Audrey Beatrix: A Big Adventure

Before having a baby, going out on an adventure was easy. On a Saturday afternoon, Ian and I would look at each other and spontaneously decide yes, let's go out. Grab keys and purse and we're gone.

Now, it's a little more involved. Going out anywhere requires planning and rucksacks full of nappies and toys and sun hats and coats and wipes and drinks, it involves car seats and carriers and when-will-she-need-a-nap and when-will-she-need-a-feed style timetabling. And when you're bone tired because she's teething and waking up every hour all night long, it seems like the very last thing you want is to put yourself through all that.

But when I do, when we make the effort and run around and do our very best to organise things and get out there for A Big Adventure... I'm always glad that we did.

Yesterday we went out with Uncle David and Uncle Graham for an adventure in the Pentlands.

Ian has recently acquired a bicycle and went for a bike ride with the boys, while Audrey and I climbed up a hill.

It only took a few moments to get the bikes ready, and they were off!

And Audrey and I set off on our way too. We started out on the 2 mile family route, with lots of beautiful little stops along the way.

I wasn't sure how far I'd be able to walk while carrying Audrey, she's pretty heavy now and I'm still recovering from both pregnancy and the c-section at the end of it, but we quickly found our stride and set off away from the lower paths up into the hills.

We saw a LOT of cows. They were roaming around the paths and were really fearless, one of them even let us stroke him on the nose.

The Pentlands is one of my favourite places, and it meant a lot to me to be able to go hillwalking again. I've not been in over a year, and I hadn't realised what a toll it's had to be so cooped up. I used to walk a lot and, with work, I had a pretty active lifestyle. Striking out into the countryside with Audrey yesterday I felt, for the first time in a long, long while, independent again.

I ached and sweated and struggled up to the top of Turnhouse Hill with Audrey on my front and a backpack full of nappies and Irn Bru on my back. We stopped frequently for little girl to have a good look around and feel the sun and the wind on her face.

For the first time in months, Audrey wasn't bored at all, at any point in the day. She had two good long naps and two feeds, and spent the rest of the time staring and staring at how huge and breathtaking the world suddenly was.

It felt great to reach the top of the hill, and the views were beautiful.

At the top of the hill we stopped and I nursed Audrey to sleep. It was a powerful experience, nursing her up there all alone in the hills with a clear view down into the valley.

I met a family with three small children, the youngest of whom was only 4 years old. It was quite an impressive trek for such wee ones! I could imagine going for walks with Audrey when she's older, seeing her climb the trees and play in the grass.

Our descent on the other side of the hill took us past the reservoir.

And instead of cows, this side had a whole lot of sheep! Audrey was actually a little unhappy about the sheep, until she fell asleep. Like the cows, though, they were very friendly and brave and let us wander right by them.