28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

Pregnancy is awesome.... and it's hard. Here's how I making it better.

Before we get started: I know a lot of people struggle with fertility, so I consider myself fortunate to even be pregnant in the first place (though we did have some obstacles). That said, I'm happy to be having this baby, but "happy" doesn't make pregnancy any easier.

It's been a weird time for me, bouncing between anxiety and excitement; feeling simultaneously loved and isolated; dealing with rapid body changes; not to mention the mood swings, cravings, unexpected tears, aches and pains.

Fortunately, we live in the time of Amazon Prime.

That, along with Target, my dog and my amazing husband (<<< last but certainly not least! I'm so lucky to have him!) has made the last 27 weeks so much better. I'm no pregnancy expert, but I am an expert in unearthing really great stuff that makes my life easier. Here's what's made pregnancy more manageable.

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Gear & Goods:

I got news for you sister: pregnancy might be temporary, but it's long enough that you're going to want some special creature comforts. You're growing a human from scratch, so throw yourself a bone. 
 

Get a Snoogle

Snoogle... where have you been all my life? | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

Once I started showing, I pined for the days of yore when I could sleep without feeling like an old arthritic lady. The Snoogle supports your head, back, belly and legs while you sleep, and comes with info on a dozen more ways to use it. It's my #1 pregnancy pick for sure (thanks to my MIL for getting it for me)!

Pre-natal Vitamins That Don't Make You Barfy

Vitamins makin you barfy? Try these. 

Apparently all women in their child-bearing years are supposed to be taking these (they make your hair and nails amazing, so even if you don't want kids, it's worth considering!). However, once baby Katt was on her way, those prenatal horse pills made me feel more nauseated than regular ol' morning sickness.

My doctor recommended Rainbow Lights's mini-tablets. They're tiny, and you either take them all at once OR take three throughout the day. Wow, what a difference that made. No more tummy aches.

Are they vitamins or candy? I say both! | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

I also have to give a shoutout to Olly brand's gummy vitamins. My doctor said these aren't as good as the hippy-dippy aforementioned ones, but I'm 1000 percent more likely to take these versus their boring co-op counterpart. They taste like candy (they probably just are candy), and I say any prenatal vitamin is better than no prenatal vitamin. 
 

Coconut Oil: Not Just for Oil Pulling

Get out of my kitchen, get into my shower. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

Forget oil pulling and paleo cookin' and bring the coconut oil into the shower. I know a lot of expecting moms worry about stretch marks, myself included. I've been slathering this stuff directly on my wet skin post shower. I don't know if it's "working," but I see no stretch marks, so I'm never stopping.

Fancy Skin Products

One Love Organics is like a spa in your own bathroom. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

Shortly after I saw two blue lines, I splurged on skin care. I figured I'd be saving loads of money not drinking wine or beer. Why not allocate a little extra to my skin? I'm much more likely to take care of my skin when I have nice products. Precisely why I turned to Elizabeth Dehn's line with One Love Organics. They're natural, smell like a luxurious spa, and look great in my bathroom. Plus, it's made my dry Minnesota skin dewey and hydrated. Weeeeee!

Stay Hydrated with Nice Water Bottles

Contigo is always conmigo. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

Somehow it's so much more difficult to stay hydrated when you're preggers. That's why you'll never see me without one of these Contigo water bottles in my hand. I bought a three-pack at Costco, but you can also get them on Amazon or at Target. They're easy to clean and I love that they come with a straw. I'm always more apt to chug when a straw is involved. 

Bath Upgrades

It's European, so you know it's good. 

Calgon, take me away! I've been soaking a lot these days, and a bit of epsom salt or bath oil makes all the difference. My friend Kimberly brought me Weleda's Arnika Massageol all the way from Europe, swearing it made her less puffy during pregnancy. I love how it smells and makes my skin feel. I'm not quite to that puffy stage yet, but since this stuff comes from Switzerland, I am CONVINCED it will work!
 

Clothes:

I didn't buy a ton of clothes, but the stuff I do have is super functional, versatile, and might even work post-pregnancy. Heck, a lot of this stuff is from my pre-pregnancy life. 

Gilligan O'Malley Pajama Pants

Grandma chic! 

More subtle, equally awesome.

God bless Gilligan O'Malley. When my normal pajamskis stopped fitting comfortably, I started wearing their non-maternity pants. They sit comfortably under my belly, and are soft, cute and comfy. I loved them so much, I doubled down, buying the floral and pretty grey option. Plus, I can probably wear them post-baby.
 

DNKY No-Show Undies

The briefs of champions! | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

These DKNY doodahs are the best underwear I have ever owned. I replaced almost all of my old stuff with these before I was pregnant. They still fit now, feel like you're wearing nothing, and don't show-- even with leggings. Which is 90 percent of what I wear. Often available at Nordstrom Rack. 

lululemon leggings = Spanx for the soul

lululemon is like Spanx for the soul. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

I bought a pair specifically for my pregnancy and I have zero regrets! I opted for lululemon's luxetreme fabric because they don't pick up lint or pet hair (really). They're comfy, supportive, and can be magically turned into an appropriate outfit for wearing in public with the right boots (more on that later!). 

Please note that in order to keep these guys in fighting form, you have to wash them with other NON-COTTON gear, and it's best to let them air dry. Worth the pain in the ass. Also, this tank is my favorite for working out-- it doesn't ride up, which has been a problem with every other workout shirt I own. 

Pregnant or Not, Get These Athleta Joggers
 

Pregnant or not, get these pants. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

I've had these (not maternity) Athleta joggers for two years. They still work great with my baby bump and are cute as can be when paired with a tee, sneakers and some sort of jacket. Banking on them for post-baby, too. 
 

Fall in Love with Old Navy All Over again.

Denim vests are back! | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

If you gave up on Old Navy (or as I like to call it, Old Gravy. Just for fun.) back in high school, you best be heading back there if and when you get pregnant. Their maternity selection is great (workout gear, dresses, tees, jeans), and I've found a lot of clothes in the non-maternity section that are great as well... this denim vest being my favorite layering item of late. 

GAP Jeans For the Win!

Not premium, and that's the way I like it. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

I treated myself to an expensive pair of Sevens maternity jeans, thinking I'd wear them all the time. Truth be told, they look great but keep falling down, kind of itch and aren't wearing that well. My maternity GAP jeans are another story. Inexpensive, flattering and comfortable. I bought the same size I normally wear at GAP and they fit perfectly. Also a good stop for tees and basics.

Tying Your Shoes is For Suckers

Look ma, no hands! | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

6 months in, and I am done tying my shoes. Love Vans-- cute, comfy and don't make me sound like a grumpy old man when I put them on. Tons of fun prints and colors if you're into that kind of thing!

Other faves include these Birkenstock sandals, TOMS, and these classics from Minnetonka Moccasins. Hands-free rulez!

Ingrid & Isabel Dresses/Tees

Classy and comfy. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

I splurged on this number and have already worn it lots. It's more structured then similar ones I've tried on at Target, super flattering and can be dressed up or down. A lawyer friend of mine says she swears by these for work; I've worn mine to the beach. Plus, I think it'll look great on my lumpy post-pregnancy body. Great maternity tees, too.

Lounge-y Bras Without the Boob Loaf

No boob loaf here. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

Technically, this bralette is designed to convert from a regular bra into a racerback.... but since the straps easily detach in the front, it could work as a nursing bra, too. What I like about it is that it's comfy, not too fussy and dips in the center a bit. A lot of lounge-y nursing bras make your boobs look like a loaf of bread. Not attractive! I sleep in something like this every night. 
 

UGGs For Your Entire Body

This robe = wearing a cumulous cloud.

My hubby bought me the long version of this UGG robe for Christmas and it's like slipping on a cloud after a bath or shower. Sometimes I find myself thinking, "Hey, didn't you take a shower three hours ago? Maybe we should start thinking about putting some real clothes on." Whoops! It happens. 

ASOS, a Maternity Treasure Trove

Pregnancy overalls are a great thing. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

My sister-in-law turned me on to ASOS for maternity clothes. The clothes are fairly inexpensive, they offer free shipping and returns, plus a lot of their stuff is legitimately stylish. I bought a pair of pregnancy overalls here and couldn't be happier. 

Foundation Shorts

Hot damn, that's some sexy shapewear! | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

To the only dude who is actually still reading this post: Hi. Things just got sexy. 

I love dresses, but there's nothing I hate more than my thighs rubbin' on each other (and let's face it, that just happens to a greater degree when you're pregnant). I bought these shorts last year, and at 27 weeks pregnant, they still fit. Spandex, you are a miracle worker! Eventually, I upgraded to maternity shorts... I accidentally ordered two pairs and am THANKFUL that I did! By the end of your pregnancy, you'll want to trade in your pants for skirts and dresses and going without these (especially if it's hot) is a thigh-rubbin' no-no. They're the key to easy, breezy, comfy (and non-chafing) summer style. 

Magical Sam Edelman Riding Boots

Turn your althleisure gear into an outfit. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

Although winter hath passed, I'd still like to give a shout-out to the boots that magically morphed my athletic leggings into an outfit from December through March. I got the athleisure feel while looking totally put together. If you're pregnancy in the fall or winter, these are clutch!

Emotional Support:

Catastrophe

Catastrophe: Quite possibly my most favoritest show ever. 

I stumbled upon this Amazon original series and am hooked. The gist: Handsome, single American man (Rob Delaney) goes to London for work. Has week-long fling with irresistibly adorable teacher (played by Sharon Horgan, the Connie Britton of Ireland). She gets pregnant, he moves to London, shit gets real.

The writing is hilarious (my husband even LOL'd, which is saying a lot), and I loved the first season so much I watched it twice. Best (worst?) part: there are only two seasons, each consisting of six half-hour episodes. So really, what do you have to lose? 

Pregnant Chicken

Chicken has never been less boring. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

Pregnancy websites bore (and scare) the ever-living-crap about of me. Precisely why I love Pregnant Chicken. It's funny, straight-talk about pregnancy that talks to you like a real person, not a delicate flower. The best part is the content is actually incredibly helpful, not fluffy. 

Exercise

Working on my baby bump. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

I still try to go to the gym at least three times a week. I'm not lighting the world on fire, but I am getting off my lazy butt and moving my body. Since I go to a CrossFit gym, I do conspire with the coaches on how to tweak the workouts. It's been totally manageable, gives me a needed boost of endorphins, and is hopefully getting me ready for that super-tough marathon people call childbirth.

Not only that, but being pregnant can be incredibly isolating, and it's nice to get out of the house and see fresh, encouraging faces who tell you things like "you look great!" and "I'm so impressed!" and "I wish I'd done this when I was pregnant." I am NOT above flattery and praise, thank you very much! 

Whether it's a gentle yoga class, boot camp or teaming up with a walking group, exercise has been a godsend for my body and mind. * Obviously you should consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program, especially when pregnant. Duh. *

Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott is my hero. 

Anne Lamott is one of my favorite writers, and this memoir of her first year as a mom made me feel understood-- I'm not alone and we're all just winging it. She's so funny, brutally honest and will make you cry in every way imaginable (Except for chopping onion tears. This book won't give you that). 
 

Expecting Better by Emily Oster

Filled with all the info you expect to get while pregnant... and often times don't. 

I've been flabbergasted by how few facts, data, and actual science I can find regarding pregnancy and childbirth. I mean, Google anything you might be stressing about (How much coffee can I drink while pregnant? Should I get an epidural? What's the deal with genetic testing?), and you'll get tons of conflicting answers, often from sketchy sources.

Economist Emily Oster's book Expecting Better provided me with all the info I craved-- the real scientific data behind all those decisions you're expected to make while expecting. I found it to be super insightful. My only advice is to read the actual book versus listening to the audio version-- depending on your situation, you'll probably find some sections are more useful than others. A physical copy makes it easier to jump around. 

Bringing Up Bebe by

We Americans will always be enchanted with the French.

American mom writes about French babies and parenting. I found this book highly entertaining (I opted for the audio book), and while I don't know if the French methods will work with our kid, I am willing to give them a shot.

Hey, Remember Carbs?

Ian's Pizza - Madison, WI | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

I didn't eat a whole lot of carbs before getting pregnant because they often made me tired and sluggish. And fat. But now, I crave them like crazy! So to all the pizza, muffins, cookies, pancakes, sandwiches, overnight oats, toast, Ritz crackers (washed down with Coke or root beer), cereal and bagels: thanks for being there. 

Clausthaler Amber, The Champagne of NA Beers

The champagne of beers for pregnant ladies. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

Sometimes, a pregnant lady wants a beer. Clausthaler Amber is BY FAR the best I've tasted. It's even a little bit hoppy, which is a nice and notable touch!

Yep, I'm Still Drinking Coffee

Just a lot less, so I've been quite a bit more discerning. I am all about treating myself to a delicious and well-crafted cup of joe with cream. Big thanks to Urban Bean for keeping this pregnant lady happy. 

My Four-legged Doula

Patsy, thank you for being a friend. | 28 Things That Will Make Your Pregnancy Better

I do not understand how people get through life without a dog. Patsy has been the best bud throughout this pregnancy. Always down for a nap, encourages me to walk, and protects me from other doggies at the dog park. If I could have her in the delivery room, I would, but I don't think they make scrubs for dogs.

If you're thinking of ever having a baby, maybe get a dog (or cat) first. And not because they "prepare you for having babies," but because a good one makes pregnancy and life so much better.

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What are the essential things that got you through your pregnancy? Share in the comments!

PS Like this post? Save it on Pinterest!

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Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

Our pride and joy! | Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

If you're as addicted to HGTV as I am (admit it, you are), you've probably considered all of the following:

1. Flipping a house.
2. Secretly buying the Property Brothers clothing in one size larger.
3. Shiplapping the shit out of your living room.
4. Buying an investment property and watching the big bucks roll in.

I'm going to focus on that last one it's the only one I've actually done. 

(though #2 would be really satisfying).

Buying a duplex seemed smart. It feels like cozy apartment living, but you get to make all the decisions (can I paint? Hmm... why don't I ask myself!). You get to make it nice if you want! You can get a dog! And you get your tenants to pay for a big chunk of your mortgage. Heck, some people get tenants to pay alllll their mortgage. 
 

What's not to like?

Once my then-boyfriend, now-husband and I started talking about moving in together, we thought, Why not make things extra complicated and buy an investment property together? Much like my Property Brothers makeover, that process deserves an entire post to itself. 

Anyhow, Josh and I bought our duplex about 3.5 years ago after a massively long search. We probably looked at 50-60 properties before stumbling upon a sunny, up-down duplex in Minneapolis's Lowry Hill East (or the Wedge) neighborhood.  
 

Before: You see money pit, we see pure ketchup-and-mustard colored potential. | Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

This house was everything we were looking for.
 

We loved the neighborhood. Walkable, lots of cool stuff to do, and plenty of street parking. The home itself is about 120 years old and was built as a duplex, not a single-family home that was later turned into a duplex-- so the layout is awesome. Better yet, over the last century (!), no one had severely messed with the place. Still lots of original charm, woodwork, stained glass windows... it's great. 
 

Before: Great woodwork and stained glass windows... decor, not so much. | Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

After: A dinner party in that same room a year and a half later. | Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

After: Bachelor decor be gone! | Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

Ultimately, we beat out two other offers and now live upstairs, with tenants living below. Here's what we did to make our offer the most appealing, why we love living in a duplex, plus the downside of being a landlord. 
 

Two naive kids, chilling outside allllll their savings. | Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

3 Things That Helped Us Get This House

1. We knew what we were looking for.

As I mentioned earlier, we'd toured at a lot of houses, over months. When I first checked out this place, it honestly felt too good to be true.

Once I got over my initial shock, I moved quickly. I called Josh (who was out of the country at the time) to see what he thought. Without even seeing a picture, he told me to go for it. I had a family friend do a walk through, making sure there were no red flags-- like signs of flooding or major structural damage. When I got the a-okay, we submitted an offer immediately.

This place was only on the market two days before we gobbled it up-- which was easy to do since we'd looked as so much junk and knew exactly what we wanted and had a few key experts on-hand to boost our confidence. 
 

My motley crew of home buying helpers. | Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

2. We were strategic about price.

When we submitted out offer, we knew were were going up against two others. Because of that, we decided to offer above the asking price. Everyone on our team's gut said this place was slightly under priced, so we offered $10,000 over asking, which was still within our budget.

3. We appealed to the seller's emotions.

I think this tactic sealed the deal. 

At our realtor's suggestion, we wrote a letter explaining that we were a recently engaged couple that wanted to own in the neighborhood we'd been living in for the previous eight years. We told them a little about ourselves and why we loved the house. 

It's easy to forget that at the other end of the deal, there are human beings, just like you and me. You have no idea why the someone might be moving, and if they're all about the money OR might prefer to see the place go to people they like. 

As it turns out, the previous owners were selling because of an out-of-state job. They told us the if we increased our offer by $2,000, they'd forget about the other offers, who were both from investors. We did, and boom. House was ours!

 

The good news about owning an investment property:
 

Our tenants pay a large percentage of our mortgage.

It's not like our entire mortgage, but it's a hefty percentage, which in theory cuts down on monthly expenses. 

We get to live in an awesome neighborhood.

Could we afford a single family home in our same neighborhood? Maybe, but it sure wouldn't be as nice of a place (and would probably need a lot of work). Buying a duplex allowed us to spend a little more money on a nicer house, knowing we'd have help paying the mortgage.
  

After: What a difference a few coats of paint (and a lot of scraping) makes. | Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

I've loved the tenants we've had living downstairs.

File this under duh, but great renters makes a huge difference-- especially if you live in the same house! It's also a perk to have other people around for times when you're home alone or out of town.

I might eventually devote an entire post to this, but a key element in having great renters is treating them with respect. Fix things quickly, don't cheap out on everything you put into your rental unit, give them a bottle of wine or six-pack at the holidays. A little goes a long way.    

It's a great long-term investment.

When we eventually move out, we're probably not going to sell. It's worth way more than what it was when we bought a few years ago. Hopefully that trend continues. 

The bad news about owning an investment property:

We've sunk quite a bit of cash into this place.

Already fantasizing about that monthly "help" with the mortgage? Take a chill pill, Scrooge McDuck. 

Let's talk money. First, there was the down payment. There is a big difference between paying rent every month and throwing down nearly three years of "rent" in one lump sum. 

As landlords, our property is subject to inspection by the city, who required us to make all sorts of crazy updates... including repainting the exterior (which we wanted to do anyhow), but ended up costing about $15,000. Lovely.

We've also sprung for new storm windows, bought new garage doors, regraded the backyard, redid our kitchen, replaced the dryer and so much more. While we do get to write-off most home improvement expenses, it all adds up.

Before: Yes, this is supposed to be a kitchen. | Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

Mid-remodel. | Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

After: Awesome painted (!) backsplash. Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

It can be inconvenient.

The first weekend we owned the place, our new tenants lost power. Josh was out of the country, and I was in the middle of dinner at a wedding. Instead of guzzling pinot grigio in my fancy dress, I spent 40 minutes on the phone problem solving.

We've had leaks, faulty light switches, mice (eww), broken dishwashers, and non-functional heat. Things never seem to go wrong at 9am on a Tuesday. It's always Saturday night on a holiday weekend. And it's you that gets to figure it all out.   

If you buy a fixer-upper, expect your dates to look like this. | Why Owning an Investment Property is Awesome (+ Why It's Not)

It can be expensive.

We always joke that it's impossible to have anything fixed for less than $1,000. Electricians, contractors, handymen, plumbers (especially plumbers!) can cost a small fortune. If you're handy, you can cut down on expenses by tackling things yourself OR at least having a clue as to what things truly need to be done (and what's just an unnecessary up-sell). But if you're not, have more in your reserves than you think you need.   

You share a house with other people.

Cooking smells, loud parties, and renters that might not be as clean/tidy as you like... it's all the same shit you've probably dealt with as a renter, except this time, it's in your home and it's your problem.

You also have to occasionally have awkward and very direct conversations with people (once, we had give a packet of information on how to effectively clean your house so mice wouldn't make nests in it. True story, and an issue that's been fully resolved!). 

So...Would I do this all over again?

Overall, I love our living situation. We get to live in a sunny, 2-bedroom, 1-bath unit that works perfectly for our small family. The upkeep is manageable, largely due to the fact that my husband is very handy. I tackle the more daily upkeep stuff, so as a team, our arrangement works really well.  

Yes, for sure we'd do this all over again. However...

Not to sell myself short, but if I'd done this as a single gal, I probably would've crumbled under the stress. It can be difficult to manage a property solo, and having the added pressure to get things fixed for a tenant ASAP can be annoying. I know some people who own rental properties all on their own and are killing it, and I am in total awe. 

Also, all homes are not created equal. My husband owns another duplex a few blocks away, and it hasn't been as great of an investment (lots more upkeep, the place isn't quite as nice as ours but cost more moolah, etc.). 

If you're looking for an easy rich quick scheme, a multi-family home isn't necessarily a great idea. But it's been a fun adventure.  

* * *

PS You might also find it interesting that Josh and I were in a long distance relationship when we purchased this place. It ended up working out. 

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Do You Embrace or Fear the Big Changes in Your Life?

Crying in my pillow... be right back! | Do You Embrace or Fear the Big Changes in Your Life?

If you pay attention to Hey Eleanor, you might know that I am pregnant. 
 

However, you might not know that, too. 

I haven't shared any photos of my bump via social media. Ultrasound photos? Pssshhht, only with our parents and a few select family members and friends. I've written one blog post about my baby fears (there are way more than what's listed there!), and one about our babymoon. For someone who writes a lot about their personal life, pregnancy and motherhood have mostly been off-limits. Wanna know why?

It means big changes and I'm scared. 

I'm not talking about the fears that surround becoming a mom (though... um... yes). I'm afraid that if I start writing about this stuff, readers will run away like the last human survivors of the zombie apocalypse. And yet...
 

This experience is consuming me. 
 

I barely knew anything about pregnancy, babies and parenting a year ago. I still don't know jack! (Have I mentioned that I didn't even change a diaper until my 30s?!). But as much as I'm trying to get out of the house, do normal stuff, and be my normal old self, guess what? That Molly has changed. She's become who my husband and I have dubbed "Polly" aka Pregnant Molly.

Molly eats lots of healthy food, avoids most grains, loves wine and IPAs and never drinks soda. Polly loves muffins, cookies, the occasional salad and is on a quest for the perfect root beer. Molly would have no problem staying up past midnight on a school night. Polly goes to bed at nine. Molly works from home and would never, ever turns on the TV before 7pm. Polly often takes a mid-day nap while HGTV'sFixer-Upper plays in the background. 
 

Things are... different.
 

The whole idea behind Hey Eleanor was to face my fears, find adventure in my backyard and write about it. I'm still doing both, but in a different way. But I've been too afraid to write much about that because I don't want to alienate my readers. And I don't want to pigeonhole myself because the term mommy blogger grosses me out. 
 

Because of that, I've been barely writing anything. 

I love writing. It's a bit like therapy for me (though, TBH, therapy is also like therapy for me). Instead of staying silent about the BIG SCARY CHANGE in my life, I'm embracing it.

That might mean some of my readers are less interested in some of the posts I'm putting out there. That's okay. It'll probably mean I gain some new folks, too. And I'm still going to publish non-mom stuff... so don't worry, all is not lost.

They say kids change everything.

But I'm hopeful that I can maintain some semblance of Molly once this baby girl (!) arrives. I was pretty inspired by these folks-- and with patience and the right attitude (and of course, a normal, healthy kid) you really can take your kids anywhere. I find some peace in knowing once she's born, Polly will become Mom Molly... which when combined, puts me right back at Molly. I know she's be different.

But different is okay. 

* * *

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Everyday Eleanor: How to Travel Internationally with Kids

Dream of traveling internationally with kids? It can be done!

A lot of parents like to talk about how lame their lives are post-kids. I get it. I won't have an actual kid for another three months, and yet I'm already significantly more lame the more pregnant I get. However, I am over adults using kids as their lameness scapegoat. If you want to go to a concert, you can (unless the sitter bails). If you want to join a kickball league, you can. And according to Shanna Singh Hughey, if you want to travel all over Europe and Asia with the little ones, well by-golly you can do that, too.

Last year, she and her husband packed up the kids and headed out on a three-month global adventure. They claim it was a success. Here's how they did it (plus, what they might do differently next time). 

* * *
 

You and your husband are both travel geeks. Tell us about your honeymoon.

Three days after our 2007 wedding, my husband Derek and I left for a year-long trip around the world. Carrying only our backpacks, we visited forty countries on five continents. We trekked through jungles in Borneo, white-water rafted in Swaziland and ate our weight in steak and empanadas in Argentina. We also spent as much time as possible doing service work—from holding babies in a Chinese orphanage to helping negotiate the terms of a financial agreement for a micro-lender in India.

In all, we took 65 flights, 66 bus rides, 52 boat trips—and 12,912 photos. It was the trip of a lifetime, and it changed our lives in oh so many ways.
 

Since then, you’ve had two beautiful kids. Instead of retiring your passports for the next two decades, you decided to take them (ages four and two) on an epic three-month adventure. What inspired that? Why did you think now was the right time?

On our honeymoon, Derek and I met fellow travelers with children in tow, and we were always impressed by how confident and worldly their young folk seemed. Those families made traveling with children seem not only possible but beneficial, and we pledged to follow in their footsteps.

On a more selfish note, we knew we didn’t want to constrain our own travels until after our kids went to college, and leaving them home wasn’t really an option. We’d miss them too much! And also there are these pesky laws...

That's not Disney World. | How to Travel Internationally with Kids

We think every time is the right time to travel with children. Our children got their passports soon after they got their birth certificates, and we wasted no time in traveling internationally with them. Harper’s first trip abroad was to Portugal when she was eleven weeks old, and Walker went to Mexico at six months. (Before age two, children generally fly for free!) They were primed for our three-month adventure long before we left.

Derek sent me an Outlook invitation for that trip four years before we went. I’ve spent most of my career working in politics, and we knew the term-limited mayor for whom I worked would be leaving office in September 2015. So that became our departure date.

People like to say things like, travel as much as you can when you’re young. When you have kids, you’ll wish you had! Do you think teeny, tiny part of the reason you decided to embark on this journey was to prove it could be done?

Yes! Proving it could be done was absolutely part of the reason we took two children under five around the world. I think sometimes families get into a travel rut—you go back to the same location year after year because your lives are too busy to consider anything else. We wanted to show it was possible—and so, so worth it—to break free of that mold.

How many countries did you visit? How did you decide where to go?

We went to just five countries on this trip: Spain, France, Thailand, Japan and Bhutan. We moved around within those countries every few days, so we covered a lot of ground.

One of many reasons kids love France. | How to Travel Internationally with Kids

Deciding where to go was half the fun, and each new place came with its own reason for being there. Our everyday lives in Nashville leave us feeling landlocked, so we often use travel as a way to get to the sea. Our first destination was thus San Sebastian, Spain, where our apartment looked over the ocean. Thai beaches are our happy place, so we planned to spend a couple of weeks there at the end of our trip—ensuring we’d have something to look forward to when we got a little road weary. Bhutan had been on our bucket list for years, but its location deep in the Himalayas makes it relatively difficult to reach. Once we knew we’d already be in Asia, it became the centerpiece our itinerary.

I can see why you'd call this your happy place. | How to Travel Internationally with Kids

Any spots that were surprisingly easy to travel with kids? Anywhere you might suggest not taking the ankle biters?

We loved traveling with the kids in Spain. Everyone seemed to have a smile for our bespectacled little girl and her lunatic younger brother. And sidewalk cafes are plentiful there, which meant Derek and I could enjoy a meal while Walker chased pigeons.

Tokyo, too, was a wonderful place to be with children. We were able to walk everywhere, and we were overwhelmed by the willingness of the Japanese people to lend a hand. One tiny Japanese woman singlehandedly carried our double stroller down two flights of subway stairs, thus cementing forever my love of her country.

We learned that France’s wine-tasting regions aren’t the best for families with children. (Retrospectively, this seems like common sense, but I suppose we were starry-eyed optimists.) Our children tended to announce their arrival at a restaurant by immediately breaking a piece of fancy stemware—much to the chagrin of all of the kid-free couples trying to enjoy their duck confit in peace.

What about traveling internationally with kids has been easier than expected? Harder?

Mostly we’ve been surprised by the relative ease of traveling with kids. I used to dread long flights with the power of a thousand suns, but after surviving dozens of them, I’ve realized they’re almost never as bad as I expect them to be. Nobody has gotten food poisoning despite eating a lot of street food, and everyone has learned to adjust to time zone changes like a pro.

Move over, mac n cheese. | How to Travel Internationally with Kids

One of the harder things for me about life on the road is the lack of the kid-related conveniences to which I’ve become so accustomed. Amazon Prime is a near-daily part of our lives at home, and I missed the on-demand diapers while we were away. On the flip side, though, finding diapers in Japan is a cultural experience I would have missed given the opportunity to buy them online. I’ll sum it up this way: Finding the right ones often felt like more of a scavenger hunt than a shopping trip.

Traveling internationally with kids is possible! Here's how one family traveled abroad for three months.

Traveling with kids is notoriously difficult, and often requires packing so much extra crap. However, with as much moving around as you did, streamlining your packing is key. What did you bring? What was a lifesaver and what ended up being less important than you thought? Anything that you wish you would’ve packed?

We brought along two large suitcases, one for the adults and one for the children. If something didn’t fit in them, it couldn’t come. We packed clothing for the kids that gave them room to grow, and we made sure to bring lots of layering-friendly items that would take us from the mountains to the beach.

Eagle Creek’s clean-dirty packing cubes were our key to success for packing the kids’ clothing. It’s hard to keep their little things neatly folded, and Harper chooses her own clothes, which but for the cubes would be an organizational disaster. This way, she has one side of a cube for PJs and the other for t-shirts, one side for leggings and the other for dresses.

Fact: Shoulders are more fun that strollers. | How to Travel Internationally with Kids

Our car seat bags were another huge lifesaver. Airlines don’t charge you baggage fees to transport them, and even with a car seat inside you can still stuff those suckers with everything your suitcase won’t hold. They were our go-to keepers of extra diapers and dirty laundry.

We also brought a small retractable cable lock for our double stroller, which gave me peace of mind when we had to leave it outside a restaurant or a temple. We didn’t think our stroller was more likely to get stolen abroad; rather, we knew our quality of life would decline much more precipitously than at home if it did.

Harper’s rain boots were our biggest waste of space. She wore sparkly pink cowgirl boots the entire trip, which didn’t leave time for any other footwear.

Greatest travel moment with your little ones?

We were in western Bhutan at a Buddhist temple—a venue our children ordinarily wouldn’t quite get. They noticed a young monk crafting religious offerings from dough made of multi-colored sugar. (Sugar! A common bond!) He invited them to watch, and they sat, transfixed, for as long as I would let them. Seeing my two sandy-haired kids bonding with a saffron-robed monk was an experience I won’t soon forget.

Sugar: the international and inter-generational language. | How to Travel Internationally with Kids

Are you already planning your next adventure? Where would you like to go?

We’ve already had our next adventure! We spent a delightful twelve days in Mexico City and Puerto Escondido in February, and we can’t wait to get back to Latin America. It’s just a quick flight away, and it’s mostly on Nashville’s Central time zone, which keeps naps on track.

Lots of smiles, no tears (at least not in this picture). | How to Travel Internationally with Kids

As for future travels: Derek’s parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary is this year, and they want to celebrate onboard a Northern European cruise. So we’ll be in Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Germany, Finland, Russia and Sweden in June. 

* * *

Learn more about Shanna and her traveling family at One Family on Earth. Follow their global adventures on Instagram while you're at it. 

Do you like travel blog posts? Neat, I have a bunch. Here's what it's like to honeymoon in New Zealand (bring lots of bug spray!), babymoon in the Florida Keys, and celebrate like Dolly Parton in Nashville. 
 

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The Best (and Worst) of Our Florida Keys Babymoon

Screw you, Zika virus. Florida Keys, here we come!

One of the biggest reasons I was excited about being pregnant? It was an excuse to take a trip with my husband.

Yes, a babymoon.

I don't like the term either, but that's just what it's called until someone can think of a better name. 

We'd talked a lot about Mexico. I'd already zeroed in on a stunning, casual hotel in Playa del Carmen. While the rest of you were getting gussied up for holiday parties, I was parked on the couch in my pajamskis, planning the pregnant lady trip of a lifetime. 

And then, the damn Zika Virus.

We'd had our hearts set on a hot beach vacation, but almost every place that fit the bill was in the deadly mosquito zone. We'd already been planning on spending a long weekend at my mom's place in Florida, so we opted to tack on a few days.

Florida Keys Babymoon was on.

Neither of us had been to the Keys, and while we'd heard mixed things (It's beautiful! It's trashy! It's kitschy!), we figured at least it would be hot and by the ocean. 

Ultimately, we decided to spend two nights in Islamorada (in the middle; more low-key; sport fishing capital of the world!) and two nights in Key West. Was it perfect? Ha! No, but it was fun. Even when we made many, many mistakes.
 

DAY ONE

Though the Miami (and certainly Key West!) airport is significantly closer to the Keys, we flew into Fort Myers-- near my mom's place, where we spent the last few days of our trip. 

Unfortunately, that meant the first day of vacation was spent driving.

Luckily, we got to drive this: 

Red Jeep Wrangler alert! Directions to the 1990s, please.

Whenever we rent a car, Josh and I try to pick out the most ridiculous option. It was between this and a minivan.

No contest. 

We drove through the Everglades, which is only slightly more scenic than the freeway. Around 8:30pm, we pulled into Cheeca Lodge-- a place I selected because it looked to be on the nicer side, but not over-the-top expensive. The place has a 70-year history (I love history!) and presidents have stayed there. If it's good enough for George Bush, it's probably good enough for us.

As we pulled into the property, I was pumped. It felt way nicer in person than online! Lush greenery, lovely outdoor lighting (we arrived after dark), and a fancy room upgrade-- I think because we were only there for Sunday and Monday nights. 

Josh and I split a Key lime tart and had a night cap (aka soda water for me. Lame.) at the outdoor tiki bar before hitting the hay. It was delicious and tasted like vacation.  

DAY TWO
 

In the daylight, Cheeca Lodge was even prettier. 

Josh isn't that into having his picture taken. 

Though I'm not really a resort kind of person, they had lots of nice amenities. There's a humongous fishing pier, snorkeling lagoon, family-friendly and adults-only pools, spa, fitness center, pioneer cemetery (curveball!), plus chairs for lounging on the sorta-kinda beach. Did you know the Keys barely have beaches? Well, now you do.

All this stuff is technically included with your stay.

But...

...there is a sneaky $45 per day resort fee that makes it seem like it isn't actually included in your stay at all. Resort fees run rampant throughout the Keys, so if paying an extra $20-50 a day is a problem, ask before you book. It's added on top of the room rate. Super frustrating as it was too windy to even sit on the beach during our stay.

Oh well, live and learn.
 

Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada, Florida. 

On our first full vacation day, we opted to go fishing.

We splurged and chartered a boat for a half-day of fishing-- just Josh, me and our guide, Dave. While there are plenty of public fishing trips that cost a fraction of the price, the wind made for some pretty rough water. As a pregnant lady, I wanted to stay in the calm backwaters and near a bathroom. I sure wasn't going to pee off the back of a boat (not that I'm too classy for such things!). 
 

Believe it or not, that shark is not real! | Bud N' Mary's - Islamorada, FL

We were sold on Bud N' Mary's on the name alone, but based on everyone we talked to in the Keys (and back home) said, these guys set the bar for sport fishing. Plus, they have a small sandwich shop on-site, were you can order simple and delicious sandwiches, chips and soda to take on the boat. Ice and cooler provided by your guide.
 

Bud N' Mary's - Islamorada, FL

Though I did bait my own hook one time, Dave mostly dealt with the bait and removed the fish. Josh did this on his own because "he is a man." 

We caught dozens of mangrove snapper (dinner!), white grunts and my personal favorite, crevalle jacks (pictured below). These guys fight like crazy, snort like a pig and I EVEN TOUCHED ONE!!! They're not good eatin', so it was a catch and release kind of thing. 
 

Pure joy!

Here's Joshy with a mangrove snapper (and awesome sunglasses purchased at Seven-Eleven).
 

Josh, catching us dinner. 

By the end of the day, we'd caught our snapper limit. Dave cleaned the fish and bagged them up nicely-- perfect for transporting to nearby Lazy Days (reservations highly recommended), where they'll cook your catch for $15.99 a person. Paired with a soup or salad, side and banana bread (what?!), it was probably the best meal of our trip.
 

Mangrove snapper.  |  Bud N' Mary's - Islamorada, FL

PS Almost as good as reeling in the fish: watching the pelicans hang out by the cleaning stations, hoping to feed on some fish guts.
 

Pelicans. | Bud N' Mary's - Islamorada, FL

Seriously, how cool are these birds? | Bud N' Mary's - Islamorada, FL

DAY THREE

Since Cheeca Lodge's mediocre breakfast buffet cost $30 a person (nope.), we headed to nearby Bob's Bunz-- a greasy spoon specializing in heart-stopping breakfast plates and baked goods.

There's literally nothing I enjoy more than going out for breakfast, especially at a place where it seems the waitresses should have a lit ciggy dangling off their lip as they take your order.
 

A well-balanced breakfast at Bob's Bunz. |  Islamorada, FL

After breakfast, it was off to Key West.

Before hitting the road, we stopped at a juice bar. It's in a weird spot, so here's how you find it:

Step One: Look for this grocery store.

Just your average, basic small town grocery store. |  Islamorada, FL

Step Two: Walk through the parking lot, past the guy smoking next to the dumpsters, and look for sign that says Village Square.

Step Three: Venture straight ahead to URBN GRDN, a juice bar that isn't open at 10:15 am, even though the sign says they open at 10. 

URBN GRDN operates on island time. | Islamorada, FL

Step Four: Browse through Miss Monroe and uCumbe boutiques (next door) for 20 minutes. Buy something cute that you don't need.

Step Five: Go back to URBN GRDN. Wait for juice guy to climb out of hammock. Order cold pressed juices. Hit the road. 

We heard the drive the to Key West is an attraction on its own.

Yep. 

An old train bridge in the Florida Keys.

Our Florida Keys friends-in-the-know recommended we stop at Bahia Honda State Park. For a few bucks, we got for-real beach access. 

Beautiful, right?
 

Bahia Honda State Park - Florida Keys

They offer snorkel and kayak rentals, but it was too windy that day, so we opted to get sunburned on the beach instead.
 

Bahia Honda State Park - Florida Keys

We arrived in Key West just in time to check-in at our crummy hotel, and make it to Mallory Square for sunset. Nothing like watching the sun slip into the ocean with 3,000 of your best, most drunkest friends!
 

This lived up to the hype.
 

Sunset at Mallory Square | Key West, Florida

Key West is known for crazy nightlife.

Pregnancy, on the other hand, is not. A sober stroll down Duval Street had me feeling equal parts elated (great people-watching!), and bummed. Not that I like drinking overly-sugared drinks out of yard glasses, but I like the option.

Luckily, Josh is a Google master and found the Porch, a craft cocktail spot just off Duval. This photo sucks, but I was thrilled to order a classy, delicious, herby mocktail. 
 

Drinking mocktails at the Porch. | Key West, Florida. 

We talked about taking a ghost tour, but they didn't leave for another two hours. Well-past pregnant lady bedtime. 

DAY FOUR
 

107 years of breakfast? Count me in! | Pepe's Cafe - Key West, Florida

When you're pregnant, you swap late nights in bars for breakfast. At over a century-old, I knew Pepe's was our kind of place even if the food sucked (it didn't). They have a great doggies-allowed patio, but we were seated inside... 
 

Pepe's Cafe | Key West, Florida

...which was also very cool! 
 

Pepe's Cafe | Key West, Florida

All good diners have three things:

ONE: Thick, ceramic ivory diner mugs (check!).

TWO: Lots of cool old crap on the walls (check!).

THREE: Awesome, sweet item to share with my breakfast compadres. I almost always order a traditional two eggs over-easy, bacon, potatoes and toast. At Pepe's, I upgraded my toast to coconut bread, which is like banana bread, but with coconut (check!!!).
 

Diner mug, coconut bread, crap on the walls... breakfast heaven. | Pepe's - Key West, Florida

After breakfast, we took a leisurely stroll to the Hemingway House. Seeing the 50-some Hemingway cats was worth the $13 entry fee alone.  
 

Hemingway House | Key West, Florida

One of the six-toed Hemingway cats. | Hemingway House | Key West, Florida

A ten minute walk from the Hemingway House, you'll find this iconic landmark. We queued up with a bunch of other tourists to get the damn photo, where for a split second, I was the southernmost pregnant lady in the U.S.A.
 

Southernmost Pregnant Lady | Key West, Florida

A Key West babymoon was actually more fun than we'd expected.

I'd heard from so many people that Key West is incredibly touristy, loud and full of drunk people. Though all these things are true, they neglected to mention Old Town Key West is teeming with history, cool architecture, tons of B&Bs that are calm, quiet and away from sloppy drunks. 

I wish I'd known that before we booked our hotel.

Imagining Florida's version of Bourbon Street, we selected this hotel under the impression that it was a more laid-back option-- an island oasis, if you will. Instead, it was next to the super-busy highway, nestled between a construction site and some rundown apartments. The hotel itself was okay and would be totally great if you were looking for clean, stylish, cheap and didn't mind cabbing or biking anywhere cool.

But we cared.

Long story short... if you have the cash, stay in Old Key West. It's walkable, low-key and would've made our stay in Key West feel like a bonafide vacation. 

We ended up canceling our second night in Key West, and after spending the day there, headed back up to Islamorada. We'll know better for next time. 

Here's me waving goodbye to our hotel.
 

Buh-bye, trendy lifestyle hotel in a crappy parking lot!

We made it back to Islamorada just in time to catch sunset at Lor-e-lei Cabana Bar. Not bad at all. 
 

Sunset at Lor-e-lei Cabana Bar | Islamorada, Florida

That night, we went out for dinner and then I got sick and puked for an hour or two in our filthy hotel bathroom. At the time, I was pretty bummed out. But in retrospect, is it really a babymoon without the pregnant lady barfing at least once?

DAY FIVE

It was already time to head back to Fort Myers. But first, breakfast.

Mrs. Mac's Kitchen | Key Largo, Florida

Floridians definitely get how to do breakfast. Especially Mrs. Mac, an old-school, roadside diner in Key Largo. 
 

Mrs. Mac's Kitchen | Key Largo, Florida

I ordered Mrs. Mac's Famous Mornwich-- a pita filled with two scrambled eggs, cheese, tomato, bacon and mayo, with a side of homemade hashbrown casserole. It doesn't look pretty, but it tasted great, so who cares. 
 

Didn't like the diner mug, but the sandwich made up for it. | Mrs. Mac's | Key Largo, Florida

Was this the babymoon of our dreams?

Nope. 

I'd really hoped for a romantic babymoon. A last hurrah before everything changes forever. Instead, we had bad luck with hotels, I got food poisoning, and we came more tired than when we left. 

However, this trip did showcase all the reasons why I think Josh and I will be great parents. Even when we were really disappointed, we laughed it off. (Okay, he laughed. I cried, then eventually laughed). We did the best we could, and when things weren't to our liking, we improvised. We still managed to have fun, together. 

So maybe that's actually what a babymoon is about. 

Hanging out with my father of my children. NBD!

(Though next time, let's hang out on a beach in Mexico, K?). 

* * *
 

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Here's the best (and worst) of our trip to the Florida Keys. Learn from our successes and mistakes!