Baby #2, what shopping shall we do for you?

It's funny to look back and realize how completely unprepared we were when Oswin was born. She arrived ten days early, and we had yet to buy diapers, wipes, postpartum after care goods, a diaper pail...the list goes on. 

I remember in between contractions, watching Dan with his cup of freshly made espresso in the delivery room, using the hospital's wifi to order things we hadn't had the chance to yet. I remember going through my hospital bag during our almost six day hospital stay, (praise be to the Swiss health care system!), and seeing that I had in fact not packed appropriately for the baby. I blame this on french baby clothes sizing, which tend to be smaller than the equivalent American size by a good 3-6 months, and the belief that our child was going to be just gargantuan (a belief implanted in our brains by our doctor's reaction to our late pregnancy ultrasounds). A six month sweater sized Petit Beateau sweater, Ugg boots that only just fit Oswin this past fall...it was all just, wrong. 

 So what now? With #2 on the way this reflection has made me realize that despite not knowing anything, despite having no local support network, no one to bounce ideas off of, we were totally 100% fine. We made it work with what we had. I did however make a list of things I would do differently in my pre-baby shopping for our next go round, but there really isn't much extra we need in preparation for Nighttrain's arrival. (Don't worry, Nighttrain is just this baby's womb name, we've already got their actual name sorted.) In fact, if the baby arrived today, we would be more prepared than we were when Oswin first showed up on the scene.

 Curious about what we will be purchasing to help welcome Nighttrain into our little family? Well here is a list of some of my wish list items, because at this point, the only thing we really need is clothing in one particular size. That's it. That sure makes shopping a hell of a lot more fun, don't you think?

Pic via here. 

My heart will always skip a beat for Briar Handmade bonnets. I've been purchasing bonnets for Oswin from this lovely little company since very soon after they opened shop, and it's been fun and heart warming to see the success that has been achieved in a relatively short period of time. I'm not a huge fan of most hats for newborns, but these bonnets just make me so happy. Simple, well made, and work for both boys and girls in my opinion. These gender neutral and go with everything bonnets are definitely on our "buy for baby" list. 

Pic via here. 

We never did much in the way of swaddling, but we have a ton of swaddles. They've been indispensable to us for a variety of reasons that do not include swaddling, and we usually keep one on hand in the diaper bag during the colder months, as well as in the car. I've always been an Aden + Anais girl, but these poppy cotton muslin swaddles from Little Unicorn have really caught my eye. 

(The matching quilt isn't too shabby either.)  

Pic via here. 

In the Duggan household you can never, ever, EVER go wrong with a good buffalo plaid, especially in red. Nighttrain is due early September, when the temperatures will mostly still be scorching here in SwitzerFrance. These 100% cotton plaid bloomers from Billie Blooms will be the perfect transition from late summer heat to early fall cooling temperatures...because let's face it, I start dreaming of plaid by late July anyways.

Pic via here.

Humblehouse Handmade is another small, handmade, work at home mama shop that will always have my heart. Her work is amazing, and I can't help but swoon over someone who still includes handwritten notes and hand-stamped prints in their packages, all while running after three kiddos of her own. We've bought several of her Kismet dolls which Oswin loves, as well as donut rattles, but now that she has begun making pretzel crochet rattles, well, another order is in our near future. If there is one thing that neither Dan nor I can resist, it's a good soft pretzel...even if it happens to be blue or pink.

Pic via here.

I need this light for the nursery. I just need it. Wouldn't it look amazing in what will become the shared "Marie Antoinette Goes for a Hike in the Swiss Alps" themed nursery? 

Pic via here.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm a bit over graphic t-shirts and onesies. Aside from a few designs that either have personal meaning or a reminder of a special time, such as a CERN t-shirt or a touristy t-shirt from a family vacation, well, I'm just not into it. I've become far more drawn towards simple, traditional, well made clothing, for both myself and the kiddos (it's so weird to say that as a plural!), with a healthy dabbling of my bohemian-punk hybrid roots just to keep it amusing and confusing. Oswin was 50 cm at birth, which essentially meant she was a 1 month clothing sized babe at the start, and that happened to be the one size of clothing we avoided buying. Whoops. As we're in the market for one month sized clothes, I'll be looking for great deals at our go-to shop, Petit Bateau, but I'm also really interested in trying clothes from Gray Label. I'm really leaning towards white,grey, navy, muted pastels and the like for baby's first days/weeks, and they really fit the bill.  

Pic via here. 

It's definitely not something we need, but I certainly wouldn't kick this adorable overall set out of Nighttrain's closet.

Pic via here.

I've been drooling over Little Wife Powerhouse's Swiss Cross quilts for what has probably been years now, and I'm determined to snag one or two this year for the kiddos. As we don't know if we're having a boy or a girl, I love the neutrality of the Cru quilt, and think it will fit in nicely with the color scheme and theme that is already existent in the nursery.

Pic via here.

When it comes to baby shoes, yes, they're all adorable because they are oh so teeny tiny, but practical? Well we've only found one brand that meets both requirements so far: Freshly Picked Moccasins. These are the only shoes we've tried on Oswin that are easy for us to get on her feet, and nearly impossible for her to figure out how to take them off. They are comfy, they are cozy, they are adorable, and now that we're at the stage where we're taking on the playground like a little wild dragon, we've found that they can take a beating as well. They clean easily, they wear well, and we are repeat customers. So obviously a pair of their crib moccs are on my list for the new babe. 

Pic via here. 

You all know I'd be remiss to not mention our number one brand when it comes to baby carriers: Sakura Bloom. Babywearing is something that we are really passionate about, for it has been not only a really meaningful experience for us with Oswin, but it has also, on numerous occasions, saved our sanity. Whether it's traveling across an ocean, deftly maneuvering through crowds in Geneva, perusing our weekly French market, or simply comforting a little girl with a massive case of the crankies, Sakura Bloom ring slings have been our go to. I cannot imagine that it will be any different once the number of children in our home doubles. I'm loving the Black Currant linen chambray, Caramel linen chambray, and Maize Classic Linen for fall, but I'm sitting on pins and needles to see what beauties they come out with for this coming season. (Fingers crossed for a nice pumpkin-y orange silk!)

How about you? What were some of your go-to buys for your second babe? I'd love to hear them!

A la prochaine friends...

Honey 

Sidenote: This is NOT a sponsored post. I have not received any compensation for the above. These are all goods I really dig, and thought you might too. All opinions are my own. 

Giveaway: Sakura Bloom Ring Sling

We've reason to celebrate here at I'm an Outlaw, Not a Hero, and that reason is our upcoming 5 year Blog-a-versary! That's right friends, on the 25th of January we will have been on this little slice of the interwebs for a big five years, and what better time to announce our very first giveaway?

You guys may remember that last year both Dan and I were picked to be Sling Diarists for the Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries. It was a big time honor and we were really excited to be part of such an inspiring project with some really cool babywearing parents. I had followed along with the Sling Diaries long before Oswin was even a twinkle in our collective eyes, so to be chosen to be a part of it was a dream come true. We wrote on six different themes of parenting over a six month period and took pictures to accompany our entries, both of which we will always treasure. Sakura Bloom has been really good to us over the past year, not only through their amazing product that we swear by (I didn't even bring a stroller to the US for this two-week trip!), but also through their generosity and the community of babywearing parents that they have helped bring together through social media. Now they've given us the chance to be good to you too. We're giving away a Classic Linen ring sling in the color known as Acadia (seen in the picture below), courtesy of Sakura Bloom, to one lucky reader! 

Classic Linen Ring Sling from Sakura Bloom in Acadia.

Pic via here. 

The great thing about these slings is that you don't need to purchase various sizes as your child grows. Newborn to 25 lbs, they've got you covered with one universal sling. No inserts needed. No only using it until six months and having to buy a larger style. It's one piece of babywearing equipment, that is quite stylish, and can easily be rolled up into a diaper bag, used as a scarf, nursing cover, etc. Great for moms, dads, grandparents, babysitters, essentially anyone who is caring for a child. 

Not a parent? Have a friend who is expecting? Try to win it for them! Or enter and try to win it for your local babywearing lending library and help introduce someone new to the wonderful world of babywearing. 

This giveaway will close at 11:59 PM on Friday, January 23, 2015, at which time the winner will be randomly chosen. Bon chance! 

And hey, thanks for sticking around and listening to me ramble on for the last five years. I have so much love for all of you!

A la prochaine friends...

Here's how to enter: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

47 weeks: Talkin' the talk, walkin' the walk.

Last week, Oswin reached the grand old age of 47 weeks old.

{My little teenager}

It was marked by a few milestones, including increased babbling, and taking a few steps without falling down. 

I guess walking is easier when there's a plastic teddy bear THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO SPIN ROUND AND ROUND just a few feet away.

She also can't seem to decide if the xylophone we got her in Geneva a few weeks back is for chewing or hitting. We'll keep you updated once the official verdict is in. 

And a sidenote: I can't give enough props to those of you out there who make your living photographing small children. Holy hell it is getting more and more difficult to photograph her each week, especially when I'm by myself. All she wants to do is try to dive off of the bed, or stand and fall down. I think I need to reserve her weekly pictures for when Dan is here, since he's the best baby wrangler I know. So good work out there photographers of children, you're my heroes of the day.

A la prochaine friends...

Honey 

Sometimes you just need to chill...

...and watch a few episodes of your number one favorite TV show of all almost 10 months of your life. (Well, at least of the last 2 months...) 

And don't forget to watch it with all of your homies, be they stuffed or otherwise. 

No pants required. 

Happy Monday friends. Take it from Oswin and max out the relax mode if you will. 

A la prochaine friends...

Honey  

When weekends don't go as planned.

It happens to all of us, right? Whether child-full or child-less, the best laid plans can often go to merde. And that was this weekend. 

This last week, if you couldn't tell from the radio silence over here on the blog, was just a bear. I mean a big ole pissed off bear...that is possibly hungry. And saw you making eyes at one of its cubs. With a shotgun.

And we were, and are, as a result, just plain exhausted. 

So, instead of taking advantage of all that we had planned for our big three day weekend (it's a holiday today in France and Switzerland), we've spent the past three days trying to get our heads right, and rested. Lots of coffee, lots of Netflix, lots of list making and plan scheming.   

In other news, Oswin has had a big week herself. It's not everyday that you turn 8 months old. The last few days have been busy for her too, as she's enacted a strict exercise routine of rolling from her back to her belly every chance she gets, and then crying when she can't figure out how to roll back. 

She's also starting to figure out how to crawl. She's got the whole crawling backwards thing down, and I imagine that she'll be crawling forward in about ten minutes. We've already lowered the mattress a level, but if she's anything like I was, it isn't going to stop her. I climbed out of my crib at 11 months, climbed on top of the changing table, and proclaimed loudly for my mother (who was in the kitchen) and all to hear "Jump mama jump!" I did not jump, as my mother plucked me off the changing table before I got my little chubby legs going, but I think I would have been awesome at it. So, there you have it. The gauntlet has been thrown little one. You've got three months. Beat that. 

I keed, I keed. No really, seriously, please don't.  I'd like to avoid having a heart attack at 32. 

Regardless, we're officially in high alert for all of the baby hazards I'm sure we haven't found yet in the house. So that looks like my week sorted: baby proofing for daysssss....

As a result of everyone just being so tired, and the weather hitting 94 degrees F on Saturday, we're resting up and trying to get our bearings back so we can tackle this week. After all, we've got big plans for this coming weekend. Here's to a hopefully kitty of a week and best laid plans doing exactly what they're supposed to!

A la prochaine friends..

Honey   

Guest Feature on Culture Baby: Learning to Listen

Hey guys, did you catch me last week over on Culture Baby? I did a guest post over there, and I'm pretty proud of it. Labels and parenting are things that I've been thinking about for some time now, and it was great to be able to share my thoughts with such a great company as Culture Baby. Go check it out! (And while you're there, check out their well curated shop. I'm kind of dying over this wooden play set of Paris and London.) 

A la prochaine friends...

Honey  

Story time.

One of the things that Dan and I were really excited about during my pregnancy was to be able to read to our little once he or she made their grand appearance. Over the years, I had started collecting children's books, both vintage and new, from our adventures in different countries, in preparation for this moment. We have books from Berlin, Budapest, Lyon, Lisbon, Madrid, Geneva, Pisa...just to name a few. They all looked so beautiful on the shelf, with bindings in different languages, that we just couldn't wait until we could start butchering other languages, all in the spirit of knowledge for our baby. 

Enter Oswin, who had different ideas. She was, in fact, not immediately taken by the act of sitting on Mama or Papa's lap for story time. Every once in awhile she would allow us to read her a page or two from a book, if we read to her while standing or walking, but the latter can be cause for many a stubbed toe or bruised quad. It looked like we would have to wait to unveil our awesome children's literary collection, but we hoped not for too long. 

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, where after months of trying to get through one stinking board book before nap time, we actually did just that. Hallelujah! In fact in that sitting we read 3 board books! I was so happy I thought I might cry. Even better still is that ever since then, we get through 2-4 books before each nap, some of them short, some of them longer. We finally have a child that likes to be read to, and it's amazing. She even gets excited when she sees certain book covers, and squeals in delight. My heart bursts a bit each time.  

I'm still not sure who likes story time more though, her or me. Because truth be told, it's one of my favorite moments of the day. Yes I love the bonding, and I truly believe that children become readers on their parent's laps, but it's more than just that... 

I think kids books are brilliant. 

I really really really do. There is something so simple about them. So straightforward. And often so profound (I'm looking at you "Oh the Places You'll Go"...) within their covers. 

And it got me to thinking, how do we choose what books to read to our children? I know that reading to Oswin will help with her language development and in learning how to communicate, but at the moment she doesn't know what the books mean. And it made me realize, I choose what books to read to her based on my feelings at the moment, and what I need. Subconsciously I'm picking the books for me, and wherever I am that day. Sound silly? Maybe. But it's the truth. 

For instance, I've noticed that I've been reading "Good Night Philadelphia" and "1 2 3 Philadelphia" quite a bit over the last few weeks, and I realized that it's because I've been a bit homesick lately. The start of summer in Philadelphia means baseball games, pool time, drinks outside, and lots of festivals, and it's something that I definitely miss. But it doesn't just stop there. 

When I'm feeling the wanderlust, I find I dive into our books about places we like to travel to, like "Everybody Bonjours," a super cute kid's book about Paris. We've been talking a lot lately about planning a Paris trip (because it's been far too long), and I think that's why I've been reading Paris books to her frequently as well. The book above is also a big time favorite, "On a Vole La Tour Eiffel," which is about someone stealing the Eiffel Tower (but really it just kind of goes on a bunch of adventures...) 

I've also found that when I miss friends back home, I tend to read her books given to us by friends, because it makes me think of them. Some of our friends will forever be thought of based on Dr. Seuss characters, and I don't think that's a bad thing.  

Other psychological analysis of my book choices for Oswin lately? Well, when I've been practicing French a lot, or feel the need to up my confidence with it, I read "Les Chiffres" to Oswin, because I understand everything in it, and can actually pronounce the words correctly. (Yes I'm essentially at board book level French...) I've also noticed that if I'm having a hard day, I always read her "Oh the Places You'll Go," because that book has always really spoken to me. It is by far my favorite Dr. Seuss book, both for the illustrations and content. 

So, how about you? Do you find yourself projecting onto your children via their storytime? Am I the only one? (Please say I'm not...)

A la prochaine friends...

Honey 

Adventures in Baby Food Making

When we got the ok to start Oswin on solids at 4 months, we were so excited. Doc and I love food and love cooking, so we've been anxiously awaiting the time when we could begin to share our love for food with our daughter. Food for us isn't just about satiating a basic need, it's an event. We plan what we're making for dinner while eating lunch, test out recipes and tweek them to make them perfect. We love even more to share the results with friends and family. Our favorite dishes are the ones that take hours to make, which gives ample time to hang out in the kitchen, drink coffee, and catch up. 

Now, being so wee, it's obvious that we couldn't start Oswin out with tartiflette, or anything with Doc's beloved hotter than hell peppers, but the amount of joy I took in baking that first solid meal for Oswin was as much as I have when making deviled truffle eggs. It was the start to a lifelong affair with food, with sharing meals as a family, with treating the body as a temple with the best quality ingredients, with hours spent with friends and discussing the merits of unpasteurized cheese vs. pasteurized cheese...

...but first, sweet potato. 

Our pediatrician gave the ok for solids after her 4 month appointment, and recommended vegetables at lunch (potatos, carrots, pumpkin), and fruit (apple sauce, bananas) in the afternoon for "dinner." It was slow going at first, a few spoonfuls here, no spoonfuls there, I anxiously awaited for when we could be a little more imaginative with her meals...

At five months, we were given the ok to introduce meats into her diet. We started with basic chicken and carrot mixes, some pork and sweet potato, steak and pumpkin...she loved it. At six months we were able to introduce eggs and fish. Hallelujah! 

Now here we are at 7 months. Things are getting fun, because we have a cornucopia of foods that we can mix together to give her palate an adventure. She now eats carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, avocado, celery, spinach, apples, bananas, mango, blueberries, peaches, kiwi, pears, plums, chicken, beef, pork, eggs and as of the last few days, salmon. We've also introduced some spices in the form of cinnamon, thyme and sage. 

Making baby food has been hugely satisfying for me. Not only is it cheaper than buying baby food at the store, I also feel better knowing exactly what is in it. I know the quality of the vegetables and fruits, as we picked them out ourselves. And seeing how much of it she gobbles up definitely boosts my cooking confidence. Afterall, babies are the toughest critics for everything, am I right? 

So what is on the menu this week for little miss Oswin? Well, we're just finishing up introducing her to salmon and peaches, and will be moving onto tomatoes and cherries next. Her lunch the last few days has consisted of salmon with a sprinkling of dried sage, raw spinach, and steamed carrots, all pureed together. (It's a really tasty combination!) In the afternoon she has been eating pureed peaches, though today I mixed some bananas and kiwi into the blender because peaches get really watery when pureed. I've never seen her gobble up anything as voraciously as she has the salmon dish, and the peaches went down pretty fast as well. 

Do you make your own baby food for your little? I'd love to hear your recipes! 

A la prochaine friends...

Honey 

Surviving International Travel with Your Baby: 5 Month Old Edition

I can't believe it's been over 2 months since we went on our big trip stateside! We spent three weeks traveling between Southern NJ, Nebraska, and Philadelphia to introduce Oswin to friends and family, and packing for it was enough to send me crazy. Not only were we packing for 2 legs of international travel, but 6 additional flights as well. What if we ran out of diapers on the flight? What if our bags were lost? What if we unexpectedly were laid over or re-routed? These things all seem like worst case scenarios, but they happen to us all. the. time. Our bags are lost on average once a year (going strong since 2008), and we've also been unexpectedly laid over at connecting cities once a year as well (going strong since 2011). Or what about the "rare" case of gate checked carry ons being lost/temporarily misplaced? Well it's happened to us twice within this past calendar year, if you can believe it. It's bad enough when it's just you and your significant other, but when you add a 5 month old into all these possible scenarios, it's scary to think about. 

So, with the fear of the travel Gods within me, I went into super organizing mode for this trip. In fact, I wrote out an inventory for what was in every single bag we brought. Seriously. Every. single. bag. It definitely slowed up the process, but it was definitely worth it. Before I get into my packing list for all of you, here are a few other tips I have for traveling with your adorable wee one:

1. Wear dark colors. Seriously. Do it. Maybe your baby NEVER blows out a diaper. Or spits up. Or knocks over your drink onto you. Maybe your baby crawls around in pristine neatly pressed white garments all the time. This is not my baby. Out of 8 flights, we had 2 blowouts. Not bad in my opinion, especially since some of those diaper changes were rushed or completed during turbulence with a squirmy wormy baby. So why wear black? Because if said blowout occurs, no one but you will know that you're maybe possibly covered in pee. Or worse. 

2. Use a sling or carrier. We have a BOB running stroller, and yes it's awesome for running with baby in our mountains, but it's a BEAST to get through the airport with. TSA couldn't believe how big and heavy it was. The only reason we had it with us was because we bought it in the US, and were bringing it back with us. Our Sakura Bloom sling was a savior. Dan handled our carry on bags, and I was able to just throw Oswin in the sling, and be hands free to handle her and my purse. It also acted as a great cover for nursing while in flight.

3. Use what you've got. At five months of age, Oswin wasn't really "into" her toys yet. I brought a few little board books with, even though she was only just starting to let us read to her without hating it. I also brought a little lovey, Sophie the Giraffe, and a rattle that she liked. We used absolutely none of those things on any of the flights. In fact we didn't use the books at all, or Sophie, for the duration of the trip. We used the rattle to help her go to sleep at night, and I wanted her to have her lovey so that she had something familiar to snuggle with before bed, since she'd be sleeping in three strange environments over the course of three weeks. What did get her attention on the flight? The plastic cups that the airline served water in. Who knew they were so cool?! Oswin, apparently. We got a good 30+ minutes out of pretending to drink from the empty cup, then letting her pretend to drink from it, and on and on. Also, don't underestimate the power of the empty water bottle. It's another device to pretend to drink from, and if squeezed makes apparently really cool noises. Again, a good 30 minutes out of that one. Become the MacGyver of baby distraction and win the potential fussiness war. 

4. Pack light. This is an easy one. It is miserable to have to worry about cumbersome bags while keeping baby happy. 

5. Make an "oh merde" bag. I had fun with this one and literally wrote "oh merde" on the bag. In it were 3 diapers, a spare onesie and pyjama, wipes, and a few plastic bags. It was definitely our worst case scenario safety net. By putting everything you need in a plastic bag and bringing that with you, you have at everything at your finger tips for the worst case scenario. 

6. That being said, make produce bags your friend. Yes, I know, they're horrible for the environment. But you know what they're great for? Not being bulky in your diaper bag or "oh merde" bag to help contain a messy situation. Stick about 10 in your bag on your last trip to the supermarket and thank me later. 

{Welcome to 'Merica Baby Girl!!!}

7. Traveling alone? Always say a little hello to the gate attendant. And while you're saying hello, double check the placement of your seat. Doc and I are often on separate reservations, which means they frequently separate us, even if we've booked seats next to each other. Why? Because people traveling alone are the first ones to get moved when a family needs to be seated together. Or someone gets an upgrade. The solo fliers get screwed. This happened to us on this trip as well. We noticed and brought Oswin with us up to the desk, because even though you assume that they know you've got an infant on your lap, well, you know what they say about assuming things...long story short, the nice man with the power took one look at baby girl and said, "yeah, we'll get you two seated together...I think it's better for everyone involved." Amen man...

8. Is your baby eating soilds? Even though we bought the cutest bibs while we were home, they were a pain in the butt to wash after every use when traveling. When we got back to SwitzerFrance we immediately bought kid art smock bibs that are water resistant, taking away the need for a serious washing when getting down with some wanderlust. Just rinse it under water and hang it up to dry for a few minutes and you're ready to go on your next adventure

9. Does your kiddo take a pacifier? Then get a pacifier lanyard. Seriously. Those airplane bathroom floors are GROSS. Lanyards are saviors for keeping that binky clean. 

So what did I pack for our big ole 3 week adventure? Read on and take a look into my OCD mind...

(Keep in mind that we had access to a washer and dryer, but I throw virtually nothing into the dryer...if I did, I probably could have brought even less in the way of clothes.)

Rolling carry on bag: 

1. Two backup pairs of pyjamas for Oswin

2. Two backup onesies for Oswin

3. One backup nursing tank/change of shirt (When you unexpectedly have to spend the night in Houston, it makes a world of difference to be able to change your shirt before starting travel again the next day...)

4. Pyjamas for me (See above, because sleeping in pyjamas in Houston and not your travel clothes is awesome too...)

5. One baseball hat for me (messy hair, don't care...) 

6. Headphones

7. Fourteen diapers (I essentially planned for diapers for 2.5 days worth of travel, because the last thing we'd want if we got laid over or re-routed through say, Brussels, would be to have to find somewhere to buy diapers...)

8. Backup box of wipes (See above)

9. Breast pump, pump bottles and batteries

10. An extra long sleeve shirt for me 

11. Plastic baggie with permissible liquids, including tea tree oil, face wash, toothpaste, saline for Oswin's nose, and coconut oil for her bum)

12. Hair brush (messy hair, don't care, but hell no to knots...)

13. Six backup nursing pads (say no to leakage!)

Diaper Bag: 

1. "Oh merde" bag (See Tip #5 above)

2. Bib

3. Hand sanitizer

4. Extra pacifier 

5. Hat for Oswin (...because those planes go from hot as Hades to a tundra in the time it takes to tell the stewardess if you want tea or coffee...)

6. Swaddle 

7. Breast milk (4 bottles) and bottle insulators to keep it cold. (...because if your baby is as distractible as ours, nursing may be a bit difficult. There were times when she wouldn't nurse, but would take a bottle.)

8. A few small toys or books in case water bottles and empty cups lose their luster...   

Checked bag:

Note: When it came to packing for myself, I packed light, knowing that I'd be able to wash my clothes. Everyone is different, but my general rule of thumb for travelling back to the United States is to bring one week's worth of clothes, and do laundry. Some people need more to feel like themselves, some need less. Take a good honest look at yourself and your needs, then pack accordingly. 

For Oswin: 

1. Three additional pairs of pyjamas

2. Three additional onesies

3. Five long sleeve shirt/hoodies/etc. 

4. Five pairs of leggings/pants

5. One pair of tights

6. One dress

7. Moccasins 

8. Her special bath soap

9. Bath thermometer

10. Her spoon

11. Travel Pac 'n Play 

12. A few hair, or in her follicly-challenged case, head, accessories 

13. Any weather necessities. It was March when we went, and NJ got 9 inches of snow while we were at my parent's house, so I was glad I had packed her little bear cold weather suit. 

Ok, phew! That's it! I hope this list of how we traveled internationally with our little bundle of awesome and set of tips will be helpful to some of you hitting the tarmac this summer, or whenever you're taking your little on a big ole trip. Don't be intimidated by flying anywhere with your baby, you can do it! And if they scream and cry the whole time just remember that the flight, though it may seem like it takes forever, is a finite amount of time, and it will end. The experiences you can provide for yourself and your baby through traveling far outweigh the inconveniences. So get out there and explore my friends!

A la prochaine friends...

Honey  

A break.

It's just something about January. I always find it difficult to blog in January. Maybe that is because for us here at the House of Hadron, it's THE planning month. And when two somewhat OCD-anal-retentive-science-minded people designate a month as THE planning month, it's not to be taken lightly. There are official meetings over coffee, Excel documents and coding involved. And a few pie charts. And once almost a powerpoint. What can I say, logistics is our game. 

And now somehow, we're getting ready to turn the calendars to April. The Phillies open today. Oswin will be 6 months old in a week. Soon Doc and I will be celebrating our 32nd and 34th birthdays. And let's not forget about the upcoming Paques celebration and planting season in our little village. Trips to the market, trips to cities and countries near and far, we're ready for spring and summer adventures, wherever our legs and wheels can take us. 

But not right now, not today. I don't want to even so much as see our luggage bags or even a purse that could qualify as a luggage bag for at least two weeks. We got back from our annual trip to the United States yesterday, Oswin's first trip to the Motherland in fact, and we are all far too jet lagged to think about traveling. Right now I'm putting our washing machine to task, as three weeks of traveling with an infant has created an urge to do laundry like I've never felt before in my life. If I could say one thing about traveling with an infant via plane, it's thank the Heavens for plastic bags. 

That being said, we learned a lot from this most recent trip abroad. First and foremost, once a baby is involved trips home are no longer vacays. Maybe it's just because this was Oswin's inaugural trip, or maybe it was the 8 flights we took in 21 days, but this trip was chock full of stress. There were so many people we saw/wanted to see, but only got to about half of them. Le sigh. So it is with these kinds of trips I guess...

That being said, Oswin was a total rock star on this trip. It took about 5 days for her to adjust, but after that she was great. The flights didn't seem to bother her one bit. She didn't cry once. There were definitely days where she was pushed beyond her limits, between SO many people holding her, and having not much of a schedule. We're so proud of our little jet setter. 

So, we're home. It's gorgeous out in SwitzerFrance today, sunny and in the 60s, but today Oswin and I will be recuperating. Stressful or not, our trips to PA, NJ, and Nebraska were totally worth it. They always are; just the same, today will be filled with lots of snuggles, lots of coffee, and maybe some Netflix. Definitely pyjamas. Tomorrow we'll go play in the sun. 

Traveling soon with an infant? As I slowly unpack I'm making a list of everything we used, what was most helpful, and what could be left behind in the future. I'll post on here once the "Surviving 3 Weeks of International Travel with an Almost 6 Month Old" list is completed. What worked for us might not work for you, but it's always good to share ideas. After all, sharing is caring. 

A la prochaine friends...

Honey