Parents visit and small towns and bike rides

Ryan's folks came to town this weekend. They did lots of babysitting and as we really needed to get out and so we did lots of thanking them. It is a curious phenomenon that many other parents of young kids have problems with family visiting or vice-versa. We all go expecting help and a little relief, maybe a night out, and someone most of the time it doesn't work out. I don't know where the breakdown in expectations starts, but it's a very common topic of conversation. Anyway, we're very lucky not to have that problem.

Ryan did the Iron Horse over the weekend for the second time. Riding uphill for more than 3 hours? No thanks! But he's a rock star, he did it, and I'm baffled but proud. They held the "crit" on Sunday, which brought out all the weirdos that Durango has to offer. Well, it's Durango. I guess a welded-together bicycle isn't bad for such a small place.

Speaking of small places... I keep forgetting to write about how strange it is to spend time around town with Clementine on the weekends. I'm always running into (attractive, young) women who know her. And Calliope, for that matter. "Hi Clementine!" they say, and, "You must be Ryan's wife." He appears to know every cute mom in town. Attended a baby shower weekend before last while all the other working dads and I took the children. Funny. I think it's sweet that he's been accepted as one of their own, and he gives them some perspectives on boy stuff that might otherwise be lacking...

Why? ... why? ... why?

I don't know when the why years are supposed to start, but in our lives, they appear to be here for sure. I thought that was like 4 or something? Well, Clementine is definitely in the "Why? Why? Why?" phase.

Calliope, at her last appointment, was 12 WHOLE POUNDS! She's also 24" long (well, 23 1/2). Yoda-sized! She is blowing raspberries and laughing now. I just saw a newborn baby and I can't believe it but Calliope is really all grown up already! Four months old and I'm already sad she's not littler.

Ry is busy training for the Iron Horse on Memorial Day weekend. Big ride up some huge hills, sounds like a total drag to me but whatever.

Two weeks ago Ryan, Clementine and Calliope got to go to a local farm and feed grass to pigs and buy fresh eggs and stuff. It's only 10 miles outside town. They even make fresh cheese. I am jealous, but glad they got to do something so wonderful.

I bought some minicards from Moo. They're so wonderful! They came in a box that said "Yay! You're our new best friend!" I mean, this is the "delightful" that designers are always going on about!

Our kitty died today...

...it was very quick. He was not sick, and did not suffer. We are very sad. More photos of Tibalt.

Two new discoveries...

1. Calliope has started taking a pacifier. One day we tried sticking a pacifier in her mouth (again) and she just started sucking on it. Just like that. I have never seen one of my babies do anything other than spit them out up until now -- I even started quizzing other moms -- maybe there's some kind of pacifier training that I didn't know about? Well, turns out some babies just suck on it if you catch them at the right time.. Wonderful!

2. Overnight oatmeal. Who knew oatmeal could be worth looking forward to? One addition to the recipe: toast the oats in a few tablespoons of melted butter in a skillet before putting in the crockpot. MMMMmmmmm.....

New Photos

We got our photos from our trip to San Francisco, another visit to Helen Bae. Beautiful pics, I'm just sad that Calliope wasn't in a better mood. She's always in a good mood, this was a very rare bad day. Ah well. She is not a newborn anymore -- she focuses, has command of what she's looking at, and works hard at sitting up and grabbing stuff. She's also starting each night with 4-7 hours of solid sleep (more often 4 but hey, who's complaining?).

Clementine has completely given up on potty training. >sigh<

I have been reading a parenting book, which I rarely read, but it was highly recommended. Basically the principal is that you have to have yourself under control, all that self-discpline buttoned up, before you can expect to effectively self-discipline your child. It's quite a daunting proposition, to finally manage to get in daily flossing and situps and what-not in the midst of parenting. Unfortunately, it makes sense.