Traveling With Baby

Reid already wrote about the highlights of the trip, so we decided that I would write about the change in traveling with an infant.

First off, I have to say I was a little nervous about it- bugs and sun/heat really. So, I went to the brigade of awesome ASB moms that were more than helpful with advice. So, instead of packing the night before, I spent the week before going over what we should bring traveling with a 3 month old in southern India at the end of March. Though we obviously had more stuff, we were still able to forego the luggage cart at the airport (but we did have extra hands with Rob and Emily with us).

Basically, this kid was a champ. Minimal fussing that was tag-teamed by all four of us. I was a little worried about now being the one with the infant that everyone wonders on the plane how much crying they'll have to deal with. But, he was fine, all smiles, or sleeping on the way down. Cochin we had an AC room in a beautiful homestay. After an outing in the morning and getting super hot and sweaty (it was the HOTTEST/MOST HUMID weather I've ever been in and the least amount of places with A/C), we'd just take a break in the A/C at our hotel. Or, we just planned on finding a cafe for a cool drink (under a fan) and a chance to get the baby hydrated as well (I was a bit of a milk machine to be honest).

There were of course no shortage of huge smiles and excitement over Daniel from passers-by. Not to toot our own horn, but, this kid is really damn cute. He smiles at anyone who smiles at him and has now added a cacophony of adorable sounds/exclamations. Which apparently is irresistible to Keralans because before I knew it at lunch one day the waiter (whom I had watched wash his hands) basically took him right out of my lap and promptly paraded him around to the other tables. This happened three other separate times on the trip, including a Saudi Arabian woman, the owner of a different restaurant, and a pediatrician who had just finished her own veg thali lunch and was extremely excited about Daniel. I have to say I had a little mama bear moment each time (mostly about germs) but in each case I had seen them wash their hands and decided to roll with the punches, and fun cultural interactions were had.

The backwater houseboat was great to relax on, stripping him down to just his diaper and he could get his wiggles out at anytime, and of course, LOTS of great playtime with Grandma and Grandpa. He had his first thunderstorm experience which the prestorm he thought was fabulous, giggling as the wind would rush across his face along with the cooler temperatures. But, as soon as the thunder and lightning hit, he freaked out (poor thing) and cried inconsolably until I finally suggested we just try the bedtime routine and he eventually crashed. Not too many places to hide from a thunderstorm when you're on a houseboat.

Varkala was tough. The homestay was beautiful, but, no A/C and mom and baby struggled to go anywhere. He may have been a successful backwater baby, but he was not excited about being a beach baby. After lots of screams (and a few wayward looks from other beachgoers) I gave up and he and I decided to lay low at the hotel the rest of our time there (at least we had a beautiful balcony to enjoy).

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Trivandrum he was a little tired and slept through most of the sights. We headed back on the airplane (again, he was the one baby out of about 10 that was NOT screaming on the plane) and once we were back home, he realized it and started squealing with delight. The other crazy thing was all of a sudden he was doing new things- like grabbing/manipulating toys, giggling, putting weight on his feet... ready set go I guess!

So, we're planning a last little trip to Paris on our way home in June. With a little slower pace and a plan B ready, Daniel and his travel companions had a super successful first trip. Hopefully this baby continues his travel savvy behavior for his travel-happy parents!