My Year 2023 in Review
My year was quite a year. 2023 was going to be a very different year of travel for Thomas and me. 2023 will always be so special to me! Why? Because, at the very end of 2022 I found out I was pregnant! It was a miracle! 2023 became the year of babymoon travels and traveling with a brand new edition to the family!
Now we had some trips already planned because with my job I have to plan in advance my weeks off. I actually reached out to my boss to change my September request to April given my delivery date of early September. Traveling while pregnant is a different thing. You can’t do cruises or flights depending on how far along you are. We already had some trip plans and we adjusted. Also traveling with an infant was a whole new experience. Pumping and traveling has its own learning curve. It was the most special year of my life!
My Year of Travel- First Stop Italy!
We had a trip already planned to Italy but that was in march so just after first trimester. Everyone says travel after the first trimester because you might be sick. I was so blessed I wasn’t but with my job my weeks off are pre-planned so the timing was just right. I still could fit in my clothes and it just looked like I ate a lot of pasta! We went to Milan, Bologna, Lake Como and did day trips into Switzerland on the Bernina scenic train to St. Moritz and did a day trip to San Marino! I couldn’t enjoy the Italian Wine but it was an incredible trip. Check out our full itinerary HERE!
Babymoon 2-Hawaii
I moved a week of vacation later in the year up to April to capitalize on my vacation time since I was going to be on maternity leave in the fall. Every year I get a stipend through my job to do a medical conference so naturally I looked for a place I wanted to go-Hawaii! We set off for the Big Island. Hawaii is a dream place to travel for a babymoon and it was a fantastic trip. We did a bunch of hiking, snorkeling, beaching and more. I actually was looking pregnant by this point!
2023 Babymoon #3
Now I was getting a little bigger and with restrictions on flying and cruising we decided to do more driving trips. I always try to plan a week around my birthday and this was going to be a big one-40! Originally, my plan was to do a big international trip with friends to celebrate. Now life was looking a little different. I wanted to do a big party instead. Nothing better than a 40th birthday/baby shower bash! I wanted to host in Connecticut where most of my family is from! So we tacked on some amazing babymoon areas right around Connecticut- We went to Providence, Rhode Island, Cape Code, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and Newport. We then got to do the party in Connecticut surrounded by friends and family!
2023 Babymoon #4
A year in advance, before I was even pregnant, my family decided they wanted to do a big family reunion weekend in the Poconos at Woodloch Resort. This was in August when I was very far along. It was a 3 hour drive from home. I figured if I went in labor, we could drive back in time (I hoped). It was a great little place to spend a weekend with family. The resort was packed with activities for kids and adults. It was a great little last trip before settling in for the baby.
travel changes
At the end of August, we were blessed with our perfect little man- Calvin! Boy that first month was a doozy. But thankfully by month 2 I was ready to get planning a trip! We wanted to not go far and it was perfect fall foliage time to make a road trip to West Virginia. Wow- all the things you need to pack with a little baby- it was a new adventure. The great thing about traveling with a very little one is that they go wherever you go. However, the trip definitely revolves around feeding. After that we made a trip to Connecticut, for Calvin to meet the rest of the family!
Our first flight with Calvin, was just before he was three months old. It was literally the last weekend of my maternity leave. We went down to Miami for the weekend! It was a great end to the maternity leave and getting back to work. I wasn’t ready to go back and honestly am so jealous of longer maternity leaves. We spent the rest of the year at home doing local things and enjoying the holidays!
countries Visited
USA States visited
Maryland
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
Virginia
Florida
International Cities visited
Milan, Italy
Bologna, Italy
Rimini, Italy
Lake Como, Italy
Tirano, Italy
St. Moritz, Switzerland
San Marino
Awesome cities explored
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Providence, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Post Baby Cities Explored
Summersville, West Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Milford, Connecticut
2024- an epic year on the horizon
2024 is going to be an epic year for sure. Now we have a little guy in tow and travel is definitely looking a lot different. I know one thing- I am going to capitalize on this infant on the lap is free thing! We are working on his passport and for sure will be going abroad! The world is our oyster and can’t wait to see where we end up this next year!
