the destination? or the journey?

Thirty-four-and-a-half. That’s the number of hours we spent waiting for planes and layin-over on our recent trip from Townsville-Sydney-San Francisco-Honolulu-Kona-Los Angeles-San Francisco-Bend-San Francisco-Sydney-Brisbane-Townsville.

I’m not ready to take that trip again anytime soon.

Thirty-four-and-a-half hours.

Oh, and that was not including our overnight layover in San Francisco due to inclement weather (which would take us to well over forty-five hours).

I’ve heard it said that it’s about the journey, not the destination… And I get that. But let me tell you, we wouldn’t go on a journey like that unless there were some really fabulous destinations on the other side.

So maybe it’s about the journey and the destination.

But when you have a travel itinerary as epic (read: long) as ours, you have to make the most of the journey… for everyone’s sake.

A few glimpses of how we spent our thirty-four-and-a-half hours:

We tried to make the most of our thirty-four-and-a-half.

There were frequent trips to Starbucks. There was Chinese take-out. There were naps on chests. There were naps on floors. There was window shopping. There were borrowed highchairs. There were meals on the floor. There were adventures in the Ergo. There was territory marked out in forgotten waiting areas. There were many repeats of the same four board books. There were handfuls of Cheerios… many handfuls. And there were even some extra moments with grandparents and friends to help us in the wait.

Some of those hours were better spent than others… but overall we did try to enjoy some “family time” together since it was [mostly] just the three of us with nowhere to go and nothing to do… except wait. And enjoy the moment.

Dear friends, do you find it easy or hard to enjoy the journey? Are you a “destination person”, a “journey person”, or a combination of the two?

arrived… home, that is,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

levi's tips and tricks for traveling with your mama

My kid has more frequent flyer miles racked up than most people twenty years his senior. He’s now been on eight flights and within the next month will have another nine flights under his belt.

After I traveled overseas with Levi on my own when he was ten weeks old, I wrote a post called Tips and Tricks for Traveling with an Infant. (If you need some travel tips for the holidays, you can check those out here.) But this time around I asked Levi if he could give us some insight from his perspective. He is, after all, an excellent world traveler.

Without further adieu, here are Levi’s tips and tricks for traveling with your Mama:

1.     Giggle at everything. This will help mama to not get stressed about the heavy bags and the long lines.

2.     Clap when you see the food come out. Long flights are no time for meal-time dramas, so make sure she sees that you’re excited to eat… and then eat quickly and heartily.

3.     Time your poos for layovers. She will be so happy to not be trying to change you inside the mouse hole that they call an airline bathroom. Or, at least if you do have to poo while on the plane, just keep your hands out of it when she's trying to change you. The less stress you cause in that little closet, the better. Trust me on this one.

4.     Give her extra cuddles. Most likely she is tired from all the planning and packing and cleaning during the lead-up to the trip, so getting more cuddly than usual will remind her that it was all more than worth it.

5.     Put up with her taking lots of photos… and ham it up a little. Documenting the memories is important to her, so have fun with it. I know she takes enough to fill up a bazillion memory cards, but humor her. Having great photos really does make her heart sing.

6.     Don’t be clingy. Let her hold you when she’s up for it, but spend just as much time with Daddy too. She loves her time with you, but she also loves seeing you love your time with Daddy. And apparently she sometimes needs her space too. At least, that’s what Daddy tells me.

7.     Cry if you really need to, but refrain from protest crying and tantrums. Mamas don’t like tantrums or protests on the best of days, but those things will stress her our way more if you’re in a confined space. So just skip it and keep reasonably quiet.

8.     Charm and befriend the flight attendants and the other passengers. When they give Mama compliments about how wonderful you are, she will beam with delight… and relief.

9.     Fall asleep in her arms. I know you normally think you’re too big to sleep in Mama’s arms these days, but she will love the feeling of you breathing deeply on her chest. Give her this little piece of heaven; she deserves it.

10.  Be easily entertained. It’s unrealistic to think Mama can bring along all of your favorite toys, so entertain yourself with new “grown-up things” like the inflight magazine, seat belts, and the channel buttons on the arm rests.

Dear friends, aren’t Levi’s tips great? The best part about his tips is that he speaks them from experience and—so far—has abided by all of them. What would your child add to Levi’s list?

proud mama of a wonderful frequent flyer,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

i gots me some mama badges

Today I was reading of Melissa’s adventures in NYC on Dear Baby and how she has earned a new “badge for her sash” by changing her precious little pumpkin on her lap in a restaurant bathroom. It got me thinking about what badges I’ve earned in the last six months…

1.         The I-Can-Make-Dinner-While-Breast-Feeding Badge. It had been one of those days… and I was behind on absolutely everything, including making dinner for the friends that were about to come around. But when I pulled out “my breast friend” and a kitchen barstool, I found out that I do have the mommy-multi-tasking talent that I always dreamed of. {And I did it without burning down the house.}

2.           The I-Can-Go-To-The-Bathroom-With-An-Infant-Strapped-To-My-Chest Badge. When my son was seven weeks old I traveled from Australia to America without my husband to show Levi off to my family. (Hubs had to work.) I did my best to limit my fluids in transit and time my bathroom breaks just right, but when it takes you four flights to get from point A to point B over a 20+ hour period, there are some things you just can’t control. Rather than pass my little babe to a stranger—or pee my pants for that matter—I strapped him up on my chest in the Moby Wrap and did what I needed to do. {Also worth mentioning here is the I-Can-Manage-Shuttle-Busses-And-Check-In-And-Security-With-A-Diaper-Bag-Stroller-And-Large-Suitcase-By-Myself-Without-Waking-My-Baby Badge. I proudly earned that one too.}

3.           The I-Can-Live-Off-Of-Three-Hours-Of-Sleep Badge. Every mommy knows about this badge… but that doesn’t make it any easier to earn. I count myself among the proud who is still awake after a long time of being… awake.

4.           The I-Can-Drive-My-Manual-Car-With-One-Hand-While-Holding-A-Paci-In-My-Screaming-Baby’s-Mouth-With-The-Other-Hand Badge. Do you have this one? I bet you do. I’m told this one is a precursor to earning the I-Can-Drive-With-One-Hand-While-Breaking-Up-A-Fight-In-The-Backseat Badge. {We’re not there yet.}

5.           The I-Can-Interpret-Different-Colors-And-Textures-And-Consistencies-Of-Poo Badge. Black? Green? Yellow? Brown? Thin? Thick? I know what they mean and I’m a better mom for it. In fact, I would say that I am a poo expert.

6.           The-I-Can-Pull-A-Song-Out-Of-Nowhere-About-Anything-At-Any-Time Badge. Songs for bath time? Songs for diaper changes? Songs for owies? Songs for washing the dishes? Songs for sleepy time? I know ‘em all… because as of six months I became a very specialized songwriter.

7.           The I-Can-Beat-My-Baby-At-A-Wrestling-Match-I-Mean-Nail-Clipping-Session Badge. This one took some time to perfect, but I’ve found the perfect pin position now. {It should be noted here that this is the only time Levi gets bribed with the “secret weapon” aka the television. Works like a charm.}

8.           The I’ve-Learned-How-To-Pack-Way-More-In-The-Car-For-A-Family-Vacation-Than-I-Ever-Thought-Possible-Or-Necessary Badge. Weekend camping trip. Need I say more?

9.           The I-Pick-Other-Peoples-Noses-So-What Badge. This badge comes with immense satisfaction… because a crusty nose on a clean baby just doesn’t sit right with me.

10.      The Do-Ya-Wanna-See-My-Boobs-Cause-I-Just-Don’t-Care-Who-Does-Anymore Badge. Truth be told, my boobs just don’t feel much different than my fabulous ankles these days. I do try to keep the girls covered though… but that’s for your sake, not mine.

Dear Mommy-Friends, I think I've actually earned a few more... but I'm gonna cut it off at ten. What mama badges have you earned that you're most proud of?

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tips and tricks for traveling with an infant

Call me crazy, but when my son was 7 weeks old we were saying goodbye to Daddy and boarding an American-bound plane from Australia for a 10-day visit to see my family. If my husband could have come, he would have, but circumstances wouldn’t allow at the time. Still, we felt it am important part of Levi’s life to meet the rest of my family early on (or, more accurately, for them to meet him).

I’ve done my fair share of travelling the globe over the last 14 years (both independently and with my work), and would consider myself somewhat of an unofficial expert on the matter… But traveling with a newborn was a completely new challenge! It was crazy, but I was up for it. Here’s what I learned and want to pass on to other adventurous mommies:

12. Plan ahead. This cannot be overemphasized! By nature, when it comes to travelling at least, I am a “winger”. Meaning, yes, I like to have my tickets booked in advance… but things like hotels and itineraries, and places to go, well, I’ve always thought those were best left to “feel” my way through once I hit the ground. But a baby changes everything! I could not have done this trip well unless I had put some thought into it ahead of time: what I would bring, what I would borrow, where I would stay and go, and how I would get from place to place. You get the idea. Plan it baby, plan it!

11. Minimize your gear. Isn’t this one a no-brainer? I had one suitcase, one diaper bag as my carry-on, and a stroller (plus my precious baby cargo) and it still felt like a mountain of gear! If you travel with more than one suitcase and more than one carry-on… you’re asking for trouble! (I speak from experience. Even though I left Australia with what I’m recommending here… I returned with an extra carry-on AND an extra suitcase, jam-packed with pressies from all Levi’s adoring fans. It was great to be well-stocked with clothes, toys and little baby books… but hard to manage for mommy!) In summary, if possible, avoid too much luggage… or at least think about it long and hard before biting off more than you can carry on your own in one trip! (And for the record—just this once—the extra luggage on the way home it was worth it.)

10. Reserve a bulk head seat (and a bassinet if it’s available) and board the plane early. I hate boarding planes early. I drive my husband nuts with this one. But seriously, who likes to spend more time sitting in that confined space than you absolutely have to?! I like to be free as long as possible and only jump on the plane during the final boarding call. Babies change everything! Get on that plane as early as possible so that you can make sure to stow your gear in a place that’s as convenient as possible. And do reserve the bulk head seats (and a bassinet for long-haul flights). This will give you a place to tend to your baby as comfortably as humanly possible while camping out in a glove-box.

9. Along with packing bubby's change of clothes in your carry-on… pack yourself a change of shirt as well. Not much explanation needed here! We all know that spit up and blowouts reach far beyond the personal space of our innocent little bubs. It's best to prepare for the worst!

8. Feed your babe on take off and landing. This keeps their little jaws going and their ears adjusting to the changing elevation… and keeps them from screaming their heads off (hence keeping you from being beaten needlessly by that rude guy two rows back). Oh yeah, and most importantly it helps your sweet one to avoid the unnecessary pain of blocked ears.

7. Take a few key familiar items from home. For me this meant traveling with a portable soft bassinet. Could I have done without it? Technically yes, but I decided since my bub and I would be sleeping in five different locations over the course of two weeks, it would serve him to provide some consistency for his immediate sleeping environment at least. I packed my clothes in the bassinet and then packed it in my suitcase, so really it didn’t take up that much more room… but it did give him a cozy place to snuggle into each night, even though the rest of his surroundings were constantly shifting.

6. Don’t order a caramel macchiato an hour before boarding. Yes, it tastes good, so good... but it also creates the need for an extra trip to the loo before it’s “convenient.” Ever tried to hold a baby while going to the bathroom? All I can say is... don’t. I wouldn’t advise asking the next lady in line to hold your wee one either (not that I've tried that one!). So hold off on that coffee (or coke) until just before boarding the plane. That way, when nature calls one of the friendly flight attendants can attend to your darling while you use the facilities. Those adoring flight attendants are safe – they’re definitely not leaving the plane – and you score some points by giving them some cuddle time with the cutest of all passengers. (Points that may come in handy later when you’re desperate for a snack or an extra drink at 3:00am!)

5. Smile going through check-in and security and customs, and politely ask about jumping the que. You’d be surprised at how far a nice smile, a polite question, and a gorgeous baby will get you. Doors will be opened... but you mustn’t be afraid to ask!

4. Build in extra time... for everything. Okay so this is a rule for mommyhood in general. No more last-minute flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants for this young lady! A baby makes everything take twice—--ok three times—-as long. Expect the unexpected and plan accordingly!

3. Use a baby carrier or wrap and try to get your babe to sleep at strategic transit times. I tried to time my bubby’s feeds and naps so that he’d go to sleep just before check-in. This would buy me enough time to get checked in, get through security, and find my gate before my active little guy decided he wanted my non-existent third and fourth hands. Believe me, hands free in an airport is the only way to travel with an infant! (Love the moby wrap for this purpose!)

2. Don’t stress about your schedule, but do try to keep a rhythm. I have no idea how to help your little one conquer jetlag... so don’t ask me for a magic solution. But, I did find it helpful to not watch the clock and try to hyper-schedule his transitions. Instead I tried to keep him in a consistent rhythm, which for us is eat/wake/sleep... eat/wake/sleep. (On our way east it took four nights of being up until midnight or 1:00am before I began being able to get him to bed at a reasonable hour; going west on the way home, it only took two nights. But in both instances it took a week or more for him to fully adjust to the new time zone. Don’t rush the little munchkin, but pay attention to their cues and help them through it.)

1. Keep a sense of humour. Lastly, and most importantly, keep a positive outlook! Don’t let the extra stress of travelling with an infant rob you of the special time you have to bond with your baby as you take them on a new adventure to discover new things and new lands. Things will go wrong. Plans will go askew. Babies will confuse night for day. But really, who wouldn’t enjoy making memories like trying to use a bustling airport bathroom with your baby strapped onto your chest in a moby wrap? After all, you’ve got to have something to put in the baby book...

Yes mommy friends... traveling with an infant is possible! It’s also fun and eternally memorable!

Take courage – you can do it!!






P.S. I just noticed that Levi happens to be sleeping in every single photo I used in this post... it's an illusion folks - don't be fooled! Those may be the only four times he slept during the entire trip.... ;)

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baby faves: moby wrap

I used to see these Moby Wraps on ladies and think they were so hippy-ish. Well, maybe they are but when I was having trouble getting my son to take naps, a friend loaned me hers. I put Levi in it and within 30 seconds he was out! On days when he wouldn’t nap (as a newborn) and I was desperate to get some things done around the house, I’d pop him in there and get nearly an hour-and-a-half sleep out of him. Genius! It was also a life-saver when we took our trip to America at 7 weeks. (Read more about that trip and tips on traveling with an infant here.) You can also use these wrapped in different ways to hold older babies, but we’re not there yet so I can’t comment further. But especially for my son’s newborn days, this worked a treat! You can call me Hippy Momma, but I love my Moby Wrap!!

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