The Big Pros:

1) Backyard. A major reason we decided to move is that our son loves being outside.  Whenever he’s in a bad mood (since he was four months old), if we take him outside, he calms down and becomes happy again.  This wonderful feature of Blake meant that in the city, at 7:30am after he, and therefore I, had been up for nearly 2 hours, I’d have to pack up the diaper bag, put our coats, bring a snack, my wallet, cell phone and take the elevator down to head to the park or just stroll and visit a Starbucks or the supermarket.  I’m not kidding; I did that way too many times.  Then there would be the mornings when he had no plans and it was too cold for an hour at the playground so his nanny would take him in and out of stores or set him free on the kid’s floor at Bloomingdale’s to run around.   Now, in a house, I can just open the back door and Blake can run free in the yard, play on the swing set, and ride his tricycle. Since it’s summer, he also plays with water toys in the baby pool and he LOVES watering the plants with the hose.  The ability to be outside in one second is a huge pro for our family.  It also makes the weekend afternoons flow by because my husband and I are also happier being able to play outside and run into the bathroom or take turns watching him.

2) We have “family friends.” Yes, we had such friends before, but now we can actually spend time with them.  We’ve have families over for brunch or dinner and we have the space for all of us to sit in the family room or playroom, or hang out in the backyard.  What a pleasure to have a relaxing experience in our own house.  It’s also a nice thing for my husband and I to share the experience of watching Blake play with another child.  While I was able to do that in the city some times, Dave hardly ever saw Blake with a friend.

3) Stores are farther, but closer in the suburbs. In the city, Buy Buy Baby wasn’t in walking distance from our apartment, therefore I didn’t go there, unless I had the energy for the half-hour journey each way of riding the subway and carrying bags back home (and those bags were heavy with diapers, toys and baby equipment).   Now, I just get in the car and drive 5 minutes to get there.

4) Our house is neater. The toys are in the playroom, not in the family room, the kitchen or my bedroom.  What a luxury to not have to step over toys!  I realize this neatness might diminish once the second baby comes, but I know it will always be better than our city apartment.

5) It’s prettier and quieter. This is personal and you might not feel the same way, but I like looking out the window at trees and grass.  I like seeing the moon at night and the stars out bright.  I enjoy not waking up to horns and engines.

6) The commute. This one would be on the con list for some, but for my husband, it’s a pro.  He hates having to operate on a train schedule, but he loves the 30 to 40 minute ride.  It’s his time to read and think.  When he gets home from work, he’s already had his down time and he’s excited to play with Blake.  I’m not as much a fan of the commute, but since I have a city office and a home office, I don’t have to travel every day, so the commute doesn’t affect me very much.

7) Room for extended family. When my in-laws visit us at our house, they can sleep over in comfort.  In the city, we didn’t really have room for them.  When my parents visit, there’s enough space to play and spend hours at home without itching to leave.  More space means more spontaneous fun and less need to plan events, classes and outings.

The Big Cons:

1) Less walking. I like to walk, but in the suburbs I have to decide to go for a walk.  In the city I would walk to pick up milk, dinner, shampoo or something else every single day.  I have to be more conscious of exercising now that I live in a house.

2) House work. There is no denying that a house is a lot of work.  From moving in, to repairs, to little things you don’t think about like building bookshelves (I guess the prior owners didn’t have an overload of books like we do), I have a daily list of bills, chores and phone calls to tend to.

3) Friend work. Then there is the “work” of making new friends, finding the best stores, supermarket, deli, bagel shop (that’s my husband’s Sunday pursuit), etc.  This is all the work of building a life for ourselves in our new community.  Although I list it as a con, it can be a pro if you find it exciting to discover a new community and build friendships, which I do, sometimes.  I advised one friend of mine considering the move to the suburbs, don’t do it unless you’re motivated and enthusiastic about putting in the time find out new restaurants, playgrounds, nursery schools, neighbors and friends.  If that sounds like a horrible burden to you, then you might want to wait on the move.

4) Less time with my husband. This is my final con.  His commute means he’s home about an hour less a day, but that’s not such a big deal because he still gets home early enough to spend an hour with Blake and have dinner with me.  The real issue is that even when he is home, we have so many more chores and errands to run that the logistics take away from our time to relax and hang out together.  Since my first trimester of pregnancy coincided with our move, I had also been going to sleep earlier than usual.   Now that I feel better, we have a little more time.  The only way to deal with this con is for us to be very alert of how we use our time.  We don’t turn the TV on unless it’s a particular show we both like and we don’t check our email or go on-line for at least an hour after dinner.

All in all, as I read through my pros and cons, it’s clear that most of them are child dependent.  We wouldn’t have moved if we didn’t have a child and plan to grow our family.  Then again, there are many benefits to city living for kids: ease of playdates with other kids in the same apartment building; dozens of parks to choose from; exciting children’s museums; classes and nursery schools within strolling distance.  And of course the pros for adults: great restaurants, closer to work, cultural events and good public transportation.  Though at this point, my husband and I weren’t really taking advantage of the city restaurants and events anymore.

Now that I’ve shared too much information, I will leave you to consider whether my pros and cons are or would be the same as yours.

Are you considering the move to the suburbs?  Are you a die-hard urbanite?  What factors affect your decision?

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CNN recently posted an article on toddlers in high-end restaurants.  Not surprisingly, it received thousands of comments from angry diners and compassionate parents.  In Tots at upper-echelon restaurants, Sarah LeTrent wrote that certain fine dining establishments are creating kids’ menus to specifically make them feel welcome.  The menu at Landmarc includes “kids” items such as petite filet mignon and orecchiette.  Though, I must say, I’ve been to Landmarc, and it’s a loud, dark place that I think is suited to children, at least at the 6pm hour.  It’s the quiet fine dining restaurants like Cafe Boulud in which the under-3 crowd creates a raucous.

Reading about the trend toward rolling out the red carpet for kids at high-end restaurants made me wonder, are restaurateurs helping parents spoil their toddlers?  One upset commenter to the CNN article wrote “Hire a babysitter!”  Another asked, “If you were in church would you allow your child to run around the chapel screaming?” 

I understand the anger.  After all, do toddlers really need to be out to dinner on Friday or Saturday nights?  Are we as parents involving them in everything we do because we want to “expose” them to things, or is it secretly because we feel guilty for not giving them enough attention during the week?  Then again, if we want to spend more time with them on weekends, why a high-end restaurant?  Why not go to a local burger joint, cafe or casual Italian restaurant?

I hate to say it, but I think some of us modern parents want to get the best of both worlds.  We want to live our lives to the fullest, enjoy great meals and spend time with our kids.  Since we’re overworked and tired, we try to combine activities and hope it works out.  I know.  I’ve been there.  Even when I plan a nice family dinner out at a casual restaurant, sometimes I find that my expectations were set too high. I have to rush the waiter, ask everyone at the table (usually just my parents or in-laws) not to order appetizers because it takes too much time, and then I request the check when the main course arrives.  Not the most pleasurable way to enjoy a meal!

Perhaps other kids are calmer and easier to manage in restaurants, but all I know is my own situation.   My husband and I would never want to take our toddler to a “nice” restaurant a) because we don’t want to bother others with the occasional crying and screaming, and b) because we can’t enjoy the food or even taste the food when we’re acting like clowns entertaining our son.

What do you think about young children in high-end restaurants?  Children are a part of our society.  Do they have the right to be there?  What’s your experience in taking your children out?  Have you ever changed your table at a restaurant to get away from kids?

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In a prior post, I wrote about saving money with a maternity clothes merry-go-round among friends.  Another way to save is to buy non-maternity clothes that you can wear for years.  I found low-cut empire waist shirts to be flattering and kind-of sexy, and yoga pants were awesome for my expanding (and later-on shrinking) body.

Here’s a great list of essential items from Destination Maternity:

Essential maternity items:

• Stretch pants – they will accommodate your growing belly (get in black or khaki so they will match everything)
• Slim Fit Skirt – with belly panel
• A Dress – especially a black dress – slimming and will match everything)   
• 3/4 Sleeve Top
• One or two Maternity T-Shirts – You can wear them by themselves or they are great for layering under pre-pregnancy button up shirts or cardigans/jackets (worn undone)
• A Tunic Length Sweater – for colder weather
• A Button down Shirt – great for work or more formal occasions
• Maternity Jeans – invest in a pair of jeans that fit well. You don’t have to settle for a pair of ugly, baggy jeans just because you’re pregnant. A style that sits on the hips is great for early pregnancy, while those with flattering panels or full stretch capability is essential for later on. Stick to jeans made in a stretch fabric for maximum comfort.

Along with those essentials, here are helpful style tips from Lifetimemoms

1. “Nothing says maternity style like a wrap blouse or wrap dress….

2. A hot mama must have her skinny jeans. You may not feel very skinny, but even with a gorgeous pregnancy bump and a few extra pounds elsewhere you can still look cute in a great pair of skinny jeans. I love these by Maternal America, sold at UnbuttonedMaternity.com….

3. Yoga pants just aren’t for yoga anymore, sweetie. These ultra comfy pants by Liz Lange for Target are great during pregnancy and only $29.99. Check out Target.com for other affordable fashion finds from Liz Lange too!

4. When it comes to maternity style, you just can’t go wrong with an expressive tee. Check out the rockin’ tees by Rock Me Mama —a collection of concert tees made from vintage cotton jersey with the authentic asymmetrical sleeves….”

My final tip: show off your legs.  Your belly might be big, but your legs aren’t.  Wear above-the-knee maternity skirts and buy a sexy, yet comfortable pair of sandals to match.

What are your pregnancy style tips?  What works for you?

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Apparently, I need to take a vacation from my brain.  For the first day of my trip, it just wouldn’t stop the movie reel: what if our plane crashes?  What if Blake desperately cries for me for hours?  What if they put him in the warmer pajamas but the heat is turned too high and Blake overheats in the middle of the night?  What if they forget to read him “Goodnight Moon” at bedtime?

What if I shouldn’t have left my baby?  

I met another mother at the hotel bar who was also on her first “couple” vacation with her husband since having their ten-month old.  We bonded.  She told me that she’s surprised no one called the police when she handed her daughter over to her mother-in-law the day before their vacation.  The transfer happened at a McDonalds at a highway rest stop mid-way between the two ladies who lived hours apart.  When my new friend passed the baby to her mother-in-law at the fast food joint, she was bawling, as if she would never see her daughter again.

By day 2 of our trip, we had confirmation that Blake hadn’t cried for his mommy or daddy once, that he ate his entire meals (which he never does with us!) and that he was energetic, happy and a pleasure to be around.  Now we could really start relaxing.  And so the vacation from my brain began.

We ate, we drank, we talked, we slept, we… you know, and we laughed.  We laughed at our son’s funny words and habits (like “pooter” for computer and how he copies us and sometimes calls himself “Blakey Blake”).  We laughed at ourselves and how we go away so that we can spend half the time talking about Blake.  We realized that just like everything else changed when we had Blake, so had vacations.  The fact that the hotel provided free phone calls to the United States was better than drinking margaritas and eating chocolate cake.  A direct flight home, priceless.

I didn’t know if would be possible to ever have a relaxing, beautiful beach vacation again with my husband. It is.  We are not just parents, we are a couple.

Are you a new parent or expecting parent planning a vacation?  Have you recently gone on a vacation without your child?  Were you more or less anxious than you expected?  Do you think vacations are more fun with your kids or without them?

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Not only does this sport require tremendous energy and money, it also requires parents to be constant activity planners.  That’s where moms Heather Flett and Whitney Moss come in.  They make parents’ lives a little bit easier with their creative blog www.RookieMoms.com (I guest blogged for them last week about 5 activities to stay in love, even when you have young children!) and book. Meanwhile, their book  The Rookie Mom’s Handbook: 250 Activities to Do with (and Without) Your Baby expands upon the blog by sharing helpful, funny and totally necessary advice for new moms, making it a great baby shower gift.

One of their blog posts, 25 Activities to Try During Your Maternity Leave, was oh so fitting for me because I found it incredibly hard to get out of the house for the first couple months of my son’s life.  I guess I’m not the only one who felt this way.  Here’s one of the activities recommended during maternity leave that I want to pass on to you.

“Activity #1: Observe Fearless Fridays.
This means you should do something you’re afraid of, like changing your baby’s diaper in a park or in the trunk of your car, nursing in public, mixing a bottle while on an errand or simply committing to a social engagement.  Such simple things, unless you’re a new mother or father!”

Here are a few other activities from their clever little book that I loved.

“#16 Go on a reconnaissance mission
When the baby is in a good mood (or better, sleeping peacefully in the stroller), scope out your local shopping destinations for “safe places” at where you can feed and change her. That way you can get out of the house every day and know that you don’t have to race against the clock to get back home.

#28 Drink beer
If you’re nursing, beer is widely rumored to help with milk production.  If you aren’t nursing, beer might still help you deal with the crying (yours and baby’s). Also, it’s worth mentioning that we’re talking about one beer a day, not a whole case…

#248 Launch the first annual Camp Grandma
Here’s how it works: Plan an overnight trip with your partner, even if you just make reservations at a nearby hotel.  Ask your baby’s grandparents to come stay at your place while you’re away, saving you the trouble of packing up all of baby’s things.  Train grandma and grandpa to use the car seat, stroller, and the coffee maker and then LET GO.”

What activities would you recommend for rookie moms?  Did you ever feel like you just couldn’t get out of the house?  Are you pregnant and wondering what you will do during maternity leave?

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My Baby Blues

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Taken from my journal during the time that I was expecting, here are my six New Year’s resolutions for becoming a better person, a better parent and a better partner:

1) Give Grandparent Goodness.
Pay more attention to the soon-to-be grandparents.  Cherish them for all that they give to us and for all the ways they care about us.  Call them more often.  Recognize that we are going to need them much more than we had ever imagined.

2) Be Happily Married.
Fight less with my spouse.  Once a baby enters the family, there is so much more to bicker about, so put on my mediator’s hat now and learn to fight less and compromise more before a little one is around to listen to our arguments.  (For tips on how to stop bickering with your spouse read my article on Web MD.)

3) Put Away the Piles.
Take care of the little things.  I have these piles of mail, bills and folders by the computer.  If I don’t clean them up now they will probably be there until we move, some time in the next decade.  Don’t put off today what probably won’t be done tomorrow: from researching and buying a new camera to capture the best shots of my baby, to finding the closest children’s pharmacy to my apartment, no matter how little free time I think I have, I will have even less soon enough.

4) Become a Reader.
Reading books is a great way to relax in bed or in the bathtub and it gets my mind off those days and weeks of pregnancy ahead of me.  I will ask my friends for book suggestions.  (My current book recommendation for you: The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  It’s an uplifting debut novel with a twist about raising babies.)

5) Rekindle Old Friendships.
With a baby on the way, I have a nice excuse to reach out to that friend from high school who I haven’t seen in years.  Her Facebook pictures show that she’s a mom.  It’s amazing how friendships can be rekindled through the mom connection.

6) Give Myself a Break.
Realize that accepting less than perfect will make me a better person and a better companion.  Adding the new title of parent to my list of responsibilities this year is going to mean less time for everything else.  Aim for 80% of perfect and I’ll probably reach my goal, and that’s cause for celebration.

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On December 3, I had the privilege of participating in It’s Time to Talk Day, an event in New York City sponsored by Liz Claiborne, Inc. and partners to encourage public dialogue about domestic violence and teen dating abuse.  I interviewed a handful of talented people that day (I will blog about those interviews later), but today, I want to share my surprisingly candid interview with Tim Gunn from Project Runway, who is the Chief Creative Officer of Liz Claiborne.

You rose to fame as the charming mentor to the designers on the reality television program Project Runway. Then you created your own TV show, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style. Where did the idea for your TV show come from?

My TV show Guide to Style came from my book A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style. Abrams imprint had asked me to write a makeover/self-help book and I didn’t want to do it.  So many fashion books and shows preach about the right and wrong pants and such.  You see people being dressed by stylists and then they leave, now what?  I’d rather help someone who thinks she is in a fashion rut and needs help getting unstuck.  I don’t care how people dress, as long as they accept responsibility for it (unless someone is bearing midriff on a city street).  I can’t shop for someone.  I will shop with, not for.  People ask me if I want to do follow up visits with the guests on my show to see if they stuck with the change.  I tell them, “no” because I don’t care if they stuck with it.  It’s their choice, their freedom.

In your show you said that everyone should own an “essential 10” articles of clothing.  Do you own more than your essential 10?

Of course.  Those are building blocks, the foundation for a wardrobe, not the only 10 items you should have.  And each person’s essential 10 should be personalized.  For instance, everyone should own a blazer, but should it be form fitting?  That’s up to you.  What kind of fabric should it be?  It depends on where you go and what you do each day.  I am not a fashion dictator.  I am a fashion therapist.  I don’t tell people what to wear.  I help them find their own style.

Do you always wear a suit?

No.  I don’t always wear a suit.  I was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center recently because I was meeting a female army veteran who I was to take shopping.  I wore a sport coat and tie (the tie was out of respect).  Actually, I did my research before I went there and found hundreds of pictures online of George Bush visiting the center and he wore a suit every time.  I didn’t want to look like him.

How long were you at Parsons School of Design?

24 years.

Are you in contact with any past contestants from Project Runway?

Lots of them.  We have a burgeoning alumni association.

How do you feel about designers who don’t want to make clothing bigger than sample sizes?

I think it’s reprehensible!  I believe in dressing real people.  Women of any shape and size can look great. Look at opera divas. They look great.  Also, the sample size women’s market is limited.  Given the economy today, it doesn’t make sense to limit your market.  Furthermore, it’s a very limited design challenge.  Designers need to work harder to make clothes for all sizes.  It’s a fallacy in thinking that a clothing item can simply be re-sized for petite or plus size.  The item needs to be re-conceived, not re-sized.  There are some great plus size stores.  Lane Bryant is wonderful.  It’s not like the Lane Bryant you used to think it was.

Do you think the trends toward skinnier and skinnier models and making sample sizes only are contributing to low self-esteem in women? And since today’s event is about bringing public attention to the problem of domestic violence, do you think that the low self-esteem may lead women to stay in abusive relationships or lead girls down the road of anorexia or bulimia?

Definitely.  And I think red carpet pictures contribute too.  Red carpet clothes are like wedding dresses.  It’s not the way they regularly navigate the world.  It’s a special event and yet those photos in tabloids, or even in regular magazines nowadays, are all over, as if this style and perfection is normal.  It’s not.  I heard a quote from Kate Moss, I think it was “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” and I thought “Oh, my god!”  You don’t have to be skinny to look great.

Since many of my blog readers are pregnant women or new moms, I have to ask you what you think about the celebrity trend to lose the baby weight and look perfect in a matter of weeks.  How are real people supposed to match that?

They can’t match it and shouldn’t.  Celebrities have a regimen of tons of trainers and chefs.  The rapid weight loss is not DNA, it’s paying for services.

Thank you for your time.  I enjoyed this interview.  I’d like to leave you with a copy of my book “Instant Persuasion: How to Change Your Words to Change Your Life” (Penguin).

Thank you, Laurie, and I’ll give you a copy of my book A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style.  [Tim signed it for me: Dear Laurie, THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT WORK!!]

What do you think about the trend toward sample sizes?  How do you feel about yourself when you see the red carpet pictures or read about a celebrity who lost the baby weight in four weeks?

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Then I got married and that selfish feeling began to diminish, for good reason. That selfish single “me” became a less selfish “we.” I’d wake up in the morning and make coffee and eggo waffles for both of us. We’d take our turns using the bathroom, and then talk about what would be best for us to do together that evening or weekend day.

Then I had a baby. In just one day I went from a slightly selfish “we” to a totally unselfish three. Sleep? No way, I have to feed a baby. Eat? Whatever’s leftover will do. Socialize? No thanks, I have to save up my energy for those early mornings. Bathroom time, um, better hold it in until later. The baby needs a diaper change, like right now. When the newborn stage moved to the baby stage things calmed down a bit. I might have tried to take a relaxing bath while my husband cared for our son, but then I’d hear my son’s whaling cry and oh, well, maybe I should go help. So I’d shut off the water and scrap the bubble bath for a quickie shower.

Now my lower back is hurting from carrying my little guy around. So the other day I made a purely selfish decision: I’d pick him up less. But as soon as he grabbed my leg and cried and begged, “up, up, up” and then kept going on begging me for a “hug, hug, hug” my unselfish habit kicked in and up he went in my arms for a hug. Ah, foiled again!

Note to self: don’t be such a pushover.

I wish I could retrieve some of my selfishness from my single days because now I’m a wanna-be selfish mom. Meagan Francis, a mom of five, blogger at The Happiest Mom, encourages all moms to “practice planned acts of selfishness: time and money and energy we set aside to promote our own self-interests…”

Back in July, Meagan wrote an article on babble.com about how she’s not going to pay for her kids’ college education. She was accused of being selfish. And she didn’t like the accusation at first, but then she changed her mind and wrote about it on her blog The Happiest Mom:

“Somehow, for moms being selfish is regarded as the worst possible sin…. There’s no shame in being selfish once in a while. And I believe our kids learn important lessons when they see us taking care of ourselves, whether it’s by planning for our own retirements instead of running ourselves into the red every month in order to provide for them, or by refilling our emotional “well” by taking much-deserved time away doing something just for ourselves.”

Before I had a baby I never would have thought that I’d want to be more selfish. But over time, with increased motherly confidence and living in a semi-permanent state of fatigue, I came to the realization that I won’t be the great mom I want to be unless I take care of myself. I can’t use up all my energy on my career and my child leaving only emotional scraps for everyone else.

I have a plan! Maybe I’ll make small changes. I’ll choose one selfish deed to do each day. Today, I will call my good friend and have a nice long chat and I will make a dinner plan with her for next week. And that dinner will happen, no matter what… unless my son isn’t feeling well or I’m too exhausted, or my husband can’t be home that night, and the list goes on…

Are you a selfish mom or a wanna-be selfish mom? Do you ever feel guilty about doing something just for yourself? Do you think it’s wrong? How do you know if you’re too selfish or doing the right thing to take care of yourself?

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One of my favorite things to talk about with my husband now are our best moments during my pregnancy. I encourage you and your mate to enjoy a similar conversation. I’ll share my first best moment with you and I hope you will take a minute to share yours with me.

My first best moment

Mine was definitely seeing the heartbeat on the ultrasound. Filled with increasing anxiety and fear as the ultrasound day approached, I had come up with every imaginable reason (thank you google!) why we might not see the heartbeat. I was preparing myself for anything. I entered the examining room, positioned myself on the exam table and waiting. Then my doctor entered the room and as the instrument was inserted my husband and I held hands in silence waiting for the image to appear on the screen.

My OB/GYN started pointing out my uterus and my ovaries as if this was the perfect time for a science lesson on reproductive organs. For a few seconds I thought, “maybe since he’s calmly pointing out my organs it means that he hasn’t seen anything wrong yet.” A few seconds later he continued by pointing out the location of my fallopian tubes. At my breaking point, I exclaimed, “Enough, enough about my body. Where’s the baby? Where’s the heartbeat?”

“And there it is!” he said. “There’s the embryo.” I begged to know, “And the heartbeat? Do you see it?” “Yes, it has a nice heartbeat.” A nice heartbeat. A nice heartbeat. Thank you God. It has a nice heartbeat. The words took affect like a drug, lifting my fears and anxieties. My husband squeezed my hand even tighter and we kissed. It felt like paradise. Right now, tears are welling up in my eyes as I remember that special memory and share it with you.

What’s your first best moment? Is it the same as your partner’s?

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Sadly, all that advice is true. So if you have the time, plan an old-fashioned stay-in-bed-late vacation. Whether you can drive to a nearby getaway and stay at the Marriott, or take a week’s trip to Aruba, it’ll be worth your while, as it was for these babymooners at Baby GaGa and these over at Babyzone. A great time to do this is during the second trimester when the mom-to-be tends to feel less nauseous than she felt in the first trimester and less tired than she will feel in the third trimester.

Of course, be aware of your own limits. No need to travel to Brazil if a whiff of coffee makes you puke. Sarah, at Sarah and the Goon Squad!, reminds us that a babymoon with air travel is not for every pregnant woman. My husband and I decided to go to St. Maartin for a long weekend. We kind of over-did ourselves because with two days partially taken up by air travel, and a hotel that wasn’t on the beach, we spent a lot of time traveling. As luck would have it, it also rained most days we were there. Yes it was still beautiful there and we ate fantastic food, but St. Maartin wasn’t the least stressful option. In retrospect, something closer, something simple, might have served us better.

If you do decide to babymoon, look out for the Inns and resorts that have special packages for parents-to-be. Some may be over-priced, but others might be perfect for your needs. Babymoonguide.com shares some good ideas for a one-day babymoons.

Remember that the goal of the babymoon is to connect with your partner so use that time to talk about your fears and expectations for when the baby arrives. You might find yourselves to be a stronger couple when you return from your trip.

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