A Coffee with Friends
Because life is a journey and we all need a friend.
Having Babies Overseas: Tourist Turns Native
Now that we have some old and new friends to join us on our blogging journey, we would like to share a bit of our lives with you! The most unusual part of our lives is that we have 4 kids all birthed and raised in Asia. If you ask them where they belong, well I’m not sure they would know the answer. They are Americans that are born overseas and live in many places. We delivered our first 2 babies in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is one of the best places to tour with kids. There is much to explore and do with children in Chiang Mai from adventure day trips, street vendors, to shopping mall playgrounds. We had a wonderful birthing experience in their hospitals.
Before we talk babies, first our experiences began with waiting for the babies to be born and forty weeks of pregnancy should never slow a traveling momma down! From the tops of the tallest mountain in Thailand: Doi Inthanon (we ended up hitchhiking halfway to the top) to the caves of Chiang Dao, we didn’t let the big bump stop us.
But, things did change as soon as they came into the world. We choose to take the more Asian minimalist way of birth and baby care. We delivered natural, shared a bed, and tied a hammock in the living room to use as a swing and rock the babies to sleep. .
The funny thing was, when I was pregnant, Asians would ask if I was going to put my babies in separate rooms like they heard Americans did or would I put my baby in the little jail cells called cribs? The questions caused me to rethink and reconsider what I would choose from my culture in raising my babies. So we went as natural as we could.
“Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life.” – Albert Einstein
As the children have grown, their lives are different from American kids and often without the normal comforts. Living in Asia often means living in small homes, sharing sleeping rooms, eating meals from street vendors, and shopping in open markets.
But, these early experiences make them who they are today and who they will be as adults. The world is big for them and I see a burning to desire to keep moving. Is that good? I don’t know yet, we will see! Having a passport by 1 week of life opens the door for adventures to come for our family. Everyone told us that we would slow down after kids, but honestly we have picked up as we have realized the joy that comes for a family who travels together. We wouldn’t trade these memories for anything!
Your family has many unique experiences ahead and it’s up to you!
What can you do now to make that happen? Start planning it today!
Comment here about your
favorite trip growing up!
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A Coffee with Friends 
Marc and Ann, you two are truly made for each other. You’ll love to travel and making babies, has not changed your priorities. Yes it is fun to travel with the family. I love the first snap, of Marc holding his baby and both of them looking into each other’s eyes. Its a Adorable Pic. Wish I could hold that baby in my hands.
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awww! Cattie your awesome. Its good to have friends with the gift of encouraging others! I can’t wait to read more of your blogs today! And, yes that is one of my favorite pics!
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Once i have my sailboat, will i make it to asia? Only if i can make it past the Marshall Islands! I may retire there.
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You know, anyone with the name “Weird Guy With The Dog” can accomplish everything he sets out for! Ahoy Mate!
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Thanks, you made me smile!
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Hopefully thats not a rare happening! Just the first one of many today.
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First one today!
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Gosh! You make ” planning babies and travelling simultaneously” so easy…um tempted to do the same..being avid travellers ourselves…the thought of our travel plans hitting a speed-bump after having a child has always been the top reason to deter us to have one…really enjoyed reading your blog..may you n Ann n all your cute babies have many many more beautiful adventures together…Cheers!!
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Easy?! Ha! I need to blog more honestly then! It was not easy but worth it. So many moments of “What am I doing?!” but looking back and realizing it was fun in a painful way. We waited till having kids for the same reason you mentioned. Now, they add the fun to the travel adventures. But, we head to France tomorrow, ask me after that adventure! Thank you so much.
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