I have the tendency to poke fun at wherever I live. You can ask the Houstonians, the South Africans, and now you will see it again in Bellingham. I have to first put a disclaimer out there, that I really enjoy Bellingham (as well as the other two locations mentioned above), and the little quirks have a special spot in my heart. In fact, they may actually be my favorite.

What are the quirks one might ask? Maybe it is the Crystal healer booth at the Sunday morning famers market, or perhaps the vibration healer shop down the road. Maybe it is the petitions to legalize our friend “mary jane” that greet me every time I enter a grocery store. Maybe it is the awareness of food allergies (not a bad thing) that stress me out so much I resort to purchasing a Stouffer’s Lasagna for the church potluck and for the label put “Lasagna, from anonymous”. (there goes my anonymity)

Have I told you that the first person to approach me on the street and strike up a conversation (normal for Houston, abnormal for here) was reading my aura and wanted to tell me what I was destined for?

Okay, back to the banana: last weekend at our local grocery store this banana guy is being pushed around by his friend, protesting Dole bananas and the harm that they are doing to the land. I will be honest, I don’t know his points, I didn’t hear them. But really????

There are so many punchlines for this situation, or even humanitarian pleas I could make (there ARE starving people in Africa)…but for now, I am going to let you guys soak in the humor of the photograph on your own. I don’t have the brain power to tie this post into a pretty little concluding bow.

Here is a run down of Estelle’s traveling adventures in her first year of life:

• 6 weeks old, a 23 hour flight, Cape Town, South Africa to Houston, TX through Amsterdam (best airport, period.)
• 8 weeks old, 10 hour drive Houston, TX to Wichita, KS
• 9 weeks old, 10 hour drive Wichita, KS to Houston, Texas
• 11 weeks old, 21 hour flight, Houston, TX to Cape Town, South Africa, through Amsterdam
• 6 1/2 months old, 36 hour flight, Cape Town, South Africa to Houston, TX through Qatar
• 7 1/2 months old, 10 hour drive to Wichita, KS
• 7 1/2 month old, 2 Hour flight to Dallas, TX, then 4 hour flight to Seattle, WA
• 11 months old, Seattle, WA to Houston, TX (4 hour flight)- involving an 8 hour delay while they repaired the plane
• 11 months old, Houston, TX to Seattle, WA (4.5 hour flight)

1) If they are under 3 months, they are great travelers. Their world is already very small (you, you, and you). If you are nursing and prefer to do so in private (I am of that persuasion) you do have to get over that.

2) I actually found the changing tables in the airplanes to be dreamy. Everything is easily in reach, and you get to stand up. I like to bring one gallon ziplock bag with 2 diapers and the wipes and cream that I am using. Then all I have to grab is that ziplock, baby, and changing mat cover. Some moms suggest to strip baby down to diaper only before going. But I find that more stressful than just changing as one would normally do at home. Also, sometimes there is a line and baby might get cold.

3) Regarding the brilliance of the plane’s white noise along with the clogged ears most passengers experience- it drowns out the crying noise!

3) Bring your boppy! International flights should have a bassinet for your baby, but you never know how the baby will sleep in that. If you bring your boppy, the baby can sleep on that, with the sides each resting on the arm rests. This is extremely useful in the following 2 scenarios:

 a) Turbulence, they will not be allowed to sleep in the bassinet, and will be required to wear the connecting seatbelt. The boppy allows them to lay comfortably on your lap and you to still have a bit of freedom.

b) The bassinet is broken. On the second 10 hour flight of Estelle’s first journey to Houston, the airline had a busted bassinet so there was no where for her to sleep. Luckily we had the trusty boppy and survived just fine (taking shifts, of course- picture pastel pink boppy with sleeping baby on Josh’s lap)

4) Visit your chemist/pharmacist and get all possible medicine. You are allowed to bring these when traveling with a child, so do it. The plane will not be stocked with infant tylenol, teething tablets, colic medicine, etc. So visit your pharmacist, and have them walk you through every medicine your child could take for any condition. Next, ask if any of the medicines interact with each other. Then ask what is the dosing timeline, if you need to administer the drug. We travel with the following medicines: Saline nose spray for clogged nose, homeopathic teething tablets, baby tylenol, baby Advil, homeopathic suppository to help with irritability (per recommendation of pediatrician), benadryl (pre recommendation of pediatrician, but only as a last resort, tested first at home to make sure it did not have the opposite desired effect and cause baby to become hyper), aloe gel for irritated skin, and when she was little colic/gas medicine.

I know that sounds like a lot, and it is, it is a giant ziplock worth. And no, we never used any of it, but tylenol once on the Dallas to Seattle flight when she was sick. But the peace of mind that we are prepared, and if Estelle got really sick on the journey, we could make her comfortable, is worth it. Also, I have looked and the vendors at the airport do not sell infant strength medication, so bring your own.

5)  On this last  flight we wrapped a gift for every hour of the flight to entertain her. Yes, she preferred the sky mall magazine and safety procedures pamphlet. But, we did need it on the unexpected 8 hour flight delay!

6) Which brings me to the unexpected delay point: do you remember hearing on the news the jet blue plane that was not allowed to deboard for 9 hours on the runway- what if you had a baby on board that plane?! Which is why I always pack 1 diaper for every hour of travel (incase of an upset stomach or longer journey) and also enough food for double the travel time.

7) And this is my final point, babies travel awesome. They are  fantastic at it. All the preparing is to calm the mom’s nerves of “what if”. Yes, they may cry, but they will also stop. WORST case scenario you apologize to those around you, pace the aisle, and eventually get off the plane and never have to see those people again.

This concludes my traveling with a babe post. Next up, what this guy in my local grocery store is protesting:

I am happy to report we have taken strides in the Westbury household to make this process easier, and our kitchen table less cluttered with coats.

Ta-Da:

**The “this” link in the photo is suppose to take you here, but it doesn’t work…sorry.**

So maybe there is a little bit of hint dropping happening here. But you know what they say, without vision people falter!

*Watch this space for a future post regarding my Christmas card fail.

2) What a champ. When we left to celebrate our anniversary, Estelle was a bit of a wreck. And “cool aunt Jenny” not only managed to turn things around so we came home to smiley happy child, but documented the melt down. From what we can gather, it looked a little something like this:

Thank you, cool aunt Jenny.

Side Note: When did our child get so long????

Can you believe this was six years ago?

For our 5 year anniversary I was hugely pregnant, and did not enjoy doing much but sitting and eating. We spent the day renewing our South African Visas at the home affairs (so romantic), and eating a slow brunch at The Wild Peacock discussing when we saw ourselves visiting the states next, Nov 2011 was our thought (we had no clue what the year had in store…it was really April 2011).

This year we have a baby sitter (thanks Jenny) and a sponsored date night (thanks Mike and Karla).  This weekend, we discover what Bellingham looks like after 7pm! I will let you know how it goes…maybe even a cake eating reenactment is in the mix…

View of the bay from our flat in Bellingham, WA

Perspective is huge. It changes what you see and how you see it.

Josh and I had a Hebrew teacher who would make the whole class stand on their chairs when he could tell we were getting overwhelmed. He would insist that we need to breath, laugh at the silliness of life, see the world for bigger than the difficult verse you are working on, then return with a fresh perspective. And the funny thing, it really worked!

For the past 4 years we have lived “high”. Literally, high. On the 4th floor in Stellenbosch, and on the 3rd floor here in Bellingham. It is really cool to see the town you walk in from a different perspective.

I have begun to sort through our photos from the past 12 months. This has been such a cool experience because now I know what happens next, a whole new perspective and testimony to God’s goodness, provision and preparation.

When we moved to South Africa, we took 5 bags and the clothes on our backs, with no clear idea of how God would use Josh’s passion or training after the program ended. When we retuned 3 years later we returned with 6 bags and a baby, and a start date for Josh’s job 4 weeks away, not knowing where we were going to live.

I am typing this from a beautiful flat, and can say, God has provided for every need. Full stop.

Our view from the 4th floor of Bastmolen. Stellenbosch, SA

I read this blog, called “Rage Against the Minivan”. It is by a mom, who has 4 kids, 2 of which are adopted, she is a believer, lives in California and teaches University classes. Of course, hilarity ensues, and there are some pretty amusing, relatable, and thought provoking posts on her blog.

She hosted a series of guest posts called “what  I want you to know…” and readers would share a unique experience/perspective they have. There was one about being new in town, that really struck me. It is well written, and very honest.

I am sharing it here, but first I have to say, this has not been my experience at any of the places we have moved, God has really provided community through the church quickly, and I am thankful for that. But, I can see how this happens. You really have to put yourself out there as the new kid, and, sometimes you get shot down. And if you got shot down enough, it is devastating.

I am sharing the link for this purpose: To encourage those of you who are receptive to new comers, who notice and approach the lone person standing in the corner during meet and greet at church or at story time in the library – your hospitality and invitation to dinner/coffee makes a huge difference. I know it is hard to fit in to a busy life, but don’t grow weary, it is something fabulous you are doing, keep your radar on! 

Another hope for this post to open your eyes to the other side. Not everyone moves and leaves their community to set up shop somewhere new. That does not in any way make those people lesser. But, we can all benefit from hearing a different perspective (the whole point of the series “what I want you to know”).  Maybe this would be a perspective you would not know unless someone shared honestly, like this poster did.

Please read:

what I want you to know: the isolation of being the new family in town

That memory is one of the reasons I enjoy life in this little, soggy, winter wonderland. Below is a list that until now has been mental.

10 Reasons I Love the Cold: 

1. Being able to see my breath.
2. Getting to wear my fleece and layers.
3. “Needing” a warm drink from a local coffee shop.
4. Baby winter hats with ears.
5. Not feeling ridiculous (as I did in Houston) when shopping for warm boots.
6. Scarfs of all colors and materials being a practical purchase.
7. My husband finally declaring soup for dinner acceptable.
8. Hot chocolate. ‘Nough said.
9. Wool socks, rooibos tea, comfy pants, and cuddles in a warm flat.
10. Seat heaters!!!

I recently had a lovely coffee date with a Northwest local, who informed me it will be rainy and cold until March. Yes, I said March. My response, “You may want to check on me emotionally come March.” In high school years, March was whenever I would start working on my summer tan.

I know I am going to love this weather, the hibernation vibe, the holiday cheer it brings, and the new experience of living in a different climate. But, that isn’t to say there won’t be some growing pains along the way.

Cold Weather Growing Pain #1: Dressing for the cold.

Oh. My. Word. To get Estelle and I dressed appropriately and out the door is a feat. Does she have pants, long sleeve onesie, fresh diaper, sweater, waterproof jacket, shoes, hat, gloves? Do I have shoes, jacket, hat?

Half the time I successfully get all the above mentioned items, but forget my wallet.

To combat the anxiety associated with getting out the door, I have decided we need an area designated to getting ready to go out. Perhaps a bench with cubbies under it to store rain boots. A coat rack on the wall to collect the jackets and hats and gloves.

Cold Weather Growing Pain #2: Dressing for outside, only to be inside.

I am always tempted to skip the whole dressing for the cold thing and just walk quickly. I mean, if I am just going to the car, then from the car to church, then church to car, and car to flat- that is a grand total of MAYBE 10 minutes.

But, I think that is the Houstonian in me. We don’t even buy cold weather clothes (unless for fashion)- and instead RUN quickly to indoor heat on the ONE day every 2 years it freezes.

I have done the math. And if I avoid dressing for the outside shuffle, I may save 10 minutes getting out the door. But I will more than likely lose 3 days fighting pneumonia.

Cold Weather Growing Pain #3: The darkness.

So, this should really be “Winter Weather Growing Pain”. It gets dark so early! Pacific North Westerners: How do you work out? How do you not gain 20 pounds during this season? Why don’t we all just make a massive run to Costco and then go the way of the bear!

Non-locals, we are talking dark by 5! Gasp!

Tune in tomorrow for all the reasons I LOVE the cold weather. I promise you, the list will be longer than 3. Which means my pro column is longer than my con column. And yes, I have made a list.

This is just the base layer.