Camping!

We went camping with my family this weekend at Sun Lakes.  It was a beautiful place.  I love central Washington, not just because I hate rain, but because I love hills.  I like looking at the hills around my town, and around the other river valleys in this part of the state.  I have veered onto the rumble strip more than once because I'm too busy staring at the landscape to realize that I should actually be driving.

Little C in her cage playpen.

But it was hot too.  We got there before my parents and set up camp.  We were one of the only sites with good shade.

Yay! we're all set up!

 It was fun to spend some extended time with my family.  Especially my little brothers and sister.  They are 10 and 14 years younger than me, so they aren't to the age where we can have conversations on the phone and stay in touch very well.  I hear everything that they do from my parents, but they are starting to grow up, and I  like hanging out with them.  It is funny though, how much they remind me of my other siblings, Maggie and Jeff.

me and Little C early Saturday morning

Abby and Paul adore Caroline, Sam was probably following Nick around waiting for him to say a bad word.

My brothers love to talk to Nick.  They think every word out of his mouth is either jaw dropping, knee smacking hilarious, or very wise.  They especially like talking to him about sports.  Sam is like his shadow, quietly taking in everything that Nick does.

See, here's Sam sitting behind Nick.  He was reading a book (The Hunger Games!!), but he still wanted to be near him.

 We were about 100 yards from the lake.  It was a good thing too because at 90 degrees that's where I like to be.  Nick and Caroline too.

We think there was some kind of dead fish somewhere close.

That's better.

In 2 months C and I are going to take swimming lessons at the city pool.  That will be the "take a class" I cross off my list.  The girl loves water and I aim to keep it that way.  She loves to be on her tummy, kicking and paddling.  Even sticking her face in the water.  Blah, blah blah, I know.  My baby is the best, I know, you're sick of it.  My blog, so there.

Side note:  I try to get people to say C is "the best baby" whenever I take her places.  It has to be those exact words.  My record is 4 in one day.  If you have kids you should try it.  I swear it will make your day.  If you don't know where to start try the doctor's office or the bank.  Those guys and girls are suckers for a baby.

Isn't she great?

 

In conclusion, I love camping.  I love my family, and I can't wait to go again.  

thoughts on being a good mom

I have a 4 1/2 month old baby girl, and with all my heart I want to be the best mom I can for her.  Before she was born I ate carefully, thinking about what would be best for her.  I seriously considered cloth diapers because they might be the best.  I spent too long trying to pick out a stroller carseat combo.  Who has enough time, or brain power while pregnant, to interpret every safety standard and suggestion while also trying to match a damn color scheme?  That nightmare ended when I let my mom, who is a very good mom already, pick it out.  The pediatrician tells me different things to do or watch for each time we visit, and every set of grandparents has their criteria for being a good mom too.

It is exhausting trying to do it all.  And I know I'm not doing it all right.

So I breastfeed.  I know, 100% that it is the best food I can give Little C.  There is nothing better for her.  This one thing I am doing is...perfect.

That said, there is one other thing I am doing to be a good mom: getting healthier!

We (the husband has jumped on the fitness train too) need to be around, and be able to run, jump, and play with Little C in order to be good parents.

Enter Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and the jogging stroller.

In conclusion, we will be eating organic produce this summer from a local farm via a CSA (Community 

Supported Agriculture), and I will be training for a half marathon in October.

 This is a good tidbit from the book:

"If I had to quantify it, I'd say 75 percent of my crucial parenting effort has taken place during or surrounding the time our family convenes for our evening meal.  I'm sure I'm not the only parent to think so.  A survey of National Merit scholars--exceptionally successful eighteen-year-olds crossing all lines of ethnicity, gender, geography, and class--turned up a common thread in their lives:  the habit of sitting down to a family dinner table."

This is my mom.  I love her.  We ate dinner together most nights, and she made those dinners.