Our St. Thomas babymoon

When we first learned I was pregnant and due in February, one of my (irrational) fears was that there would be a blizzard the day I went into labor and we wouldn’t make it to the hospital on time. After all, we live in Omaha, Nebraska, where we typically get our fair share of snow each winter.

I definitely wasn’t expecting temperatures in Omaha to be in the 40s and 50s with snow and ice plaguing my family on the East coast in the week leading up to my due date. Now I’m concerned they’ll have trouble traveling to the Midwest after the baby is born!

All of this crazy winter weather has me longing for the chance to return to St. Thomas, where we enjoyed a warm and relaxing babymoon back in early December. I never posted photos of our beach vacation and would love to share a few of the highlights with you now, if you’d like to see them.

We were lucky to have the opportunity to stay at The Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas thanks to my cousin’s Friends and Family discount. Besides The Grand America in Salt Lake City, where Alt Summit is held, I’m not sure I’ve ever stayed at such a fancy hotel with such unbelievable service.

The property was gorgeous — and expansive. When I was too exhausted to navigate the hilly grounds by foot (an unfortunate pregnancy side effect), chauffeured golf carts were available to drive us from here to there.

The bravest thing I did on our babymoon was wear a bikini in public. I tend not to flaunt my bump (you’ll rarely find me in super form-fitting clothing when I’m pregnant), but I challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone on this vacation. At first I was super self-conscious, convinced that everyone was staring at me, but I was eventually able to stop wondering what others might be thinking.

This is funny: Multiple women over the course of our trip randomly asked me if I was having a boy. Regardless of whether I was wearing a bikini or a one-piece bathing suit, they said it was easy to tell based on how I was carrying.

The second bravest thing I did on our vacation was snorkel. As much as I love the ocean, I prefer being above rather than below the water. Swimming next to fish and other sea creatures creeps me out.

Still, I agreed with JB that an afternoon snorkeling excursion on the resort’s luxury 53-foot catamaran, Lady Lynsey, would be a memorable experience. We relaxed above deck, taking in the sights of the surrounding Virgin Islands, on the way to our snorkeling destination. After swimming among mostly blue and yellow fish (the reef was somewhat disappointing), we enjoyed appetizers and an open bar on the way home. Even the virgin drinks were delicious!

We made it back to shore just in time to see the evening’s fresh catch, lobster and mahi mahi, arriving by boat. Did you know that Caribbean lobster don’t have claws? So strange!

That night we shared a delicious lobster dinner at Sails, the resort’s oceanfront bar and grill. Randomly, we were seated at a table next to two businessmen who were also from Omaha, and after chatting for a bit, they surprised us by paying our bill!

On our second-to-last day, we were invited to experience The Ritz-Carlton Club Level lounge. (Thanks, cousin!) Our new keys allowed us access to the deliciously air-conditioned oasis, where we enjoyed complimentary food and beverages for the rest of our time at the resort. We even spent part of our last night in the lounge playing Blink, eating dessert, and drinking cocktails. Well, hot tea for me.

It rained for most of the morning on our final day, but we took advantage of a brief window of sunshine to use the resort’s water equipment one last time. I was determined to stand up on a paddle board, a feat even more challenging when you’re pregnant. I didn’t last long on my feet, but I didn’t fall off my board like somebody I know…

At the time, I remember feeling huge in my bathing suit. Compared to how I look now at 39 weeks, my bump in these photos is barely noticeable!

Our final activity was a couple’s massage in the resort’s seaside cabana. Shortly after our session began, the rain returned, this time bringing with it the faint rumbling of thunder. It actually added to the relaxed ambiance (although it made our golf cart ride back to the spa a bit harrowing).

Unfortunately, my massage was cut short when I began feeling sweaty and lightheaded. Despite using a maternity pillow with a cut-out for my belly, I just couldn’t shake the fear that I was somehow hurting the baby while facedown on the table and worked myself up into a panic. Rather than risk fainting, I asked the masseuse to stop.

***

This was our first vacation without Levi, and the peace and quiet was just what JB and I needed to recharge our batteries. There are only two things I would have done differently: packed lighter (we didn’t need to check two suitcases) and traveled when I was slightly less pregnant. My appetite and energy couldn’t always keep up with everything The Ritz-Carlton had to offer!

Did you go on a babymoon? When I was pregnant with Levi, we only made it as far as Kansas City for a getaway, so this trip was an extra-special treat!

PS – The bag that JB carried on our trip (he’ll also use it as a diaper bag!).

(Our iPhone and DSLR photos)