Preparing for Family Trip to Taipei

We're going to Taipei, dragging along the brood and all. Well, if it's meant to be a vacation, why are we bringing along Verity? Cavan is no problem - tried and tested - fuss-free both as a travelling baby and toddler. Now, to bring 2 kids... we're really asking for it.

The reasons are simple: 1st, I'm still breastfeeding her. It sounds like less hassle to bring her along to offload the milk than to pump and pump before and during the trip. If I have to pump and store milk during the trip, then what vacation am I having? Direct feeding is easier.

2nd, her doting father decided that she should come along as well. She's now our family and if Cavan is coming on a trip with us, she should be in the family trip as well. Right. Like she's going to be permanently emotionally scarred for being left out of the family trip.

So the decision was made. We're all going during the expensive Christmas to New Year period. Clem is currently studying at Command and Staff College and he can't take leave till next year. This is the only window for a trip. At the same time, I've been so busy since I returned from maternity leave. Felt like I've done 2 months' worth of work in that one month. And I needed a break desperately. So we're paying premium to getaway.

Everything was done last minute (yea, I sort of like this kind of thrill). We're not going on a tour cos if I have to breastfeed every now and then, the programme's up by the time I finish feeding. Booked Jetstar budget flights and found that they were more expensive than normal flight. Will lose $$ if cancel. Have not been successful in getting hotels cos mostly were fully booked. Fortunately, managed to get one with much sourcing and prayers. We're not very savvy bookers and tend to do everything last minute, so always ended up spending more than needed.

Oh, and one more thing. Verity doesn't have a passport yet and Cavan needs to update his passport photo.

Other than that, we just need to pack for the trip and plan the itinerary. This is going to be twice the prep we did for last year's Korea trip. Maybe 3 times more.

All said, we're really looking forward to the adventure!