We went camping this weekend with some friends from our ward. It was a notable event, being the first time the three of us have all camped together--Matt has camped with Theo and I have camped with Matt, but this was our maiden voyage as a family.
We left on Friday afternoon. Theo was in pretty good spirits.
(Mom, please note his Bolivian romper)
We arrived after dark and Theo uncharacteristically refused to go to sleep until about midnight, oh and plenty of screaming was involved (all Theo, I promise). I am sure our neighbors quite appreciated that. Luckily we didn't wake up any babies, as far as I know.
After 6 hours of sleep (well, that's what Theo got anyway), we started the day with some lounging and chatting around the campfire. I find a curious enjoyment in letting Theo get ridiculously dirty. Then we went on a hike.
Who was that bearded man?
If you couldn't tell, the majority of photo ops occurred on the hike and I was holding the camera.Also, I think we were all convinced of the necessity of an Ergo by the time the hike was over (well, I was already convinced). Turns out our thrifted Kelty does not quite do the trick for thirty pounds of Theo.
There was a really nice lake near the campsite with a sandy beach that I know Theo would have enjoyed if he had been in a better mood. Unfortunately by the time we made it back down to the lake prepared to swim, he was having none of it. Considering the fact that he normally gets 11-12 hours of sleep a night, plus a 4-hour nap during the day, and he was running on 6 hours plus no nap (we tried, but I've never liked sleeping in a hot, stinky, sun-filled tent either), who can blame him?
Proof that I was there too.
This picture pretty much sums up exactly how poor Theo was feeling by the end of our trip:
We cut it short, loading up the car and heading for home at about 1 p.m. Theo commenced to sleep the ENTIRE ride home, including a stop for gas, which is unheard of for him. He is absolutely not a car sleeper, as much as I'd like him to be on road trips. I guess the trick is to keep him up until midnight the night before.We arrived home around 4 and he continued to sleep for another hour and a half.
Then the next day at church he fell asleep in Matt's arms during sacrament meeting and remained with his head on one of our shoulders for the remainder of the 3-hour block. Also unheard of. Then yesterday afternoon (as Hester will attest) he was completely wired (or completely punchy?) and would not stop laughing...then collapsed into bed early.
Today he seems to be back to his chipper self after having caught up on all the missed sleep. We're going camping again with some other friends in a few weeks, with a few planned improvements: new and larger car (cross fingers!), bigger tent with room for pack'n'play, AND twin air mattresses so that Matt and I don't wake each other up all night. Also, we'll set up the tent before the sun goes down.
Are you jealous?
Are you using that air mattress that I slept on? That leaks during the night? Both of you? Really?
ReplyDeleteNo, that one has been all but trashed. I just need to actually put it in the trash. We haven't used it or made anyone else use it since before we got the futon.
ReplyDeleteFor this trip we borrowed one from a friend, and it actually worked great. It's just that Matt and I both move a lot during the night (particularly me, lately) and I'd rather minimize the wakeups with a set of twins instead of a queen.
Also, hi!
ReplyDeleteI find that 2 Benadryl really aids sleep when camping. Although, you probably can't take those now. I love all of the pictures of Theo.
ReplyDeleteAnd where is the picture of your tummy already? Maybe you don't like those shots????
A bigger tent with room for the crib will help - we always took the porta crib - and the dual mattresses will help - actually Dad and I always used "real" mattresses - but then we always had a truck to take the stuff in.
ReplyDeleteNaps and camping are tough - especially if you have a baby/child who will not fall asleep in your arms.
Maybe a battery powered fan??
I say buy a trailer. It's worth the investment. Really. Soft bed, toilet all to yourself, deduction on taxes as a second home. Really, it makes perfect sense for a once a year camping trip, no?
ReplyDeleteYou're adorable, you need to be in more pictures.
And I'm glad you're back to posting more. It makes me feel smart to read your blog.
Oh, and one more thing. We used to take our hide a bed mattress off to use for our tent mattress. It was way more comfortable than an air mattress, and had a perfect storage place when we returned home. I hate air mattri.
ReplyDeletePS, I like your bading suit, or at least what I can see of it. PPS, tell Hester I miss her.
ReplyDeletei am impressed that you are planning on going camping again.
ReplyDeletei am not a fan of camping - i used to be - and maybe i would now that my kids are older. but i did not like getting up in the dark to walk with bears and mountain lions to go to the bathroom - alone, or with a small child.
and i don't like all the stuff that you have to haul around (and store)to be comfortable - but i do like a tasty foil dinner and i'm always a fan of a perfectly toasted s'more.
sorry if this is a negative comment
You can totally take Bendryl when you are pregnant. Not that I know from experience...
ReplyDeleteI am crossing my fingers for your new/bigger car. So fun!
We also have the Kelty "Meadow" which we purchased from Craigs list last summer. After our first family camping trip and hike we decided it just wouldn't do. So, we bought a brand new Kelty thinking that it would be new and improved. Mostly, it's just bigger and heavier.
ReplyDeleteI have continued to tell Eric that we should get the Ergo since I think it is only around $100 (I could be wrong).
Then I tried "baby wearing" (I have one if you want to try it, maybe with the new little one) but that was also heavy and uncomfortable.
The fact remains that your childs weight will be just that - weight. I am convinced that no type of carrier will improve the weight factor.
Apparently I just need to toughen up and get some muscle.
I am happy that Theo still has the baby tummy. As Nora gets older, I worry about losing those baby features in her!
ReplyDeleteYou are a brave woman for camping at all, let alone with a toddler and pregnant!
And I vote for the two twin beds. They will come in handy when you have young children as well.
My idea/hope is that with #2, we'll start out with the Ergo and not stop, so that the weight increases only a little at a time and feels normal. That's what die-hard babywearers say.
ReplyDeleteWe used a Baby Bjorn with Theo until he was about, I don't know, 5 months old. I used it all the time, never even bought a stroller. But by about 5 months he was only a few lbs short of 20 and the carrier got too uncomfortable. I also have high hopes for the Ergo that it will be more comfortable--plus you can switch positions. Plus I'm slightly nervous about front-facing front packs in little boys since it squashes them in all the wrong places.