Baby On Tour

Living at the intersection of three jurisdictions, it's easy to start racking up one's state count at a young age. By day one, Xavier had been born in Maryland and returned home to the District. Various appointments and activities in the first several weeks led to numerous trips back and forth between and around the two. At two weeks of age he went apple picking in the country, and a few weeks later joined us on a 250-mile tour of the Eastern Shore. Soon enough he'd also been across the river to Virginia to see cousins and up to Baltimore for Thanksgiving.

Since then, however, Mid-Atlantic Baby has become Intermountain West Baby, having spent a third of his 4-month life out there, with most of that in Idaho. We've been fortunate to see all of his aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, 3 of 4 great-grandparents, and a huge number of other relatives in our recent travels. He's been greatly adored all along the way.

And what a way it's been!

By four months of age Xavier will have crossed the country six times, logging 12 flight segments, over 3,000 miles on the road, and around 75 miles on subway and commuter trains. He's been through 9 states and the District (though Texas and Kentucky are weak claims from layovers). He's passed through 9 airports (including all three in the DC area) as well as Union Station. He's crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the Hoover Dam. He's seen snow and freezing winds as well as warm sunny days and cacti all in the same month. He's been to a funeral and he's seen babies younger than him.

And through it all, he's been remarkably well-mannered and adaptable.

The pace of travel will no doubt slow very soon, and he'll have to get reacquainted with DC, but it's been a remarkable time together as a family. We have so much enjoyed seeing our relatives and giving them the opportunity to meet our son. We've enjoyed seeing the country.

The only sad thing is that years down the road, Xavier won't remember any of this, except through the photos and stories we've recorded. But hopefully our travels and his good temperament will continue in the future as we build many more adventures together.