The TriDad Life

Dear Beanpod,

You are almost 10 months old now. It is simply astonishing to witness the rapid changes in you. Your personality is coming alive, and it is wonderful. Physically, you are getting so big. Your first teeth (two to be exact) came in about two months ago, which was basically my favorite thing about you for awhile. I loved it so much that I just started calling you “Toofy,” and your Mom and some other relatives maybe picked it up too. It’s funny, you make us laugh.

Now the other teeth are emerging. You are developing bird like habits, chomping on little bite sized pieces of food that we cut up for you. This also is mostly fun, even though you can be so demanding at times! Overall, we couldn’t be more pleased with your curiosity, and that you have a healthy appetite.

One of the things I was most excited about after we took you home almost 10 months ago was to be able to take you to explore this world we live in. The zest for travel is something that your Mom and I share. We simply love to travel to new places, and to do it together. I think you may have been picking up on this. We really don’t sit still very long, and we just naturally found the best way forward was to keep up the pace, plop you in the car seat, and get a move on.

As you’ve gotten a bit sturdier, we’ve started to get more bold with our travel plans with you. Last winter, your Uncle Kent and Aunt Lina moved to the big city, Chicago, IL. This is a very different place than where you live, and one of our favorite places to visit. We were really anxious to go see them and give you a taste of the big city life.

We decided to go as a family over this past July 4th weekend. We’d taken you on trips before, but this felt bigger. For starters, we took the train, which was an experiment. You did well. Your Mom and I enjoyed this inaugural train ride as a family of three.

When we got to Chicago, we were confronted with the sobering reality of just how much more difficult it is to travel with a baby. There are so many things we needed to bring with us – a pack-and-play, swim gear, diapers, multiple changes of clothes, play toys, formula, not to mention that we also needed to bring luggage for the two adult humans on the trip. Your aunt and uncle live in Lincoln Park, about 30 minutes from the city center, so we needed to use public transportation to get to there after arriving at Union Station. Let’s just say that hauling all of that crap on the public city bus system was a little tense.

We survived, and arrived at Kent and Lina’s lovely apartment in a cozy neighborhood. The next few days were filled with new sites and sounds to take in together. For your Dad, a self-identified recovering “city rat,” there is always something intoxicating about being in the big city, surrounded by the hustle and bustle. Of course, this trip was intoxicating in a new way, as I got to see you take it in as well.

We did all the things. We took you to the zoo, where you marveled at the lions and the fishies. We took you to the beach, which turned out to be an ill advised junket on July 4th. The beach was packed and loud, filled with 20 somethings partying like there was no tomorrow. We were suddenly out of our element. Who shows up to the party with a baby?? Still, your Mom and I had to laugh as we realized just how quickly our life situation has changed.

We went on walks through the big city neighborhoods, and let you try small bites of Chicago fare. You at some ice cream. We even had a Friday afternoon picnic in the park. It all felt a little like we were living in a children’s picture book featuring the stereotypical happy family.

Oh Penny, it really was a great adventure, and a notable milestone. Your first big trip. Uncle Kent and Aunt Lina really took great care of us. I know it won’t be long before we go back.

Beanpod, our adventure is really just beginning. Chicago is just a taste of what’s to come for us. I’m looking forward to experiencing all the places we will go together, watching your eyes get bigger and bigger as you take in all of these new things. You seem to have a curious spirit, and we’ll do our very best to give you the world.

Love,

Dad