The "Babication"

A couple of months ago, I was having dinner with a couple of other attorneys who also have become parents recently. It was nearing summer, so the obvious topic of impending summer vacations came up. As we talked, we decided that as new parents, we were no longer entitled to "vacations". I told them how before Finley was born, my ideal vacation was going to the beach and doing absolutely NOTHING. I told them how shortly after Finley was born (a little over a year ago now), I was mentally prepared for my "do nothing, and relax" beach trip with the family. Oh, how naive I had been. After taking that first "doing nothing, and relax vacation (a la Finley)", I gained a much better appreciation for the work and energy that goes into Natalie's days home with Finley. I also decided that there would be no more "vacations" for a long, long, LONG time.

So, Natalie and I headed to Hilton Head this past weekend for what we are terming a "babication". No, this is not a vacation from your baby, but taking a vacation with your baby. Trying to look on the bright side of things, since there are only "babications" in our foreseeable future, we have decided to make a list of the "Top Ten Reasons to Take a Babication". Feel free to comment with your own reasons to take a "babication".

1. The drive never gets boring (trust me!)

2. You have to eat dinner at 4:30pm, so you always qualify for the "early bird special" (20% off . . . cha ching!)

3. Since you went to dinner at 4:30pm, you get back to the hotel at 5:30pm (just as everyone else is leaving for dinner), so you get "rock star" parking

4. Everyone is super nice to you because your baby is so darn cute

5. You never miss a sunrise

6. "Get Out of Jail Free" card (Don't want to do something or go somewhere? . . . Gee, I'd love to, but the baby needs his bath, lunch, nap, etc.)

7. No need to shave, put make-up on, or dress up (or even put clothes on), nobody looks at you anyway

8. Sharing your room with your baby is 100% effective birth control

9. When you order a meal for your baby, he will most likely refuse to eat it, so you get two entrees

10. You get to hang out with your little one all day!

All pictures taken with my new Droid camera phone (we forgot to bring our real camera). Needless to say...the quality of most pictures is seriously lacking!