A few months pregnant with my first born, my husband and I babymooned in Paris, Florence and Rome. It was romantic. Relaxing. A total adventure, all while daydreaming about our family of three.

Well, fast forward five years, and three seems to be our magic number. In a month, we're having our third child, and the whole idea of babymooning has a whole new meaning.

I did not want to surrender making the most of having two before #3, so at 8 months pregnant, I sought a new concept: babymooning with babies.

Why not escape a couple nights and spend some QT with my boys? While the idea of an adults-only babymoon sounds incredibly appealing, there's a yearning inside me to maximize creating memories of our family of four before it expands.

And so, for all you mamas expecting #2, #3, #4, etc, here are ways you can plan and conquer a babymoon the whole family will enjoy.

Do a Staycation

Don’t stress yourself out with a long road-trip or pricey airplane tickets- choose a hot spot close to home that you’ve always wanted to experience. We picked the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess- only 15 minutes from our house- however, it felt like we had escaped far-far away. Many resorts offer seasonal specials and promotions, such as the Princess’ Summer Splash 30th Birthday Bash. If summer isn’t ideal timing for a babymoon, look into other seasonal happenings. For example, “Christmas at the Princess” would make for a magical family-filled babymoon considering they go all out for the holidays. Moral of tip #1: stay-cay and consider the season.

Seek Balance Between Family-Friendly and Luxurious

Yes, you want to cater to kid stuff, but at the same time, the expecting mama needs posh pampering! Indulge in a highly rated 5-Star hotel…you deserve it. In our case, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is everything you could imagine and more.

The first night, we went to the resort’s Sunset beach pool (for real- equipped with sand!) and enjoyed the dine-in movie. My toddlers thought it was super cool staying up late, floating in the pool and catching a family-friendly flick…and my husband and I got to savor their smiles and catch a few convos while the boys were entertained with the movie.

We spent the next day at the Sonoran Splash Pool equipped with two waterslides and a shallow kid’s area where my boys played for hours. (Oh, and they felt quite comfy in a cabana- definitely reserve one instead of stressing over securing lounge chairs.) Watching my four-year-old go down the waterslide (three times!) made me cry mom tears.

That night, we stayed up way past bedtime for 9pm fireworks, followed by a Techno Glo Party in the pool. (Yep, night #2 of night swimming. The pool was lit in neon and a DJ rocked the crowd. The boys were in dancing heaven.)

With such family-friendly amenities, the kids are occupied, parents are satisfied and everyone is happy.

However, I gotta mention the importance of picking a resort that flaunts luxury, cleanliness, care, accommodations and ambiance. For example, consider spa amenities. Granted, preggo women can’t overdo it in the sauna, but they can get a manicure! Or, on the flip side, maybe dad needs a massage. He too, is expecting.

And food (duh!) cravings are always on our mind. Yeah, we ate a lot of poolside appetizers, but it was nice dining out as well. Select a resort with an array of food options. (And if you ask me- just let your kids watch an iPad movie during dinner so you can pretend you’re alone with the hubby…)

Also noteworthy- top tier resorts tend to go above and beyond when you’re celebrating. Upon arrival, we were greeted with pints of ice cream and pickles in our room. These kinds of things really make an experience an experience. Such resorts are rated 5-Stars for a reason.

Prioritize Accommodations and Comfort

A roomy room and plush beds are a necessity when bunking with family, especially pregnant. Surrender the standard room and go for something deluxe, or even a suite. Your 2-or-3-night babymoon staycation will be much more enjoyable if you have room to breathe…and spread out.

At The Princess, we opted for a deluxe room which was perfect. While not a suite, it was incredibly spacious with two cozy beds (the husband and I each bunked with one of our kids)- that’s the norm, right?! It also had a nice balcony with sitting area and a gorgeous view, especially at sunset!

And BTW, The Princess offers many types of rooms throughout the vast property. Casitas are popular with families, as they are secluded and more residential in style. 

Cherish Special Moments

May favorite tip of all, by far.

Before splitting my kids between beds, I decided to fall asleep between both my boys. It’s actually a moment I’ll hold onto forever. Night one, my husband went downstairs for a drink so I could have some QT with my kiddos. We laid down, mama in middle, and as always, talked about our day and sang songs. But this nighttime ritual was emotionally different than other nights- why? Because all I could think off was my boys, one on each side, snuggling me so tight, and hanging on as if they knew a big change was forthcoming. It’s as if we all knew our time of “just us” was running out, and within due time, our hearts and home would be expanding with another person. In the pitch dark, we snuggled. We sang. I told them how much I loved them, as I always do, but in a different, reinforcing sort-of way. And then we fell asleep, and the moment was over.

It’s moments like these that only come about when you least expect it, like crying watching Nicholas bravely tackle the waterslide, or laughing at my Zachary bopping to hip-hop during our nighttime in-pool dance party. Take plenty of pictures, but also still-frames in your head. While this type of babymoon might be out of the cliché, it will be well worth the memories.

Don’t be Scared

And finally, break rules and schedules.

Goldfish for breakfast, go for it. You boys enjoy those snack bags while I order Vanilla Brioche French Toast (thank you, Fairmont room service).

Stay up too late- why not?! We didn’t fall asleep until 11 or 12 every night, and granted, I have two energetic kids under four.

But the truth is, these are the moments you’ll remember…and they’ll remember. We love to vacation because it’s an escape- an escape from every day life, an escape from the norm, and an escape from reality. Such escapes are meant to be treated lightly. Grant yourself position to surrender. Let them swim until pruned. Order dessert. Make the most of your stay by experiencing what any given resort has to offer.

Believe it or not, we didn’t even have time to fit everything in! Summer at The Princess also offers story time with mermaids, virtual adventures, and a kid’s club for older youth and tweens. Plus, dad can always take a time-out and tee-off at the esteemed TPC Scottsdale golf course.

You might be ready to pop, but you still deserve carefree fun. Don’t overstress. Let the babymoon unfold with ease. Go with the flow. Show your kids your child within. They will appreciate it.

And if your water happens to break, no worries! That’s why you’re staycationing.

Nadine Bubeck is a TV personality, fashion designer, author, blogger, and Scottsdale-based blessed boy mom.