Updating, because I promised Kristine, and I can't break a promise to Kristine.
Playdate with Deirdre and Maeve
Deirdre, Maeve, Alana and I had a play date on Monday! We met at the statue on Alki and walked down the beach. Maeve was hilarious and I love seeing her because it gives me an idea of where Alana will be in another year and a half or so. Having kids definitely takes a lot of patience, no matter the stage. The kind of patience varies.
Maeve was in her stroller for part of the time but wanted out eventually. She was walking along and generally being very cute. She was picking flowers, walking like an elephant (it was an elephant, right Deirdre?), jumping up and down. It was adorable. She was twisting backwards in her stroller and "talking" on Deirdre's phone. She even called me on the phone (my phone rang).
We went to Starbucks after our walk and talked for a while. Maeve ran around and looked at stuff and Alana needed to be entertained as well. Maeve and Alana were so cute together. Maeve was playing peek-a-boo with Alana and Alana thought it was hilarious. Maeve giving Alana a kiss was adorable as well.
Deirdre is doing well. She and her husband, Gered, recently purchased a house in the SeaTac area. Deirdre is a SAHM and watches two other babies once a week. I know I've said this before, but it is so nice to have other mommy friends. First of all, for shallow reasons, like other moms have sunscreen/water/toys/stroller knowledge and for deeper reasons like the fact that they KNOW what you're going through. That understanding is there.
If we're walking along and Alana cries because she needs to be held, I don't feel like I'm inconveniencing her when I have to stop our walk to adjust Alana. Not that any of my friends act inconvenienced, but the simple fact that Deirdre knows and understands makes me feel okay about it. Having kids completely changes your life in so many ways that just don't realize before you have kids. Also, because her kids is a little bit older, she's been through the transition to solids/weaning from breastfeeding. As always, I am thankful for Deirdre's friendship. Thank you, Deirdre, if you still read this.
Picnic on Greenlake
Allen, Alana and I had a little family picnic on Greenlake on Tuesday!
At first, we stopped at Voula's for breakfast (if you live in Seattle and haven't tried Voula's... best breakfast ever) and then at Fred Meyer's in Ballard for picnic supplies. We had wraps, potato salad, and macaroni salad on a blanket and then walked around Greenlake a bit. We didn't walk the whole way because the last time we attempted a long walk with Alana, we got about 2 miles into it and Alana started crying. She cried intermittently the entire way back to the car, which was about an hour. We also had to take turns carrying her.
Needless to say, we were both a little soured from this experience and determined we'd walk a short distance away from the car and then back to it. Just enough to get some sun, a little exercise, and some quality time without risking an Alana meltdown.
I love spending time with my little family. We need time alone as a family and alone time as a couple, so we satisfied our family alone time.
Deirdre, Maeve, Alana and I had a play date on Monday! We met at the statue on Alki and walked down the beach. Maeve was hilarious and I love seeing her because it gives me an idea of where Alana will be in another year and a half or so. Having kids definitely takes a lot of patience, no matter the stage. The kind of patience varies.
Maeve was in her stroller for part of the time but wanted out eventually. She was walking along and generally being very cute. She was picking flowers, walking like an elephant (it was an elephant, right Deirdre?), jumping up and down. It was adorable. She was twisting backwards in her stroller and "talking" on Deirdre's phone. She even called me on the phone (my phone rang).
We went to Starbucks after our walk and talked for a while. Maeve ran around and looked at stuff and Alana needed to be entertained as well. Maeve and Alana were so cute together. Maeve was playing peek-a-boo with Alana and Alana thought it was hilarious. Maeve giving Alana a kiss was adorable as well.
Deirdre is doing well. She and her husband, Gered, recently purchased a house in the SeaTac area. Deirdre is a SAHM and watches two other babies once a week. I know I've said this before, but it is so nice to have other mommy friends. First of all, for shallow reasons, like other moms have sunscreen/water/toys/stroller knowledge and for deeper reasons like the fact that they KNOW what you're going through. That understanding is there.
If we're walking along and Alana cries because she needs to be held, I don't feel like I'm inconveniencing her when I have to stop our walk to adjust Alana. Not that any of my friends act inconvenienced, but the simple fact that Deirdre knows and understands makes me feel okay about it. Having kids completely changes your life in so many ways that just don't realize before you have kids. Also, because her kids is a little bit older, she's been through the transition to solids/weaning from breastfeeding. As always, I am thankful for Deirdre's friendship. Thank you, Deirdre, if you still read this.
Picnic on Greenlake
Allen, Alana and I had a little family picnic on Greenlake on Tuesday!
At first, we stopped at Voula's for breakfast (if you live in Seattle and haven't tried Voula's... best breakfast ever) and then at Fred Meyer's in Ballard for picnic supplies. We had wraps, potato salad, and macaroni salad on a blanket and then walked around Greenlake a bit. We didn't walk the whole way because the last time we attempted a long walk with Alana, we got about 2 miles into it and Alana started crying. She cried intermittently the entire way back to the car, which was about an hour. We also had to take turns carrying her.
Needless to say, we were both a little soured from this experience and determined we'd walk a short distance away from the car and then back to it. Just enough to get some sun, a little exercise, and some quality time without risking an Alana meltdown.
I love spending time with my little family. We need time alone as a family and alone time as a couple, so we satisfied our family alone time.