I figured there was no better time than the present to finally start a blog…

Tomorrow we embark on yet another adventure, but this time with baby!

This will be my fourth “adventure;”

“mini-retirement” as the internet world likes to dream about;

or, as I like to say “skedaddle”***.

My first “skedaddle” was right after graduating from the University of Virginia (1996) and finding myself with no job and realizing my degree in “Foreign Affairs” really didn’t mean that much.  So I decided to go put my degree to a test and experience some “foreign affairs” in Europe.   Went alone…had very little cash…sold everything and worked 3 jobs to get there.  Had the most amazing educational and mind broadening experience of my life (at the time, 22 years…).

The second “skedaddle” was after Justin (my husband), was laid off from the telecomm industry in 2001.  I quit a high profile lobbying job – living the “dream” life in Washington, DC – to join him on a round the world trip throughout SE Asia.  Words can’t even explain how amazing that trip was. Enlightening and liberating.  It was truly the biggest “skedaddle” I ever did.  We did not really talk to anyone back home for nearly 4 months.

The third and most recent “skedaddle” was when we drove cross country for 2 months after fleeing the crazy world of DC to join the laid back life of Vancouver (2005).

So, what to do when your life includes an adventure every 2-3 years and then along comes baby (2007). Of course, first thing I thought was…no more “skedaddling.”

One year later and here we go, off on another “skedaddle…”

Stella's First Birthday

Can’t say this has been the easiest one to plan but that brings me to the subject of the blog.

How do you travel with a baby?  How can you make it as simple as possible?

Well stay tuned because I’m going to share with you all the preparation and even take you step-by-step as we travel for the next 6 months.

Tomorrow we leave on a direct flight from Vancouver to Atlanta.  First stop, Atlanta.  We will be attending a conference on Internet marketing.

So what about baby (Stella)?  I’ve packed her one small wheeled bag and I’m carrying on a few items.  The only other thing we are taking for her is her stroller (the luxury item because it’s a 3 wheeled Mountain Buggy).  The best stroller for off-roading and just about anything else…I log more miles on my stroller than I do my car. (More recs to come)…

Believe me…you can travel lightly with a baby if you try!

***I must lend a reference to my use of the word “skedaddle.”  Recently I read a book about a crazy family from West Virginia who were “always on the run” and their father used to say it’s time to “skedaddle…”  The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls.

While her memoir chronicles the adventures (and misadventures) of a very disturbing family, I like to think my “skedaddles” are a bit more enlightening and I’m better for it afterwards…I hope some day Stella will agree.