Life is a balancing act. Are you a road trip or baby kinda balancing act?

I thought the past few years were busy, but apparently 2014 is Year of the Second Baby. Oh, and I also have 6 or 7 weddings to attend this summer alone. In fact, my dumbphone, Facebook, and Pintwittergram are filled with so many dirty diaper stories, horrific bridesmaid dresses, and baby mugs that it’s not even worth logging on anymore. Oh, stop taking offense. You feel the exact same way–or did before you got all preggers on us.

I thought to myself, you know what would look really great juxtaposed with your baby’s adorable double chin? Some rocky landscapes and arches. So I took off to California for a roadtrip to Arizona and Utah.*

*Presence of baby photos not actual reason for trip.

Off I flew to the America Southwest(ish) to visit my outdoor adventure-photography-food friend, Vic. As we started off with the eating part—we were attending the country’s largest food fair for 3 days while in L.A.—I started to realize that the thoughts, worries, and daily choices I was being forced to make while traveling were not all that different from my baby-readying, kid-rearin’, and/or wedding-planning friends. We all have choices to make.

The choices were pretty simple at first.

Them: What color do we paint the baby’s room: vomituitous pink or stale pale blue?

Me: What chocolate-covered berry flavor do choose: raspberry, acai, or blueberry?

Or a few days later:

Them: How do I hide the growing baby bump w/ a shirt?

Me: Which shirt do I wear at Food Show: Day 3 in order to hide my personal obesity epidemic?

And later still:

Them: The baby’s one year old. I should start getting my body back in shape.

Me: Nope.

But pretty soon, we all face unforeseen challenges.

Them: After a few months of marriage, we realized that not every situation will be black and white; after all, marriages and parenting are often about compromise.

Me: After a few frames, I realized that black and white photography works really well in the desert

Them: He started to snore, and it ruined our sleep. What do I try: Breathe-Right nasal strips, sleeping in separate rooms, or gently waking him up?

Me: My camping buddy started snoring, so I immediately smacked him. When that didn’t do the job, I placed my pillow over his mouth and held it firmly in place for a few minutes.

Them: That bridesmaid looks so awkward in that photo! My groomsmen and I all look normal…what happened on that side?

Me: Every photo I’m in looks awkward. 

Them: Let’s make sure we get child #1 on a strict bedtime schedule. 8 p.m.?

Me: Let’s make sure I have no schedule so I can go out and photograph night timelapses at 8 p.m., 2 a.m., or 6 a.m.

Them: Let’s get another photo with the baby! 

Me: Why am I holding a baby pug?

Conversations can get pretty ugly.

Them: Every time you say “jump,” am I supposed to say “how high”?! I’m not your servant, SWEETIE.

Me: How high do you want me to jump?

[Awesome photo by Victor Vic Photo]

But in the end, it often works out. Well, 50% of the time it ends in divorce and custody battles, but for the other 50%, it often works out! You see, we’re really not all that different, you and I.