doubt most babies could follow his act.  What is your baby's tolerance for new faces and new spaces?  Last, sometimes practical issues will make considerations one and two moot.  If you don't want to take your baby on vacation, you need a babysitter.  Do you have one or can you afford one.  If you do want to take your baby on vacation, you also need to bring baby things.  Will you need a stroller?  Can the baby deal without a pack n' play?  Bottles?  Diapers?

Just writing about all this is scaring me away from the idea a vacation post life with baby.  I'm not sure I have the patience to weigh the pros and cons, much less bring the baby.

What baby vacationing experiences do you have?  Did you fly a plane or opt for a driving vacation?  How old was your baby?  Regrets?

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Baby Bucket List

Most do not know the gruesome origin of the term "bucket list" (it comes from the phrase "kick the bucket" which comes from a method of suicide), but most do know its meaning - a list of things that you want to do before you die.  It's not a brain buster to figure out the meaning of a baby bucket list - crazy, fun, extravagant things that you want to do before having a baby.  Not because a baby equals death!  NO.  Because these things will be more difficult (if not impossible) from pregnancy forward (or at least through toddlerhood).  Check out the website www.bucketlist.org - it allows you to make your own (baby) bucket list that others can follow (to keep you honest).

My ideas below, please share yours - leave a comment with your planned or accomplished pre-baby adventure

Travel - This doesn't have to be Bali or Patagonia or some 24-hour-to-get-to-by-jet destination.  For example, I grew up in Massachusetts and have never been to Martha's Vineyard.  It's on my baby bucket list.  Maybe you've never been camping or always wanted to visit New Orleans.  Yes, a trip to Brazil would be amazing if you can afford it, but a quick babymoon to the outer banks of North Carolina would also be pretty sweet.

Physical Challenge - Not the Double Dare kind...or maybe.  These are athletic feats that you've always aspired to conquer but never had the motivation.  Being pregnant seriously limits your ability to exercise and the baby's arrival will serious limit your free time - how's that for motivation.  Get it done while you have the time and energy to do it.

• Triathlon - The website www.beginnertriathlete.com is dedicated first time triathlon competitors and provides everything from an event calendar to training programs
• Marathon - It takes (on average) from 16-24 weeks to train for the 26.2 mile (length of a marathon) race and around 5 hours (for a first timer) to run it.  Go to www.runnersworld.com for a comprehensive database of marathons (and other length races) 
• Adventure Race - These are races that combine athleticism with chaotic fun like Muddy Buddy, Rebel Race and Spartan Races
• Bike Race - Go to www.bikerace.com for a full list of nationwide bike races

Things You Missed In College - College was a time of unabashed mayhem.  Minimal responsibility plus maximum consumption to cheap alcohol created lasting memories (for those who were sober enough to form them).  But not everyone went to a college with wild parties, those who did weren't necessarily in attendance (lame) and some didn't go to college period.  Before your hands are busy burping and diaper changing, maybe a quick beer funnel is in order?  Pick up A Guide to College Partying for the basics.  I don't think you'll have much trouble getting a few friends involved in these list items.

• Kegs - Throw a keg party or at least find one so you can attempt (if not master) the keg stand
• Beer Funnel/Bong - By clicking on the words Beer Funnel/Bong you are on your way to becoming the proud owner of the Ultimate Beer Bong. 
• Stay up until sunrise - You can class this one up with a bottle of wine instead of a case of Milwaukee's Best and a game of Pictionary instead of Kings (refer to your copy of A Guide to College Partying if you don't know Kings).  Yes, you will likely be up at sunrise with the baby, but the circumstances of this list item should be slightly different
• Strip Club - Enough said

Luxury Stuff - These are unnecessarily expensive material things (iPad, Manolo Blaniks, etc.) that you've always wanted but been too fiscally conservative to buy, despite having the funds.  If you don't buy it now, you won't once the baby is born.

Take a Class or Develop/Nourish a Hobby

• Language - A DIY tool (like Rosetta Stone) or a group class are both great options.  Most major (and some non-major) cities have adult education language classes that are relatively inexpensive.  Once you've learned a little, search Craiglist for a speaking partner
• Photography - Get yourself a sweet camera and take a photography class (again, local adult education classes are great for this)
• Cooking - Take a cooking class for a practical and fun experience.  This would be a great couple's activity
• Wine/Beer - Learn about wine so you don't look like an ass (like me) every time you try to spin your glass at a nice restaurant and the wine spills everywhere.  Or learn how to brew beer with a cool home brewing kit

Random - Audition for reality television or a game show, compete in a food eating contest, or try not to kick the bucket on a sky-diving and bungee jumping excursion.

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Babymoon

I never heard of the term babymoon until a few months ago.  And suddenly it's a conversation staple.   So, what is a babymoon?  A babymoon is a couple's vacation with a special purpose (note the likeness to the word honeymoon).  But, that special purpose has ranging definitions.

Here are the two ways it has been defined to me 1) a couple's last hurrah before charging full force into the "trying" phase of family planning, or 2) the official kick off of the "trying" phase.  These play out into two very different vacations.  The first would be something like a zip-lining, whitewater rafting, jungle adventure in Costa Rica or a booze cruise through the Carribbean.  The second would be more laid back and romantic.  A secluded beach on St. Bart or a leisurely tour of southern Italy.

Turns out there is another, prevalent definition that I was unaware of until writing this post - a vacation that a couple takes during the pregnancy.  Some last minute rest and relaxation before the baby arrives.  I know there are rules about not traveling while pregnant.  I don't know exactly what the rules entail (please feel free to enlighten me), but I assume they don't conflict with this version of the babymoon because the trusted experts at Parents.com (the online version of Parents magazine) have recommendations for the 8 Best Babymoon Trips.  These are "pregnancy-friendly" vacations.  Who knew?

Last, the Urban Dictionary has its own, unique definitions of babymoon.  Of course.  There are two definitions.  One describes the period of time before the baby is born and one describes the period of time after the baby is born.  And both descriptions involve the mother laying around and eating bon bons.  Interesting.

I'm more into the vacation definitions, though I always get a kick out of Urban Dictionary.  Any excuse for a vacation is a good excuse to me.  And I count three excuses all from one word.

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