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Today, I decided to take Zach to school so I could have a quiet day with the baby. What I really wanted to do, was take Arlo up to Hurricane Hill and hike. Plus, I need a break from Zach. He has been so opinionated, needy and opositional lately- even needing one of us (usually me) to sleep with him at night or he gets really upset. I threw a tantrum worthy of a toddler this morning when Zach was having a difficult time getting ready and it looked like Joe might not have time to drop him off. In a very strategic, passive aggressive move, I raced Zach out to the car, dressed him and stuffed him in his seat before Joe left the house, figuring if Zach was already in the car, Joe couldn’t say no, could he? So Joe (bless him) drove him to school and I have called twice to apologize for screaming like a shrew at my husband (only after I first called and yelled at him some more).
Anyway, I have felt recently like summer is slipping by me. And life too. I just wanted to spend some time outside today and hike. Hurricane Hill was one of the last places I ever went with my sister and the hike always makes me feel better and brings me a little closer to her again. I used to go all the time with Zach when he was a baby, and just wanted to do the same with Arlo. I feel like Arlo is always a second to Zach and I just wanted him to be first today.
Arlo in the parking lot by Hurricane Hill
I got just what I needed, some exercise, time with my baby, sun and gorgeous views. I could feel my sister stopping me to read every single educational posting and look at each flower. And as I looked at the mountains, suddenly my problems seemed very small. That is what hiking is about for me- getting out of the house and out of my head to just find peace and inspiration.
Arlo in the meadow on Hurricane Hill
I feel better now- I burned off some negative energy and did something for myself. Now I can deal with Zach again, because I have dealt with myself. Something I need to do more often.
When pictures can just speak for themselves…
We’ve been trying to potty-train Zach now for several months and progress has been almost non-existent. All of his little buddies are now veterans on the potty and I’m starting to be a little embarrassed that I’m having so much trouble, especially when parents ask me for advice in clinic about potty-training. Being a parent has made me a very humble pediatrician at times.
Anyway, we had a breakthrough today! On the advice of our friends in Montana, I’ve been letting Zach run around naked as much as possible. Last night this resulted in him crawling through the dog door and pissing and crapping in the dog’s yard. Joe (bless him) even went out and used the dog’s poop scooper to clean up the mess. Zach was thrilled (about having his poop scooped), and so was I. Hey, any poop not in the diaper is progress, right?
Then this morning, I took him outside to pee, he crawled up a pile of gravel with his naked little body and procedeed to thouroughly mark his scent over the entire pile, even scratching with his foot cover up his pee; it was like watching a cat in her litter box. Then a few hours later, I couldn’t find him anywhere. He usually disappears like that when he needs to take a dump. Oh SHIT!, I thought (pun totally intended) as I raced around the house looking for the pile of crap that was waiting for me somewhere. I noticed the bathroom door was closed and I peeked my head in, and there was Zach proudly holding the cup from his potty which was filled with pee and a huge turd. I have never been so proud.
I took the boys to Graysmarsh Berry Farm yesterday to celebrate Arlo’s first birthday. Arlo LOVES strawberries and he was in heaven. He just sat in the row of berry plants smashing strawberries into his mouth until he was covered in a mixture of strawberries, drool and dirt. I wasn’t sure how the kids would do while I picked berries, but they were awesome. I picked 12 lbs of strawberries (Zach picked three, berries that is, not pounds and said they were “yucky”) and I even had some time to make some freezer jam once we got home. Arlo will love that! Later in the day, we took the kids to the weekly Concert on the Pier and enjoyed our friends, some snacks, great music and sunshine.
And what to say about my birthday boy? The sweetest baby ever- with eyes so big and blue that sometimes it is like looking into the ocean. He is in this sweet stage now where he is not quite a baby and not quite a toddler. He is going to be a busy little man, he can really get around crawling now and is starting to be quite proficient at cruising and transferring. Walking days are definitely just around the corner. He is so expressive too- saying “Mama” and shaking his head for “No” are his favorites, but he is also waving, pointing and clapping and starting to imitate other sounds. He has more of an attitude lately too- freaking out when we have to take something away or when he doesn’t get what he wants, so I can see my “easy” baby is going to turn into an opinionated toddler! He is definitely a mama’s boy, still nursing and can’t bear to have me out of his sight. And I love that he will eat almost anything! After dealing with Zach, it is such a relief to just put food in front of Arlo and just watch it disappear.
Arlo’s birthday will always be a little bittersweet for me. Every year we celebrate a year with him, it will be a marker of another year without my sister. She was everywhere with me yesterday- helping pick berries and then taking the kids for ice cream, trashing the kitchen together making jam and then dancing on the pier with the kids. I miss you Jess.
