Timing

I start my summer semester classes tomorrow.  Linc and I did a few errands on campus today, like buying a parking pass and my last book.  I saw a professor from my last semester and was proud to show him my baby, OUT of my belly!  

For not being exactly planned, this whole parenting thing has worked out well with school.  I'm actually graduating sooner than I was going to, because I don't need to work at the same time.  I was able to complete two entire semesters while pregnant (both with 4.0's!  yeah!)  It came close; I actually delivered on the day of my last final.  Luckily I had asked to take the test early.  Taking one semester off has given me enough time to get acquainted with my baby, nurture him past the newborn mark, and here I am going back to school just as Lincoln starts to sleep through the night.  How cool is that?  And it just so happens that my mother is a school teacher, loves Lincoln a million times over, and is able to watch him this summer while I'm at school.  Talk about counting your blessings.  ;-)  We still have fall to figure out, but I'll worry about that as the time draws nearer.  

Anyway, there isn't much else to say, other than that I'm excited to add a new dimension to my life.  As my friend Lorie says, I'll be a better mom for having something else to think about and spend energy on.  

I sprouted.

Summer 2006 (I think?)

Spring 2009

To climb or not to climb?

I started this blog with a couple posts about bouldering at the Front. I just wanted to say that I've improved quite a bit, thankfully. Last month I kind of received a wake up call, when Tyler suggested that we cancel our membership since we didn't seem to be going that often. This terrified me; it's a dream of mine to continue growing as a rock climbing famiy. I hope that we can have Linc on the wall, even when we move elsewhere for Tyler's graduate school. So I immediately made the gym a priority and am now going 2 to 3 times a week.

I enrolled in a beginners bouldering course. By a stroke of luck, I'm the only one in the class this time round, so I get a full hour of one-on-one instruction once a week for a whole month. That falling problem I used to have? Overcame it. I can drop from the top of the wall now. Although, I'm beginning to realize this act conspicuously labels me as an amateur. Most experienced climbers try to climb back down the wall with as much finesse as they did going up, I think. I still hesitate to explode with my reach from one hold to another. If I can't stretch and touch without letting go of my hand, I'm afraid to just go for it. This limits my ability to complete tougher climbs. But I'm working on it. It's amazing how mental it all is; I'll struggle with one move over and over for half an hour, then the next day I'll be able to do it without a hitch.

Pregnancy really made my arms weak, as my husband and I were both very strict about the "no lifting anything" rule. I don't think I've ever been this weak and flabby before. So, needless to say, I've been focusing on my arms. The rest of my body is different than it used to be. Everyone says pregnancy changes your body shape, but I had hoped it wouldn't happen to me. My belly is squishier, hips wider and my butt a little flatter. (For me, at least. I still got back, compared to most women!) What's really cool, is that of the 54 pounds I gained, I only have 11 more to go before I'm at my pre-pregnancy weight. And honestly, I only care to lose 5 of those. I'm pretty happy with myself at this point, since it's only been 4 and a half months since I gave birth to my baby!

Daddy Moment

Here's the video I mentioned in my last post.

Yuck.

Lincoln expresses his opinion of all things not-the-mama:

Before the evening bath, he gets his vitamins that are recommended for breastfed babies, because apparently breast milk does not contain Vitamin D.  This stuff tastes awful, and Linc shudders every time!  But, we gotta do what we gotta do.  

We have also started feeding him cereal.  The first time was just an experiment I tried on the fly, with a regular spoon.  He was very confused.  The next time, he was more resistant, and I had to actually squeeze his cheeks together so that his mouth would open.

Tyler tried feeding him last night, and something clicked.  Unlike me, he had the patience and persistence to hold the spoon in front of Linc's mouth, until the baby opened his lips enough to slip some cereal in.  Slowly but surely, Lincoln became more comfortable with the process and stopped fussing.  By the end, I think he was enjoying eating from a spoon!  Thank goodness his daddy had enough understanding to realize his baby would cooperate eventually if he wasn't forced into anything.  Way to go, Tyler!

(I took a video of that too, but for some reason it won't upload from my camera.  I'll keep trying!)