Mama's Big Outing Alone

What a big day in our household! Early this morning, we noticed that a young doe was in our next door neighbor's backyard (which connects with ours and is not separated by a fence), even though it was nearly 8:00 a.m. and broad daylight. We get deer traffic through our subdivision, but only between dusk and daybreak. When I left for a walk, I noticed that the doe was trapped because a concrete crew had arrived at our neighbors' house to replace the driveway. An hour later when Chris was mowing the lawn, he discovered the doe was still nearby and had moved to our back yard! Poor girl was trapped in broad daylight with all the human beings moving around and the cars in the streets. I was very worried about her and Chris found this good reason to tease me.

This photo was taken from our basement door so you can see how close the doe was to our house:



Speaking of that walk I took, I walked alone, leaving John with his daddy! I know that many or most mothers have taken some time alone from their firstborn by now, but I haven't. John has been apart from me a couple of times when he had to go to the hospital nursery for procedures (and Daddy went with him) and once when I left him in the car with his Grampa Neil while I ran into the store to buy a scoop of ice cream. That's it for seven long months. Because I sleep with John too, I'm with him nearly 24 hours a day. I'm very attached to my baby (some of you will say overattached, but to each his own!) and couldn't have pushed myself to be apart from him much sooner than this. I'm glad I waited till I felt truly ready because my 25-minute walk around the block was lovely. I wasn't overwrought with anxiety and I didn't even call Chris back at the house. I felt free as a bird walking along without my boy. Chris and John did great and I came home to find them (Chris) singing Catholic children's songs. I look forward to making morning walks alone a new part of my routine that I hope to do several times per week when Chris' work day allows.

Now, you may ask, am I ready to leave John with some other well-known caregiver besides Chris? No way, not even a little bit, can't even imagine when I will be ready!

In the afternoon, despite the fact that my boy has rejected all food he has tried, I felt possessed to make a batch of carrot puree and homemade apple sauce, which I ladled into ice cube trays to freeze for later baby-sized servings. I've always eaten store-bought apple sauce, so my homemade version was the most delicious I've ever eaten. Now that I see how easy and cheap it is to make at home, buying it at the store will be a crime! Despite how fantastic I judged the apple sauce to be, John tried it and voted "no" big time.

Tonight my dear husband took me to a restaurant for our second dinner out since John was born. We do many lunches, but not dinner. John rated the restaurant five stars because of its many thrilling ceiling fans, which sent him into peals of laughter.

John tried drinking from a straw for the first time. I think he might have sucked up some water. He definitely does better working with a grown-up cup than his trainer cup.

The straw provided much entertainment while Chris and I ate:

A tidbit: John is now clucking his tongue. I feel like we're !Kung bush men as we click back and forth to each other in turn.