Camping...Rain or Shine

We decided early this summer that it had been much too long since we went camping.   In fact, the last time we went I was pregnant with Lilah.  The thought of taking Lilah last year was too much, she was barely crawling, let alone walking, and stuffing everything in front of her in her mouth.  But this year, we felt she was ready to experience roughing it.  Shannon took off two days and we originally were thinking of going for three nights.  However as it approached, I started to chicken out.  I am fighting nausea and exhaustion.  I wasn't sure how well Lilah would sleep in the tent.  And I was having trouble getting us ready to go at all, with everyday adding extra planning, packing, and cooking.   

We made it out Thursday morning just after 10.  We had the car packed with us and the dogs and were pulling the trailer with the gear.  We made our way out of the city and up into the hills.  The temperature kept dropping.  The clouds were forming up ahead and we commented on how we better set up camp fast because it looked like we were going to get some afternoon rain.  We checked out several campgrounds around the Woods Canyon Lake area and decided on one.  Lilah and the dogs were both whining to get out at this point.  We were literally at the site for 5 minutes when we felt the first drops.  Shannon rushed to get the tent up since we had already pulled it out and Lilah and I sat underneath the back door of the car as the rain started to pick up.  Once the tent was mostly up, with rainfly, Shannon joined us and the five of us cuddled at the back of the car for about 20 minutes while it poured.  Then it started clearing and we thought we were good. We unpacked more of the car and started to get set up.  But the dark clouds didn't let up and soon it was raining again.  We tried to sit for awhile under the shelter we rigged, but we were getting wet and our campsite was turning into one big puddle.  Shannon took this picture with his cell phone because I was too afraid to bring my camera out of the car even in its bag.   

I decided that I could at least be setting up in the tent while we waited for the rain to subside so Lilah and I retreated to the tent.  Shannon ran back and forth bringing the suitcases, sleeping bags, and pack n play.  I set up and Lilah "helped."  It was pouring rain at this point with lightning and thunder directly overhead.  Lilah handled it really well.   A couple of the cracks of thunder made me jump out of my skin.  It wasn't long before we realized we were hungry.  So Shannon braved the elements and cooked us dinner.  I wished I had the camera with me in the tent to take a picture of Shannon, standing in a puddle with shorts and sandals on, the rain coming down in sheets, in front of the camp stove.  We made it out of the tent briefly while the rain slowed to a drizzle to eat. But all got soaking wet.  As soon as we were done we were back in the tent and never made it out the rest of the night.  Lilah went down relatively easily and was asleep before 8:30.  Shannon and I were going to wait out the rain and then go back out when it slowed, but were both asleep by the time that happened.  The rain continued off and on all night, but we woke up to a beautiful morning.  

We were able to sneak out of the tent around 7 without Lilah waking! I started hot water and was headed to the bathroom when I saw the most amazing sight.  

And the second most amazing sight of the morning...

Our campsite

Once we were all up we got breakfast and walked around the campground.  Then we decided to take a drive and go investigate the area more.  The campground is located right next to the beautiful Mogollon Rim, at about 7,500 ft.  It is beautiful.  I wish we would have explored it/hiked it a little more.  Instead we decided to drive into the forest about 20 more miles off the highway to a small campground/lake area (Knolls Lake) to investigate the campground.  We are looking for a great place, a little more off the beaten path, but with amenities and this one seemed to fit the bill.  It was a great little lake.  Clear, beautiful, small boat ramp, and chilly.  We had PB&J on the shore while Lilah and the dogs waded.  But we could see the clouds building again and rolling in, so we didn't stay long.  It was worth the drive and spectacular views from the rim.

We had about an hour after getting back before the rain rolled in.

Doritos - ultimate camping snack

Camping war wounds

Taking a nap on her rock

I told her to sit on a rock to take her daily picture - all kinds of large flat boulders around, this is the one she picked

Here it comes!

 I was preparing myself for another night in the tent, and NOT looking forward to it.  I got Lilah and I better dressed for rain and pulled out some things to keep us busy in the rain, outside, as long as possible.  This time the rain/hail down poured about 15 minutes, drizzled another hour, and then let up.  We never even had to escape to the tent.

My umpteenth hot chocolate session of the trip

Puddle hopping

We had dinner and lots puddle hopping.  Then it was time for Lilah to go to bed.  Once again she went down like a champ.  Shannon and I got to have our time next to the campfire, over a game of Scrabble.  Not to brag or anything, but I whopped him with a score of over 300.  That never happens to me!  The campground got more and more full as people started coming in for the weekend.  I was feeling old, I got grumpy trying to sleep while all the "young" people got loud and rowdy and drunk.  Maybe it was a little jealousy as I lay there feeling nauseous, hoping the loud noises and car lights wouldn't wake Lilah.

Morning two, I woke up to voices at 5 AM.  Lilah made in until 6:30.  It definitely wasn't the same calm scene as the morning before.  Instead of two elk, I got to see a trail of red cups heading to the bathroom.  Oh well.  We had a great breakfast, which always makes everything better.

Lilah was a little grumpy this morning.  Everytime she would pick up a toy she would cry out that it was dirty and throw it back down.  Every five minutes, she would whine and ask for us to wash her hands.  Poor thing, I don't think she understood the beauty of camping, and was ready to go home.   I was tired, and so Shannon and Lilah took the dogs for a walk while I laid down before packing.  A must - the camping nap!  Lilah played around while Shannon I took our time packing up the campsite to head home.  Conner was ready to head home too.

The biggest smile of the day - when I asked her if it was time to go home.

I am really glad we went.  It was a really nice trip.  Even the night spent in the tent was worth it.  I think Lilah will love camping, as soon as we can convince her it is ok to get dirty while camping.  And I am so glad we only stayed two nights.  I am exhausted.  But not as exhausted as Lilah was for the ENTIRE ride home.  Literally, OUT, before we left the campground.

A BIG month for this family

I am so ashamed.  It is August.  My last post....mid June!  Wow, I am on the ball this summer.  Granted we were gone from home for almost three weeks while we spent time with friends and family in California.  It was a great trip.  To be honest, the first long trip I have taken with Lilah that I wasn't dying to get home after the first week. She was a great traveler, slept well (except those couple of nights when she would realize I was in the room with her), and had a great time having a constant stream of people to play with.

Naked swim time with Peyton

Then I left again the very next weekend.  Just me, no kid, no husband.  I went to Bend OR and spent the weekend with my good friend CB.  CB is the quintessential gym rat, the strongest, most in-shape girl I know (well besides my SS moms of course).  I knew that an excuse of a good race would be the perfect reason to escape for a weekend and go hang out with her.  We ran the 10k as part of the Deschutes Dash weekend (a full triathlon).  It was a great weekend and so nice to get away from everything.  The race went well too.  I wanted to be under 60 minutes and I came in at 56:14.

Nothing better than finish line drinks (at 10AM)

After that weekend I didn't feel like I could catch up.  I tried getting back to regular workouts and better eating habits.  Lilah was cranky and clingy.  It went on this way for a couple of weeks.  Just trying to keep it together, sometimes succeeding, sometimes not.  Then I had a morning Body Back run on a Saturday morning.  We put in just shy of 6 miles that morning.  Usually I feel great after doing that, but this morning I was dragging.  I took a nap for 3 hours that day and another the next day.  My stomach felt a little uneasy all weekend.  I was crying at stupid commercials.  Wait a minute, could it be, oh no!  I mean, oh YEAH!

That's right.  Lilah is going to become a big sister sometime around April 1st, 2012.  Was this planned?  Yes.  Were we trying?  Yes.  But for only a couple of weeks.  Literally a few days.  And I had been gone so much that there was only once.  Yep, it really does take only once.

I know I am only 6 weeks along and you are supposed to wait the official 8 weeks to start sharing the news, but I am not as nervous this go around.  If anything does go wrong, I am sure I will share with all of you here, and we will move on.   There are actually a lot of things different about the way I feel about this pregnancy and I have a feeling that will be indicative of the whole second kid.

I love this baby already.  I had no idea what having a child would be like the first go around, and had a hard professing love to the thing that made me feel so awful. Of course now I know what that love is and I am already in love with Baby Lentil (the vegetable equivalent for this week).   Last time I had given up all "bad" substances, like alcohol and caffeine, before stopping birth control.  This time I have the 'oh, I am pregnant, guess I better put down this cup of coffee' mentality.  Anyway, I am glad I will have this blog to share the pregnancy ups and downs.  But just don't expect it too often because the official rule is that Momma sleeps when Lilah sleeps is in effect!

Happy Daddy's Day!

This is the first thing Shannon heard on Sunday as he got a big hug and a kiss from his biggest fan, Lilah.  It sounded more like "huppy DADDY dye"  but the point was made.  We swept in baring gifts and hugs for the our favorite Dad in the whole world as we woke him up for the big day ahead.  We made portable breakfast, smoothies and toast, and hit the road to the Phoenix Zoo before it got too hot.  Lilah loves reading about all the animals and can recognize and name all the "big" ones.  She has had two trips to zoos already but Shannon wasn't able to come with us either time so he was excited to go with her.  We pulled into the parking lot, told Lilah we were at the zoo to see animals, and she practically jumped out of the car into the stroller proclaiming "SEE ANIMALS!"  We headed into the zoo, only to find out that Dad's are half off on Father's Day.  Score!  We made it through the whole zoo, only missing a few small exhibits, and had lunch all before nap time hit.  It was a great day and watching Shannon and Lilah share that experience was priceless.  Although I do think my favorite was listening to Lilah proclaim "MORE ANIMALS!" when she had her fill of which ever animal we were admiring at the moment (she said it only about 100 times).  

"Big bird!"

Mommy and Lilah admiring the Bighorn Sheep

Should have had the better lens on while she was looking right at me!

Get the feeling you are being watched?

"Ti-ga"  'Pretty"

They spent a lot of time watching the "Lion sleeping"

You know it is hot when the rhinos are doing everything they can to get into the shade

Important conversations about Mandrills

"Ba - booooooon"

Even the turtles were enjoying Father's Day

One happy, hot little girl.  As soon as I snapped this picture she said "MORE ANIMALS!"

What's next, that rock is boring...

They spent a lot of time watching the elephant

Happy Father's Day!

"Zeeba's!"

I'm watching you, watching me

Looks like they are right in the exhibit

"More gfffs!'

Lilah sings the "ABC's"

This is Lilah's first ever attempt at singing her ABC's.  Luckily the camera was close to catch such an epic moment.  

 

Pushing through the Writer's Block

I sit here staring at a blank screen, thinking that I have a MILLION things I could write about, but not quite remembering what I should say about each thing.  So in an attempt to get me back on track with blogging, I am going to sit and write for awhile, part catch up, part therapy.

Part of my problem is that I don't have much left in me at the end of each day due to the fact that I am smack dab in the middle of another round of Body Back.  I felt I needed the kick to get me back to the fitness level I had before Christmas and before all the sickness wiped me out.  So I am back to trying to stick to a healthy diet plan and two workouts a day.  It is going well so far I guess, 7 pounds down and feeling much stronger already. But man does it wear me out and leave me constantly judging all my actions - does this fit the BB plan???  If I am asking that question it usually means it doesn't.  And I have been asking myself that a lot lately.

As usual Lilah rules my life, as I seem to follow her ups and downs.  Today was a rough one, with lots of fits and raised voices and tears on both our parts.   She is so darn strong headed, boy are we in trouble.  But I have to keep reminding myself to just get through the day because tomorrow will be completely different.  And I am SOOOO incredibly proud of her and amazed on a daily basis.  Her vocabulary is huge at this point.  I would guess at least 50 words, mainly because we read so much everyday that she has most of her books memorized at this point and can "read" them to me.  The hard part right now is that she is trying so hard to say so many words, and sometimes I just don't get it and she gets so frustrated.   But the latest development, as my heart swells with pride, she is counting!  I expected words at 18 months, maybe not so many, but words.  But the girl can count with me up to 10 and knows what most of the numbers are when I quiz her on them.

We had Shannon's parents in town two weekends ago.  They got Lilah and we got to go out on an overnight for our 6th anniversary.  We stayed at the Tapitio Cliffs Hilton and had a wonderful day/evening.  I went for a nice run to start out the day because I knew the next day was going to be shot.  We left the house around 11 and headed to the 9 hole golf course near us.  It had been two years (I was pregnant with Lilah) since I had been golfing and I didn't do too bad.  Then we headed up to the resort and lounged by the pool with beers for several hours followed by champagne and strawberries, followed by an amazing dinner at the Point of View restaurant.  Only negative was that the wind was blowing too hard and we weren't able to sit out on the patio.   It was just what we needed and I am ready to do it again, anybody up for babysitting?

That felt good to get all that off my chest and hopefully that will help me avoid the toffee almonds that were calling my name.  Off to do my second workout of the day and looking forward to a better day tomorrow.

Easter 2011

We had a quiet but very nice Easter weekend this year.  We started the weekend off with an Easter Egg hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny at Stroller Strides on Friday.  Lilah was really fascinated by the very large bunny and did pretty good on his lap.  She wasn't quite sure what the egg hunt was all about though.  By the time she decided she was actually going to go pick up an egg, a little boy swooped in grabbed it.  His mom was nice and made him give it back to her.  Then she got a couple more after and of course enjoyed the snacks inside. The first pictures are proof I did her hair!  She left it in for 40 minutes until she discovered it but it was half out before we got in the car.

Saturday was a nice day at home.  During the afternoon we had a visitor.  We babysat Lilah's friend Madeleine while her parents got a nice day out.  The girls did so good together and had fun.  Shannon decided that the girls needed to help him dye Easter Eggs.  There was 8 eggs dyed in total and several fingers, a couple of legs, some hair, and the patio.

The Easter Bunny made a stop at our house for Lilah on Sunday morning.  He brought her some new books and a couple little toys.  He also hid several eggs filled with Bunny crackers, cheese puffs, and yogurt covered pretzels.  By this time she had mastered the egg hunt, and for those who really want some Lilah time, I will post the entire hunt via video.