Watch out, I'll bite!

So after a sleepless camping trip (aren't they all), we returned to have a good nights sleep. If you've read previous posts, you know Jett cut two teeth in the two days after we returned. He proceed to cut for more in the last two weeks. He hast six teeth!! Watch out! I am so glad he isn't in day care, because we would totally be those parents who get the phone call that their kid is biting all the other kids. Just another reason we are thankful for everything we have here in Gold Hill.

The verdict

The perfect camping trip. Our only mistake was not bringing Jett his own sleeping pad. The list i published before worked out great. Of course, there were a few things I did not use at all, but it is always best to be prepared. The plastic tablecloth was the most used item on the list. If we were hanging out during the day, i just plopped him right down on it with some toys.

Jett cut his first tooth the evening we returned from our trip. Yep, thats right. Jett was teething while we were camping and we still rocked that trip!! You don't usually get a great nights sleep while tent camping, so it didn't even cross my mind that anything was bothering him besides our new sleeping arrangement. He was in good spirits, took a 3 hour nap (his longest ever) in the tent the first day we were there, all seemed just fine.

A few last pointers:

• look up the weather where you are camping. See what the low will be during the night, then pack layers that would keep your baby warm in the weather if he were sleeping with no covers. Or.. if your baby is older than 9 months or so, i'd say invest in a kids sleeping bag. We will be doing that soon. Jett slept in a onesie, with a fleece sleeper and then we put him in one of his winter bunting bags. He stayed at just the right temp overnight with no covers.
• Keep your tent in the shade. Many reasons for this, but, as it is related to baby, it will keep the tent dark longer so that you can sleep in a little later :)
• I didn't use the stroller at any point, but i did use my pack A LOT
• No need for a swimsuit, just let your kiddo wear their birthday suit
• Pack baby food/snacks on hikes even if they are short. You never know if you'll get lost (no this did not happen to me)

Thats about it!! Can't wait til Jett can carry his own pack and we can do camping without the car!!

Let's go camping!!

We are headed off on our first camping trip with Jett. I am so excited!!! The excitement is interrupted by moments of complete terror. Will Jett sleep? Did i bring enough food? Will he be warm enough? Will I sleep? I've scanned the internet for a "camping with a baby" checklists. I've found dozens!! I just keeping looking knowing i'll find the one list that has the one thing that the other lists "forgot".

If you are thinking of taking your infant camping, here is the checklist i have come up with.

1. First things first!! A close to home campsite (meaning less than a few hours away just in case). We are heading to Golden Gate Canyon State Park. A one hour drive from our house, but still in the wilderness.
2. As always when traveling ANYWHERE with an infant, pack more than you think you'll need. more clothes, more food, more diapers, more wipes.
   
3. Clothes - Don't pack many bulking items. Pack in layers for each day. (onesie, pants, shorts, socks, long sleeve shirt, medium weight jacket)
   
4. Baby Food
5. Diapers
6. Wipes
7. Bibs
8. Spoons
9. Ointments
10. Booster/High Chair
11. Stroller (they can sit in it around the campfire even if you don't use it)
    
12. Toys and Books
13. Blankets
14. Crib or Play Pen (to keep them contained during the day)
    
15. Wash Tub (shampoo, lotion, etc)
    
16. Sunscreen
17. Hat
18. Plastic tablecloth (sounds strange, but it is great to lay on the ground for play time)
19. Bottles and Formula if you use them
20. Infant Carrying Pack
21. Swing (to hang on a tree)
22. Close toed pajamas (keep the critters out :)
23. Sippy Cup
24. Grooming essentials (nail clippers, nose bulb, etc.)
25. Swim Suit
26. Infant Tylenol (just in case that tooth decides to come in)

Alright.. that is the list. I will be back with a replay of the events next week.

The Fox and the Hen

T HERE was once a little red hen that lived in a house by herself in the wood. And over the hill, in a hole in the rocks, lived a sly, crafty old fox.

Now this crafty old fellow of a fox lay awake nights, and prowled slyly about days, trying to think of how he should get the little red hen. He wanted to carry her home to boil for his supper.

But the wise little hen never left her house without locking the door and putting the key in her pocket; so the old fox watched and prowled and lay awake nights till he grew pale and thin, but he found no way to get the wise little red hen.....

..... now i wish our story ended the way this one does, but it does not. Just to clarify before we begin, our chickens are alive and well (all 17 of them). Unfortunately, our neighbors hens are not. It seems a fox broke into their coop last night and slaughtered 3 of 4 of their chickens. Waking up to this disaster is every chicken keepers nightmare. This is the risk we take. It makes me apprehensive. However, Todd built our chicken house using the plans they use for high security prisons. I hope our chickens live long and lay well!!

Sunset VIew

As is our ritual, Jett and I took our pre-bedtime walk up to the top of Horsefal St. I pushed the stroller up the steep road, just far enough that I feel a slight burn in the bootie. This is actually my plan to get in shape. I know, I need to do more, but anything is better than nothing, right?

When we reached the top, I pulled Jett out of his stroller and decided we would watch the sunset. How romantic! Greyson and Mavric were with us and excited to take a little trek off the road the find some fresh wild scents. We walked to the edge of the mountain and I found a rock perfect to perch Jett. He sat like a King, with me, his first assistant, by his side... ready to respond if the King felt weak and began to slide out of his seat.

We sat for 15 minutes and watched the sunset. It was a lackluster sunset in comparison to the beauties we see nearly everyday, but no less special. Jett doesn't yet have a taste for the sunset. He didn't look at the sun at all, probably because it was blaring blindingly and it just wasn't comfortable to look at. He, instead, entertained himself by picking at the lichen on the rock.

Just before the Sunset hit its peak and I was completely in the moment, feeling connected to nature and feeling so lucky to have what I have, and to be where I am... Jett farted. And, like every time he farts, I laughed. In the broken silence, at the peak of the sunset, We smiled together, not at the sunset, but at each other. This is true love.

We walked back home from our Sunset date, Jett drank some milk, I had some wine and we both went to bed. Perfect date night if you ask me.