Week 26: A Seattle babymoon
Since we married, Arthur and I have made it a […]
Since we married, Arthur and I have made it a goal to travel once a year. We’ve been able to keep up with it three years in. When we found out we’d have a baby by the end of 2013, we knew we’d have to make quick decisions about if/when/where we’d go for vacation this year. I pushed for this last hurrah before Roo’s debut for numerous reasons, but ultimately, I didn’t know when our next trip would be once our son joined the family. I imagine it will be quite a long time before we feel confident enough to either leave him behind with trusted guardians or bring him along. I couldn’t bear the thought of not escaping reality at least one more time before our family expanded, so we booked our “babymoon” to Seattle for the end of June.
And I’m so glad we did! Spending leisure time with my husband was exactly what I needed. We’ve felt more connected ever since the positive sign showed up on the pregnancy test, but spending 10 days together without the rigors of daily life reminded us of how we fell in love with each other in the first place. We admired art at the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition; saw interesting sci-fi, fantasy, and pop culture exhibits at the Experience Music Project Museum; and explored the local treasures of Pike Place Market. On more than one occasion, Arthur made me laugh until I cried. We developed new inside jokes that will no doubt carry on far into our future (e.g., Maurice the Ghost who lived in our hotel bathroom).
Of course, Roo wasn’t far from our minds (he was the reason we were on the trip, after all). He really began moving and shaking the day we left for Seattle—so much so that for the first time, we could physically see my stomach move because of his acrobatics! Of course, we couldn’t help but be drawn in by the vendors in the market who sold baby clothes—Roo’s wardrobe expanded a little bit during this vacation. And as I trekked up the hills and was more easily winded than usual during our long walks, I was also reminded that I wasn’t carrying just my own weight around anymore.
So while our vacation expenses could’ve easily gone into our savings account or toward Roo’s college fund, I don’t regret going on the trip at all. It helped both Arthur and me refresh ourselves for all the work that lies ahead (the birthing and safety classes, clearing out Roo’s room, etc.). It brought back into focus what started us on this path to parenthood in the first place—our mutual love and adoration of one another.