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.