Vacation with a Baby?

Well, John and I knew what to expect; we just hoped that we would be surprised and the opposite would occur!

Vacation in Colorado with a 9 month old is what I am talking about today.

I'll refer you to my sister's blog for the rundown of how we officially started this trip.  I'll tell you that we ended up at a Holiday Inn Express by the airport at 1:30 am only to get up at 4:30 am to get to the airport.  That's not even the worst, that was the relief of the Friday before we left.  Yeah.

So, we started our trip already exhausted, stressed and worried about Ann's patience for the two flights ahead and our 3 hour layover in Denver.  She actually did fine on the flights out there... she didn't sleep but she didn't scream.  I'm fine with that.

To start at the beginning my family has been going to Crested Butte or Taos every summer minus one or two since I was the age of 3.  We go to fly fish, hike, flounder in the no humidity and enjoy a cold beer or three.  It's always a wonderful trip and we never want to come home.

Enter our 9 month old.  Why did we think Ann would enjoy being cooped up for two whole days in airports?  Ride around in a backpack while we fish and she gets inundated with flies that confuse us for the cattle they belong on?

Sleep in a strange room in a pack and play that she has never enjoyed and also cut a mean ol' tooth that completes her top front four?  Enter delusional parents that ignored our inner voice screaming to not take her.

But who could leave this behind?

I clearly cannot.

It wasn't all bad but we definitely averaged 3 or 4 hours of sleep in total each night (some less); we were constantly on edge waiting for the next meltdown.  We were constantly worried about her getting sunburned, bit by a fly or upset because she couldn't get down and crawl around in the cow patties and brush next to the streams.

Ann also discovered the fine art of throwing a temper tantrum dramatically on the floor in any instance she sees fit.  Airport... plane... restaurant... bedroom at 3:00 am... didn't matter.

I'm not bashing Ann, I'm bashing her parents (us) for ignoring what we knew would happen and forcing Ann to adjust to an environment that just wasn't the right thing for Ann.  Fishing vacations are not infant friendly.  Duh!!

Here are some of the more relaxed moments to counter my well meant warnings to first time parents who think they can control their baby and their baby is crazy flexible and won't do what those "other babies" do:

I promise John wasn't as miserable as he looked; family!!!

See?  Happy Daddy, happy Baby

Bro in law frat bro luv = uhhhhnoying

Refreshment with the sister

Girls night chinese dinner:  BEST chinese food EVA.  In Crested Butte; behind our house.  Yes, three meals were consumed by members of our family here in a week.  I can smell the goodness now.

Worth it... I guess :)

John and I celebrated our three year wedding anniversary while we were there and I'll do another post on that and will sing his praises.  He seriously was super Dad while we were out there (he always is but really stepped it up this trip).  I could not have made it the entire week without his patience, willingness to take over, waking up with me in the middle of the night just to rub my shoulders and tell me I'm doing great while Ann cried b/c of her tooth, and humor in the "vacation" we thought we were embarking on.  Fabulous husband and father and he gets his own post!!  I'm sure he would be horrified if he read my blog but he doesn't thank goodness.  He thinks it's decorating and food only (no personal stuff).  Whatevs... it's all of the above.  

We did get some fishing in, we enjoyed amazing scenery and weather.  We enjoyed my family and having Sarah and Brady for a whole week to catch up.  We enjoyed the food, the cold beer after a long day, the laughs and the experiences with Ann good and hard. 

The point of our future vacations as parents is making sure Ann enjoys herself and is having the time of her life.  Vacations for John and I will happen but we know now that we can't expect Ann to accommodate us, it's about her.  Her joy is now our joy.  It's our job and we selfishly didn't keep that in mind on this first vacay.  Lesson learned and ready to shift our focus back to our daughter!!

We are home and as we were traveling home I realized.  I'm happy... we are happy.  We are happiest in our home with Ann.  She's happiest with us at home.  Why leave when home is where we are happiest.  That is when you know you are blessed, when escaping your day to day life isn't the best thing ever; living your life is the best thing ever.

Ann missed the puppies and so did we; good to be home.