The Mountains! The Pool!

First, I need credit for the MANY posts this month. This will be post #9 to the blog and it's the most I've crammed into a month since the start of 2014. That said, I want to thank my readers (all four of you!) for keeping me going - and accountable. I began this blog in 2009, not sure whether I'd be able to keep it up on any sort of a regular basis. If you return to my first post, you'll see that I was never able to keep up any sort of a journal or anything like that growing up. But because I know you are reading this - and I know my kids might someday enjoy it (and I know I will love reminiscing), I've been able to consistently keep this up. We're coming up on five years in September! And yes, I have put from the beginning of the blog through Libby's first year, into a book form. I'm working on the second. So thanks!

Back to the real reasons for the post...

Matthew went to "the mountains" for the first time with us on Saturday! We weren't able to participate in this twice a year event last October because Matthew was only about two weeks old. So we were (I was) excited to take him this time! We took Libby when she was little and I wrote a post about that.

To compare her first year with this one - first year:

This year at the same spot:

These were taken at the end of one of our favorite things there, the long walk around the lake. I managed two this time. One with my whole family family and one with the friend-family - girls only walk.

Matthew started out with Daddy wearing the Baby Bjorn (his first time ever!) and we swapped about two-thirds of the way through. Getting it on him could have been a comedy routine. Seriously, if they haven't incorporated that into a sitcom yet, they're missing out on easy comedy gold.

And Libby mostly walked, but found a few opportunities to be carried.

In the field!

 And if you'll notice, mom and I showed up wearing basically the same ensemble.

We had a great time with the group, as always. Lots of great food and drink, catching up, memories and laughter. Some shots of the gang below.

And no, we're not actually the youngest there! I just think this is the neatest circle of friends and I love to be with them, and their kids that also choose to join the group on a regular basis.

We missed Katie, Matt and crew, but Will was there with his dad and brought his precious pup, Wyatt. Libby had a ball playing with that sweet puppy and with Judson's pup, Bart. Libby got to walk Bart and Wyatt, pet and play with them. Bart is 15 years old and she deemed him, "po'." Actually, "po Commish" couldn't come with us, because she hurt her knee on Friday (scaring us to death) and needed a day at home to rest. So Libby was happy to have other canine companions for the day. She also helped an owner locate his lost dog on the mountain at the end of her walk.

Libby and I got to play with her new bubble gun, play chase and just enjoy each other with no work interference or house work/projects getting in the way.

Same for Matthew and me... and we all enjoyed Michael and all being together with friends. Matthew did just GREAT and was a big hit with the gang. He is trying SO hard to crawl, but he slept great in the pack and play (I think it was his first time? another first!), enjoyed his walk, clapped for everyone and was generally charming as usual.

And Libby skipped her nap, but found a spot to rest.

So, awesome day. And Sunday was lovely, too. Michael went to play golf with Papa - for the first time in nine months! And Libby went with him. She brought her tennis racquets, but wound up swimming with Gigi instead. They seem to have had a wonderful time and were still home before dinner.

While they were gone, Matthew and I bought a used double jogging stroller, cleaned baseboards, spots on the carpet, did laundry and had other such fun. Actually, we did get to play a good bit when he was awake. We've been playing with some of our play musical instruments in the last week and he's having a great time with them. He really likes banging on the drum! No sticks yet, just hands.

And today was his first trip to the pool. Like Libby's first trip, he, too, cut his nap short out of apparent excitement to get to the pool.

I fed him there while he watched Libby and Michael play in the water and then we waded in, too!

And to compare - here's Libby's first pool trip photo.

Matthew loves the tub, so I'm sure it's only a matter of time before he loves the pool, too. He was a bit unsure at first, but while the water was cold, he did seem to warm up to it fairly quickly.

He stayed a little over an hour and was just ready for a nap. So Matthew and Daddy headed home and Libby and I stayed to play for about another fun hour. The pool was finally filling up by the time we left, but we had it almost to ourselves while we were there with Matthew. There was a big party at the pool later this afternoon though, so I guess many were waiting until closer to that time. With naps, etc. we decided to just grill out at home... and it was just lovely. Still cool enough and no mosquitoes so we could eat outside and enjoy the evening. We look forward to lots of pool time this summer.

And the reason we celebrate Memorial Day seems to be more on my mind every year. And more so now with two little ones. The sacrifices of our soldiers and their families do weigh heavy.