To Travel Is To Live

September 23, 2015September 23, 2015 Renee Barton2 Comments

I’m not sure when or how my love of travel started. I guess it has just always been there.

Growing up we were not the “go away every school holidays” type of family. We had a couple of family getaways up or down the coast over the years which are still special memories for me. But we certainly didn’t travel a lot. In fact, my parents were in their 40’s before their first overseas trip.

But I had the travel bug even before I knew what that meant.

Our first overseas trip was in 2007, the year after we married. We went to Las Vegas for 5 nights. It seems completely ridiculous to me now to have gone all that way for such a short time but after buying a house and paying for a wedding it was all we could afford. And at the time it didn’t seem strange at all. We were just so excited and crammed so much in to that short time.

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Why Vegas? Why not! It might seem tacky to some but it is still one of my favourite places on earth. For me, going there was a dream come true. And being able to see my most favourite singer, Celine Dion in her show ‘A New Day’ was an amazing experience.

Our next trip was in 2009 to New Zealand. We travelled around the south island in a motor home with two of our closest friends who just so happen to be Kaine’s brother and his now wife.

Not many people would be able to survive living in such close quarters for that period of time but we not only survived, we had a blast.

So much so that in 2011 we had a ‘buddy moon’ with them. The day after they married we got on a plane and spent 3 weeks in the US. A highlight of which was a week in Vegas where we met up with another 4 of our friends.

Our most recent trip was last year. We spent 5 weeks travelling around Europe with some special friends to celebrate our 30th birthdays. This trip was absolutely incredible. And it was quite healing for me in a way.

We had spent the 18 months prior to that trip trying to fall pregnant. But that holiday helped me realise that everything would happen with the most perfect timing and that it was God’s plan unfolding, not my own.

We really lived it up during those 5 weeks (as you can see in our daily vlogs) and created such unforgettable memories.

My favourite thing about travel is that it reminds me we really are all the same. No matter our religion, background, social status, profession or IQ we all gather at sights around the world and marvel with child-like enthusiasm.

We sit in silent awe within the Sacre Cour, we stare with wonderment into the Trevi Fountain, we cheer with delight as the Eiffel Tower sparkles and we gaze in disbelief at the Colosseum.

There is something about planning a trip that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It turns me on, I love it. I’m not a detailed person by any means but trip preparation has me researching for hours and creating spreadsheets and itineraries. I love it.

And its a good thing I do. Our next dream trip is right here in our own backyard. Our epic Aussie adventure. Call us crazy but we intend to sell up shop and spend 12 months on the road travelling this amazing country of ours. It will be the biggest travel undertaking by far and will require plenty of planning and preparation.

But what an amazing opportunity for our little family to experience together.

Footage Friday: Gympie Music Muster 2015

September 18, 2015 Renee BartonLeave a comment

Yes, that’s right friends, we have finally come up with a witty title for when we post videos on a Friday instead of photos.

Clever huh?!

Any-who, our annual venture to the Gympie Music Muster happened a couple of weeks ago. We shared some photos in a previous Photo Friday post and now here is the vlog capturing all the fun and shenanigans from this year.

Note: much fewer shenanigans than previous years due to baby in attendance!

Babies and Capsules and Car Trips….Oh My!

September 9, 2015September 9, 2015 Renee Barton2 Comments

The day we brought Jesse home from hospital was a magical day.

After spending those first few days cooped up within hospital walls trying to figure everything out it was an incredible feeling to finally be leaving with our beautiful bundle. The sun was shining and we were both grinning from ear to ear. And our gorgeous, tiny baby boy was snug in his carrier in the back seat of the car and didn’t make a sound the whole way home.

Over those first few weeks when we managed to venture out of the house we were so proud of ourselves, it all seemed so easy with a newborn.

But something is different. Something has changed.

I now feel dread every time I even think about having to put the boy in his car seat and drive somewhere.

Nothing raises the blood pressure quicker or the stress levels faster than being in a car with a screaming, petrified 3 month old.

Oh yes, those days of a tiny, sleeping newborn in the back seat are over and now it is like we have an entirely different child.

And I have tried everything. Talking to him in soft, soothing tones, playing relaxation music, playing classical music for babies (which by the way sounds god-awful and only adds to the stress), playing motivational audios, singing to him, giving him toys – nothing has worked!

Our car trips as a family have resulted in one of us sitting in the back with him, dummy and bottle at the ready. Which seems to work well. He even drifts off to sleep a lot of the time. But when it is just me… a 15 minute car trip is suddenly my worst nightmare.

I thought babies love going in the car. It puts them to sleep right? Wrong! Well not ours anyway. I guess I should consider myself lucky in that I don’t need to drive my kid around the block at 3am because its the only way to get him to sleep.

As frustrating as it is I really can’t blame the poor little guy. He’s scared. It is dark back there, he is strapped down at an awkward angle and though he can hear mummy he can’t see her.

When I swoop in to rescue him he has worked himself up into a hot sweat and the look of sheer terror on his face breaks my heart. I undo the seatbelt as quickly as I can and hold him close whispering reassuring words into his little ears.

I can only imagine how scared he feels back there but boy, I really hope this phase ends… soon!

One remedy I have heard of is printing out a giant photo of mum’s face and sticking it up where baby can see it.

So if you happen to walk past a car in the car park and see a woman’s big smiling face taped to back seat, it’s me. A desperate mother willing to try anything to stop her baby screaming his lungs out in the car.

If you have any other ideas or if you too have a baby crying uncontrollably in your back seat, let me know I’m not alone. Please.

Don’t let the smile fool you.

Photo Friday: Baby’s First Camping Trip

September 4, 2015September 4, 2015 Renee Barton1 Comment

Every year in the last week of August you will find us getting our country on at the Gympie Music Muster. We have been going for over 10 years and it is definitely one of the highlights of our calendar.

This year however was a little different to most. This year we had our 3 month old baby with us.

Yes, call us crazy, but we took Bub on his first camping trip, 5 nights in the Amamoor State Forest with 50,000 of our closest friends.

And he handled it like a champ!

What I thought was going to be an agonising car trip turned out to be a breeze. He slept the whole way there and back. And the little guy took to camping like a pro. Thunderstorm and all.

We must say a big thank you to our awesome friends for being so understanding of our situation and for helping to make our time so enjoyable. It was incredibly reassuring to hear how happy they were that we didn’t back out because we had a baby and that it in no way negatively affected their time (no one really gets much sleep at Muster anyway).

Obviously he is our number one priority and we made all the necessary adjustments to ensure he was safe and comfortable. But it was also great to prove that we can still do the things we love even though we are parents now.

Mission Possible: Getting Out of the House with a Baby

August 12, 2015August 12, 2015 Renee BartonLeave a comment

Before having a baby I had heard parents complain about how difficult it was and how long it took to leave the house with a baby. And yes, now I know what they were talking about.

kaine heading out

Before baby, husband and I could be out the door within a few minutes of making the decision.

“Want to go out for lunch?”

“Sure!”

Freshen up, grab keys, wallet and phone and out the door we go.

Now it is a juggling act. I feed the baby while he gets ready then he changes the nappy and preps the gear while I get ready. By then it is time to feed again and after all that we might actually manage to throw everything in the car, buckle baby in his car seat and leave the house.

Phew… nap anyone??

In all seriousness though, I still firmly believe that, with a bit of patience and flexibility, it is possible (and important) to still be outgoing and enjoy a life outside the four walls of home.

So here are some of the things I’ve learned about venturing out of the house with a new baby.

Preparation is key. Always take more stuff than you think you will need including clothing, blankets, bottles and nappies.
Time your outings so that you leave straight after a feed. This way you can maximise time before the next feed is due, in theory anyway.
Try and avoid taking baby in and out of the car more than twice in one outing.
Breastfeed in public. It will feel really awkward at first. Much harder than simply whipping off your shirt and unashamedly popping your boob out when at home. It takes some practice to be able to juggle baby whilst trying to modestly unhook your bra and subtly hide your breast pad somewhere whilst getting bub to latch. And hey, if you happen to flash a bit of boob, try not to worry. It is natural, your baby is hungry and people should just get over it.
Even when using the pram always have a wrap or carrier handy just in case bub gets cranky and wants out.
When baby starts to get grizzly, it is time to go. Avoid being tempted by one more shop or one more errand as this will often lead to a screaming baby and stressed out mum on the ride home.
Enjoy being out. Having a baby doesn’t mean your social life has to end or that you need to be housebound. Getting out every so often will help you to appreciate those days at home endlessly feeding on the couch whilst watching Netflix.
If it all seems too hard, just try grabbing the pram or your favourite carrier and going for a walk around the block. The fresh air will do you both a world of good. Not to mention a little bit of exercise too.