Category: Getting Outside

RACING

We pulled out of our driveway last Sunday morning at roughly 5 a.m. to make it to Seattle to watch Barry’s 6:30 start of his race. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go – me carrying Maggie around in the backpack while we watched the swimming, biking and running; however, she surprised me with how much she loved watching all the action. The night before she had helped Barry clean his bike and lay out all his gear, which meant that she was well versed in what he’d need for each portion of the race. 

When he transitioned from his bike to the run, she was very worried that he might not change into his running shoes and when we saw him at the finish line, she immediately checked his feet to make sure he had the right shoes on. She’s quite the little boss-hog. Not sure where she gets it from….must be Barry. 

Barry did great at this olympic-distance race, as usual. He’s so humble and would never tell you all the hard work he puts into training, but I’m here to tell you that most mornings he is up by 5:30 and off working out.  It became especially inspiring to me durning my first trimester, when I wouldn’t have traded a million dollars for a few extra hours/minutes/seconds of sleep. 

And by the way, isn’t he hunky? 

OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES & PICTURES

Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be 80 degrees and when I heard that I instantly checked our popsicle supply ~ worry not, we’re good to go. All joking aside, it is supposed to warm up tomorrow and I can hardly contain myself. We’re going to meet up with some friends and I’ve already set out the cooler, sun screen and towels.

(Really gross side note: I have a bit of a rash and was talking to Lara about it today and we wondered if it was heat rash. Wouldn’t that be AWFUL if I got heat rash in 60 degree weather. I would equal a TOTAL Weather Wimp if that were true. I think I must have eaten something weird, or at least that’s what I’m hoping.  Sorry to share my rash with you. Gross. )

I feel energized again in terms of taking pictures, but recently came to the realization that I have almost zero photos of me. I need to get better at handing the camera off to people or even setting up the self-timer for some shots with Maggie. Right after I had Maggie I read a compelling article about The Invisible Parent – the one who usually takes the pictures – and how children often don’t have pictures of themselves with that parent. For the first year of Maggie’s life I worked really hard to get an image of us together at least once a month, even if it was posed, and I have totally slacked off since.  This is my declaration of trying to take more pictures of us together…and letting go of the image in my brain that I hope the photographer will get. Just having images should be enough. 

CAMPING

We’re finally going camping in a few weeks. We’ve been putting it off – sadly I’m not sure that we went at all last summer – and now we’ve actually got some time on the calendar. I’m excited, but after setting up the tent in the backyard, I’ve determined that any excitement that I have is superseded by Maggie’s. I went to run some errands last weekend and came back to find that Barry and Mags had set up the tent. As I walked through the door, I could hear Maggie yelling, “Mama! Mama! I working in here! I working in here!” 

By the time her frazzled head stuck out I was doubled over in laughter. The sweet little Nugget was so excited to have the tent up that she was literally bouncing off the walls. I really don’t know why we’ve waited so long, since we love camping so much. The last time we went, Maggie was 3 months old. Geesh.