Welcome to our blog! We document our adventures in travel, food, and family. Hope you have a nice stay!
All in Family
Planning a tent camping trip with a young child can seem daunting, but if you’ve got some good camping experience under your belt pre-kids the transition isn’t as tough as you would think. Our daughter has been on two camping trips so far under the age of two so while I’m no expert, I’ve definitely made note of a couple of things that worked for us so far!
A lot has happened in the last year including a cross-country move, a new job and surviving the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope you’ll join us for our new adventure out West!
A baby’s first hike is a big experience! You’ll want to consider the following to make sure baby’s first hiking experience is enjoyable for both parent and child: nap timing, equipment, trail length, terrain, elevation gain and flexibility!
Now more than six months into this whole baby thing, I’ve been able to look back and evaluate the top products that worked for us. I’ve made notes on each item with suggestions where to find them and if we recommend borrowing or purchasing second hand.
There are a lot of emotions that come with having a baby that needs to spend time in the NICU before coming home. I was envious of all the sleep-deprived parents who got to bring their baby home right away while I was leaving mine at the hospital each evening. I was angry that I never had the chance to moan about how uncomfortable the ninth moth was. I was sad that I never had the chance to get the baby’s room ready and “nest”. I felt guilty that my body failed me and my baby. At the same time, I was so grateful for the amazing care from the nurses and doctors in the NICU who cared for Callie during her stay. Especially the nurses that fielded my 12:00am, 3:00am, and 6:00am middle of the night phone calls with patience and reassurance when I woke every three hours to pump the milk I’d bring my baby every morning.
If you’re a frequent reader of Dash of Adventure you may have noticed I’ve been MIA for a while. I’m glad to say that I have a great excuse for taking a bit of a break, on January 11th we welcomed a baby girl, Callie Rose, into the world!
Last summer we made a vow to get out of the city more and spend more time in nature. Even though the Midwest doesn’t have the scenery of a Colorado or an Oregon, there are still plenty of places to camp near Chicago that will help you reconnect with nature. There are great locations in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and even Illinois that are a two-hour drive or less and have great trails and campsites for a night or two away.
