Traveling for the first Time

 My husband and I love to travel—well, I love it, and he comes along for the ride! So having a baby isn’t going to stop us; he’s just our newest little travel buddy. For our first trip, I kept it simple: a short 3-hour drive, just one night away, and I went with my family since my husband had to work. It was the perfect little test run, nothing too overwhelming.

Let me just say: babies come with a lot of stuff. And I didn’t even bring a pack 'n play! I used a Boppy pillow and had him sleep next to me on the bed, which saved a ton of space.

Here are a few things I did that made the trip a lot easier:

  1. Sponge + Dish Soap Hack: I cut up a sponge, soaked it in dish soap, and sealed it in a Ziploc bag. That way, I could just toss it into bottles with water, shake them up, and they were clean—no need to lug around a bottle brush or a million clean bottles. (Totally stole this from TikTok, and I wish I remembered who to credit because it was genius!)

  2. Overpack Diapers and Clothes: I thought I overpacked… turns out, nope. My son was extra spit-uppy those two days, so we used more clothes than I expected. Better safe than sorry!

  3. Water Bottle Trick: Instead of bringing a big jug of water, I filled a 32oz water bottle for mixing formula. It was so much easier to carry and refill on the go. If you’re going for longer than a couple days, maybe stick with the jug, but for quick trips, this was a game changer.

Also, let’s be real: you can’t just make a “quick” 5-minute stop anymore. Between getting the baby out, changing them, maybe feeding them—it’s probably gonna take at least an hour. That’s been a big adjustment for me. I’ve always been a go-go-go person, so I’m learning to slow down and be patient. Things just take a little more time now, and that’s okay.

Honestly, I’ve always struggled with rushing through life, focused on what’s next instead of what’s now. But I don’t want to miss my baby being little. He won’t be this tiny forever, and I want to soak it all in—the little smiles, the sleepy grunts, the chaos and the cuddles. The dishes can wait, the floor can stay messy, and laundry can be done later (unless we run out of burp cloths, of course 😅). We live in a world that pushes us to keep everything spotless, but that can wait until nap time. Right now, I want to enjoy these fleeting moments.

James 1:4 (NIV):
"Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

This verse has been reminding me that slowing down and embracing the journey, even when it’s messy, is part of the growth.

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