A New Season, A New Chapter 🌿

Finding Balance Between Cozy Days and Far Away Plans

👶 The Biggest News: We Became Parents

Six weeks ago, me and Raymond became parents to our baby girl, Celine Celeste. ✨

It’s been a journey of so many ups — pure love, joy, wonder. A kind of love I didn’t know before. Every little mimic she makes, every ‘smile’ (even though it’s not real yet!) feels like fireworks in our bodies. We’re beyond grateful that we get to experience this.

As many of you know, this has been a long road for us — three years of trying, clinics, therapy, and finally insemination without hormones. We feel so lucky and blessed that this path brought us Celine. It was all worth it. The clichés are true and we’re enjoying every moment.

But I’d be lying if I said it’s all easy. The hormones, the breastfeeding journey, the constant adapting — just when you think you’ve figured something out, a new challenge arrives. Motherhood asks for flexibility and patience, just like travel does — but on another dimension, because now you’re caring for a tiny human.

Time also feels different. Since Celine was born, my whole sense of time has shifted. The days feel full, yet fleeting. It’s been hard sometimes to “show up” on my page like I used to. A part of me still expects a lot from myself, and then I remind myself: Ana, you just had a baby five weeks ago. Chill. Slowly, I’m learning to be kinder to myself.

But there’s another side of this transition that surprised me: the difference between motherhood and fatherhood.

I always imagined it would be equal — the mother and father, side by side, sharing it all. But in reality, it can never be fully balanced. As a mother, you’ve already gone through nine months of pregnancy, labor, recovery, and hormone changes. And if you choose to breastfeed, that affects your body and hormones even more. It means being “on” all the time, whether it’s feeding the baby or pumping milk.

For the father, it’s a very different transition. Physically, not much changes.
For Raymond, it’s more mental: stepping into fatherhood, caring, learning, supporting. And while he has been wonderful, I noticed in myself a form of jealousy in those first weeks. He could go to the gym or play tennis, move his body the way he used to. For me, that wasn’t possible.

It’s not that I mind him going — we always check in with each other to make sure there’s space for those things. But it opened my eyes to the gap that exists in this transition. Motherhood and fatherhood are both profound, but they are very different experiences. And living that difference up close has been… eye-opening.

🌦️ The Winter Blues

September is that in-between season where summer fades and the darker evenings arrive. The winter blues can sneak in, and I know many of you feel it too.

What helps me:

• A walk outside, even on gray days

• Lighting candles and slowing down in the mornings

• Journaling a few lines to ground myself

• Baking something simple (the smell alone is comfort)

• Treating myself to soft loungewear, new pyjamas, or really nice socks

• Cozy upgrades for the home: a new mug, a blanket, little things that make evenings after work or quiet days at home more inviting

But what helps me the most? Having a trip to look forward to. ✈️
Even just planning one can shift the mood and brighten the weeks ahead.

🧳 Getaway Inspiration

If you’re in the mood to plan an autumn or winter escape, here are some ideas:

☀️ Still Warm Cities:

• Paris (not warm in temperature but warm in vibes) – golden parks, café terraces, autumn magic

• Seville – vibrant, sunny, perfect for late season warmth

• Lisbon – light-filled streets and ocean breezes

❄️ Romantic Winter Cities:

• Edinburgh – cozy pubs, castles in the mist

• London – markets, theatre nights, endless cafés, Christmas vibes

• Vienna – classical, candle vibes, with hot chocolate to die for

🌲 Nature Escapes:

• A cabin in the woods: disconnect, walk trails, and sit by the fire. Sometimes the best getaway is the simplest.

🌴 Our Big Winter Getaway

As for our own getaway… it’s going to be a big one: two and a half months away.

We’ll start in Portugal over Christmas and New Year’s with my family.
Then, on January 2nd, we fly to Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. We’ve booked our accommodations and everything is finally falling into place. For many this might feel like ‘planning ahead’, but with high season in Brazil the prices were already rising fast. Plane tickets have gone up with €170 in one week time. Luclily we were on time. Before Celine came we had about 50% booked, and now we’re at 90%.

Our route will be:

• Arraial d’Ajuda – one week

• Trancoso – one week

• Rio de Janeiro – one week

• Then off to Costa Rica for a full month in Arenal, Santa Teresa and Nosara region.

We’ll return in March, just in time for spring.

I’m looking forward to this time of bonding with Celine, with Raymond, and with ourselves. We love tropical weather, and this feels like the best way for us to spend the winter: in warmth, in nature, together. It’s time you never get back, and we want to enjoy it to the fullest.

I remember asking our doula (‘kraamzorg’) if she thought this plan was realistic.
Her words stuck with me: “Your struggles with a baby will go with you but what’s better, facing them in the cold winter here, or at the beach in a place where you feel good?”
That’s exactly how we feel. It won’t always be easy, but it will be ours.
The sun, the sea, and the warmth will carry us through.

🛌 A Few Favorite Places I’ve Stayed (and Would Recommend Again)

• Hotel Arvor - Paris
  Peaceful, full of character, and perfectly located for wandering Montmartre on foot. I just loved the soft energy of this place.

  

• Sa Nau Agriturismo - Mallorca
  A serene adults-only escape surrounded by palm trees and nature, offering minimalist whitewashed apartments, a tranquil pool, and a perfectly slow pace just minutes from the island’s best beaches.

  

• Alapega - Alentejo, Portugal
  A beautifully restored rural guesthouse where simplicity meets soul. With whitewashed walls, natural textures, and quiet countryside views that invite you to slow down and fully exhale.

  

• Baixa House - Lisbon

  Beautifully curated serviced apartments in a historic building, combining vintage charm with modern comfort. The perfect home base for exploring the city’s cobbled streets, cafes, and cultural gems. Very Portuguese vibes.

  

• Observatory Lodge - Arenal, Costa Rica

  A rainforest retreat perched at the base of Arenal Volcano, offering incredible jungle views, natural trails, and a front-row seat to some of the country’s most breathtaking wildlife and scenery. You can also visit it without having to stay here. Highly recommend, one of my favorites of all time!

  

💭 Closing Thought

Motherhood, like travel, is teaching me to embrace flexibility, patience, and presence. And just like planning a trip can brighten up a dark season, I believe finding small anchors of joy — whether that’s a smile from Celine, a weekend away, or simply a morning ritual — makes all the difference.

Thanks for being here, and for reading. =)

With love,
Ana