Today is Clarise's third birthday and we will have a little party up on the mountain. Last night, we slept in the trailer in the woods. Maya growled and chuffed a bit at random noises. Lily didn't fuss too much and then slept pretty well throughout. It was so dark, I couldn't see her until dawn started to break, something that doesn't happen in our home in the city. Made me nervous... Lily's been doing great up on the mountain and there have been many hands to hold her and show Lily off to the forest. Everyone is so surprised by how much Lil sleeps. We're so used to it. Yesterday, when we arrived on the mountain, we went on over to the Palomar Mountain Fire Department BBQ and had a yummy plate of meat, salad, beans, etc. Even Maya got to sit with us. Today will be sandwiches in the airstream. We may stay one more night... may not.

Oh, more for the mountain! Today, while the guys and Michelle were off sending wood through the chipper (Lily and I were playing in the airstream) they ran across a yellow jacket nest. Next thing we know, the whole group is running, flailing their arms and yelping their way back to us. Mark got stung on the forehead and then noticed one furiously trying to sting his glove. Mike got hit a bunch of times, as did Michelle (he head got attacked like Tippy Hedron in "The Birds"), Uncle Bob. Only Cousin Jim was spared!

You slept from 11:40 last night until 7:20 the next morning (today)! Almost 8 hours of sleep and boy is Mom happy! At around 5 am, you started to stir, so I stuck a binky in your mouth and you settled back doen. We head up to the mountain today to help the O'Neill's with clearing/chipping the forrest. Well, Mark will help as I need to care for you. Your first camping trip!

Today, you showed Mom that you are not just a lump. I set you down on the bed after changing your diaper and headed into the bathroom to rinse you dipe and toss it in the pail. Next thing I hear is a huge thunk, followed by wailing. You had kicked your way right off the bed. I scooped you up, started bawling along with you, and held you close. Called Laurie and blurted out (without so much as a "hello" or even identifying myself) "I dropped her! I mean, she fell off the bed!" Lucky for me, Laurie figured out who I was and what I was bawling over and reassured me that you were likely OK. Mark showed up soon after and together we checked you over for signs of damage. I feel like the luckiest idiot on the planet.

You had an eventful weekend. Yesterday, you got to meet your great-grandparents, John & Margaret Jennison. We took the dog to the beach and had her back home by noon, when you daddy suggested we drive up to Hemet to introduce you to the great-grands. They were thrilled to meet you and called Aunt Babe to come take a look at you too. You smiled for Grandpa John as soon as we arrived and he spent the whole rest of the visit talking about how cute your smile is. Then he took us out to dinner and gave us a check for $100. That’ll pay for about 1/3 of the cost of your cloth diapers… so Wahoo! We had a great visit and got some photos of you with them. They were just so thrilled to meet you and thought you were pretty amazing (I agree).

On the way home, we saw a huge fire off in the direction of your grandpa Gingery’s house and so I gave Sandy a call. 30 acres burned in Mission Trails (a place you will get to know very well when you are older). Didn’t come near them. It’s been so hot lately that we finally broke down and turned on the A/C. You’ve been wanting to nurse a whole lot more as well, which I am assuming has to do with you trying to keep hydrated… smart baby!

You gave your mom a run for her money last night. Wouldn’t settle down until after midnight. I feel sorry for Keith who’s bed is one the other side of the way from ours and must be tired of listening to you wail. I was so tired and you were so tired and neither of us was getting any sleep. You awoke again at about 5am and wouldn’t go back to sleep for another hour. I’d be fine if you would lay quietly and play with your toes or something, but if you’re awake, you want to be moving! Bounce, bounce, jiggle, jiggle, pat, pat, “please baby, please go back to sleep, Momma is so tired!”

We had a bath this morning in the tub. You fussed when I first slid you into the water, but calmed down quickly. Then you got a quick massage and a clean onsie. Went for a walk with the dog, which was cut short due to Maya’s insistence in chasing a cat.

Things are getting better in the sleeping department. You’ve been really gassy and hurting at night lately and over the last few nights, with the help of colic tablets and working with you to head off the squalling, we’ve been able to make some progress. You’re so beautiful to sleep with, snuggled against my body, warm and sweaty. It’s been very warm lately, some nights we’ve just had you in a diaper. Your grandma Janis came to see you today and, once again, you slept through her visit. If I didn’t keep an eye on her, she’d wake you up just so she could interact with you a bit. It’s my job to take care of you and Daddy’s job to take care of us. So tired… and you’re about to wake up again.

Took you to PB to check out a resale shop. Got you a diaper pail for the cloth diapers that are on their way, a book about Baby Sign Language (which I fully intend to teach you), and a slightly faded Baby Bjorn baby carrier. As much as I love the Maya Wrap, I’ve been having some pain in-between my shoulder blades and wanted to try a carrier that went over both shoulders. So, when I saw it at the store, I tried it on and slid you into it. You went right back to sleep and snuggled happily at my chest for the rest of the trip. I was tagged for $35, but I got the owner to give it to us for $30. Daddy loved it when he tried it too.

After Sunkissed Kids Shop, we went to visit your great-grandparents. They were thrilled to see you, as always and your great-grandpa Ben cracked me up by saying to your great-grandma Lu (after you got fussy in her arms) “she don’t want those dried up old titties! She wants her momma’s titties!” So, I nursed you back to sleep and then took you home.

We went to our first La Leche League meeting today and met some other granola type moms… and some not so granola moms. It was good and I’ll most likely become a member. From there, we went to see Dad at work and had lunch with him, then to Target to stroll among the baby items and exclaim about their cuteness. Then to Dr. Joe’s and THEN finally to home. All told, we were out and about from 9:30 to 4 pm, a personal best for us, Kido. When I got you home, you dropped off to sleep in my arms, once again using my boob as a pillow and, after a while, I transferred you to the cradle. About half an hour later, you let out this sad wail and could not be consoled until I nursed you again. You sounded to sad and confused… not at all like your angry or hurting cry. I guess you awoke and couldn’t feel me near you and found it so disturbing you just had to let me know about it. That cry just hurts me.

You have been really gassy lately and it looks like I may have to start eliminating food from my diet to see if that’s what’s affecting you. Really don’t want to give up dairy, so hopefully its something else. Donno. You scream from 10 to 1 at night (not always for the full three hours) but you just sound like you’re hurting and I can’t stand the thought of you in pain.

Must make some dinner, Daddy’s back from walking the dog.

Went to lunch today with Lindsay, who stage managed Red Diaper Trilogy. You were cooed over by people walking by, in the restaurant, lots of people. You are just so darn cute… even when you are squalling. I fed you, which quieted you right down, then tried to eat with a squirmy baby in my lap. I ended up with food on my pants. What fun. But hey, it’s a small price to pay for such a beautiful child. Tomorrow we’re going to check out a drum circle in Solana Beach with John and Oreet and then having dinner them, Chris and Rebekah and Chris’s brother Nathan and fiancée. Then on Sunday, we go to the HypnoBirthing Reunion to show off our beautiful girl.