Travel - the new definition

My last international trip was to France in March of 2008. That trip is very significant, in many ways. I studied international business, ate french cuisine (even pig tongue), giggled with the girls, and packed 10 days worth of stuff into a itty bitty suitcase. Life was somewhat simple.

Things have changed. Life is still simple, but plus one. Since last year, traveling has changed in more than one way. Now I pack for two, sometimes three. Life with a baby is very rewarding, traveling is very rewarding, traveling with a baby can be rewarding if planned properly.

Now I travel with baby, everywhere I go, peanut is in tow. Yes, everywhere, even the ladies room.

Last weekend we had our first family vacation. Momma, Poppa and Peanut enjoyed 5 days together in NY and NJ. I packed WAY too much. The whole Element was filled. I feared being unprepared. I learned. Never going away with him overnight, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but we've come to the realization that if we don't have it, we can buy it! A motto Momma and Poppa used frequently pre-peanut.

Our first night, Thursday, in Times Square found us checked into our hotel at 8:20pm and sleeping before 9pm. At dinner, we sat at a table for 2 complete with a highchair. A highchair, a wooden one, where his little legs dangled. I was enjoying my ravioli de' portobella when a little noise started to speak, it was peanut. He was restless. I talked to him, explained to him how wonderful the ravioli was, he wasn't interested in hearing about it, he wanted a taste - three minutes later, my almost six month old peanut was holding a bread stick - an olive garden bread stick, which he knawed on, and I was able to enjoy my ravioli as I once did pre-baby.

Day 2 was complete with lots of excitement, an ambush makeover for momma, poppa and peanut make their debut on national television. Followed up with a trip to Toys 'R Us and a stroller walk around Times Square. That evening we packed up and went to NJ.

Day 3 we found ourselves at the Bergen County Zoological Park in NJ. A beautiful zoo, complete with exotic animals. A trip to the mall followed that evening, where we visited baby stores such as Jack & Janie, Baby Gap, and the Nordstrom kid section and their beautiful fish tank - Poppa loves the fish, Kingston will one day love them too.

Day 4 was fun. We searched frantically for rain gear for peanut and rubber boots for poppa. We had a late lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise - a Jimmy Buffett restaurant, where peanut grabbed mommas soda and spilt all 16 ounces, minus one sip, all over poppa. And then our exciting night, the whole purpose of our trip, the Bamboozle festival, over 30 bands, in one day. We arrived an hour before No Doubt hit the stage. I was babywearing the earmuff wearing baby. My small backpack held wipes, diaps, food and an extra outfit.

Day 5 we hit Dunkin on the way home, mmmm life with an iced coffee can somehow makeup for a lack of sleep. Peanut slept until the George Washington Bridge, then woke up and proceeded to fuss the whole way home. "wahhh wahhh wahhh, all the way home" just like the lyrics in 5 little piggies. My fix, the ABC's sung by yours truly and a pit stop to change a dirty diap.

Traveling with baby is a whole new world, peanut+travel=an amazing experince. As I travel with Peanut I'll share my journey as a mother.