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Two years ago (almost exactly) we debuted a video of Claire walking with Lola.
Below is a clip from our weekend hike, you can see how in two years Claire has improved in her communication and her dog handling skills.
While on vacation in Tahoe, we checked in with my inlaws who were also on vacation and informed us that once they returned, they would be heading out again for a somewhat impromptu Yosemite visit to see the waterfalls. Once off the phone, Josh and I were a little green with envy so we called them back and asked if we could tag along and they graciously said yes. So, home for literally a couple of days and off again we went. (Pre van unfortunately).
This trip required a little skillful preparation because the car space was limited as were the quarters we would be staying in and the lovely Lola would be joining us. Friday afternoon we piled into the car ready for another adventure. We have stayed at this campground before (we were sharing a little cabin with my inlaws and by little I mean 500 square feet little). The kids didn’t really sleep in the car (they were pretty good humored so that was OK). We arrived with plenty of day light left to play and explore, which we did.
We unpacked with gusto. Josh pitched a tent next to the cabin because we were unsure if Lola was allowed in the cabin (according to campground regulations). I set up shop in the bedroom with the kids which housed a queen bed. We had left the pack n play at home because of limited car space. Upon further examination of the cabin, there is no place it would have fit anyway. We borrowed a little kid tent for Conor and set that up at the foot of the bed. Claire and I would share the bed, Conor at our feet, Josh outside with Lola and my inlaws in the living room on the fold out couch. It was all pretty rosy until bed time rolled around. The kids were overtired and it quickly became apparent that Conor was having none of this sleeping arrangement. I mean none of it. He tried clawing his way out wailing at the top of his lungs like I have NEVER heard before. Josh worked his baby magic and soothed him to sleep but it only lasted for an hour. Mercifully (and miraculously) Claire slept through the whole thing. After an hour Conor was awake and hysterical once again. At this point I was sweating and ready to pack the car, forget the falls and head home. We finally soothed Conor to sleep but he would only lay on my chest, if I moved or tried to reposition him, he started up again. So here we are in this teeny bedroom, Claire is zonked out, hasn’t moved. Conor is all sweaty and hoarse from hysteria and I’m laying on the bed fully dressed. By now its late, Josh decides he’s moving the party from the tent to the bedroom in the event that I need support in the middle of the night. Lola camps out at Claire’s feet, content as can be. Josh helps me into pajama bottoms but getting a pajama top on was hopeless. I wasn’t willing to risk the peace we had managed with Conor. Josh prepares his bed on the floor (he is as wide as the space between the bed and the closet and he is as long as the room.
The morning dawned with fresh and happy perspective. Both babes had slept soundly. Claire, unaware that Conor now shared the bed had a one point in the night thrown her arm over him and snuggled him. The only hitch in the night was that Lola decided she preferred to sleep with my inlaws rather than us and I chased after her fearing she would jump all over them and lick them to pieces. Fortunately that was not to be, she just settled down and went back to sleep.
That night was the most eventful part of the trip. The rest was pretty much peace, beauty and enjoyment (plus a few toddler meltdowns). The falls were beautiful. We picnicked by the Merced River and played for a while, enjoyed ice cream at curry village. The kids loved playing hide and seek with Grandma Janice.
Sunday we hung out at the campground and played in the morning before packing up and heading up. The south fork of the Tuolomne runs through the campground and we “fished”, panned for gold and just relaxed by and in the river. The kids had a great time getting wet and playing around. Claire helped Grandpa look for gold. We discovered that Lola likes the water. We settled down on a little “island” in the creek and let Lola off leash. She bolted up and down the island until she discovered her sea legs and swam off the island. Unfortunately for Lola, her freedom did not last long but she seemed content to just hang out after that.
After our berry picking adventure we ventured back to Half Moon Bay where the fog had finally burned off. The beach was a little windy, chilly but sunny. The waves crashed, the sand was cool and the kids were in heaven. Half Moon Bay is a dog friendly place and we were pleased to find a beach that Lola could enjoy with us too. She was a bit annoyed that she had to stay on leash and was bugged every time Josh moved more than five feet away from her but eventually she settled in and contented herself scouring crumbs from the picnic blanket.
Conor sandcastle destroyer.
Claire found this piece of seaweed and thought it was the most interesting toy.
I call this feeding the geese.
sand angels
I enjoy warm weather, I enjoy cold weather. I especially enjoy them when they stay in their respective seasons. Spring in Spring, Winter in Winter. I realize it could be worse but this 70 + degree weekend really had me all screwed up, not to mention that it sent me scrambling for clothes for the kids as they really only have clothes in their size for the season. I realize there are worse things than having the kids kids run around in t-shirts or onesies all weekend.
Saturday afternoon we got some yard work done and the kids enjoyed hanging outside, Lola got stripped, Conor tried to eat leaves and grass, Claire watered everything she could get her watering can over.
Silly Silly Silly me. I guess I haven’t been a parent long enough to realize that this dynamic thing called parenting is frequently changing.
Two weeks ago I sat down to write a post about turning a corner with Conor’s sleep habits and how Claire’s screaming tantrums had mysteriously vanished. Just about that time BAM! It all changed…again. Conor is back to being up 2-3 times a night after I go to bed, its more like 3-4 if you count before I go to sleep. He will sleep in his own bed but it takes probably an hour to lull him back to sleep after the 3:30/4 feeding so he ends up back in bed with us so I can get a little sleep.
Claire has ramped up her fits. Last week Gi Gi and I went to Target and Claire started in. She was being very 2 (fical and squirrely and strong willed). In the cart, out of the cart, Gi Gi push! Mommy push! Walk around and start pulling things off shelves and putting in cart, sitting in cart and pulling the cart over enough that she can grab things off the shelf and put them in the cart. When attempting to divert attention and correct behavior the result is a shrill scream followed quickly by a fussing Conor who strongly dislikes being startled by noise. I am breaking out in a sweat and praying for anything that will make Claire stop. People are staring and making what I hope are symapthetic comments to Gi Gi who has paced away in an effort to draw Claire’s attention elsewhere. On the advice of a friend we have started a chin flick when we are in public and attemtping to curb this behavior. Its probably effective 75% of the time. The other 25% when asked “you need to stop, do you want me to flick you.” Her reply, “YES!”. ***sigh***
Sunday afternoon our darling daughter who has always been a champion sleeper for naps and night time decided to get up during her nap before she slept. We’d put her back to bed and she’d be up again. We did that song and dance for an hour and a half. That night Conor decided to cry…inconsolably cry from 9:00-10:30 and then get up every two hours after that. (I know this is all part and parcel to the parenting game, I’m just sharing my experience). Monday Claire did the same thing with her nap though fortunately not for quite as long. Monday night, Claire went to bed, was dozing off, Josh left and all hell broke loose. She started to scream (this was about 7:30). She proceeded to scream (waking her brother up) until 8:45 p.m. She was exhausted but somehow deeply troubled if left alone in her room (a first for her).
Today its shot day for Conor. Gi Gi comes over to watch Claire while I take Conor to Kaiser to get his vaccinations. I’m feeding Conor when Gi Gi arrives (8:45 a.m.) and of course, I had just changed his diaper and Conor poops and Claire goes outside and pees (she’s diaperless) and then tries to run in the house waving her sidewalk chalk. As I get up to escort our little artist back outside I feel something warm on my lap. Conor has blown out…the biggest blowout to date. Its up to his neck, out the side of his diaper, running down his leg, my skirt, dripping onto the floor and the couch and the rug and the blanket. All the while my son is still attempting to nurse. Gi Gi jumps into action “what do you want me to do?” and all I can do is laugh…I mean come on why do these things have to happen 1. when you’re trying to get somewhere and 2. simultaneously. I change, Conor gets changed, Claire gets her chalk cleaned up. Conor spits up so he gets changed again. I load up my son (9:30) and say good bye to Claire (who starts to get REALLY upset) and head out the door. As I load Conor I can hear Claire’s shrill screams from inside the house. Gi Gi brings her to the door to wave goodbye I pull away and shut the garage door. As I’m driving down our street I keep seeing this brown out the corner of my eye. I’m wondering what piece of hair came loose and is distracting me when I see a pink tongue and two brown eyes running along the side of the car. LOLA…she’s out and loose and chasing after me. I stop the car in the middle of the street, jump out and Lola goes in front of the car – I think to terrorize some neighbors cat. Nope she runs all the way around and jumps in the car looking quite pleased with herself. So we turn around and dump her in the side yard so as not to alert my daughter (who is still screaming) that I have returned. Sweating I get back in the car and head off to Kaiser (9:45). Phew…
I hope it starts to sink in that with all the joys and challenges of parenting, getting the hang of things may not be in my grasp…and that’s ok.
It has now become a challange to leave the house if the excursion does not include Lola. Exiting usually involves escalating cries of Lola…Lola…LOLA! crying, sometimes screaming, sometimes a refusal to go. One day we dropped Lola off at a friends house to play, Claire cried from the time Lola and Josh got out of the car to the time we got to the freeway.
Lola for her part endures Claire’s chants as Claire follows her around the house and tries to talk her for a walk, get her to sit or play ball.
Bright, beautiful sunny Monday couched between rainy Sunday and Tuesday. We took advantage of the weather and spent sometime outdoors to get our sillies out. We played in the car for about 1/2 an hour – exactly how it sounds. Claire is into playing in the car: front seat – back seat, passenger side – driver side. Lola had to come (of course) and at one point they were both sitting on my lap behind the steering wheel. Afterward we donned our galoshes and tromped around in the parking lot (not very scenic I know but lots of squirrels, ducks and birds).
Lola was sporting her extendo leash and Claire enjoyed walking Lola – did a pretty good job too. They walked up and back in the parking lot.
Lola has been on the scent of some varments the last couple days. This day it was rats or so Josh said in the palm tree.
Claire, of course, wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
Lola couldn’t wait to get her paws on one of those varments.
Claire can’t wait to get outside these days. She is frequently asking to go outside and heaven forbid if you should go outside without her.
She’s also not shy about dirt, leaves or damp grass.
