It is the beginning of November and I can hardly believe how fast this year has gone by. I’m pretty sure that the reason for that is because we welcomed a healthy, beautiful, charming little boy into our lives at the end of January and since then, I’ve been counting the months, the growth spurts and the countdown to walking every since. We’ve had a truly blessed year both personally and professionally and I think I’m ready to say that this year is one for the books.
Our travel life has been constant and brand new. Traveling with an infant has its challenges but the thought of being away from him even for a few days challenges me more than bringing him along with us everywhere we’ve been. Even with that said, we already have some (hella) weddings next year and will be leaving the little guy behind so that we can have some much needed Ashley/Tunde time. Once you have a baby, you really have to consciously remember who you were as a couple before him and so far, I think that we’re doing a good job.
Looking just 5 weeks into the future, we will be back in Europe (London, Paris, and Madrid) with a then 10 month old energetic child who will probably be walking by then. The thought honestly sounds wild but I wouldn’t have it any other way. As of right now, I still need to arrange for a visit to Versailles and at least a short list of things we will pick from to do or see in each city. I’ve never been so behind in my travel planning before. After Europe, it’s Christmas and my aunt and her husband are visiting from Florida. I can’t wait because I’ve never spent a major holiday with my extended family on my mom’s side and my heart is so full knowing that she will be here for our son’s first Christmas.
And then after Christmas, I’m actually participating in a currently top-secret (because I’m not ready to share) mentorship program in a for-now-secret location over New Year’s. I’m so excited I can’t stand it. It will be my first solo trip in over 3 years and the longest I will be away from my son but this is something that I’ve invested in and is an investment in myself. I’m honored to be a part of this flagship program and truly start to make all my dreams a reality.
2019
January to June 2019 is completely quiet except for two weddings in April. One is in Arizona and, depending on my vacation time, we plan to roadtrip to Page, Arizona and visit Antelope Canyon. In between there, I might try to squeeze in a family trip over a long weekend, but we will see. In June 2019, I’ll be in Boston for TRAVELCON! I cannot wait. Literally all of my faves were in one place and I didn’t even know that it was happening last year. The FOMO kept me off my instagram for a few days. I wish I was kidding!
The big trip next year is a family trip to Switzerland for two weeks that we surprised my father-in-law with for his birthday this year. He has been wanting to visit for a while now so we will be making that trip the first two weeks of August.
After August, we’re back on the wedding circuit with at least one more out of state wedding and two more almost certain to manifest before the end of the year, most likely in Hawaii and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; I’m just waiting for save-the-date confirmations.
And that’s it. So that’s 5 trips next year if I include my NYE 2019 trip and not including the weddings I don’t have confirmed yet. I’m tired.
But I’m SO excited! I’ve got some other things that I’m working on behind the scenes that I’m not ready to reveal yet but I can feel it in my soul: 2019 is going to be my year.
What are your 2019 plans? Tell me in the comments!