Memorial Day Camping...With Kids

We camped this Memorial Day weekend with our friends Ben and Meredith, Nate and Amanda, and Keith and Kelly, and between us all, seven dogs which were really quite fun to watch. We also camped with Alison - 3, Camas - 3, Timber - 1, and Emma - 6 weeks. Only in Montana would a family take their 6 week old baby camping, but Emma was a real trooper and probably had the most fun of all being loved and held all weekend. I am amazed at how DIRTY they get! We camped in the town of Wise River, Montana near the Bighole River and Battlefield. The weather was fantastic Saturday when we enjoyed the sun, took a short hike, threw the kids in the snowbanks (yes, there is still snow), and took naps. Sunday we got rained on, but thanks to Nate and Amanda, who brought their wall tent, we had a dry, heated place to play games. We cooked a bunch of food, and it's totally true that camp food tastes the best though it takes 3 times as long to cook. We enjoyed tinfoil dinners, pork roast, fried chicken, onion rings, camp beans, breakfast burritos, and all the other good junk food that goes with it.

I admit that I missed drinking beer this camping trip and I realized it is going to be a long, long summer of camping sans the beer. It might be the best part of camping and it certainly helps you sleep! I tried to bring fun drinks for myself, but they just didn't cut it the way a Miller Lite would have. Oh well. It's for a good cause...It's for a good cause...It's for a good cause. In the past it's always been Meredith or Amanda or someone else who couldn't drink. Now it's my turn. I hope I don't sound like a lush typing this, but you must understand, it's a camping essential.

Other pitfalls of camping while pregnant:

1. Peeing in the woods many times a night is not fun.

2. Sleeping in a tent is already uncomfortable. It does not improve with pregnancy.

3. Make sure the air mattress doesn't leak, Robbie.

We also learned some things about camping with children.

1. Bring a large vehicle.

2. Bring them lots and lots of clothes to change into.

3. We had the great idea to buy their camp clothes at garage sales and then throw them away as they destroy them, or better, just throw the clothes in the fire when they're done.

4. Two three year olds need to sleep in separate tents.

5. Wear earplugs.

All Quiet on the Western Front

I don't have much to report on me, but here are some updates on my friends' babies.

Ashley Barnes McFarland is having a girl - her first baby!
Erin Burns Schwant is having another boy - her second baby!
Lauren Martina Hughey is having a boy - her second baby!
Brooke and Peter Howell had their baby, Matine John Howell, on May 11th and she's just beautiful! http://www.brookeandpeter.blogspot.com/



Ashley, Erin, and I (and Todd) used to hang out together at Ono from the time we were in 8th grade. We have too many silly stories to recount, but it sure is funny that Ashley is due in September, Erin in October, and me in November. It makes me miss Mobile and how fun it would be for us to play together again with our own mini-me's.

I feel like a bad blogger because I haven't had much to report lately. The first trimester is officially over today which means our chances of miscarriage are significantly decreased. I still get sick a few times a week, but the Dr. told me that was a good sign. Mom confirmed that with their cardiologist friend who was over for dinner the other night. He agreed that being a little sick was a sign of a good, viable baby. My friend Catherine Kelly gave me some info that came straight from her mom, Chris, who has had 7 babies. I think having 7 makes her the expert. Chris says the sickness should officially stop by 16 weeks, not the end of the first trimester as most people say. She also said that a woman's arms are designed to hold a baby and can cradle a baby forever. Men's arms are different and can only hold a baby for so long before they have to put it down. I thought that was kind of sweet. I thought about how I can't wait to hold our baby. I thought about it again the other day when I was holding sweet Emma Sutherlin. My arms got tired.

12 Week Appointment

Robbie and I went to our 12 week appointment today. We got to hear our little one's heartbeat! It was so cool. I was forewarned that sometimes at this stage they cannot hear the heartbeat with the doppler and that I shouldn't panic. If they can't find the heartbeat they will do an ultrasound to check on the baby. I was hoping they wouldn't be able to find it with the doppler and we would get another sneak preview and a picture, but the baby was cooperative and Dr. Augustyn found it right away. What a nice, compliant baby we have...so far. It undoubtedly gets that from its parents. The doppler thing she used did not have a heart rate monitor on it so we don't know for sure the beats per minute. Dr. Augustyn said if she had to guess she would say about 150 beats per minute. Is this any indication of a boy or a girl? I feel like every time we go to the doctor we get another piece of the puzzle or maybe just a red herring clue.

But speaking of gender, I just found out my friend Ashley is having a girl! I am so happy and excited for she and Mike! Ashley took one of those new gender prediction urine tests a week or so ago which told her at that time it was a girl. Those tests have been under some scrutiny for not being very reliable, but apparently it was right for her. I wonder if I can hold out til the 20th week or if I will want to know sooner. I'm a girl who likes to know!

The Injustice

Ok, so I am not one of those pregnant people that needs to be showered with lots of "ooohs" and "awwwws" and "you're so special" and "you really do look fantastic in your elastic waisted pants," but the other day from the lips of my dear mother came the words, "Ohh, poor Robbie." I'm sure this was over some insignificant sacrifice Robbie had to make like not going fishing on Saturday but going on Sunday instead. Or maybe I asked Robbie to help me with some housework which prompted her deepest sympathies for him.
In my best hormonal tone I said to Mom, "How is it Robbie gets a "Ohh, poor Robbie" when I'm the one throwing up????" She laughed hysterically and then very tongue in cheek replied, "Oh, daughter, do you really think you won't reap some rewards?" I was defenseless against her question! Of course I (with Robbie) will reap HUGE rewards as well as a some discomforts and inconveniences from this exciting journey. And I was satisfied to think that...until this week when Robbie got a new fly rod from Dad with the promise of a new reel when Dad comes out to go along with the fishing trip they are taking this summer and Robbie received a care package of goodies from Williams Sonoma from Mom. I'm still just throwing up while wearing my elastic waist pants. Someone please tell me I look fabulous!!

*Readers should know that I am really just exaggerating my aggravation, perhaps jealousy, and that I have no doubt that the greatest gift is contained solely within me for the time being and it is the very reason I am sick and wearing ugly pants and that I am so, so proud to be in such a condition!