Hubby and I started our 2008 with a three-day old baby. All the 12 months of the year were endlessly filled with so many new challenges and changes that brought us both closer as spouses. Most importantly, we both grew as parents as we watched our baby grow from a fragile infant to a robust toddler.

To celebrate the year that was nothing but excitingly joyful, we flew to Lake Tahoe for a short winter vacation to mark our son’s 1st birthday (otherwise known as my labor day!). Living in Southern California and not having experienced snow, vacationing at a ski resort and looking at snow-covered everything from the balcony of our rented condominium was indeed amazing. Above all, Lake Tahoe will always hold a special place in my heart for being the celebration spot of my little tyke’s very first birthday.

And so we started 2009 with a hangover from our winter vacation. It took me days to unpack our luggage. When I finally finished unpacking, hubby reminded me not to put away the luggage. “Yes, our major vacation is in another 3 weeks”, he said nonchalantly. “How can he be so cool about it?”, I thought as I almost bit my fingers. I mean it took me days to pack the stuff that was needed for our local vacation. With a young one in tow, I cannot imagine how I am going to get all things ready for an international travel! I am after all sort of a paranoid mom.

I started off the whole international travel thingy by making several lists (gifts to buy, baby items needed etc. etc.) and happily scribbled “done” on the items of a list only to realize that I needed to add on more items to very the same list!

All junior-related items were ready before I started on the stuff both hubby and I would need for our travel. Everything from medicines, diapers, wet wipes, toys, jars of baby food were carefully packed first. I guess this must be the natural, motherly instinct: the impulsion of having things go by that particular order.

Well, all that hoo-haa was about three weeks ago. Our flight is today! All the bags are packed and we're ready to go!

Hubby and I are looking forward to a wonderful and memorable vacation(this would be jr.'s first introduction to the whole family)!