My crazy kiddo...

Introducing the "no clothes" phase....coming to a chilly morning near you where goose bumps don't seem to matter for this little guy...
But ear protection, ABSOLUTELY. Afterall, we wouldn't want his young tender ear drums to be injured with HIS high pitched screams. Oh no, never.
I actually think he's the smart one in all of this. No sooner did his clothes end up OFF his body, did the sun come out. And hey, I'm fine with ear protection. If he's happy, I'm ecstatic, as he is one jolly, laughing, giggly, humurous kiddie when he's in his good baby spirits.
And here's to good baby spirits to all, and to all a good night....

Sister Fun with an OLD famous friend...

okay, so maybe we're not the usual definition of friends...my Dave Matthews and I do go way WAY back....

As I'm sure you all know, I am a big Dave fan....HUGE....not in the groupie sort of way, but in the if Dave was in the city I'd drop everything and run, including my honey and baby....
okay, not really....
but....
that is what I did, in a controlled way of course, well planned, and all the good stuff you NEED to do when that mama thing happens to you.
But, yes, this mama took a night off of mama'-ing, wifey'-ing, PA-'ing, and headed to Marysville.
Sister Megan was my partner and crime and we lived up the brief 17 hours together with good food, an awe-inspiring birthday gift massage, (you know, the kind that makes you drooooollllll), and of course, the lovely, Mr. Matthews.
This year we decided to shell out and actually get seats, you know, the kind with backs, cup holders, somewhat close to the stage and not on grass, (not to knock grass, it got Dave and I through the tight college days....)
And those seats were fabulous...but...gotta say, not quite fab enough as next time we're aiming for those special super duper break the bank account, gotta know someone seats....we'll see....
Needless to say the concert was wonderful, guitar player extraordinaire Tim Reynolds and group were as amazing as ever, and we had a great time....

Don't worry you worry warts...only a fraction of this was actually consumed...YUMMY!

Now, here's to a few more mama night outs...and to missing my lovely boy...my baby boy that is...more about him to come...this is a baby blog after all...though a break for Dave is always welcome!

My absolute favorite thing to do....

yummy delicious blackberries! Always a challenge to get a bucket full when you've got hungry pickers!

And...my absolute best picking partner, my very own Forrest G. As long as you satisify this little sweetie with scrumptious berries now and then, it is a joyous experience....(though I can't say the BM that follows is entirely lovely....;-)

A super duper Crescent City Duathlon Type of day!

Today was a race day....my fellow ex-(but always...) UCSB rowers know what race day is about. Race day post college and post baby is an entirely different beast...though it is still the "wake up at the butt crack of dark thirty-have butterflies in your stomach-have to pee at least 4 times-adreneline surge" type of morning.

This morning I competed in a local Duathlon in Crescent City, way in North NORTH Cali. It was just a sprint distance, a 1.25 mile run, 12.5 mile bike, and 5K run....but was plenty to get the competitive juices, and BURN flowing.

A last minute addition to my race experience was my super nurse friend Teri. She is an awesome athlete, in her late 40's, and thoroughly pushed me and kicked my little 30 year old butt running. This amazing woman held 7 minute miles all through the running portion of the race...and had more to spare! It's nice to find such a positive and kick butt training partner even if I can only find time to ride with her every couple weeks.

Needless to say, when the racing was finished, the calf cramps worked out, and the wrong turns corrected, (a whoops on my part....ugggh,) I managed to squeak out a 2nd place in my age group and my friend, super duper duathlete Teri, took 2nd overall. WOWEEE!

Teri, second overall and 1st Master's woman....You rock!

I was proud of my effort, as my major goal was to try and make the last 5K run NOT hurt like hell. And....the first mile of that last 5K DID hurt like hell, but it's kind of supposed to, I've learned, (from the 7 minute miler herself....)
And then those kinks worked out and I was feeling the groove....
Regardless, for my moderate training, (as my 2-3 weekly workouts were far overshadowed by my competitors daily workouts,) payed off and I had an excellent race...in sunny conditions...which in itself is a  miracle on this super foggy Cali coast.

I do have to say that this has got my race bug going.....

My 2nd place podium stand....my first place competitor had a 2 year old! Made me miss Forrest and feel proud to be with a fellow racing mama....:-)

Backyard Bull Elk!

We had the awesome luck to have a bull Elk make his way to our property last night. This is extremely rare. They are coastal creatures but have occasionally been spotted this far east. Regardless, it was a great and humbling experience to see a creature this big so close to home...in our home!

Pictures don't do it justice as the light was low and we stayed pretty far away as to not scare it off....hopefully he will be a frequent visitor!

Granny Teri days....and our First Watermelon!!!!

summer days and dog wrestling...

My mom's in town........(YIPEEEEE), so forgive me as I make myself scarce. In the mean time, enjoy the choice pics of a very cute baby and his mama so thoroughly enjoying our beautiful river....

And the answer is...?????

and without further delay, my thoughts on my "Big Question" post follow.....

#1 Thank you SO much to all my commenters....you guys rock and had some very good things to say, all of which I took to heart.
#2 I also agree that there is a LOT that goes into this decision....and, sometimes, not much at all. Nature often takes the reins and makes the decision for us. Maybe that's the best way???
#3 Personally, I think we are looking at the 2 1/2 -3 year plan. For multiple reasons. Many of which have been said. But, looking at our life, my job, and my desires to have more time off with a second child, this seems to fit. I think that by the time Forrest is about 3 we will be financially well off enough for me to take time off...months off...which is what I really really want to do at this point. 7 weeks is just NOT enough time....
#4 And, last but not least, I LOVE my little boy right now. The desire to have a baby is there, but Forrest is amazing me with his smiles, giggles, the way he is growing by leaps and bounds, and all that he is taking in and learning. AND......I have to think that adding another child into the mix earlier might have taken away from this experience? I know some of you have children close together and that is an experience that is joyous in itself, perhaps more adventitious for the kids. My spacing may be a bit selfish for ME, my personal desire to soak up as much as I can from Forrest one on one before our lives are fulfilled yet again....This may also stem from my busy job, but this wonderful Forrest is also such an energy suck....and I am thoroughly fulfilled in so many ways right now...and thoroughly exhausted.

So, that last bit is entirely personal stuff. I know it is different for every mama, every papa, and every different family dynamic and profession. But it's how I feel now.

And now, my pillow calls....:-)

The BIG question...

It seems as if everybody is asking Alex and I the BIG question....or at least the humongo one that tends to pop up when you have one child....
who is over 1 year old...
hmmmmm, have you guessed it yet?

Yep....you got it. It's the

 "So when is Forrest getting a sister/brother/playmate/wrestling partner?"

Or...

"Come on what are you waiting for?"

or...my favorite...

"Okay guys, it's TIME! I think Forrest needs a little sister!" 

(not even bothering to frame it as a question mind you...)

I'm not so much bothered by the comments...as I would like to know the answer as well. So....blog readers....family, friends, strangers, everyone in between...
take aside my personal preference for when I want to get pregnant, (as I'm not exactly jumping up and down in joy for it at the moment...and I don't think Alex is for the matter either....those big bellys are hard on everyone!)
What do you think is the best spacing for kiddies....if you could choose...if you were so lucky to be able to time things, (as I know not everybody is....)
Is it..."have them quick as possible.....get those baby years over with.....I love babies and don't mind two under two"
or...."space them out a bit...2+ years is perfect...."
OR...."there is no way I want two kids in diapers....3+ years is the way to go"
ORRRRR "the more time between them, the better..."
I know there are a lot of ways to look at this equation...and obviously any kids I may or may not be having can't be TOOOO close together as Forrest is already 16 mos. old....
Just looking for comments and opinions, not that they would greatly influence our final decisions...and really whatever happens, happens. I already have my biases, as it seems everybody has a thought on the issue, but I'll keep them to myself for now and I would love to hear from all of you! Even those that don't have kiddies or maybe are in my boat and only have one....what are you thinking?

A slice of summer.....

...my wonderful husband catching LARGE fish in the weee early dawn hours....

and my lovely little family traveling back from a neighborhood party where some of the delicious salmon was consumed in the warm evening breeze.....on our quad.

Country living is nice.....
I love my life....
:-)