Gettin' After It

They say that having a baby changes you, and it sure does. It changes a lot of things - not the least of which is your ability to see the other side of 7pm.

While some things must change, we are working very hard to make sure the core of who we are, individually and as a team, does not.  So the adventure buddies are now an adventure trio...

HQ's first international trip is just around the corner and coincides with her seven month birthday, and she has been to her parents' happy place, RMNP, a few times already.  She's mastered multiple modes of transportation - planes, trains, subways, sketchy NYC taxis, the Devil's Lake ferry - and is happiest when the breeze is blowing through her hair or her unicorn hat. 

As for show her how to get after it, Brian did his part this weekend by jumping back into the broadcast booth for USAClimbing Bouldering Nationals. It’s always fun to watch the Climbing Narc do his thing, and Harper was quite entranced by the sound of her dad’s voice coming from the computer (how’s that for challenging a 4mo. old’s understanding of object permanence?!). Now to teach her how to say “We’re doing it live,” so that Baby Narc can join her dad in the booth for his next gig. I know that Brian never set out to be doing what he is doing now in the climbing world, but talk about chasing one's dreams!  What a great story he will get to share with Harper. Hard work and a little wit go a long way! 

As for me, it is one of my goals to ensure Harper knows that the best thing a woman can be is strong, both of mind and body.  Personally, I have been continuing to set some weightlifting goals (grow, biceps, grow) and have been getting back into harder climbing. Harper is a big fan of bright colors, so we get to scope out all the climbing holds each visit to the gym, and since she's awfully chatty now, I also get a few cheers while I'm climbing, which helps a momma 'pull down'.  

HQ is getting strong herself and can do big girl things like stand up on those squishy little baby legs, grab onto things, and carry on deep and meaningful conversations (or coo and blow bubbles); it won’t be long before she’s in a harness of her own — or at least carrying her own pack or luggage and passport! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AJ Runs Several Ks...and Writes About It

Image
On Saturday, May 6, I returned to half marathon racing. It had been quite a hiatus, and my previous half marathon, was completed with a blown out IT band, so I did have to balance high hopes and realistic expectations. After all, a lot has changed since that last race. They say that age is just a number, and by that logic, a half marathon is just miles. 13.1 long and hilly miles in this case, and now officially in the next decade of my life. Yeah, yeah, just a number. Last year, still in my 30s, I toyed with the idea of returning to racing and with running the Door County Half Marathon. We were in Peninsula State Park for our annual Mother’s Day weekend, and the race was taking place. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to get back to some really good training. Our plan - always - is to be in Door County for our Mother’s Day celebration, so why not sign up?! Well, back to numbers. Two children, one partner, too many hours at work each week, one bike ride/race to each weekend, an
Read more

My Dad, OUR Hero

Image
This past weekend, we celebrated my dad’s 30 years of service to and retirement from the Mukwonago Fire Department. As both a volunteer fire fighter and EMT, he has spent several decades in service of others. During what surely was one of their most trying times, it was my dad who was with people he’d never met and likely wouldn’t see again. To do that on top investing in full-time work, his family, and his other interests is simply remarkable. And that’s my dad: a driven, generous, passionate man. The Mukwonago Fire Department was a part of my youth. The men and women he served with became my dad’s second family, and thus they were there for many of my milestones. My weekends were were filled with various events hosted by MFD, including community events and that one family picnics that ended with Dad getting stitches. Sometimes my weekends - and weeknights - were also filled with quick goodbyes as another call pulled Dad away from our family plans. The sound of his pager and the
Read more

Milestone

Image
I mentioned, not too long ago, interest in a birthday trip to ATL. Michelle Obama would be there for her book tour, the weather is fall-like this time of year and perfect for a long run, and it’s a city I haven’t explored much of. My partner heard me. He showed up, like really showed up!   Just about a week ago, Harper brought me a birthday card and gift she and B had been working on. It was my own copy of  The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times , and a Happy Birthday picture of a plane, a peach, and a pink and purple suitcase (my favorite colors).     I had otherwise been planning a jaunt from home along the Glacial Drumlin Trail and snack day at H’s school. That would have been great. But Brian has been helping me work on prioritizing myself to maintain balance; time away was earned, needed, permissable. To say I was excited for the weekend was an understatement. B attended to all the details (also needed AND appreciated): flights, hotel accommodations, transportation,
Read more