27 April 2021

River takes a Hike

24 April 2021

We took River to one of our favorite hiking spots, Blue Hills Reservation. This involved two challenges- 1. A long drive, and 2. The hike itself. We are trying to get River comfortable with both of these- driving and hiking- as we’ve been home-bodies for the majority of his life, and now we think it’s important that he be exposed to more experiences. 

We hoped River would sleep on the drive up to Blue Hills. He did fall asleep, but not until we were more than halfway there, which meant driving in circles once we arrived so he would get an adequate nap. Finally, we parked, and waited for River to awaken. When he did, it was time for milk, and then, we were able to put him into his carrier and start our walk. It was an absolutely perfect day, with warm sun and no wind. We began our trek, both Bud and I envisioning our regular route along the Skyline Trail, a path we’ve hiked many, many times. As we hiked along the wide path, we stopped to allow River to touch leaves, branches, and bark. He was more interested in the natural elements than the people walking around us. River is teething, and his drool is abundant. About ¾ of a mile in, River started to become antsy. A bit further, and he needed a break. We pulled off the trail to a flat spot in the trees and layed out a towel. We lay River down on the towel with his toys. Right away, he was content again. He was happy to lay and play, and probably would have done this for hours. We stayed for a bit, soaking in the warmth and sounds of the forest while River crunched leaves between his fingers and looked up at the trees.

Finally, it was time to pack up and walk again. From the start of this second leg, River expressed that he was done with walking, so we returned to the car, having completed just over 1.5 miles total. Hiking is surely a different experience with River in tow, but it’s a good experience. Just as we expect River to adapt, we also know we need to adapt, making our hike a little more leisurely, a bit shorter, allowing ourselves to enjoy the quiet breaks in between the grind.

West Island Hike

18 April 2021

During April vacation, Bud and I visited the West Island neighborhood of Fairhaven. I don’t know how we have spent so much time living and recreating in Fairhaven, and we didn’t know this area existed. We drove across a causeway with beautiful bay views to either side and found the West Island Reserve, with its almost 350 acres of trails. Along the trails, we were enchanted by the odd little displays, toys and trinkets creating magical little worlds beneath the trees. Walking until we reached the ocean, we realized River had fallen asleep, so we turned and chose to walk the neighborhood streets where the wind would be lessened and our baby would get his rest. It was time for his nap.

While walking through the neighborhood streets, we were surprised to see a fox sitting in a front yard. We were snapping photos when an older gentleman with a poodle approached us and informed us that the owners of the cottage leave the basement window open for the foxes to live in the winter. Apparently, they’re seasonal residents (the people, and the foxes), and they’re not the only ones who do this for the wildlife. We watched as a second fox casually climbed out of the basement window to sun himself with his kin. They were not nervous at all with our standing right there talking, photographing. “If you go to the right a stretch, there are deer,” the man informed us. And wouldn’t you know it, as we were walking back to our car, we saw a large buck running into the forest, too fast for us to capture his photo. Around this time, River awoke, seeming surprised, but not disappointed, to be outside and not in his crib.

River the Happy Camper

Anyone who knows me and Bud, knows that the outdoors are important to us. Before River was born, if we weren’t working, we were out walking somewhere. If we had a weekend, we were probably in the woods, lugging our needs on our backs from one sleep spot to another. Since River was born, we have been trying to learn how to introduce him to the lifestyle we love. April vacation, with its promise of at least one night with temps above the 30s, gave us an opportunity to camp out for the first time.

We booked a car campsite at a state park less than an hour away. I set my expectations for this trip low. This trip was not for fun, it was to learn. Bud and I have learned over the years that expertise requires trial and error. Our first few backpacking trips were not exactly successes. But they were necessary to develop a proficient system. Some things can’t be learned by reading a book or watching videos. Experience and failure are the best teachers. 

My biggest worry about backpacking with a baby was sleep. You may notice that I write a lot about River’s sleep. I realize I’m a little obsessed with it. I keep close records of every nap- how long he sleeps, how long it takes him to fall asleep. I am constantly analyzing his “wake windows.” Although River now sleeps well at night in his crib, he has never been put to bed anywhere else. I couldn’t envision how this would work. My best guess was that if I stayed in the tent with him, fed him until he was sleepy, and then laid down next to him, he would eventually, hopefully fall asleep. And if he couldn’t, then it would be a sleepy, speedy break down of camp, a late night drive home, and back to the drawing board.  

I was very anxious about this night outside, but I was also eager to just get this first attempt over with. Arriving to the campground and starting the process of setting up camp felt both familiar and completely new. Bud did most of the work. There are many chores to attend to when you start a camping trip, and feeding the baby had never been one of them. 

Bud and I were both a little on edge. River was not. He was happy to lay on a blanket, chew on his teether, and look up at the trees. Playing at Tent Site 1 seemed no different to him than playing in our living room. The day was warm, the warmest day we’ve had this year. We took a short walk, roasted some hot dogs, took a short walk, and let River stay up a little later than his usual bedtime so that he could watch the fire with us for a few minutes.

It was still daylight when I brought him into the tent to sleep. For his mattress, we clipped two folded closed-cell foam pads together, giving them an R value of about 4 (in layman's terms, adequate insulation from the ground). Because he’s an infant, we can’t use a blow up mattress for him yet. The same goes for sleeping bags. Thankfully, there’s a company called Morrison Outdoors that makes infant-safe wearable sleeping bags, and River’s Memere bought him one for Easter. Despite all my doubts, I decided to run through River’s regular night time routine. I sang him his songs, gave him a kiss, told him, “It’s sleepy time. I love you. I’ll see you in the morning” and then I exited the tent, zipping it closed behind me. I fully expected to hear a scream of protest, asserting “This is not where I sleep, Mama. You can’t leave me here!” But I only heard silence.

My anxiety was through the roof as I went to go sit with Bud at the picnic table, still listening for the inevitable. I ate my stress- guacamole and crackers, pepperoni sticks, cheese- and I waited. Five minutes past, ten, twenty. Finally, worried, I got up to check on him. I peeked in, expecting to see a wide-awake baby waiting for my return, only to find a sleeping baby, laying awkwardly on his belly half on and half off the sleeping mattresses.

The hard part was over. This one moment, seeing him asleep in the tent, was a massive weight off my shoulders. If River could adapt so easily to sleeping in a tent, in an absurd sleeping bag, on the hard ground, while it was still light out, then he could adapt to any other backpacking-related trial we presented to him. Happily, I returned to watch the fire with Bud, reveling in the triumph of this one perfect moment.

April 17

Do we have a future Oregon State Beaver Believer on our hands?

15 April 2021

14 April 2021
I Guess Babies Love Play Gyms

When Bud first suggested that we get this baby play gym, I remember thinking two negative things: one, that the cost was too extravagant, and two, it would take up too much space in our tiny apartment. First, why would I want to spend $140 on what is basically a blanket with stuff dangling overhead? Couldn’t I just spend $5 on a blanket and dangle things over the baby’s head myself? Secondly, we have limited floor space as it is. I was anxious about fitting a baby, let alone large baby accoutrements.

Well, I reluctantly added the play gym to our registry despite my misgivings. And to my chagrin, River loves this play gym. If it were up to him, he would sit cuddled on one of our laps every waking (and sleeping) moment. But when we need a minute to ourselves, this play gym is a close second for River’s favorite places to be. He loves to look up at the black and white images we place in the bar overhead, bat at the wooden bell, and kick the hanging ball with his feet. We recently got him these “sensory strands” which are made of various materials, a couple are crinkley, one has a bell, one squeaks (although River does not care for squeaking). He loves to bat wildly at these strands like an eager kid batting at a pinata. This is the only spot River will entertain himself for extended periods of time. So, I learned two things from this experience- Sometimes I’m a cynic, and always get the play gym.

12 April 2021

A Warm Visit on a Chilly Afternoon

11 April 2021

Meme our Baby

River caption contest: Email/text/message us your captions. We think River would make a great meme!

10 April 2021

8 April 2021

5 April 2021

Happy Easter

Love, River

3 April 2021

Daycare Visit

1 April 2021

I always loved my job. I felt like “teacher” was a role that defined me. I thought I’d never want to leave. Now that I have a new role- “Mom”- I can see how people are happy to leave careers they love to become stay-at-home parents. I would become a stay-at-home mom in an instant if we were to win the lottery tomorrow. I know Bud feels the same way. However, the odds of that happening are pretty slim, given that we don’t actually play the lottery. So, until I get a call that some long-lost great uncle has left me his fortune, I have to return to work at the beginning of the new school year. 

Recently, Bud, River and I went to visit a potential daycare. It’s a home daycare with a handful of current little charges. Both Bud and I wanted to find a daycare small and homey as opposed to a larger, busier establishment. This daycare is located conveniently along our route to work in a pretty neighborhood in Berkley. When we arrived, all the kids were so eager to talk to us and tell us about themselves. The home smelled like the muffins they must have recently baked, and there were chicks under a heating lamp in the living room. One of the kids, a precocious little boy with curly red hair, was the first to introduce himself. He then introduced all the chicks by name. The other little ones were very excited to see River, who would be the youngest newbie. They reached out their fingers to see if River would grab onto them. There was one other infant, a serious nine month old who quietly watched us from the care-giver’s hip as she told us about herself. River, being unused to being in a new environment, broke into tears at the sight of all the friendly faces. We kept our visit brief, but gleaned all the information we needed to know. As we pulled out of the driveway after our visit, the garrulous little red-headed boy was in the window waving his goodbye. Based on the smiling faces we encountered during our visit, we decided that this was the place for our little boy. Hopefully, half a year from now, he will be among those happy faces in the cozy little daycare.