This past weekend Mr. R and I were lucky enough to be invited to the Resort at Squaw Creek in Tahoe to partake in the festivities for Toyota’s Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. It was our first real adventure outside of the house since having Marina (didn’t take us long, she is 3.5 weeks old!) and we were definitely nervous to make the trek.
While Tahoe is a regular vacation spot for my husband and I, making the 3.5 hour drive with a newborn added a whole new level of stress. How many diapers will she need? Will she sleep in her co-sleeper, bassinet or Dockatot – and should we bring all 3? Do we have enough warm clothes for her? Should I bring my pump? Even though it was just for 2 nights, our packing list was endless. Plus, keep in mind that I have to take pictures and blog while I’m there, which means all my camera equipment, computer and additional tech materials. We ended up packing 3 overnight bags, 3 backpacks, 1 bassinet, a stroller, a diaper bag and a bag of extra food for our 48 hour trip! Luckily, Toyota gave us a 2018 Highlander on loan to try out for the weekend, which was actually a lifesaver. This car was big enough for our stroller and our neurotic packing list, but wasn’t so big that we couldn’t park it anywhere.
Plus, it had the newest Toyota Safety Sense technology which made me feel extra safe while driving through snow and rain over the pass. The most hilarious part of the technology for me was the Lane Assist tracker; it would beep every time Mr. R would get to close to a driving lane… which just served to fuel our constant battle about who really is a better driver ;)
Once we got to the Resort at Squaw Creek we set up a little oasis for Marina, a pumping station, and a tech station (because these are the priorities these days) which made the rest of the trip easy and organized. The weather was absolutely beautiful and the Tahoe air is so fresh, so we took Marina out for a walk in her stroller before dinner. She slept the best she has ever had that night, which makes me think the fresh air or the altitude helps calm babies. Anyone have any knowledge about that to back me up or am I just making it up?
On Saturday the main objective was to be outside as much as possible, then enjoy a night out at the Toyota Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame induction ceremony. I ended up going to the event by myself as bringing a newborn to a crowded room is not the smartest idea! It was awesome to see Johnny Moseley there, who is not only a famous Olympic skiier, but a resident of my home county. I enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine since I pumped right before heading to the event, and thought I could enjoy a few hours of a small buzz before it’s back to being Bessie the cow.
On the way back home on Sunday we took advantage of our Highlander and stocked it up with groceries and pies from our favorite fruit stand. This was the perfect weekend to test out traveling with a baby, as the car made making packing decisions easier (simple- bring it all!) and we knew that we would be comfortable and safe the entire way. Heading to Squaw Valley was also the perfect destination because the crisp, clean mountain air always refreshes me and helps me think clearer, which is exactly was a 3 week postpartum, sleep-deprived mom needs. We can’t wait until we head back up to Tahoe again and this time, maybe pack a little smarter!
Thank you to Toyota for partnering on this post!
