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Monday 14 April 2014

Getting prepared, part I: babymoon

Alright I admit it: one of the (somewhat frivolous) things on our preparations list was a final waddle jaunt someplace relaxing and slightly luxurious, while we could still pretend it's just the two of us for a few days and get some respite from the whirlwind of appointments and practicalities looming along with little seedling's arrival. H suggested a last minute, doctor-approved, comfortable-journey-by-train to the continent while it was still a possibility; and so we spent last week exploring some lovely Belgian towns, soaking up the fin de siècle atmosphere of amazing grand cafes, drinking the justifiably famous Belgian beer (him), eating mussels (him again), pastries and chocolate (me, me) and generally being aimless and immersed in something other than our day-to-day reality. 

A babymoon is meant for those last moments of couple-y decadence before life is turned upside down by late night feeds and hastily stolen moments for personal hygiene and long conversations about the contents of baby's diapers rather than the contents of the Sunday papers over a bottle of prosecco.

At least that's the idea, right?

For us I think it was as much a respite from the hazy blur of often scary and overwhelming medical stuff that's characterized this pregnancy. And really, there was as much happy anticipation of little seedling's arrival in our conversations as there was avoidance of that inevitability.

We strolled...and window shopped in beautiful baby boutiques.

We visited late night jazz cafes...and laughed at her reactions in time to the music.

Ravenous young lovers with eyes only for each other, we were probably not. (Well, there was our two nights at a beautiful Brussels hotel with a rather racy past. Does that count?)

So I guess not a babymoon in the traditional sense (if the term 'traditional' can be aptly applied to a trend that has arisen in recent decades to respond to our growing affluence and consumerism) of decadence and pampering implied by the term. But ok, both owing to financial constraints and to the fact that I have no intention of eternally forgoing the reading of novels or long country walks just because I am about to delve into active parenthood, ours was a more subdued affair, though none the less delightful for that. Here's a visual sampling of what we encountered....










12 comments:

  1. Oh what a lovely trip. I love Antwerp (that train station is amazing) and I have fun memories in Brussels! Our "babymoon" also ended in Belgium (well we didn't call it that... it was me going to a photography day out in Paris, then staying the night and passing Ghent on the way back),
    I am glad that you seem to be doing well. And 32 weeks yay! I think often of you. All the love to you 2, and even more to little seedling.

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  2. Wonderful! My husband and I went to Belgium last September before we restarted treatment and we loved it. So glad you got away and enjoyed yourself (and some delicious waffles, it looks like).

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  3. This sounds like an amazing trip, Sadie! So glad you were able to get away and spend this time. Looking forward to part II.

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  4. Looks like a wonderful baby moon. And I agree, I don't intend to forgo the things I love just because I become a Mom. So glad to read an update from you :)

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  5. Looks so lovely :) What a good idea.

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  6. Sounds like a lovely trip! You look great! Gorgeous pictures of the food and scene!

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  7. So happy to see a picture of you and your beautiful belly!

    I also love Belgium. I was in Brussels and Bruges about 9 years ago (I can't believe it has been so long!).

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  8. How wonderful that you got away! Thanks for the update. Take good care as you move forward. I am thinking of you, my friend!

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  9. You look great! So happy for you that you got to get away. :)

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  10. What a lovely trip. And 32 weeks? Wow. Almost there! You look fantastic.

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  11. So lovely that you had this time together :) I wish we had done something like this before my rainbow arrived...alas I was too anxious to think of it.
    32 weeks already?! Yay!

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  12. What a wonderful trip! I love the Tintin wall. I'm so glad you had this little getaway :)

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