I did not always know that I wanted to become a Mom. While most of my girlfriends throughout their 20’s were getting married and having babies, my entire being was concentrated on Graduate School and traveling the world. Then, I met the love of my life, and while I was eager to marry him, my maternal urges were nonexistent. People would ask us constantly, “When are you going to have kids?” I never knew how to respond, because I was always consumed with thoughts about which country we would travel to next and not about reproducing. A year and a half ago, I woke up one day and something just clicked inside of me. While I was not ready in that moment to begin trying to conceive, I knew in my heart that it was something I wanted more than anything I had ever wanted before — even more than wanting to step foot on all seven continents (Antarctica is not allowed to melt yet).
Photo Taken By: Brittany Lauren Photography
I have only been pregnant for about fourteen weeks now, but already I am so head over heels in love with my son or daughter. It occurred to me that motherhood is a lot like traveling. It is one of the greatest adventures, journeys, or explorations into uncharted territories a woman could undertake. Same goes for fatherhood as well. I am not sure how having this baby will affect My Beautiful Adventures. I have had to say no to some amazing trips, because I was incredibly sick throughout my first trimester. I will not lie, there was a part of me that felt sad when I had to turn them down, although I also know that one day I will have the opportunity to go on those amazing trips with my new favorite little travel partner and from now on that is how I want to experience the world. I hope you will continue to follow me as I navigate this next chapter in my life. I promise this blog will first and foremost be about travel, except I intend to prove that you can still travel and have a family too! I am sure I will lose some readers and that breaks my heart, however hopefully I will gain some readers as well, who like me chose parenthood.
🙂 I can identify. Travel definitely changes with little ones. I turn down most trips I’m invited on because my responsibilities to my family come first. I look forward to following along on your new adventures!
I am SURE you can identify! It’s people like you whom have become my biggest inspiration this last year. 🙂
Life: it will always be a beautiful adventure and that’s really what you write about. Not just travel, but how life experiences shape our personal evolution.
I predict you will only gain more readers through your journey of motherhood, just as you have through the romance of marital bliss.
Thank you for such an incredible comment, really means so much to me and I couldn’t agree more with what you said about life!
From the time I came across your website I knew you was on I should follow. I usually don’t check out blogs but with you there is something special. And I can say that your energy inspires me. Your photos also. There is so much beauty in them. With me you have gained a reader for life. Blessings and I look forward to reading about it all.
You just made me cry! This has to be one the best comments I’ve ever received. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!
I’m so happy for you and Lucas. You two are in for the adventure of a lifetime! I’m only a few months ahead of you with my first….but I still can’t get over how wonderful it is just to be pregnant! I’ve been staying awake at night just so I can feel her moving around in my belly. Its so neat to feel. I can’t wait for you to feel it too!
Spending time with my stepson has made me realize that once children are in the picture, you really do get to experience the world in a whole new way. Enjoy the ride!
I love that we’re preggers at the same time! I can’t wait to feel him or her move and kick, it’s going to be amazing!!! I wish that my first trimester had been easier, so that I could have enjoyed being pregnant. I really, really did not enjoy it. Now that I’m starting my second I’m starting to enjoy it more. I’m still feeling nauseas, however everyone promises me it will pass in a week or two. Best wishes with the last months of your pregnancy. Can’t wait to see a pic of you and your baby girl! <3
It’s a new chapter and your readers will change. Remember that It’s ok to change because you will be too happy to care about anything else!! (Or too tired haha) I’m with you every step of the way! I’m excited to share with you this experience and to read all the details. Love you
I am so blessed to have you with me every step of the way. You’re such an amazing friend, mom, and inspiration. Thank you for always holding my hand through everything!!! TQM
Absolutely, babe. I’m so happy for you. I’ll still continue reading and, like you said, even if you do lose some followers, there’s a huge community of family travellers out there just waiting to sign up to you. 😉
Thanks for your awesome comment gorgeous, means so much to me! Yay for family travelers!!! 🙂
Aww so sweet! I think I’m like you were and not like some women who know they want to be moms all their lives. My belief is when/if the time is right I will know, just like you described. Anyway, I look forward to reading about your new chapter and what surely will be new adventures!
I’m glad I’m not alone! I agree, when the time is right you just know. PS I think you’d make an awesome Mom…just saying!!!
Huge congratulations to you and Lucas — so happy for you! (And if you have a girl…omg, I’m just thinking about all the pink and ruffles!!)
Don’t worry about your readers. You can’t be a successful blogger unless you evolve, and sometimes life forces you to evolve! You will always be in the right place with the right readers who care about what you have to say. 🙂
Hahaha is it bad that I want a girl, just so I can buy tons and tons of pink clothes??? 😉 Thank you for your kind words, I really admire the brand you’ve created for yourself and for you to say that it means A LOT.
The “mom gene” hasn’t clicked for me — but that doesn’t mean I don’t think children are entertaining. You won’t lose me as a reader and I can’t wait to see how you incorporate this new little being into your amazing world!
Yaaaaay! You’d be surprised, it might just click one day out of nowhere like it did for me. That has happened with a couple of my girlfriends! Although, I must say most of my friends that are moms have always known that they wanted to be a mom. Thank you for continuing to follow me darling!!!
Congratulations!!! I can’t wait to keep reading about this prolonged adventure of yours and hope to have one of my own soon, too!
Thank you so much and thank you for continuing to follow me!!! Good luck with getting pregnant dear! XO
Hi beautiful! I am so excited for you and Lucas, and sweet little one! If you lose readers then who cares, they were not someone who truly understood you, and loved everything about your blog. Miss you, Hugs, Terra
Awww you’re such a sweetheart and an amazing cheerleader! Thank you for always having my back. Love you!!!
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Oh darlin, I am so happy for you. 🙂 Isn’t it GOOD to follow the desires of our hearts, even when they change so unexpectedly? I have no desire for motherhood, but I’m overjoyed to love on and celebrate the kids of my friends. 🙂 I will be cheering for you from afar, excited to see the changes that come as your life changes. XO
Thank you so much for always being so supportive! I agree, it is ALWAYS good to follow the desires of our hearts. XO
Awww…
I wouldn’t worry about your readership… you are a genuine and honest and wonderful person, and people should just be lucky to join your for the ride.
Sending you all my best. xo
Thank you sweetheart, you rock! XO
Andi! Another big, huge congrats! I just wrote a blog post yesterday (for Our Whole Village, of which I am now a partner!) that I think will resonate. It’s about how traveling with my baby has very much changed my outlook on travel, and in so many ways for the better. Anyway, I’m sure you already know, but once that little babe enters the world, he/she will be the center of your universe, and travel will just be the icing on the cake. I’m so excited for you! Besos http://ourwholevillage.com/blog/how-umbria-changed-my-travel-outlook/
Thank you sooo much!!! Your son couldn’t be any cuter! I can’t wait to read your blog post. And yes, I completely agree: travel will now just be icing on the cake! 🙂
I adore this! My fiancé has been ready for kids for five years, and it’s been me that’s holding back. But with a house and a marriage on the horizon, I’m suddenly eager to raise a bilingual kid or two!! Enjoy this time pre-baby; I think you’ll love being a mamá!!
Oooooh how exciting that you’re starting to get ready for motherhood too!!! I love that your fiancé has been ready for kids for 5 years, what a good man. I can’t wait to be a mamá!
There’s no limits for a genuine person like you so I better hold on to my seat because you’re going to take us on an amazing ride! Love you:)
You’re the best, love you so much! <3
You won’t loose me. I think it’s the most beautiful adventure in life and so it fits right in with you blog <3 I look forward to following you and your baby from the sideline. x
Awwww LOVE this comment, thank you so very, very much dear! XO
Having a baby doesn’t stop what you do. It just throws it all up in the air to be rearranged into a different pattern. You will still travel, you will just do it differently. But you will love that difference – whilst you will probably lament some of the things you used to be able to do, having your child with you on your journey will open your eyes to experiences you previously wouldn’t have considered, and there’s nothing better than rediscovering favourite experiences through the eyes of your child. Good luck!
Oh I’m sorry if my post came off that I thought I would stop traveling once I had a child, I actually want to prove otherwise! I’m really, really excited to travel with him or her. I totally agree that having a baby doesn’t stop what you do!
Your comment about losing readers reminded me of when someone commented on our blog survey that we “talk too much about personal stuff” because she said we had mentioned wanting to start a family a couple of times. See, those readers I’m happy to let go of 😉 Congratulations!
Whaaaaaat? Seriously??? Okay, yeah I would definitely want to lose THOSE kinds of readers!
I hope people continue to read your words — I don’t continue to follow because of the travel alone but because I want to follow in your adventures, whatever they may be. I don’t blog as often as I used to (and I’m currently writing about something that’s NOT travel), and I’m sure people who read in the beginning don’t anymore, but I’m more than just travel and I’m going to write about it. You’ll keep the readers you’d want to keep <3
Thank you so much for this comment! I agree, our blogs evolve, as does our readership!!! 🙂
Congratulations, Andi! And this post really resonated with me… I’m not there yet, but I feel similarly. Sometimes I think it’s the alignment of where we are in our lives that creates desires such as this one. I’m excited to hear more and to see how you two work traveling into your lives as parents!
I love that this post resonates with you! And I totally agree about the alignment of where we are in our lives being a key factor!!!
Congrats again to you both! I’m so excited to see how you embrace motherhood and where this new little adventurer takes you on your travels of navigating parenthood. Stay healthy and keep us updated.
Thank you soooo much!!! Promise to keep everyone updated! <3
Congrats! So exciting!
Thank you so very much!
Your trips will just be closer to home for awhile, which is NOT a bad thing. In fact, I went almost 10 months without using my passport this past year, which crazy as it was, didn’t seem like it at all as I was so busy exploring the South. That kid is just going to learn to be an excellent road trip companion right out of the gate =)
Couldn’t agree more!!! If anyone would understand it would be you just how awesome the South is! We’re off to explore Highlands, North Carolina this weekend! 🙂
Congrats!
Thank you so much!!!
Congratulations, Andi! I truly think you will make a beautiful mother 🙂 And I’ll be sure to keep reading! <3 <3
Wow what a lovely thing to say, thank you from the bottom of my heart!!! <3
A huge congrats, friend!
Thank you!!! <3
Loved this post! It definitely hits home as I too am not one of those women who knew she wanted kids since she could remember! But it is encouraging to see others with that same opinion enter motherhood. I think deep deep down I know I may be missing out on something. Like others have said, it may be more of a timing issue.
I’ll definitely continue to be a loyal reader (and suspect you will gain many more new loyal readers)!
I’m sooo happy you will continue to be a loyal reader, you have no idea how much that means to me! If you ever want to email me re: thoughts on motherhood please feel free. Thank you so much for your sweet words!!! 🙂