Sophia is a veteran traveler.

Every year since Sophia turned one she and I  go to Colombia to visit my family and this year will be our fifth time. It's a lot work and a lot of planning, we set up appointments with all her doctors including a travel clinic doctor who gives us medication and vaccines. I got letters from her neurologist explaining why I need to have Sophia's seizure medication with me on the plane and also from her pediatrician saying that Sophia needs to get IV fluids should she vomit for more than 5 hours to avoid dehydration. I am taking the nebulizer with me just in case. We are spraying her clothes with a bug repellent (a really good one that last up to 6 washes!). I also have all kinds of ointments and lotions for anything and everything. I got traveler insurance just in case. Sophia has gotten sick almost every time we go down there and those experiences have taught me to be a little more prepared and if she gets sick this time (I really hope she doesn't), I feel like I have the support and the means to deal with it.

 Yes, it's a lot of work but it's all worth it! It's three weeks of being loved and taken care of by people that would do anything to compensate for our lack of time together. During those three weeks Sophia grows significantly, I don't know what it is but she always comes back doing something new and it's amazing. I get to recharge batteries, eat my favorite food, drink the best coffee in the world and dance salsa the way only Colombians know how. Sophia gets quality time with her cousins, uncles, aunt and grandparents. So yes, it's worth all the planing and preparation. I love my life here with my husband, my friends and Sophia's amazing teachers and doctors but my daughter and I need and deserve this.

We will miss daddy, of course, but he gets to eat whatever he wants during our absence, it's a win win!

Who wouldn't want to spend at least three weeks looking at this smile?