I can see the stares, the Woo’s the haw’s at the deception I am instilling in all of you faithful readers of OutdoorBaby.net.  Yes, my second daughter Ramona who is already 4 ½ months old has no real outdoor experience to brag about. Her sister went on her first camping trip at two weeks, but the second Ahrenskeaff is not as lucky.

Having two children does change the dynamics and the possibilities for outdoor travel.  I should say that yes, Ramona has gone on little strolls outside, she has gone on a few little hikes, but no big mountains, no ski trips, no tent camping, no long car travel.

Should I be ashamed?

On my writing list, I have had for months “Tell the world about Ramona’s first outing” and then nothing happens. No trips are planned, no hiking boots get pulled out and not skis get ready.

Why?

It takes us 20 minutes to put on all of our snow gear and then 20 minutes later Cora gets tired or has a runny nose or needs to go to the bathroom and then it is time for Ramona’s first nap which for some weird reason can’t happen in the car or in a stroller (that is the only way Cora would ever sleep).

Or, take the time that we went to get our passport photos.  We first needed to visit the notary and then go to the post office.  We all had to be present, so it took us 4 ½ hours to accomplish what a single person would spend 1 hour doing.  It was a huge ordeal consisting of running around slushy wet streets, pulling on and off many layers of warm clothing, changing diapers on our lap in the car. To me that is a wilderness adventure.  I don’t need to add trees, bears or rushing rivers to make it eye opening or real.

So what’s next?

Of course, we are not planning on spending our days with our new daughter driving around to post offices and taking shuttles to the ski hills without actually being outdoors with her, but we are taking life one day at a time.   I have to admit that most of my bigger outdoor adventures with just Cora involved either me going with a friend or having other people involved in the planning.  All that has just not happened yet for Ramona, but I am sure it will. So, stay tuned for the story ‘ Ramona’s first outdoor adventure’

Heidi Ahrens

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