Have child... will travel

So we have made the decision to take our first overseas trip with Grace next year and go to beautiful Hawaii. We are currently doing some of our own research (we aren't going to venture over to the travel agent just yet) and are taking tips, suggestions and ideas to make our trip with a baby (Grace will be around 18 months when we go) as smooth and as enjoyable as possible.

Also, in the short-term, we are going to go down to Melbourne for my birthday in May... it will only be a weekend trip but Grace will only be five months, and that in itself is a scary thing. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! We are looking at staying at a hotel as opposed to a self-contained unit so that we can order food in-house in case a trip to a restaurant is all too hard for our little Princess!

I guess travelling with your baby is like taking them out for the first time since coming home from hospital - you've just got to bite the bullet and do it no matter how scary it seems. I am just a bit apprehensive about the plane ride (especially over to Hawaii!) but I am sure we'll just deal with it when the time comes! Obviously a crying baby on a plane isn't great - for passengers and especially for the parents - I would imagine it to be a very stressful experience.

So if anyone knows a great website for travelling with bubs please send them through!

Why not celebrate love every day?

Today is Valentine’s Day and of course, it has got me thinking about love.

My husband and I don’t really do anything special for this day, but we used to when our relationship was young, which is really the group of people (those in new relationships) who I think really make the most of Valentine’s Day.

Ben says that we often do nice things for each other and with each other and that we don’t need just one day to express our love for each other, and I couldn’t agree with him more. Hey, we are married and a beautiful baby girl… there is a lot of love in our life and it’s evident every day - I don’t need a box of chocolates and red roses to know I am loved. Also, I tend to think of Valentine’s Day as more of a clever marketing campaign on steroids than a day to express genuine, unwavering love for someone.

It got me thinking that I am so lucky to have so much real love in my life and that I get to experience it on a daily basis. I think falling in love, whether it be with a special someone, your newborn baby, a puppy, or even a fantastic pair of heels (hey I know girls who go weak at the knees for a fabulous pair of shoes), is one of the best feelings in the world. Having something or someone to love and cherish is a wonderful thing.

In 2010 when my husband and I got married, we used a quote on the front of our wedding invitations that read “the greatest thing in life is to love, and be loved”. This is one of my favourite quotes and I really do believe it to be true.

So on days like this, when love is at the forefront of many people’s minds, I think how lucky I am to have true, meaningful love in my life every single day. I am a bit of a romantic, but nothing says love like a person who will stick by you at your worst and your best and still be there for you at the end of the day.

To my husband Ben, having you to love is the best thing ever and I am a very blessed to have your love in return.