The great outdoors

I read an article today about raising kids to looove the outdoors. This was easy for me- you hear it all the time, "When I was a kid- I played outside until supper time.." That really sums up my childhood. And I know it probably does for Porter. In fact, Porter's mom recently told me that while they lived in Johnston, SC- out in the country- if it was time for the boys to come in,  she would go outside and honk the car horn, ha! 

If autonomy is so important for growing children, I pretty much checked that off the second I had free reign of my neighborhood by bike (within boundaries).

I want that for my kids too.

Anyway, this post has no point other than-

A. I really liked this article,

B. It reminded me of a day trip we took with the kids to Lost Maples a couple Fall's ago,

C. I am eager to get our Spring camping trip underway. With a baby? Yes! You'll remember who the camper of the year was on  this camping trip.

So here we are: Lost Maples State Park - Fall 2011. MmmmmmmmmWWAAAHH- I loved you!

You can start whistling the Andy Griffith theme song now...

Rhett loves maps-

We spotted the Eagles nest!

Sigh,  you don't realize how big your kids are until you are reminded of how small they were.

 Ok, back to the pictures. 

Why we didn't camp this trip: 

The swimming hole. 

Love her. 

Aaack  Plumber!

How Nina Lane and I rolled: 

 A Maple!

Who knew wild grass could be so pretty. 

West Texas has my heart.

Success!

The End.

This morning

Get up to nurse baby before big kids wake.

I hear a gush of water. See that our new humidifier is leaking. Actually, I guess it broke.

Walk to the kitchen to grab a mop only to notice a burning smell.

Burnt the oatmeal.

Rhett's up- wants to turn on a cartoon. Wants to know what that bad smell is.

Throw out breakfast. 

Scramble some eggs instead. Add a side of grapes and orange juice. Wallah. 

Nina is up.

Get her out of her crib to see that poor thing has soaked her sheets.

Clean her up, sit her at the table.

Hunter is now crying. 

Gassy- I forgot to burp her. Humidier water is still all over the floor.

School lunches!?

Yogurt, check. Fruit, check. 

We are out of bread.

Hunter in car seat. Kids dressed. Brush teeth, hair, wipe faces, ears and hands. 

Load all three into the car. Hit the neighborhood Mexican restaurant on the way to school- 

bean and cheese tacos for lunchboxes. 

Get to school with a couple minutes to spare. 

It's nine o clock in the morning and I'm exhausted. 

 I jot this down because my mom tells me to. She says I am going to miss this.

She might be right.

We had a BABY!

Hunter Claire is her name! She was born 6 weeks ago- six weeks this weekend!



She is beautiful. Sweet. Easy. - and here is her story:

It was one of those classic 'omg we are in labor' moments. I woke up the morning of January 12th, thinking about walking down to the farmer's market while Porter was going to run and get our usual Saturday morning donuts at the  bakery. But then- my water breaks unexpectedly (2 weeks early), 4 year old slips on the mess (nice), best friend loads her kids in her car to swing by and pick up mine so the P and I can bee line it to the hospital (lifesaver). It was truly out of a movie. p.s. this next picture: Porter's idea.



And then we arrived at the hospital and waited..and waited...I taunted the red head nurse- begged and pleaded for some 'pharmaceutical' relief, and according to Porter- exchanged a few choice words (woops). Too little too late. In an instant, we had Hunter Claire. She came like lightening. My doctor was chit chatting in the hallway while that red headed nurse- she literally caught our baby and announced that we had a girl. Porter said I can kick natural labor off my bucket list. I reminded him that it -never-was-on-my-bucket-list.



And a GIRL- we were shocked! Not knowing what we were having was totally worth the wait. Porter and I were both taking in the  final moments of the delivery- hearing that it was a girl was just easy on the ears. She was beautiful.

 
All 6 pounds 2 ounces and 19 1/2 inches of her.

Hunter Claire! 

Hunter- because I have always like that name. I babysat for a little girl Hunter in college,  had a sorority sister named Hunter, Porter has a girl cousin named Hunter. Suffice to say- it was always on my heart since our Clemson days and I love its southern roots.

Claire- because we like the ring to it. And that's that.

We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends that came to our rescue, with meals and childcare while we waited for our families to get over the flu before they could come on the scene.

And in the meantime- it was time to recover in the hospital. I love the days after the delivery in the hospital- it's where I rest, read magazines, and fall in love with my babies.
And within a week my mom was in full force with her cleaning, grocery shopping, valentine decorating, and babysitting.

Within a couple weeks, Porter's mom was on the scene as well- probably washed more laundry that she ever wanted to - and more importantly she and Porter's dad rented a little condo on the river where they housed our Rhett and Nina most days. It was the sweetest.

Speaking of Rhett and Nina- watching them love on Hunter has almost been the best part.

 

It's like she has ALWAYS been a part of our family. I am just glad she is finally here. 

More to come.

And here's the Irony...

When I found out that my #2 was going to be a baby girl- I was a little shell shocked.

Boys boys boys- I thought I was made to have boys?
I was such a tomboy as a kid.

My mom would drop me off at soccer practice while running my sisters to their ballet classes and  recitals.

I was the only girl on my baseball team in the 2nd grade, because really- what is softball?

I would begrudgingly allow my sister Emily to crimp or curl my hair.
But I was happiest skate-boarding and building forts with my brother Tommy.

I always had to borrow heels and what-not for school dances because I just would rather not own any. 

And let my sister curl my hair :)

....wait for it....

So against all hopes that Nina Lane would come out wearing cleats, I was given the loveliest most dainty little girl ever made.

And.I.just.can't.get.enough.of.her.

I could watch her do this all day.

And I often do.

And take lots of pictures.

And say things like, "Porter quick-look! Isn't she sweet?!"

Oh, those Mary-Janes!

Even when she's not sweet, she's sweet.

The ballet classes...

The tea parties....

...and heels

I love it all.

The End.