First Big Trip

 

 Thomas had to go on a business trip to Newport News, VA just a few weeks before my maternity leave ended.  We decided to make it a family trip.  Up until this trip, the longest trip Farrah had been on was about 2 hours.  Newport News, VA is around a 13 hour trip for us.  This trip was our first experience with public restroom changing tables, feeding Farrah in public with our fingers crossed that she would not scream bloody murder when we took the bottle away to burp her, and eating out with Farrah every meal.  I guess it was pretty obvious that we were new parents because everyone would say, "Oh, she is so cute.  She must be your first.".

Great-Grandfather

We decided to stop in Knoxville, TN on our way and spend the night.  This was still about a 6 or 7 hour trip because of having to stop to feed Farrah.  We knew we could not do the whole trip to Newport News in one day with a 9 week old, and my Mom's family lives in Knoxville.  So, it seemed like a good pit stop.  Farrah got to see her Great-Grandmother, Great-Grandfather, and Great Aunt.  Farrah was great in the car going to Knoxville.  She slept most of the time.  We visited with family, then made our way to our hotel for the night.  The next day we drove the rest of the way to Newport News, which was still a LONG drive.  We were in Newport News for several days.  There was nothing in walking distance from our hotel, so Farrah and I hung out in the hotel room while Thomas went to his meetings.  We got to know the waitress at the hotel restaurant very well.  Farrah and I would go down for breakfast every morning.  She gave us a bag full of fruit and bottled water for the trip home.  We did have time to visit Colonial Williamsburg and do a little shopping while we were there.  The trip home seemed to take forever.  We ended up stopping in  Chattanooga to stay the night and finished the drive the next day.  The following are the lessons we learned on our first big trip with Farrah.

Great-Grandmother

Great Aunt

• Bring a soft towel for baby's bath.  We really did not think about having to give Farrah a bath or packing for it.  We got some baby soap while we were out one day but did not think about the towel.  Hotel towels are not very soft.
• Always use a changing pad under baby.  You never know when she will decide to go number 2. i was changing Farrah one day in the hotel.  I put her changing pad under her as always.  While I was making the change from wet diaper to clean diaper, Farrah went number 2 with absolutely no warning.  No grunt, no red face, nothing.  Thomas's comment was, "It's a good thing you put down that changing pad.".
•  Bring dish soap for washing your bottles.  We learned this on our first little trip with Farrah to Nashville.
• Packing a car for two adults and a 9 week old for a seven day trip is not easy!