Hiking 101 with a certain one year old

When you go hiking with a certain one year old there are certain essentials you must have.

1. A great state park nearby. We went to Mother Neff State Park which was about an hour away. It's not very big (we hiked the majority of it in a couple of hours) but it wasn't crowded and was nice and relaxing. Plus, the leaves were beginning to change and it was an overcast day. Prescription for beautifulness! Quiet, peaceful, family time, smell of leaves, sound of water...awww!
2. A great hubby. This is essential since he carried the 20 pound one year old for the first half of the trip. And, is all around great to be with.

3. A mom. This certain mom carried the one year old the second half of the hike - which entailed lots and lots of kicking and laughing. She was w-i-g-g-l-y! And, the certain mom let the certain one year old touch the water.

4. A good baby carrier. This certain one year old wanted to lean as far over as she could to see mom's feet or the leaves. Or she just enjoyed lurching forward and then kicking her legs (sometimes that was uncomfortable and sometimes that would spring the mom forward but all the time it was cute and most of the time it was captured on camera)

5. A semi-I'm-not-going-to-smile grin. Just because it's too cute!

6. A great hat. A gal's gotta look cute even if she is in the elements.

7. A recliner (also known as daddy) for when you get tired.

8. And, just all around cute babyness.

9. A picnic table to eat on or bang on or climb on or try to suck on.

8. A parent willing to sacrifice their hat or hair or whatever else a certain one year old wants to "play" (uh,hum pull) with.

11. Something good to eat or chew on. Water, hands, fingers...
10. A family ready for a day with one another..