Wednesday, March 16, 2011

First trip away from home

This past weekend Jon and I took our first trip away from home with our little Peanut.

Here's what we learned.

Peanut with her Auntie Penny
You have to take an insane amount of things with you even though you are only going away for a couple of hours.  Who knew that the little ones require so many things.  Aside from the baby, the car seat and the regular diaper bag items we also had to bring a spare outfit (blow outs are apparently common in our household), some toys for the baby, extra diapers, the bouncy seat (this is the only guaranteed way to calm her down), a blanket, and extra pacifiers (Peanut likes to spit hers out across the room).  And that's going to Grandma's and Grandpa's house for a couple of hours!  I'm terrified to think what we'd have to bring on an overnight trip.

Peanut with her Uncle Tim
We also learned that it takes an extra half-hour to hour to get out the door.  By the time you figured out how to get the baby to eat just minutes before you leave so that she will sleep through the car ride, you've learned that the baby has a dirty diaper.  So you change the baby and you pack the diaper bag and the rest of the five thousand items you absolutely cannot do without.  Then you strap the baby in.  Then the baby spits up or poops or pees and you have to practically start all over.

Out little flirt
But not only does it take an extra hour to get out the door, it takes an extra hour to get to where you are going too.  Once we finally packed everyone and the car and got on the road, we thought we beat the whole "always late with an infant" ordeal because we planned for an extra hour to get ready.  Then about 30 minutes into the trip Peanut woke up and let out that little squeal she lets out when she's wet.  So we pulled over (I wanted a Starbucks coffee anyways) and stood in line for the bathroom for 20 minutes.  The bathroom didn't have a changing table so we had to change the baby on the floor (don't worry, we have a pad!). 

Proud Aunt and Uncle


So, 30 minutes later, I have my coffee, the baby is clean, and everyone is back in the car.  That's when Peanut decides she's hungry again and will not sit in the car seat for the next hour unless she is fed.  So we have to find a parking lot where absolutely no one is around so I can nurse the baby in the car.

Uncle Mike with Peanut
Once Peanut was refueled, I packed her back in the car seat and re-adjusted everything back to where it was supposed to go.  Then Peanut let out a very stinky sound.  And I had to change her again - this time in the car.

Uncle Mike, having a serious conversation
So, there you have it.  Lessons learned: plan an extra hour for even a small trip, but expect to be late anyways; we can change the baby almost anywhere in under 2 minutes; Starbucks latte gets cold by the time you've changed, fed, and changed the baby again.

14 comments:

  1. Wow, what an adventure. It sounds like you are taking this all in stride. I'm such a planner that I can anticipate needing to let a lot of things go when we have kids...

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  2. That's my schedule everyday with my husband! Just kidding!!!!

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  3. She does look absolutely in love with Uncle Tim. So cute!

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  4. When my little one was 9 days old my grandfather passed away and we had to go to Texas {from Florida} for the funeral. It was surreal. My daughter wasn't even 2 weeks old, I was still recovering from childbirth and there we were driving halfway across the country. A 14 hour trip took waaaaaaaaaaay longer (partly because my mom was moving at the pace of a snail). I pumped in the front seat, Brad would pull over on the side of the interstate for me to hop in the backseat to feed her. Once I tried to do that while we were driving, like I was 16 again, we were in a Prius and I'm 5'11"...needless to say, I got stuck! It was hilarious!!! 2 months later Brad's grandfather passed away and we were on the road again to Georgia. That time a 6 hour trip took 10 and it was ENTIRELY because of Zoe...and to make it even more fun, she screamed the last hour. So...I understand. I completely understand traveling with infants. And, if you feel comfortable with this {and if it's warm enough where you are} if there's a line for the bathroom, or they don't have a changing table, the front seat of your car works great for diaper changes...so does the top of your trunk or the hood of your car. So glad your first traveling experience went smoothly!

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  5. Hi! I'm your new follower from the Wednesday blog hop! I would love it if you could check my blog out when you have a chance and follow back!

    Thanks!
    :)
    Marcy

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  6. Su cute! lol. I feel your pain, Getting to western MA to visit the fam. is a 2.5 hour trip for us. Only once did we make it there with out a temper tantrum, or needing to stop haha. Now that he's older it's actually worse because he knows he is mobile and hates sitting still for any length of time right now.

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  7. Oh my! And it doesnt get any better as they get older... ;)
    Your peanut is just too cute. Congrats :)

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  8. What cute pictures!

    I'm a new follower from Catch a Wave Wednesday. Nice to meet you. Hope you can stop by and say hello! :)

    Wife on the Roller Coaster
    Wife on the Roller Coaster

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  9. I love her outfit! Glad you made it through the first trip!

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  10. Oh my gosh Kat. You're little Peanut has the cutest expressions when she makes eye contact. I love it, she's a happy baby and she's going to live a beautiful life :)

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  11. Too funny! Nick and I already wonder how we're going to travel with a baby. We pack way too much for just the two of us and almost always arrive late despite allowing at least 15 minutes extra time. But I suppose folks don't mind how late you arrive or how much stuff you bring as long as there's a cute baby in tow!

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  12. Too funny! Nick and I already wonder how we're going to travel with a baby. We pack way too much for just the two of us and almost always arrive late despite allowing at least 15 minutes extra time. But I suppose folks don't mind how late you arrive or how much stuff you bring as long as there's a cute baby in tow!

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  13. When my little one was 9 days old my grandfather passed away and we had to go to Texas {from Florida} for the funeral. It was surreal. My daughter wasn't even 2 weeks old, I was still recovering from childbirth and there we were driving halfway across the country. A 14 hour trip took waaaaaaaaaaay longer (partly because my mom was moving at the pace of a snail). I pumped in the front seat, Brad would pull over on the side of the interstate for me to hop in the backseat to feed her. Once I tried to do that while we were driving, like I was 16 again, we were in a Prius and I'm 5'11"...needless to say, I got stuck! It was hilarious!!! 2 months later Brad's grandfather passed away and we were on the road again to Georgia. That time a 6 hour trip took 10 and it was ENTIRELY because of Zoe...and to make it even more fun, she screamed the last hour. So...I understand. I completely understand traveling with infants. And, if you feel comfortable with this {and if it's warm enough where you are} if there's a line for the bathroom, or they don't have a changing table, the front seat of your car works great for diaper changes...so does the top of your trunk or the hood of your car. So glad your first traveling experience went smoothly!

    ReplyDelete

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