carseat chronicles.

since the birth of baby boy we really haven't traveled much. well, G has for work but me...not so much. shoot, the last time i even flew on an airplane was when i went to BRAZIL for spring break of 2009!

however, the travel miles we have logged with a newborn/toddler is certainly no small feat. it's exhausting enough just packing up to go to the grocery store, so preparing or even envisioning a trip that requires hours of travel time (carseat time) and packing to sufficiently accomodate baby needs at either a hotel or guest home is quite intimidating (prepared mom's must always pack for worst-case scenario!).

here is a sample list i'd make for just a weekend get-away:
(with something neccesary inevitably missing!)

• bottles (several), formula, baby food (jars AND fresh in a cool-pack), quick (clean) snacks for the drive, sippy cup, bibs
• several changes of clothes because crawling babies get dirty and ALL babies have diaper blow-outs!
• bath stuff (baby shampoo, lotion, wash cloth, towel)
• diapers, diapers and more diapers. wipes, diaper rash cream
• pack-n-play AND several blankets
• stroller
• travel toys (just a few)
• and something i FORGOT but will never forget again when staying in a hotel: dish soap to wash bottles!!!!

....and then I have to think about packing for myself, and by that time i'm so flustered and tired i forget things like my hair straightner, socks, a jacket, etc.

i think the actual travel time is actually easier the more newborn the babe is, because once they are independently mobile and becoming increasingly vocal it takes more effort to keep them entertained/quiet. AND newborns sleep WAYYYY more, which is ideal for travel. kai takes naps, but is definitely awake for the majority of the travel time.

but we've done it. mostly weekend trips over our beautiful native northwest region (boise, portland, wenatchee, etc.), nothing major.

it's undoubtedly tiring, but always a fun adventure.  

this most recent adventure was the most fun yet. i attest this to 10 months of "packing practice" trial and error AND the fact that, well, Kai is just starting to really enjoy new experiences!

G is working in Vancouver (WA), possibly for a month or longer. we had tenatively planned to spend the long weekend in seattle, but with the condition of my allergies/sinuses and the on-call nature of the job he's on, we both decided the best bet was for us to stay close to his job site....AND the fact that we had parents heading that direction for the weekend was even more of a deciding factor because that meant i didn't have to drive and would be free to keep the little stinker happy and occupied QUIET! (woo hoo!)

kickin' back and sippin'...

i'm happy to report that Kai did not have one SINGLE carseat tantrum/melt-down. he got close, though. twice. both towards the tail ends of the destination (enoughs enough!) but he never reached his breaking point.

why, you ask?

#1

 #2

 SUCKERS!!!!!!!

see, Kai really hasn't been introduced to any kind of non-fruit based sugars and, well, desperate times called for desperate measures. it was definitely an enjoyable experience watching him enjoy his sticky, sugary treats. he kept shoving it toward me, wanting to "share." so cute. he literally sucked them both down until i was forced to finish them off due to jagged edges. some parents may frown upon this, but ya know what? I'D I WILL DO IT AGAIN!

{almost} meltdown #2 began at the LONGEST stretch of the drive home from Portland. you know, that dreadful stretch of dry desert highway that extends from Arlington to Boardman to the Hermiston exit. bleh. i DESPISE that part of the drive! and, ofcourse Kai did too. I'd kind of hoped that he would fall asleep after we stopped and ate in Hood River, but, no. he fought and fought and fought sleep, but was quite content until the barren stretch. then i broke out the sucker, hoping that would get us home.

 the little stinker fell asleep literally right when we pulled into the Hermiston city limits.

You can learn many things from children. 

How much patience you have, for instance. 

~Franklin P. Jones