rest of: Weekend. I love.

Walking back to the cabin on a balmy October afternoon

When we rigged up this makeshift swing I did have an image of it being included in one of those hilarious best parenting of 2011 chain emails.  You know the ones I'm referring to: kid pushing a cart of beer, dad holding a kid upside down to feed a bear, lady riding on the back of motobike with baby strapped to her.  There are usually an equal number of really awful ideas and ideas that I wish I would have thought of doing.  Anyway, this contraption did not swing.  It made a nicely soothing squeak as the two by four tried to rub through the kayak straps, but, alas, there was no excitement and eventually Bear just whined her way out.  No nap for her.

Watching momma stack

After I tired of retrieving Bear from the far reaches of the dooryard (i.e. out of sight) and Lucky dog, we decided to try a change in scenery and give up the woodpile reduction project for a while.  It probably helped that I had filled the trailer with wood (after dozens of wheelbarrow trips) and then couldn't drive the 4-wheeler to unload.  (Who ever heard of an emergency break on a 4-wheeler??)  We needed some advice from papa and a respite from chasing a tired and clumsy girl.

Pete working on knee walls-- second story!!

Our general contractor and all-around cheerleader 

This work site seems a little dangerous...

Keeping a close eye on her laborer

And heading home, down the trail (again, on her own - what's with this independence?!)

Stopping to check the fall foliage; hopefully that isn't the grass the dogs peed on!

Seriously ambling on rough ground: such an impressive walker! 

Like I said, perfect weekend.

Weekend. I love.

This past weekend was just us.  The Johnsons, nuclear.

Saturday morning, sharply at 7 am, Bear and I started the day volunteering at the third annual Hartley Nature Trax.  She was an amazing cheerleader, despite the chilly temps and having to stay in one spot for over two hours!  (Can you imagine?)

After the race, we packed up the fur siblings to meet Pete at the cabin, where the colors are in a glorious display.  

Berit looking chubby in layers

Beautiful afternoon sun - heading up the trail

That's right, Berit thinks she can walk there on her own

Such a happy girl

It is hard to believe how much a kid changes that first year.  From one week old to running up a trail in the woods. Laughing, playing with dogs and endearing herself to just about everyone who crosses her path.

Getting a ride in the ergo

 And here's what we saw when we got to the cabin: a real live cabin!  Considering that Pete works full time, takes care of Bear every week day that he's off, and has continued his involvement in local politics, his progress is incredible.  The Bear and I are lucky and blessed to have such a hard working, capable and motivated man in our lives.

Rafters for one of two sleeping lofts 

Bear stole one of her papa's peanut butter cups, and...

...headed for home

You can see she had good company -- free peanut butter cups can do that

 Fortunately I was able to get her turned around; after all, we brought papa that snack.  Then it was right to work cleaning up the site. 

Berit helped me pick up scraps

She was surprisingly capable and helpful!

That smirky smile is our favorite

Then she learned how to get on her soapbox

The view from our front "window" -- pretty amazing

Berit thinks she's pretty big stuff -- and she is.

Teetering totter on the tree stump

Getting up all by herself

This was a game she came up with on her own. I showed her the log cut and sat her on it, but all she wanted to do was stand on it.  Berit is into pushing the limits: she stands on the seat of her push toy giraffe, she tries to climb her gate/highchair/windowsill, and the log cut was just another example.  Over and over again.  Getting down was trickier, and a helpful hand made it easier.

Our wonderful protectors kept a close watch

Throwing and eating sawdust -- why not?

I'll have more pictures to share later -- there was wood to stack, dogs to wrassle and more walks.  It was one of those perfect fall weekends, the kind that is blissfully perfect because you know it is fleeting and grey November will be upon us soon.  (Of course, the snow that follows is always welcome -- we can't wait for the little Bear to build snowmen and learn to ski.)

Berit is ONE

Friday, September 23rd marked Berit Kay's FIRST birthday.  Good lord, time travels fast when you have a little one in the house.  How are we all another year older already?  Some days I look more like 10 years have passed.  Children keep you young as they simultaneously age your youthful (good?) looks.

My happy birthday girl 

With this milestone, we have reached the goal of breastfeeding for one year, no substitutes and no supplements.  I feel pretty happy about that.  Bear and I were lucky to have a positive experience, really incredible support from her papa and the wonderful resource of La Leche (monthly meetings and online forums).

I will begin the phase out of my diligent working-pumping-freezing-washing, start all over and do it again routine.  When the frozen stash is down, we'll start mixing the BM with whole cow or goat -- still making some decisions on that.  I must say it is a strange thought to give your baby another animal's milk after a year of giving her your own.  And I LOVE cow's milk.  I drink a lot of it, all the time, and I don't care for the taste of BM one bit, but still, it is really strange, isn't it?  And yet, we all do it.  Huh.

What does Berit do now?
(some of this has been stated in previous posts)

She walks, runs, jumps, crawls very fast, climbs up stairs, attempts chin-ups,  gets down out of the recliner, gets in and out of bed, tries to climb into the shower (dangerous!), drags heavy stuff everywhere, uses a push cart, tries to ride a push car, loves walking her dogs (ergo, sherpani or bob), loves the water.  She likes wearing things on her head, whether suitable or not.  She loves noisy, lit up devices that grown ups pay attention to (cameras, cell phones, portable phones, remote controls...)

She babbles and sings a lot and occasionally seems to speak identifiable words.  She listens very carefully, and then she blatantly disobeys.

Berit eats when she's hungry, but only if she has nothing better to do.  Some new favorites include cous cous, grilled cheese (whole grain bread and goat cheese) and pizza (coop's).

Running around in her party dress

A big girl grin

Playing with the illicit mobile phone

Here's how well she "holds still" - Sitka can't believe it either 

B tore off her sticker and shoved it onto Wolfie - this was as close as we'd get

Opening presents required a team effort
Short attention spans!

I was feeling unusually motivated and wanted to show off my first year of successful motherhood.  I scrubbed the kitchen floor for only the fourth time since we moved in last July.  I washed windows inside and out. And I decided that in addition to baking Berit's low sugar cake, I'd make one for Woody's big 30th.  The only trouble was that upon mixing them up, I took out a dozen HARDBOILED eggs.  We are never out of eggs in our house, ever.  And the Bear was asleep, hopefully for the night, so there was no dashing to the grocery store.  So I made a Wacky Cake. At least I had one done.  Pete brought home more eggs in the morning and I got the other two done before the party.  Whew. One small demonstration of my maternal abilities accomplished.

Berit's cake, the egg-free cake and Woody's cake 

Berit getting ready to dig in -- she was very confused
when everyone started singing in unison and looking at her 

The raspberries were a sure hit

She kept eating them 

She didn't seem too excited by the cake part

This tiara is an example of my maternal failure:
the day before I decided I'd like to design and sew a felt crown.
I have yet to acquire the felt, two weeks later. 

Tiara and top tier of cake are thrown. This party is over!