Vacation with a baby redefines vacation

So ever since last summer when we planned our vacation to return to Lake Umbagog J has been doing the count down. All I kept thinking about after Isabel was born was ugh, its gonna be a long ride with a crying baby. As the months went on I felt less concerned about that and more concerned about the secluded nature of the location, what if I couldn't entertain her?

Well, here's what happened in high light format.

1. Packing for a 9 day trip with a baby that had Roseola, a hot and humid week of weather and 2 dogs was kind of a bummer

2. We managed to get off to a good start and Isabel was feeling better by the day we left but Liam was limping despite pain meds we picked up.

3. The car ride up was great, she slept 2/3 of it

4. Unpacking up there was way easier than packing here!

5. Baby proofing was a must in the cabin and we avoided major catastrophe with some vigilence. i.e. pulled all the blinds, covered all outlets, moved the coffee table and ashtrays, pushed the bed away from the window and kept the front screen door locked because she liked to look out and lean against it.

6. Screen tent for outside was a must. We were right by the lake and she wanted to crawl to it. So it kept her contained, bug free and out of the sun. We just had to keep her from picking the grass and eating it and from pouncing on the dogs.

7. Biggest adjustment? No sleeping in, no lazy naps (though J napped with her and I got to relax blogging/browing the web and read a whole book!)

8. Drawback to a DIY vaca, is I had to cook, clean, do laundry and take care of a baby so in essence same thing different location. However, J was really helpful and we got to catch up alot and actually talk...imagine that?!

9. FIL and his wife were in the next cabin, which was nice they could play with the baby and that helped

10. We managed one dinner out but the dogs had to stay in the car which stunk

The other tough part of our trip was that Liam popped a quill out of his joint requiring J to go home for the day and have it removed and the other was Ladybug had a lump in her belly that I found while we were away. So, needless to say we had hoped for a simple and relaxing vacation but instead it was alittle less restful but at least we had each other!