LJ is Joining Us for Dinner

LJ has graduated from his Bumbo (also known by his father as the BIMBO) seat and is now in a booster seat! Originally I was going to buy a high chair (the Strokke Tripp Trapp). I liked the Tripp Trapp because it was classy, streamlined, and modern. Other high chairs just seemed to be huge plastic contraptions that took up a lot of space and were too bright or just plain ugly. But after checking out reviews and with our transient lifestyle, a booster seat seemed more practical. This one (Fisher Price Precious Planet) has a cool toy tray, was less than $35, and is portable. Here's LJ playing with it before dinner. He seems happier to be on the same level as his parents. This is just in time for Thanksgiving!!

LJ Sat Up

Ok I know my mom is holding him in this picture, but you gotta believe me! He sat up, straight and unsupported for several minutes! He just didn't do it on camera. The other new skill he learned a few days ago was opening and closing and turning his hands! I'm still working on breaking his breast feed-to-sleep association and he is still (mostly) sleeping with us.

See Afro Mom Run

I finished my half marathon in 1:58. I felt great the whole way! I even sprinted in. My husband joked that I would feel freer without pushing the BOB or being pulled by our dog. He was right.

While I was physically prepared, I wasn't quite ready mentally.


Mentally I was thinking about tons of things. First, the funniest thing was I didn't realize when I signed myself and my husband up for the marathon (originally I planned on running the whole thing back when I was pregnant but during training I realized I didn't have the time to build up enough mileage to do the whole thing) that the system considered us a "team." Thus since I entered that I wanted my bib to say "Afro Mama," my husband's bib also said "Afro Mama." LOL! So I was wondering, while running, if people were saying to my husband, "Run Afro Mama!"

I was also thinking about Leon. My mom was watching him in the car. Originally the plan was for my mom to watch him at our house. But then we got the brilliant idea that she should come with us down to the race. Watch him in the car because he would sleep (the hope was) most of my race and then I could come back to the car after I finished. Then we could watch Jeff come in for the Marathon (that started 30 min after the half). However we arrived in downtown Richmond 30 min before the half started. So we were frantically looking for a parking space and I ended up jumping out of the car at a red light and throwing my sweats back to my mom. I think they yelled meet back at 10th and Marshall after your race. During my race I was trying to keep track of my time and I also repeat 10th and Marshall over and over. I was hoping that my mom remembered to take the bottle of milk out of the cooler. If she knew where his hat was. If she would be able to carry him and his stuff. I had neglected to bring the stroller, thinking it would be easier to wear Leon. But I didn't realize my mom would be transporting him.

Ever time I had a "what if" thought about LJ, I noticed I was slowing down so I had to stay positive. My mom after all is a mom. Of course she would put on his hat and bring all his stuff. She would be ok.

And she was. We met up at 10th and Marshall. I carried the ton of bricks (that's what Leon felt like after my race, a ton of soft warm, cuddly bricks) back to the car. Got some tea at Starbucks and watched Daddy come across the finish line.

I did wish they had a nursing station during the race. LOL! My chest was one of the few body parts that hurt!

Running a race post preg was one of the best decisions I've made. Having a race goal got me running sooner which helped with the post baby blues. It also helped me get back in shape(breast feeding was the number one way).

Next goal: Fitness competition in April!

Watch LJ do Yoga!

Family Yoga

We all had a ball doing yoga this past Sunday. We ended up being the only ones at the class and that made it very cool. Since Jeff and I are both getting ready for our marathon next weekend (I'm running the half) we did lots of hip openers. We also did some immersions! First time doing shoulder stand and plow since I found out I was pregnant. Loved it!

LJ was all giggles and fun during the baby massage and baby yoga portion. He got a little "hold me" fussy for the part when Jeff and I were doing our yoga. So I ended up holding him (turned into nursing) for a little bit. Jeff got a one month pass so I know

5 Months!

LJ is just over 5 months. He is 17 pounds and 8 ounces. He can sit up (sorta) using his hands in the front to support. He can do a push up and the yoga pose "Cobra." He says "Da-da-daa" and other very cute and unintelibigle things. He has started day care part time. He eats rice and oatmeal cereal everyday and is looking forward to apple sauce and sweet potato during Thanksgiving week when he is SIX months!

Denver Botanic Gardens

Two places I try to visit in every city/country are the Botanical Gardens and a teahouse. Denver has a fantastic botanical garden! It was a little expensive to get in (sometimes they are free!) but even in the "dead" of fall it was quite beautiful. I've only seen prairie/grass land gardening displayed better at the Geneva Botanical Garden. I also liked seeing the Henry Moore Exhibit. Oh, another complaint, it wasn't exactly regular stroller friendly (so not sure how someone with a wheelchair would see it all). If we had our BOB, we would have had no problems navigating but we opted for the drop in stroller since we needed to bring the car seat.

Lastly the cafe, ON POINT! We split a panini, wrap, and a coconut brownie. Delicious! It was also cheap. We expected it to be more expensive.

Mom tip: The cafe has a couple of very cozy nice chairs for breastfeeding. You could also find a quiet place outside as there are tons of sitting areas.

LJ Hikes in the Rocky's

LJ did three three hour hikes (over three days) in the Rocky Mountains (or in the foothills). He seemed to enjoy the colors and sounds. There were a few moments when I felt like a bad mom. Like when I forgot to bring his socks! It was 70+ and sunny but of course it became cooler as we went on. That's definitely a big rule I have to remember when hiking with Leon (though it also applies to adults) bring clothes for weather and bodily business changes. I breast feed on a rock on hike number three. I don't worry about bringing a cover on the trail. Since Colorado was hot and dry, Leon seemed to breast feed more often. Which is good! Hydrate or die, they say!

For the hikes we usually followed this pattern (started organically but it makes sense), Jeff holds Leon in his arms and plays with him as he walks. Leon loves to fly in the air, ducking tree branches and starring back at me. Then when he starts getting fussy (i.e. sleepy) I take him and carry him in the Ergo while singing to him until he falls asleep. We traded back if the terrain got steep or too rocky. Hiking with Leon is quite easy now since he sleeps a lot and nurses. It will be different when he's eating more solids and mobile!

I love my Babe Au Lait!

Here I am in the Dushanbe Tea House in Boulder, Colorado with LJ (I highly recommend this place!). Where's LJ? He's nursing under the Babe Au Lait! LOL! I love this cover (or any cover that is hands free). This plus the Glamour Mom nursing tank ( I have three, black, brown, and grey) I have on, have changed my life. In the beginning I just struggled with nursing and covering and mostly gave up and exposed something. This was when I was in the hospital or fresh at home. I think a lot of people saw my breast those first weeks. Then by the time LJ was six weeks and we were on our first big outing (Williamsburg: restaurants, movie theater, historic sites etc) I realized how much of a pain public breastfeeding can be. When I was "just" pregnant I thought I would breast feed wherever and whenever and say, "Stare if you want, my baby is hungry!" But once I had LJ, I felt uncomfortable plopping down anywhere and nursing. I just preferred to sit in the car of inside/away from everyone. Then I broke down and paid $60+ (both were around $30 something) for a breastfeeding tank and my Babe Au Lait. Oh, it's so easy now to breastfeed in public! It makes life so much more convenient when I don't have to feel like I'm flashing everyone and I'm not fumbling with Leon, my nipple, and a blanket that keeps falling off. It would be great to live somewhere where nipples and breast (when used for the act of nursing a child) are not seen as scandalous and do not cause men AND women to trip up over themselves, but for now I'll take my Glamour Mom top and my hooter hider any day!

First Solo Plane Trip and More

LJ and I just returned from our first solo (solo meaning without Daddy or some other adult/two hands) plane trip. We flew to Colorado to hike and see the sights with Daddy. At first I was a bit leery about traveling with LJ alone for a long day (we had layovers both times) and (probably even more) missing his first Halloween at home...but it was a fantastic trip and the plane ride was not too bad. I used my Ergo carrier to assist me (especially going through security). The tragic downfall of the whole trip (remember that from 12th grade English...tragic flaw etc) was I ran out of diapers. I forgot that LJ used to poop so much before I introduced solids. A few days before we left I took him off solids when I saw something strange in his diaper (all is well and checked out by doctors) and we didn't have any solids in Colorado (I have to add the cereal to breast milk that means pumping, sanitizing, etc). So he used 6-8 diapers a day and I had calculated 4-6. That seems pretty low now that I think about it. Here's a picture of a homemade diaper I made him before we could get to the store the next day.