I am one of those people that likes to be prepared and have a plan. I make checklists and I cross things off. (I am a little bit of a perfectionist and very detail oriented). I might be slightly OCD, but I try not to describe myself as thus. Usually, I start packing for trips several weeks in advance. I like to pack my bag, unpack it and edit it, repack and edit, unpack and edit, repack. I want to make the most efficient use of space and also take along as much as I can without having to take nine hundred bags.
Having a baby has interfered with this pattern in so many ways. Here are just a few examples:
A) I do not have as much free time for all of the packing and unpacking of the bags. Babies are a huge time suck. If you didn't know this let me enlighten you. Claire wakes up around six at which time she is changed and fed. I pump. This is a pattern that will repeat itself every four hours throughout the day (10 am, 2 pm, 6pm, and then again at nine before bedtime) and is about an hour long process when I am home alone. She also has to take at least 2-3 naps - which can take anywhere from ten minutes to an hour, or two, or three, or four to get her to take. I also like to (and feel obligated to) play with her for at least 30 min to an hour in between feedings, changing, and nap times. On a good day Claire takes one long hour to two hour nap. This is my magic time. Usually, I can only get my bag packed or unpacked, but not both during a Claire nap. This is my first baby induced obstacle.
B) Babies grow at an alarming rate. Let's say I get my bag packed and ready to go (at least round one of editing anyways - it takes the longest). Can I pack Claire's bag two weeks early? What if she outgrows the outfits or diapers I have packed for her? This is an obstacle I have not figured out yet...so Claire's bag has to wait until the week of the trip to be packed - which gives me anxiety and causes me to feel overwhelmed. (Yes I understand that this Type A, worry wart behavior could send me to an early grave, but what can I do about it?) If I have more than one or two things left to accomplish by a few days before the trip...you better just look out!
C) Babies need SO much stuff. Jared and I recently took a weekend trip to Little Rock (three hours away). We had the entire Subaru packed with items that we needed for the baby - a bassinet, diapers, changes of clothes, a blanket to lay her on, diaper bag, first aid kit for emergencies, bottles, nipples, pacis, loveys, etc. We are flying to Orlando for eight days. How on earth am I going to fit all of the things that I need and that the baby needs into one carry-on suitcase and a personal item?!?!? The baby's bag and my pump are already two carry-on items. : /
Let me just tell you that my brain is already on overload trying to plan out the logistics of this trip...and I have (only) two weeks left to worry about it/figure it all out.
Luckily one of my defense mechanisms is that I am totally capable of forgetting about all the things I need to do for short periods of time. Unfortunately, at some point I will have to think about it and start getting something done. Wish me luck!
P.S. I am super excited about the trip and I cannot wait to go. In fact one of the ways I get amped up about a trip is by making a list of the outfits I will wear each day and what we need to pack. I think packing is my way of showing how excited about a trip I am. The bigger and more exciting the trip...the sooner I start preparing/packing.
P.P.S. I made my packing list for this trip two weeks ago. ; )
I totally understand. I'm the same way and I drive Jeremy crazy anytime we prepare for a trip ... making lists and packing a month ahead of time and getting stressed out if I don't have everything ready a week ahead of time. But six weeks ago, we made a trip to California and I managed to survive the last-minute packing. I do recommend using a backpacking backpack as your carry-on since you can carry it hands-free and still pack a bunch of stuff in it (if you have one). Above all, you are going to have a blast - as much extra work as it is to travel with a baby, it is so much more fun as a family of three!
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