Rock Climbs and Swimming Pools

Little Miss Riley is 5 months now and the happiest little thing all day long! She loves to play, be held, smile and coo with just about any body that'll show her some attention.  She truly is a joy right now! Except for the fact that she doesn't seem to want to sleep through the night... sigh...  last night was the first night in weeks we got 5 hours in a row.  Such is life for now I guess.  She makes up for it with endless smiles and antics during the day!

We haven't been getting out climbing as much as we'd like.  The weather has been hot and we haven't gone up to the Red in months.  But, even so, a few trips out to the Obed and I am feeling more and more like a rock climber.  Confidence is coming back, too, which really helps on the stone.  We've been heading out to Lily and Little Clear at least once a week with Riley in tow.  I hike her in using the Moby or we just take her up in the car seat to Lily!  She loves looking at the trees and the leaves - it's awesome to see her looking all around her and taking it all in.

In some ways, getting back into climbing felt like hopping on a bike - I knew what to do and how to do it - but my strength and endurance was obviously lacking.  I would look at a hold, know how to get there or how to hang on to it, and my body wouldn't cooperate.  But after only a few short months, I am back to being able to warm up on 5.11 and redpoint mid 5.12.  Ironically enough, my get-back-in-shape project at the Obed was a route that a few years ago, I got totally smoked on. It's a 5.12c called La Familia.  Back then, since big moves on just slightly overhanging rock weren't my cup o tea (I am more of an eduro climber), this route felt impossible.  But at just a few months post-baby, I was able to do all the moves.  When I finally switched up some key beta, the route went super easy!  With summer fast approaching, my focus is going to be on doing some fun cardio a few times a week and to lift, to continue to rebuild strength (and get my abs back darn it!), and then find a 5.13 project for the fall.  I will be psyched if I can climb 5.13 again in less than a year after having Riley.  Suggestions?!?! 

On days we don't head out to climb, we've been enjoying every moment on mini-adventures with Riley.  This past weekend I couldn't help myself and I went and bought a little pool for us to play in!  Of course, this is way more entertaining for Mommy and Daddy at this point but by the end of the summer I am sure Riley will be splashing around like a wild girl! 

In other news, Riley had her first taste of real food this week! We made some homemade sweet potatoe puree, and at first she wasn't so sure about it, but now when we bring out the little containers of orange goodness, she just goes crazy with excitement! It's so cute. 

Riley's last day going to day care for the summer!  What better reason to wear a pretty dress and pink hairbow?

Yes, Craig got in the pool! 

Our Lil Nursery for Riley while at the Crag. 

Jenny, Cameron and Zoey with Riley at Little Clear (shortly before Riley spit up all over Jenny, twice! So sorry Jenny!).

Sooo excited!!!

Not so sure at first...

And Baby Makes Three!

On December 20, 2011, our lives changed forever.  Riley Clara Lewis was born at 9:34 in the morning at 6 pounds and 8 ounces!

I always knew I wanted to have children.  I adore my neice Micayla and my nephew Petyon, who have been the apples of my eye every trip home to Virginia, and I couldn't imagine a love greater than what I have for them. 

When people find out you are going to have a baby, they tell you things like, "Get sleep now while you can!" and "Your life will never been the same?" etc. but in my opinion, they don't, or perhaps can't, prepare you for the amazing roller coaster that you are embarking on.  I can't begin to describe the immence joy and loveI have when I hold my darling daughter.  I am in awe each and every single day.  I still can't believe it!  Craig and I have a daughter.  We have a daughter! 

We had actually scheduled to induce the morning of the 20th.  We were to arrive at the hospital at 12:00 the night before.  The morning of the 19th we went to my doctor's office and the doctor said that I didn't need to arrive until 6:00am the morning of the 20th and they would start the induction.  We agreed.  We were anxious, nervous, and so excited!  Well, that night, Craig and I had dinner together at home with the Christmas tree gleaming in the living room, and enjoyed our last evening as a duo.  We went to bed... but around 11:30 or so, I woke up with a funny feeling.  Long story short, and skipping all the labor-intensive details, my water broke and we ended up rushing to the hospital and arriving at Parkwest as originally planned around 12:00 that night!  And Riley was born 9 hours later! 

Since her birth, life has been a whirl wind.  I decided that 6 weeks was not nearly enough time for us to adjust to life with Riley, and that I would take off from work til March 1.  This would give me about 10 weeks to learn and for her to learn with us.  Each day Riley seems to grow and change!  I wouldn't give this time up for anything.  I cherished every single moment that I could and looking back on these 10 weeks, in hindsight, I would encourage any new mother to savor each second.  Forget about all those projects you thought you'd get done while on leave!  Forget about the laundry and cleaning and getting back in shape!  Our Riley has already grown from barely 6 pounds to almost 10.  That's a HUGE increase in size when you think about it. 

When I was growing up, there was a wall hanging in our home.  I always loved it.  I actually had it memorized and asked my Mom one day if she minded making me one similar. Well, she did one better.  She offered to let it hang in Riley's room.  It says everything I feel, and more.

"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait til tomorrow,
For babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow,
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep,
I am rocking my baby, and babies don't keep."

Initiation

I have been debating on starting a blog to keep in touch with friends and family ever since Craig and I found out we were going to have a baby.  It took all 9 months plus 2 and a half before I actually sat down and did it.  My mind has been on so many other things! 

As I was debating on the blog, various titles for the blog went through my mind.  I kept coming back to a line from a movie that was the inspiration for many of my teenage faux pas: Dazed and Confused.  Remember when Matthew McConaughey was outside of the pool hall and he says, "You just gotta keep on livin' man, L-I-V-I-N"? Well, that just stuck in my head!  And each weekend when we go rock climbing, everyone talks about how 'strong' they feel, or how 'strong' you look on a certain route.  So I thought, what a cool message?  Kinda like the Lance Armstrong thing, but with a twist.  Livin' strong!  Climb, work, play, grow!

So why start the blog now?  Well, with Riley girl, our precious little daughter born December 20, 2011, growing and changing each and every day, I wanted to be able to share and illustrate our adventures as a family with those close to us. 

I can't wait to post up pics and share stories of climbing and camping adventures, the little daily mishaps and successes, acheivements and milestones of our little family.