Success! We had a lovely time last weekend all the way up at Gualala Point Regional Park in northern Sonoma County. Natalie had reserved the spot months ago and asked if we would join them for a weekend camping. This was their second time camping ever. Fun!
Since the park was so far away (3 hours no traffic, took us ~6 hours with a 45 min stop in Petaluma on Friday), we reserved the site for Friday night as well to make it worth it. Kevin returned from FL late Thursday night, we packed and did a little work Friday morning, departing finally around 2pm to pick up Olivia from daycare... right after she'd awoke from her nap. Doh! The original plan was to leave at noon, in time for her to sleep in the car!
Olivia cried pretty much the whole way up, and there was traffic in Fremont, and of course near Petaluma. Our Target break was just what the doctor ordered! We bought a new camping stove (forgot to pack ours), a cast iron skillet and perfect saucepan for heating water. I bought Olivia a fleece jacket and warm parka just in case and two pairs of 18 month footie PJs. We picked up a few food items and Olivia consumed two puree packets while we shopped. Little girl was a bit happier when we set out again headed West to the coast from Petaluma. She fell asleep finally within about 20 long minutes and Kevin and I could finally enjoy the drive.... except for know that we'd be setting up camp in the dark - again.Thank goodness for that Target run! WE used everything and the new stove and PJs were PERFECT!
Friday night we were a little testy trying to get the tent setup while having a wired 13 month old. She did have fun exploring the tent while I was pumping the air mattress and trying to set up the sleeping bags... but she kept trying to stick her finger in the pump. Eventually, I took Olivia for a looooonnnnggg walk and she finally fell asleep. Then we enjoyed a little T&O and cheese and crackers, bread, mustard, salami delicious. To bed around midnight. 
Olivia slept through the night without waking once... all the way until about 7:30! At that point I gave her a bottle and talked to her in the pack n play and we got another ~1hour in bed. Yay! She was so happy! She loved exploring the tent again in the AM, and when outside, I finally just put her down in the dirt.... happy as a clam, Olivia tasted all sorts of leaves, twigs, pine needles, ugh!!! We spent much of the morning standing on the picnic table bench, reaching for things on the table, and stacking Cheerios on top of the wipes container. That was a fun game.
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| Almost free! |
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| Escape! Almost. |
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| Naptime! |
Olivia practiced walking around the campsite while holding on to mom's fingers several times. After our tasty breakfast of eggs, bacon and coffee, we went exploring to the town of Gualala just north of us and picked up uncured bacon, bug spray (bad mosquitos in the am) and a few sundry items. Back at the campsite around noon, Natalie, Steve, Gabbie and Maddy had arrived (and baby Kaufman)! Their tent was already setup - it's the easiest thing of wonder ever, and huge! So we made tuna sandwiches, and Natalie and I ended up playing rummy while Gabbie slept, Steve walked Maddy around, and Kevin took Olivia for about an hour walk to the ocean! Fun! I haven't played cards in ages!
Then there was hanging around the campfire, chatting, eventually making sausage and beans dinner, roasting marshmallows, Olivia practicing walking.... and Gabbie loving on Olivia, giving her hugs - and Olivia loving on Gabbie, wanting her to come over and give hugs. Too cute! I joined the Kaufman/Dolce's for a little adventure around the campsite while Kevin had prepped most of the dinner items.
Bedtime on Saturday was a little rough. Maddy refused to sleep, as did Olivia. Eventually, I changed Olivia's diaper and took her on a long walk again. Finally she fell asleep just after 10 pm. There were just too many fun things to look at! Once asleep though, she slept through the night beautifully! When I was up at 3am to use the restroom, Olivia hadn't moved yet - the blankets were undisturbed. She's a restless sleeper at home, so that was a big deal. I loved having those 18 month footie PJs for her - really kept Olivia just warm enough.
Sunday morning breakfast of bacon and eggs was delish again- the uncured bacon is SO the way to go! OMG it was so tasty! Yay for coffee, and Olivia practicing to walk more. I think everyone had a good time - I know I did. Maddie had trouble sleeping through the night on Saturday, but overall, the family had a better experience than their first attempt at camping with two single friends. I guess they were less stressed about kiddo behavior around us, which is a good thing.
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| Hugs from Gabby! |
The weather couldn't have been nicer. Olivia was pretty good on the drive home - only fussy when she was sitting in a very poopy diaper, and when we were 5 min from home. We attempted to eat lunch in Bodega Bay, but she was throwing a tired fit at the table, so after our cup of clam chowder, it was time to leave.
I'm so proud of my little girl starting to walk around more and being so proud of herself. They said she was walking all over the place at daycare (assisted, of course) and tonight I had her "walk" to the bathroom for bedtime from the family room... and right at the threshold to the bathroom, she decided she didn't want to go in, turned, and crawled into our bedroom. Pretty funny!
I'm uploading a bunch of pics to smugmug right now. Eventually, I'll have all the camping photos up as well.
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