We live minutes from Washington DC, and far from family and many friends, so we get a steady stream of guests, as well as a lot of friends' adult children who are lucky enough to go to area colleges, or get internships and jobs in the area, and who expect that their children will be able to stay with us (one stayed for a month this past October). While she was here we had 2 other sets of house guests, one in town from India (looking at area colleges). We live about a mile from the nearest Metro stop, and are a half block from the nearest Metro bus, so it is all quite convenient! Once I have guests in my house, I seem congenitally unable to to do anything but play the role of a gracious hostess, preparing meals and providing lovely guest rooms and a welcoming atmosphere. We have a 4-bedroom house as well as two very private family rooms, so everyone knows we have the space, and we do enjoy having guests. But because I have a home office and work full-time, I often feel completely overwhelmed. I find that my very best strategy is to just say "No" to requests for visits since I know I will unfailingly go into the hostess mode once they are under my roof. It has gotten easier over time (to say no)! And I have trained my husband to do the same (many guests are his friends from afar) unless the terms of the visit mean a short stay on my terms. Still, we rarely go a month without a house guest. My sister-in-law and her husband have a luxurious vacation house in the mountains in CA (and another vacation house on a lake in northern CA). The mountain "lodge" sleeps 21 in the main house, and another 3-4 in the "little house." She does not cook or clean for guests and expects her guests to do everything. We once arrived from the east coast and got there at dinnertime with my then-anorexic daughter who had just been hospitalized for over a month (I was exhausted and looking forward to a break). My SIL said she wasn't lifting a finger and we could "figure it out" (she had invited 21 family members for Christmas week, and hadn't even planned to prepare a single meal). So I sat down, created menus, drove down the mountain to the nearest grocery and bought all the food, drove back up and spent the rest of the week cooking and cleaning. I told my husband that I would never again be a guest in their house (any of their houses), and I have stuck to my word. She just sent out an invitation to us to spend next Christmas with them (along with the entire family) and we have declined. Way too stressful to be a working guest!

Having an extra car gives a lot more options. It may or may not be 'needed' but it can still give people a sense of relief if that is ever needed. If not relief exactly, it's sometimes nice to break the monotony of long rides/drives by switching vehicles too. 6 month olds usually require some adult attention. They'll need some talking to or singing to, and some familiarity to orient themselves. They might or might not get carsick (usually those kinds of problems show up later though if they occur). If they get pushed past their personal point of endurance though, they will cry and need more intensive soothing. Some of that can be avoided by having an assigned adult sort of monitor the baby's apparent stress level. Basics would be some way to isolate and travel with (if necessary) dirty diapers until the next stop. Teething, and basic infant pain relief supplies. Sunscreens for infants or extremely sensitive skin, and hats and/or baby sunglasses or sun shades. Also, for the adults take at least one special comfort indulgence. That can help extend the adult's endurance if that's needed. It is sometimes hard for 4 and 5 year old verbal developing children on long car trips and they will need to be verbal and probably to take play breaks (they should have activity-related toys like frisbees or jump ropes or balls; anything that will help them to get a little physical exercise --the adults might be able to benefit from their own exercise too if possible). It's more of a hassle than travelling as a single adult probably, and maybe even than travelling as a couple of adults sharing a relationship, but it's probably worth it. The trick to not losing one's mind is to recognize the symptoms of impending problems and to act proactively to take relaxation steps or to improve the problematic situation. (Allow everyone to be at the age and stage they are, and to have the personalities, thoughts and feelings they all have naturally (including yourself). Then, try to work with everyone as they are, and not how they 'should' be and things should be enjoyable.)

I did my traveling when my child was younger and older than what your baby is right now. A lot depends on how your baby behaves, personality wise. If he's a quiet easygoing baby you will probably have a great time. If he is a little more needy you may find that it is more work than fun. It also depends on how much fun you have with the people you are going with. It probably would be nice to have two cars. That way if people need a break from each other during the trip they can have it. Also, once you get to your destination both families will have the freedom to do and go as they please. All I can tell you for sure is that taking a vacation with a baby is not like taking a vacation without one. A baby is work and on this vacation you will be taking your work with you. Try to have a positive outlook, be flexable, don't expect this vacation to be like any other you've taken before and keep your sense of humor.

It seems you NEED another dog...not kidding...we all know what we want....what makes us happy... We used to have more pets, dogs, cats, fish. Over the years as the kids grew and pets died off I swore I didn't want any more pet responsibilities after our last 3 dachshunds were getting old. I said that's it, no more, the kids are grown and gone and I don't want to take care of any more pets. Then, before the last dachshie had to be put down, we found a little pekingese at a rental we had. We asked neighbors, we checked the paper, etc., no one knew about her. I fell more in love with that dog than any previous pet that I loved. I never even wanted a pekingese before.... The vet said she was about 6 yrs. old and we had her another 7 years before we had to put her down. I was devastated.....yet I knew I would get another one.... just 2 months later we did. Caesar is about twice as big as Sasha was, male, cream/white. Doesn't look like her but gives us so much joy..he's going on 4 yrs now. We realized our "empty nest" needed a sweet peke, but for us one is enough..