Two duffel bags. One diaper bag. One bag of diapers. One Moby wrap. One Ergo. One car seat. One stroller. Eight burp cloths. One Boppy. Apparently, this is what it takes for a family of three to go away for one night. We looked like a total circus when we showed up at the Bodega Bay Lodge for our “romantic” anniversary getaway.
Friends, I’m about to get real. Traveling with an infant is no joke. It’s serious business. And, well, had I known how serious it was prior to booking our trip, I probably would have made different plans. Don’t get me wrong—we had a nice time, but, it wasn’t the same as our typical anniversary getaways. Duh Ashlee, you have a baby now! Well, yes, I know, but part of me thought it would still be a sweet, semi-romantic, semi-relaxing trip. Aaaaaannnnd, that didn’t exactly turn out to be the case. I mean, how relaxed can you be when your baby wakes up at 5:00am and refuses to go back to sleep, causing you to leave the hotel immediately to avoid making your neighbors angry, and then, as it turns out, the entire town of Bodega Bay doesn’t open until 8:00am so you’re stuck driving around aimlessly while your baby finally decides to fall asleep again in the backseat? Not very relaxed I tell you. Not. Very. Relaxed.
We returned from our mini-vacation totally exhausted, and, well, in need of another vacation. The moral of the story (and my advice to all you future parents and new parents) is this: don’t try to plan romantic weekend getaways with your almost three-month-old baby. The luggage, the long car trip, and the lack of sleep in a cozy hotel bed (torture!) is really not worth it. Send the baby to Grandma’s house, get a couples massage, and enjoy a really nice dinner. It would be a much better use of your time and money.
*steps down from soap box*
All in all, the weekend wasn’t a total bust. We watched the Olympics and took Everett on his first hike and first trip to the beach. We also made valuable use of our car time (while Ev was sleeping) and talked about our hopes and dreams for the next five years. While it wasn’t the most romantic weekend in the history of Brett and Ashlee anniversary trips, it was our first little trip as a family of three and I’m happy to report that we survived. But next year? Everett’s going to Grandma’s house. For sure.
Mommas – have you mastered the art of traveling with an infant? We are taking Everett to Hawaii this November and I need all the tips I can get. Help!
p.s. I hate that this post about our anniversary contained so much whining, but I’m too lazy to write something different, so, here are a few mushy posts in case you’re in the mood for something mushy:
an open letter to my husband on our five year anniversary
heartache
how I know Brett will be a good dad
when I first understood the meaning of love
Oh Ashlee, I so relate to this post. We took a short, two night trip with our then seven month old. It felt like I was bringing our entire house and left me feeling like a wimp because I knew that people have always traveled with babies and they didn’t bring nearly as much stuff. I just figure that we will get better and better at traveling with a baby and the baby will require less and less stuff. One random tip that I have for parents of mobile babies is to bring a roll of blue painters tape. It makes it easy to babyproof wherever you are staying in a snap. Low outlets? Tape over them! Drawers and cabinet doors without baby locks? Tape them shut! Low hanging cords on mini blinds? Tape them up higher! As an added bonus, it doesn’t leave any sticky residue so you are safe using it wherever you want.
Bridget, that is genius. Tucking that tip away for when Everett is mobile!!
My purse is loaded with supplies for my husband and me whenever we go out for the day. I can’t imagine planning for a baby as well. Even though you didn’t feel like you had a relaxing vacation, your pictures look amazing!
Joslin´s last [type] ..Unpinned: Magazine Nails
Well it will be challenge for your next trip. Plan on the baby being else where for the next anniversary
No advice but I have BTDT and I felt that I never got a vacation from the vacation.
Welcome to my world but as he grows the stuff to bring is bigger too like stroller, playpen, diapers etc. Hugs and its does it easier , but yes I don’t like vacations as much.
Julie@my5monkeys´s last [type] ..Sexy One Liners
These photos look heavenly.
I need a trip like this!
Question – I’m a photographer, so I always see others’ photos I love and wonder…how do you edit your photos to look so natural & pretty? And what kind of camera do you shoot with?
I don’t comment often, but always love seeing your photos of your little family! Precious.
Hi Laura! I use Lightroom to edit, and I’m a big fan of the Totally Rad & VSCO presets. I shoot with a Nikon d3000, and hope to upgrade my camera next year
Thanks for reading!
oh no i am sorry it wasn’t the most romantic getaway but the photos look amazing on a plus
and i was thinking about a short break after my baby eventually turns up–maybe i should rethink this or hire a cottage in the middle of nowhere so we have no neighbours to worry about
Lottie´s last [type] ..yesterday.
A cottage in the middle of nowhere sounds like a great idea!
Hey Ash –
As Everett gets older and sleeps for longer periods of time it will be easier to travel. I wonder how our parents ever traveled with us? Think about it – they didn’t have all the modern conveniences and were still able to travel. Sometimes it seems like we need “stuff” and take it with us and never end up using said “stuff.” We will make sure you and Brett have a nice romantic and “alone” dinner while in Hawaii.
Love you, Mom
P.S. Love the blue tape idea!!
The sad thing is….we actually used ALL of it. Everett is so dang needy
I appreciate your honesty. I can only imagine the challenges between wanting to keep up with the old tradition of the romantic getaway, but the new realities of life with a baby in tow. Despite the sleep deprivation, it sounds like you got some great future conversations out of the weekend, as well as some adorable hiking pics
Michelle´s last [type] ..Olympics Link Love
Brett and I used to go on romantic getaways a few times a year, and while I don’t think we’ll be able to do that anymore, I DO want to keep our anniversary trip a tradition. I’m cutting us some slack this year for having a 12 week baby to account for.
Baby gear can be overwhelming, but we learned (the hard way) it’s better to take more with you than be wishing you had something!! We have a car seat bag that holds the buckey and base and can be filled TONS of extra gear — we would be happy to loan you for Hawaii. It will fit his toys, the play mat, your boppy, diapers and more! And it does not count as baggage so your gear will fly free.
Ooooh DEFINITELY going to take you up on that! Thanks sis!
I took Juliette to Georgia when she was three months old. Since then, she’s been on more flights than I can count. I am the master of minimalism when it comes to packing and bringing things, though. For Georgia, we rented a car and car seat to go with it so I wouldn’t have to lug one through the airport (car seat, that is). I didn’t bring a stroller and just wore her the entire time. I chose the carrier that was the most versatile and went with it. Left the other at home. I used pillows to help nurse instead of the boppy, so I wouldn’t have to bring that, either.
Tips (take ‘em or leave ‘em):
Check the stroller and car seat at the gate to your airplane. You pick it up right when you walk off the plane. One time we checked it in advance and we lost our car seat, so we learned our lesson. You can check a car seat and stroller for free on airlines. Also, have a cover or something for the car seat. They get really dirty.
Nursing during takeoff and landing was also really helpful for little baby ears.
We coslept, so I was paranoid she’s roll off in the middle of the night. (At home I had a toddler rail.) I would take a pillow and put it under the fitted sheet as a barrier.
That’s all I’ve got.
Beth´s last [type] ..So when are you having (another) one?
Awesome tips. Thank you! And next thing you know, you’ll be the master of traveling with TWO KIDS. Eek!
We’ve traveled with our son since he was about 3 months old (his first domestic flight, it was 30 mins long, but a total of 4.5hrs – door to door). It was a lot easier to travel when he was younger (he’s 2 now).
We live in India and have traveled to my homestate of Hawaii 3 times now, and except for one really cranky leg from Korea to Honolulu, he’s done really, really well on the long-haul flights (8+hrs). We take him everywhere and in his 2 years, he’s been to: Hawaii, Seattle, San Francisco, London, Amsterdam, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Japan and all over India. He’s ready to take his 80th flight this weekend when we head to Dubai.
The tricky part is to just go with the flow. Let your kid make the schedule; bring lots of snacks (or milk); and if you can swing it, book business!
The extra room is a Godsend when traveling with a kiddo. Good luck on your trip and I’m sure little E will do well! 
jen´s last [type] ..Happy Birthday Boy!
Wow! You’ve got quite a little traveler on your hands. Brett and I still really want to go to Australia and we’ve been talking about it more seriously lately….because I know the older he gets, the harder it will be. I also know I don’t want to take two kids on a trip that far, and I wouldn’t want to travel to Australia while pregnant. It kind of seems like our last chance….plus he flies for free right now! Hmm.
I always appreciate your candid posts, Ashlee! I am tucking away this advice for future reference. Your little one is just precious. (By the way, is that the California coast? My hubby and I just returned from a trip there, and we loved our drive down the 1!)
Faith´s last [type] ..California, v.1
Fun! I don’t know if Bodega Bay really counts as the “California coast”….going to check out your pictures right now
Oh, Ash! I’m sorry it didn’t go well. When I wrote about my baby travel tips, I totally said “Expect it to be HORRIBLE” – because if you still want to go, then you will be pleasantly surprised that it isn’t ALL horrible the whole time.
It’s way harder, but so worth it!
I thought Mike and I would want to do a only-us vacation, but so far, it feels weird to leave Gabe. He is a part of us, and we both want him to be with us when we go places.
Ashley//Our Little Apartment´s last [type] ..August Intentions.
You are so funny. I love your honesty. I can’t imagine going on a full-blown vacation without Everett, but next year we will definitely do a mini getaway for our anniversary without him. I think anniversaries (for us) are a time to celebrate our marriage with just each other. Lucky for us, we have grandparents nearby! Checking out your baby travel tips now!
Hey Ashlee, this is the post I mentioned on Instagram just now! It sprang to mind when I read your post.
http://www.carolinecollie.com/2012/07/travelling-with-small-children/