WEEKEND WRAP UP

As a parent, I've learned that there are good days and bad days, and we need to accept the bad days because they give us a greater appreciation of the good ones.  Seeing how we've had so many goods days these past few weeks, we were due for some bad ones, and whoa, did we get them.

 

Friday

A few weeks ago we decided to go camping with Joe's family down at the river property, but found out that his sister wouldn't be able to join.  Bummer... we decided that camping still needed to happen so we quickly loaded up the truck Friday after work and headed over to a nearby state park.

 

Right about the time we got out of the truck is when things turned south.  Conner has no hesitation or fear for running off into the woods by himself, and that's pretty much how the first half hour went.  Then we moved campsites to a more secluded area so our neighbors wouldn't have to hear Conner being so loud.  The rest of that evening was filled with tantrums from that little boy that Joe and I have never seen before.  I sincerely hope this is not a preview of the well known "terrible twos".

 

Putting up the tent and air mattress gave Joe and myself a little bit of a mental break because Conner diverted his attention from running into the woods to jumping on the air mattress in a confined space.  Meanwhile, we were contemplating whether we should just go home or stick it out.

 

We stuck it out.  It took over an hour and half to get Conner to sleep, and I think I almost fell asleep waiting for him to.  After that, Joe and I had some one on one time to talk at the fire for about twenty minutes before this pregnant mama had to throw in the towel.  Oh how I miss the days where sleep was not needed and I could enjoy long conversations around a campfire.

 

The only picture I have from camping where Conner wasn't running away or crying.  Joe and him playing "hide behind the tree".

 

Saturday

We wasted no time getting up Saturday morning, cooking breakfast and packing up the campsite to head home.  Conner was doing much better, but we knew our window of time was short before he'd be running off again and throwing tantrums when we'd go after him.  It's hard explaining to a 22 month old that he can't just run off in the woods.  He has his daddy's sense of adventure and love for the woods.

 

The rest of the day wasn't that exciting.  We were all tired and I was a little cranky.  Never a good mix.  The boy finally went down for an afternoon nap around 3pm and woke up about a half hour before his bedtime.  Once again, we had another night being thrown off of the schedule.  I have learned that little kids thrive on schedules!

 

Conner was Joe's big helper with putting the new lawn de-thatcher together.

 

 

Sunday

Sunday was a good end to the weekend though.  We went for a family walk after breakfast and headed off to church a little while later.  The morning had more enjoyment than the past two days combined.

 

The afternoon was really great too.  Joe and I met with our doula so he could have a chance to talk, listen and learn what her role was going to be for us.  I know I am more than 100% sold on the idea of having a doula, but this whole labor and delivery thing isn't all about me.  I wanted Joe to be onboard with her, but he's so supportive of me that he'd probably at least pretend to be onboard just for my sake.

 

Let me tell you, our doula Karra is a wealth of information and experience.  She seems like a walking textbook and can speak so easily in a way that you just feel comfortable with her.  Have you ever met people that after talking with them, you feel like you've known them for a long time?  That's Karra.  I have to mention that I have never met a person that is so genuinely passionate about doing their job.   She is amazing so far and she is making me excited about attempting this VBAC.  Oh and did I mention that she'll act as a photographer for us throughout this labor/delivery?  Yep, she's amazing.

 

Sure, the weekend had some rough bumps to start out with, but I'm pretty happy and blessed for a good note to end it on.
 
 These boys... just watching them together makes my heart melt.