WOW....this is (mostly) FUN!

Happy belated one-month birthday to Luka!!!! Somehow I cannot believe that we have made it to the one month mark and that we are actually ENJOYING this time of having a newborn with two other children in tow. It hasn't been all easy breezy, but looking at the big picture of things (crazy pregnancy and birth, painful c-section recovery, young children who tend to freak out with change, Zander working too much, etc.) it has been a million times easier and more enjoyable than I expected.

We managed to take Luka on his very first hike last weekend -- a gloriously sunny Saturday hike to the Gorge -- and had to laugh when we realized that this was the same hike we took Anina on the day after she was released from the NICU. Must be something attracting us to Wahclella Falls on days where we are introducing newborns to their first hikes! We didn't get very far down the trail, and pretty much just ended up throwing stones in the river, having a picnic, and basking in the sunshine teaser of what is soon to come (yay summer!). I have to laugh at myself that this all feels like a huge accomplishment with three children: "First hike with three kids in tow? Yep, we did it and it was fun! Getting everyone fed and out the door alone while Zander was working? Yep, I did it and didn't die or lose it in the process....yay, success! Get Miles and Anina to sleep on my own while holding/nursing Luka? Yep, I did it and it wasn't horribly difficult!" Sooooo, clearly it is the little things right now....the little successes and the realization that this is FUN. I have to say that so far (knock on lots of wood) this transition to 3 little monkeys has been so much easier than either the transitions from 0-1 or from 1-2...not sure why. I am enjoying every moment so much more than I remember with Miles and Anina's babyhood....maybe because it's probably the last time, maybe because we're already so far gone that there isn't anything additional to stress about, maybe because Luka is still so calm and easy. Regardless, I am so grateful.

Beginning next week Miles and Anina will only be going to preschool part time, which means there will be much more time for adventures with Mama and Luka. I'm psyched! For the first time in many, many moons, I feel like I have given myself the freedom to not "accomplish" anything. I have no goals for the next 6 months other than having fun, exploring the world with these kiddos, and enjoying our family. I do feel like this is a gift that Luka has given me, and while I would like to ruminate more on that here, I'm still figuring it out. Something about the way he came to be (what? No trying to conceive?!? No charting, temping, fertility interventions!?!?!?), his crazy time in utero that required me to take life down 1000 notches and ask for help from friends and family just to keep the family machine running, and the very obvious miracle that is this child....well, if I can't slow down and enjoy THIS, that what is the point!?!?! We sat down yesterday and made a huge list of all of the adventures we want to go on this summer....Miles and Anina have it all planned out, and I'm just coming along for the ride. Wwweeeeyoooo!

I'm also trying to figure out the scene for late summer/fall commuting via cargo bike, and can't quite envision how this can work with 3 kids and the inevitable pacific NW rain. I would love suggestions if anyone has them, as our current set up -- the Surly Big Dummy -- can haul three kids, but I am looking for a more enclosed option. Maybe a cargo trike?

Off to snuggle with my Zander and our littlest guy. Sweet, sweet times these are!