vancouver, bc!

this past weekend we headed to canada! it was our first true family vacation!

i was ready to get a break (as much as one can get a break when you're a parent) from the normal routines and go explore a new city! we are big big fans of the pacific northwest. we stayed in the gastown neighborhood of vancouver in a high rise condo. we visited the sea to sky gondola, went shopping in the city, hiked in the lynn canyon area, and visited stanley park and the sea wall. it was so so wonderful, we had several moments of relaxation, and the trip definitely taught us more on how to travel with a baby.

what we did right: 

setting expectations: before the trip, caleb and i talked a lot about expectations of the trip. we are used to the plane landing and literally setting off on our adventure of hiking/sight seeing/bar hopping or whatever it may be. we both knew we would have to slow waaaaay down and just go with the flow. we may be on vacation, but it's not a break from parenting or caring for a six month old baby.

more practice: this would be august's forth trip involving airplanes, and second trip using his travel crib. it was the first time we were leaving the country with a baby, and i'm so so so glad we did a little 'practice' round with canada before heading to europe this summer. there is so much to juggle just making it from one airport to the next!

loose schedule: we still wanted to keep a schedule during the day, but didn't let this deter us from adventures and exploring. there were lots of feedings on the go and naps in car rides. we did, however, leave the condo much later most mornings to let august get some play time and really stretch out before being in the car, carrier, or stroller a lot of the day. we also were home by 5pm each evening to let him play again and get tired before bed. once he was in bed (usually 7pm most nights), caleb and i would make dinner and enjoy some wine. we only went out to dinner one night, and decided it was better and more fun to just have dinner at home (ooooh how things have changed!).

three biggest takeaways: 

1. i wish i would have brought the pram seat for the stroller. we had august ride in his carseat when we walked around the city. it was fine, but he's just generally more comfortable in the pram for longer stretches while on walks. we also have the travel gear to carry it with us in airports. i was attempting to be more minimal in the amount of baby gear we brought, but next time the pram will definitely come along with us. 

2. when we booked our airbnb, we had only ever traveled with august once. on that trip, he slept in our room. we were sure a one bedroom would suffice. unfortunately, each night we had to transfer his crib from our bedroom to the living room around 10pm when we were heading to bed. we'd hang out and make dinner, drink wine, and chat while he slept in our room. and then, when we wanted to go to bed, i'd pick up august and caleb would move the crib into the living room. not ideal. at all. thankfully august was a trooper most nights and it was not a big deal. he woke up in the middle of the night once on two separate nights. not terrible, but it would have been nice if he had his own bedroom. 

3. even though we did a great job mentally preparing, i think it was still a wake up call for us on how different traveling to a different country really is with a baby. we've traveled a lot over the last four years just the two of us, and traveling with a baby is a whole. knew. ballgame. i'm looking forward to really learning and gaining experience in traveling with the baby.