Airstream Baby!!!!

[Benjo]

I couldn't think of a better title so I went with this one. My wife and I are expecting our first child sometime late September and we couldn't be more thrilled!!!!

We have been restoring our Airstream Trailwind for the last couple of years and now with this new development I have got to get a move on. I hear that when you have a kid that it's hard to find time to do things, like restoring a vintage Airstream. I haven't been in a financial place to do the proper restoration due to a season of unemployment but have since gotten a pretty great job that I have evenings and weekends off. So, my plan is to have this thing ready to go so that we'll be able to take this little guy or gal with us on these Airstream adventures. I do realize that we won't be doing much traveling when the baby is in infant stages but as soon as he/she is ready we'll go. My dream is to have that camper packed Thursday night and when that whistle blows on Friday we'll be hittin the road for the weekend.

It's funny, the older lady that we bought the trailer from said that her parents used to take her and three brothers and sisters on these crazy Airstream trips. For the life of me I cannot fathom how they were able to fit 6 people in a 16 foot shell. She said they made the best of it and had little hammocks strung up all over the place. Well, that's our plan.

Invitation: If any of you live close by and would like to come over and offer advice, expertise, or just stand around with a beer, you are more than welcome. I will be tackling the frame first and then the electrical issues after that. I've got my work cut out for me but I know it's going to pay off in the end.

Thanks and happy Airstreaming!!!

[Skatiero]

Congratulations!!! We have a much larger airstream than you (29') but we do share it with our SEVEN kids!

Wow, you are in Huntsville! We go there a lot! Have you seen the awesome stream at the Space and Rocket Center?

[Benjo]

Awesome 7 kids, huh!!! Wow. Yeah, we're in Huntsville but it's been quite a few years since I've been to the Space and Rocket Center. We really should get over there and check out that Airstream. Is it in the Davidson building?

[Skatiero]

Yes! It is amazing! It has astronaut bunks! We are thinking if arranging a rally at the space and rocket center campground, want to join us?

[Benjo]

Alright, I'm going to head over there in a couple weeks and check that out. Yeah, we'd love to hang out at a rally. When are you thinking???

[mefly2]

Wifey says ... cute!

[Aviator]

Love the buggy!

It is true, you will have less time and be sleep deprived for several months. That said, had we had our Airstream when the first was born, I see no reason that we wouldn't have taken him out almost immediately. In fact we did fly down to Travelers Rest in Florida and spend time with my in-laws who were full timing in the trailer then.

[crispyboy]

The old cliche is "been there done that" and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
As stated by Aviator you will be sleep deprived and have no time to do anything for quite awhile. Granted some folks roll with the punches better than others but the first child doesn't come with any instructions and the learning curve is steep!
We took our first trip with my daughter when she was 6 months old. We had this great idea that we would leave at 9:00 at night when she typically would go down for the night. Nope - she stayed awake all night watching the cars and trucks on the interstate - we were all grumpy the next day but it was all worth it.

Picture was taken at the Gulf Shores state park campground in 2009.

[Benjo]

Thanks folks for the insight on the matter!!! It helps to hear from other airstreamers. We've really been thinking about staying close for our outings....and by close I mean a half hour to hour down the road. Then if we need to bail it won't be such a long road home. As the kiddo gets older we can venture out a little further and then a little further until we can take an epic trip out west or up to Canada where the wife is from.
For now, I've got my work cut out for me and it seems new projects get thrown on my plate on a daily basis now. I may need to start a volunteer vintage restoration club and have everybody come over and help me punch out these tasks to get the airstream up and running in good working order.

[Benjo]

After many months of waiting and anticipating we are now proud parents of a healthy little boy named "Silas". He was born on Sept 26 after 22+ hrs of labor without meds. He just turned a month old a couple of days ago and we couldn't be more thrilled with him. Time to really get a move on with restoring this camper!!!

[karenjude]

Congratulations! He's just the right size for your trailer

[Travel Bird]

Congratulations on your beautiful little angel!!

[crzycpa]

Beautiful baby boy. Wow he must be 18 months now, fun fun. We have three grandkids now ages 5, 3 and 15 months. We haven't been out with our Trailwind for quite awhile due to a heavy work schedule but hoping to do more in the future. How's the restore going...keepin up with Silas probably doesn't give you much time.
Hope all is well.

[Benjo]

Yeah, Silas has kept us pretty busy and I haven't had much free time to restore. I am planning to carve out some time next year to move on some projects. With raising him, working full-time, keeping things working in the house....it doesn't leave much time at the end of the day. However, once the major house projects have been completed and I will have a little extra time to put towards the Airstream. We'll have to see how it goes. For now it sits in the driveway waiting patiently for it's next adventure. We have our sights set on the Blue Ridge PArkway area in the Smokey Mts. Getting super excited just writing about it. Take care man and keep us posted on your Trailwind adventures!