Smells Like School

My sisters and I walked to elementary school everyday.  We would meet our friends at the stop sign on the corner and walk the familiar path to school; capturing rolly polly bugs to keep in our desks or seeing how long we could kick the same rock to and from school. 

When school began in the late summer, the mornings would all of a sudden become crisp and cool.  It was like a switch was turned on and "school weather" started. The air smelled different. It smelled like corduroy pants, new trapper keepers, and new pencils. It simply smelled like school. 

This morning I woke up for our 4am feeding and felt a chill in the air. I stuck my nose to the window screen and breathed in deeply...it smelled like school.  When did the switch happen? While I fed Everdeen I felt a little sad that this wasn't my first day of school eve. All of my Kinder teammates would be getting up soon, choosing their first day of school outfits, and setting off to begin a new school year. A clean slate...a new year with new adventures, new possibilities, new opportunities. 

{First day of Kindergarten 2009}

This year I have a long term sub starting my class for me. I can't be there to greet my new little friends.  I can't help them through the lunch line for the first time or make sure their tears stop when they realize mom and dad aren't staying.  

I am of course beyond thrilled to be staying home with our little girl for as long as I can. When I complain that I had to get up every two hours in the wee morning hours my sister reminds me that, "At least you don't have to go to work in the morning!" It's true. I am thankful.  

And soon enough I will have my first day of school...just a little later than normal.  So for now, I will continue to snuggle with my baby and breathe in her baby smell and think only occasionally of the class that is waiting for me. 

And to my teammates...Happy First Day of Kindergarten! It's going to be a great year :) 

Sunday Stroll in our Pajamas

We found a tiny park not too far from our place.  At least it's quiet and has a nice little trail around it. We plopped Everdeen into her stroller early this morning before it got too hot. She doesn't quite fit into her sun hat yet, but she sure looks like a cute little mushroom head :) 

This is my new look 99.9% of the time :) Pajamas, no makeup, no shower. I guess I'm officially a mommy now. 

We Went On An Adventure

It had been months since we'd been out of the city. Martin was dying for some fresh mountain air...so we decided to go on our first family outing, our first adventure together as a family of three. 

We began our day early at Everdeen's 2 week appointment. Baby girl is growing like a weed and even wore her big girl pants to prove it :) We now have a 7lb 6oz baby...I hope she doesn't grow up too fast. 

We didn't drive far...just to the nearby town of Golden to see Lookout Mountain and Buffalo Bill's grave.  It was still hot, even high up, but we welcomed the fresh air and filled our lungs with the scent of pine. I feel like I've been a little bit stuck inside for the past two weeks.  Martin and I go on our evening walks around a nearby neighborhood, but it just isn't the same as walking along a quiet path or through a peaceful park. Our latest apartment nestles up to a busy street and somehow that doesn't seem suitable for newborn ears.  Needless to say, we all three welcomed our mountain adventure. 

 

Everdeen slept the entire time, except for an occasional one-eyed peek. She wasn't too interested in being a cowgirl or sitting in a teepee.

 

 

We found a quiet picnic area and took some new family pictures.

 

 

 

 And what's an adventure without a few diaper changes?

2 Belly Buttons

One belly button is tiny and much cuter than the other, but I have to say, seeing my belly button almost back to its original self after all these months is like seeing an old friend.  Oh, and my feet and ankles are back. I missed them too. 

It's amazing how much your body can change within one week of giving birth.  The first few days I felt like I had run a marathon. My whole body was sore and getting off the couch was an accomplishment in itself.  I keep wondering why I don't feel one hundred percent back to my old self and then I remember what I did just one week ago. Oh...I think I'll be sore for a while :)  

Yesterday as Martin was bouncing baby Everdeen on the exercise ball I exclaimed, "Look at me! I'm laying on my stomach!" It was an amazing feeling. I've been able to shave all parts of my legs instead of just the small patches I could reach before and I can even towel off my feet after a shower! Not having a watermelon for a belly is a nice change...except when I realize my baby girl is no longer inside of me...then I feel a little empty inside.  

As the days have gone by I see small glimpses of my old self in the mirror. I'm not sure I'll truly ever be my old self again. But that's okay because now I have this amazing story to add to who I am.  Everything my body has gone through has been worth it, especially when I get to kiss that tiny belly button and see my baby smile back at me. 

Wrapped Around Her Finger

Oh my, our little girl sure has her daddy wrapped around her itty bitty finger :)