Maine-cation, had to get away…

And I totally didn’t even realize it. This family getaway crept up on me while I was (happily) distracted by the last few weeks of baby & shower frenzy. I can’t believe how badly my brain and body both needed to spend a week with my best friend the sun, many a mocktail and ever-propped feet.

This whole pregnancy has flown by and being pregnant didn’t change much of my day to day activities. I’ve continued my triangular travels from western MA to RI to Boston and back. I go where my people are, usually without giving it much thought…. until recently when it was decided that I should probably be accompanied on jaunts beyond 30 minutes from home and hospital. My mindset has remained pretty unpregnant, though; no trip is too far, no task too much, no adventure off limits… So when we received the save the date for my cousins (deep-into-) Maine wedding, the idea of rsvping anything but a resounding yes! never crossed my mind, especially once mom made the ‘we’re going to make a week of it’ plan.

There was some hesitation about 6 days prior to departure. Really was it a good idea to drive 6 hours into Maine 3 weeks before my due date? Answer: oh well!  Turns out going was the best decision I could’ve made with such minimal forethought. We did our research and scoped out area hospitals…-ish (‘good, there is one’ was the extent of that). I packed a last-minute, laughable attempt at a hospital bag and equipped Ryan’s vehicle with a not-secured baby seat. Sufficient? Questionable. But we ran with it and nothing was really gonna stop me from a family vaca / wedding combo.

Ryan worked half the week so Ben and Kristen were kind enough to pick me up in Springfield following a widwife appointment where I was cleared for take-off. Cue a huge sigh of relief from Ryan and huge lack of real concern or surprise from me. Let’s go!

The 5-6ish hr ride up was enjoyable. I talked the sibs ears off, we found the cutest McDonald’s disguised as an old Victorian house, and thoroughly enjoyed taking in the classic Maine sights (like signs for ‘old stuff’, specifically Asian antiques, and taxidermy shacks). Then we arrived here.

…an adorable, completely cozy, perfectly Maine home with this view of Penobscot Bay and a lawn that rivaled a national park, which we enjoyed thoroughly. Some of us looked adorable doing so, some didn’t.

Beach bums minus the beach

Beached whale minus the beach

We also went on a few essential Maine daytrips, our family favorite being Acadia and Cadillac mountain, where the views are breathtaking and look like this, but panoramic and likely more breathtaking than you are imagining.

Obviously we took a bunch of attempts at family photos with the phenomenal backdrop.

And some other great shots like this one of me eating crumbs of leftover breakfast off my stomach

After enjoying the pure and untouched beauty of Acadia we took to the town and went to a bar because that’s obviously the main attraction in Bar Harbor. It’s in the name. Ryan drank like a creeper.

I enjoyed a root beer float and the whole lot of us enjoyed monstrous nachos, the pup-friendly patio and shopping despite moving at the most pregnant of paces. Special thanks to everyone for spending a full week moving in slow motion for me and taking frequent breaks like this one on a cute little green in Baa Haba.

We also explored the cute little center of Belfast, the seaside shops in Camden (loved!), and a sweet little beach down the road.  Assorted photos from these sites below.

But clearly the best part of the trip was that it finished with the huge bang that was my cousins’ amazing wedding.  We got a preview/tour of the venue/inn early in the week for dinner with my auntie and cousins sans the beautiful views due to fog. It felt like a big reveal to see the place in the afternoon sun with clear views and all decorated and put together in my favorite of fashions (chabby chic, perfectly rustic, and the classiest DIY). Evidenced below…

The bride looked beautiful in her mom’s altered gown (swoon)

My cousin Justin and loving auntie were just glowing.

The whole event was a fairytale and I cried my eyes out on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, not enough to drain the excess fluid from my feet, though. No shame. Look.

But my husband doubles as a foot rest- a super handsome, incredibly caring foot rest so really it’s okay.

I danced the night away anyhow and felt like I was perhaps moving a little too much. How to induce labor: wedding dancing. How to avoid inducing labor: be lame at a wedding. I took my chances. Ryan told me to stand still.

And after that long-winded summary of my glorious week, complete with far too many photos, I bid you adieu until I finish writing thank you cards or complete the nursery or it’s Saturday and time for a preg-update. I will be attending wedding festivities next weekend with an actual desire to be thrown into the throes of labor via extreme celebration, maybe not on the dance floor, but anytime thereafter!

3 weeks.