Monday, February 27, 2012

Alphabet Games

Last weekend we headed up to Blake's family's cabin in Idaho.  It was momentous for a few occasions, first it marked Isaac's first time out of state, first long car ride, and first time on a snowmobile... yes, really.  But before you judge me, there is too much snow to drive up to the cabin in the winter and we have to snowmobile up to it.  So I held on to Isaac's car seat with a death grip as we took the slowest snowmobile ride ever recorded up to the cabin.

It also marked the first time I played the alphabet game since I was in kindergarten. I was wasting Blake.  Big time.  Until he told me that the official rules for the alphabet game say you can only use letters that appear at the beginning of the word.

To which I replied, I haven't played this game in 18 years, can you just give me this?

And also, are you sure?

And another thing, I'm at J, and you are just now noticing that I haven't been playing the right way this whole time???

The cabin is huge and was built Blake's dad and uncles.  In the summer it's for four-wheeling, swimming in the Lava Hot Springs swimming pool, playing in the pond, going to the hot-pots, and cooking outside.  In the winter, it's a snowmobile and sledding paradise. 



Packed to the brim, ready to go. There's a baby in there somewhere I think.




I have since learned that despite what Blake may tell me in my moments of intense panic; bears, cougars, and possibly sasquatches, do indeed exist in these mountains. 




 Please allow me to introduce you to Blake's all-time favorite hat ever.



Here are some of the boys playing a very intense game of Risk.  Blake has the smug look on his face of someone who has the WMD's to take out all of Europe.  Or something.  I forgot how to play this game.  Long games bore me to death.  After many hard-fought battles and bloody wars, Blake and his cousin Reuben were the only ones still standing.  They decided to call a cease-fire for the sake of preserving humanity and enlightening generations to come with the story of how their ancestors put down their weapons and decided to live peacefully side-by-side.  Or maybe it was because we started watching Cinderella Man in the next room and they had already been playing for like 3 hours. 


Blake's dad can get Isaac to sleep in about 30 seconds.  Every time.


Now this impressive specimen is the elk that Blake shot when he was about 14 I think? I asked him if it worries him that the creature he brutally killed is residing within the confines of his own cabin, silently watching, biding his time, waiting until the perfect moment to seek his bloody revenge.  

He said no.  

Really though, this thing is huuuuuge.


When we got home, we gave Isaac a bath and wrapped him in his very own bathrobe.  Because I firmly believe that all babies should be entitled to owning their own cuddly bathrobes.  Really, it is the basic right of a mother to cuddle her freshly washed and lotioned baby in a little ducky robe.


And now, just because... But can you blame me??



Thursday, February 16, 2012

A Day in the Life

I'm back in the saddle.  I gave myself some time to block out everything and just enjoy my baby.  I didn't realize that this "me" time would turn into nearly 3 months, but you win some you lose some.  

I have had the most blissful time just holding, smiling at, playing with, kissing, and loving my little baby boy.  I also spent some time transitioning from a full-time student and employee to a mother.  I got my diploma in the mail a few weeks ago, (!) and it forced me to step back and realize just how different my life has become these last few months, and how wonderful this kind of "different" is.  I loved school, I really did, but now I have time to get back to the other things I love as well.  For instance, I started reading again.  I used to be a huge reader.  Growing up my parents had to resort to taking my books away as punishment instead of grounding me, and believe me that was much more effective.  I've read four books in the last week and a half, and it feels so good!

Yes, my days are very different now, and it is wonderful.  

I wake up every morning and see:

  
Or sometimes it's more like this:

  

Then we get up and read some stories, maybe throw in a little tummy-time if we're feeling really crazy, and then: 

Baby waits patiently while his mom gets ready for the day.


 

 Then we run some errands


And take adorable pictures wearing adorable outfits.  (According to Blake, boys don't wear "outfits." I think I'm just supposed to say "clothes," or maybe even "clothing" if the situation really lends itself to that.)




We scatter a few naps throughout the day




Then once we get home-and this is a very important step- Isaac makes sure to cuddle with his mom.


 Some nights he gets a bath, and if he's really good, he gets to watch a little upside down TV.


 By the end of the day, he is pretty wiped out and begging his mother, please, no more pictures.



 And there you have a day in the life of little Isaac Denzel and his mother. 



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