Our Happy Little Camper

Some probably thought the idea was a little crazy...I mean how many people take their 6 week old camping?  Pre-Paisley, Scott and I made a promise to one another that just because we were becoming parents did not mean we had to stop going on adventures and experiencing life in various ways. 

With our favorite time of the year upon us, Scott and I decided there was no time like the present to introduce Paisley to the great outdoors.  Packing to take an infant camping was a little more time consuming than if just Scott and I were going, but the end results were completely worth it. 

Our biggest dilemma was where P would sleep.  Scott and I have spent the last couple of years camping under his camper shell on a mattress, but we couldn't just let P curl up next to us.  We experimented with putting him in a large shoe box, a plastic tote (without the lid obviously), and finally figured we would take the top portion of his bassinet and let him sleep in that beside us on the mattress.  Problem solved.  Scott also picked up a small heater that we could put under the camper shell to help keep our little dumpling warm.  With plenty of diapers, wipes and his cold weather  bear suit, we were ready. 

Our camping companions for the trip were his Nana & Papaw (my parents) and our fantastic friends Kenneth and Michelle.  They were all warned pre-trip that there was a chance P would be an unhappy camper and cry the entire time.  With an infant, you just never know.  They were all up for the challenge.

The first evening, we gathered around the fire, roasted s'mores, and listened to the leaves rustle around us.  The park wasn't crowded at all and we were able to hear every sound Mother Nature played on her sound track.   Paisley took in the change of scenery and enjoyed curling up on his Nana's lap.  The temperature dipped but the chilly night air was welcomed.

As our party of 3 climbed into Tacoma Hotel, we were nervous how P would sleep.  Our worry was in vain as that baby slept better than he had ever slept.  Scott would wake up and put his ear to P's mouth just to make sure the little guy was still breathing.  Changing a dirty diaper under the camper shell by the light of a headlamp wasn't ideal, but it worked and I didn't even get pee'd on. 

On Saturday morning, Paisley was happy to spend the morning snuggling with his grandparents.  Breakfast was made and while 1/2 the group hit the mountain bike trails, we took P for a walk/stroller ride.  The sun was out, the sky was blue, and it was the perfect temp for polar fleece.  It really doesn't get much better than that.  Mom made coffee which was the icing on the cake.

Campgrounds are so peaceful.  Paisley stared up into the sky and happily coo'd as the trees swayed with the wind.  For dinner the boy smoked ribs and Scott made a peach cobbler in the dutch oven.  Funny how food always tastes better when cooked and served in the great outdoors.  We happily surrounded the campfire and talked about how stuffed we were as the moon peeked down at us from above the trees.

The second night wasn't quite as smooth as the first night.  Maybe it was because Paisley was having such a good time camping or maybe he just wanted his Papaw to hold him, but come 3AM Paisley was WIDE awake.  Scott and I took turns shooshing and patting his bottom.  We watched the sun come up together as a family which was nice but I don't want it to become a habit.  It made for an early morning but if I'm going to be up that early, there is not two other people I would rather be with.

After another fantastic breakfast under a beautiful sky, we packed our belongings to head home.  Will we take Paisley camping again? Absolutely!  We already talked about getting out at least one more time before winter wraps it's fingers around us.  Would we recommend camping with a newborn to another set of first time parents? Yes!  With a few things to keep in mind....

1.  The trip won't be perfect!  Be prepared for the little one to have a meltdown.  It may or not happen, but knowing that it could helps.
2.  Take a flashlight!  We had completely forgotten any sort of light and changing his diaper in the dark was going to be tricky.  Luckily Papaw had a spare light that made diaper changing smoother! 
3.  Pack extra diapers and wipes.  We didn't have a blow out, but we were prepared just in case.
4.  Bundle up that baby!  His little blue bear suit kept him snuggly warm.
5.  Be prepared for bugs!  Scott bought an infant mosquito net from Campmor to put over his car seat/stroller.  The bugs weren't bad at all, but if they would have been, we were prepared.
6.  Take extra hands! Scott and I would have went camping with just the 3 of us, but it was so much easier having extra hands to help hold Paisley and give the parents a little break (Thanks everyone!).

Until our next adventure...

Happy Campers

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