This bike thing should prove to be a challenge, and I won't get my hopes up that he'll master it anytime soon. I tried teaching him how to pedal, a concept that never really caught on too great with the trike. He just stops as soon as the pedals are vertical and require him to continue pushing forward. Dylan's willing to take on this challenge, though, seeing as I wear out my patience by the end of every single day even when I'm not being an active instructor to anyone. The helmet thing will be non-negotiable with the real bike, so it'll be fun convincing him to wear it every time...not.
Also of note this week was that the ladies from my Babymoon group said good-bye to a good friend who is moving back home to Minnesota. I met Grace on my very first day at that place when Dylan and I came for a tour/orientation. Later down the road when were both significantly larger, she was in one of my classes that we were required to take before delivering the baby. And after that, we chatted a bunch at the cookie exchange, which was a couple weeks after Selah was born and one day before Graham arrived. I have enjoyed her company at our Inn Mommies group every Tuesday since Graham was three weeks old, but I've enjoyed our random text chats even more!
You know how it is when you get to know someone, and you just click? Sure, we go through life and meet people all the time that are nice and/or a good conversationalists. But some people just get you. That is Grace. She has had so many interesting life experiences, so much different than my own, and was always able to offer great perspective and so many kind words as we bounced side by side on exercise balls trying to shush our babies many a Tuesday afternoon. In fact, Grace was such a treasured part of our group that we went out to lunch on Tuesday to say good-bye. You will be missed so much, Grace, but I'm so happy for you and your family to be moving back home!
I'm not really the type of person that has ever wanted to be solely defined by my role as a "mommy." In fact, the word kind of makes me cringe. The "mommy" role is such a thing these days, and with a million different ways to tackle a million different issues and a million different moms comparing themselves to one another, it's enough to make your head spin every single day. I've always wanted to somehow parent my children and also have friends, but stay as far away from the "mommy" culture as possible. But as it turns out, mom friends aren't half bad, and in fact, they're some of the best.
Our Tuesday group is called Inn Mommies, and I hardly ever refer to it as that because, you know, "Mommies." So...I was kind of hesitant to do as I was instructed by my midwives and "find my tribe" with other "mommies." But man if it isn't the best thing I've done for myself in 2016 YTD. I first started showing up because I loved my experience at Babymoon and wanted to go back, and with Gavin at Dawn's every Tuesday, it was the perfect opportunity for me to get out with the baby. Especially in those early days when we didn't get out much at all. I see more or less the same moms there every week. Some have graduated out to the "Movers and Shakers" group, and we see new moms with tiny newborns every week. But every single time, somebody will bring up a struggle or a victory they've had, and everyone else can relate so much. People often pour their hearts out, and sometimes it seems like nobody else in the world could possibly understand what you're going through besides the people in that room. It's cathartic and uplifting and makes me feel less like a crazy person because I know that I'm in good, crazy company. I'm not exactly breezing through this time of life, but I'm doing pretty good. I'm so grateful I "found my tribe," but don't expect me to use that expression without quotes anytime soon.
So, I'll wrap this up, but as always, here are a few outtakes from the past week. Rather than caption, I'll provide a running narrative above each photo. Just because I feel like it, and this is my blog.
This is how real men do Costco. It was Mother's Day, so I got a bye on baby wearing.
Gavin's getting more affectionate with Graham, even though Graham doesn't seem to love it. He is also much more inclusive of Graham and treats him like a real family member. Took long enough...but I knew he'd come around to his role as a big bro. He always tells Graham to look at him and then refers to himself as Big Brother Gavin while explaining what he's doing.
Laid back with a mouth full of fruit roll-up sample. This is how he rolls. When he got home that afternoon, Dylan received a phone call and was in California two hours later, so I didn't get my third Mother's Day wish to go on a jog. No worries...I made up for it the next morning, and it was a good opportunity for Dylan to help some people out. I'd say MD was a great success!
Gavin asked to pull over to use the potty while driving on the 101 in traffic hour. Living where we do, we've become accustomed to toting a portable potty along because you never know when nature might call, and there's a good chance it will be a really long way away from a toilet. On this particular incident, I chose to stick with the familiar potty rather than schlepping the kids through a random restaurant in search of a restroom. Gavin took such a long time that we had to turn off the engine and take Graham out of the car. It was so hot, and I was so tired. It wasn't awesome, but it was better than an accident in the car seat, I suppose. And this was after a day of multiple accidents at Dawn's house, so it was definitely a good thing. We refuse to give up on potty training even though it's not going swimmingly, and between the two boys, I've cleaned up way more poop than I ever imagined I'd have to do. I can't wait for the day that all poop lands in a toilet with little to no effort on my part.
New bike!
More on our adventures from the weekend to come some time soon!
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