Night Walker

He's not a vampire, but you might think so if you knew his schedule! For the last few days, Jett has not been sleeping well. Most likely because he cannot contain his excitement about learning to WALK!! Yep! On October 19th, just after his birthday, Jett took his first steps. He didn't stand for months before like you hear so often happens. In fact, I really only saw Jett stand once.  He'll be running in no time.  But, in the mean-time, looks like we'll be having a few more sleepless nights than usual.

First Birthday Party Plannig

After months of deliberation, we are having a PARTY for Jett's first birthday. Just to clarify, deliberation means me being indecisive while Todd has clearly already decided how he wants to do something and is waiting on me for support and approval. I may be the outgoing one in the relationship, but Todd loves to throw a party!!!
I just wasn't sure I was up for it. We have a small space right now and it seemed to overwhelming to figure out how to accommodate all of our friends and family. 3 weeks before Jett's birthday i decided WE, meaning Todd and I, needed to celebrate our first year having Jett.

I mean, throw us a bone (or party)!!! We were evacuated only days before Jett's due date, due to a fire, from a house that is 35o square feet, no bedrooms, hardly enough room for our crib (we threw it in the shed months ago) and NO BATHROOM that is situated directly adjacent to my parents!!! That's right..., you read it right.... NO BATHROOM!!! Somehow, we still manage to look like a perfectly mediocre American family when we show up in public. 365+ days, a newborn, 350 square feet, no television and we still love each other and our little man. Sounds to me like reason to celebrate!!!!

So, this Sunday, we will have our closest friends and family up to our property for a birthday bash!!! Todd is doing all the cooking (whew!) and I've got the cake under control (kinda)!!

Here's hoping for beautiful weather (otherwise we may have to send some friends home)!!!
JB

Babies!

Today was an exciting day. After 5 days of little to no sleep due to a possibly sick baby, I was able to get Jett to bed by 7 which allowed me to follow-up an already nice day with friends with an incredibly enjoyable night. We had drinks and apps at the Inn followed by a delicious (always) Todd meal. While the food was cooking we candled the eggs that we've had a hen setting on!! We had a hen, Big Mama, who had been setting on a nest, so we moved her and the eggs to a space of her own so that she could continue to incubate the eggs. We weren't sure how many eggs were fertilized, if any, because roosters have hen preference and all the hens have preference to one nest. We had 9 eggs in the nest, and of the 9, at least 6 we were unable to see through with a bright flashlight, this means we have 6 chicks on the way!!! So excited!

We are leaving for our annual trip to Cape Cod to the Swift cottage and I am beside myself knowing that this batch of chicks is going to hatch while we are gone. I haven't gone so far as to cancel my tickets, but this is kind of a big deal!! Here is hoping they hatch before Wednesday!

Pack it in... Pack it out...

On any given hike i have a tendency to "go just around the next bend" for several miles before i decide that it is in fact time to turn around. My Mom has been with me many times when i do this. Today was supposed to be a short hike up and around Roosevelt National Forest. No real destination. I ended up "let's just see what is around the bend"-ing for, ehhhh, about 8 miles. My Mom rocked that hike like she was 20. She even wore Jett on her back for almost half of the hike (she demanded to take him...) It was a beautiful day, plenty of other hikers, and lots of time on our hands. We were rewarded by the most beautiful waterfall when we finally reached our unknown destination.  Couldn't have been a more perfect day!

4th of July in Gold Hill

I wish i had remembered these things from when i was a kid growing up in Gold Hill. As I watched the parade from my parents front porch, I was so excited to see that the parade had turned back towards the other end of town and was coming around again. I yelled to my Mom "They are going to go around town again?" to which she answered, "They always go around twice. Don't you remember that from when you were little?" No I don't. I wish I had a better memory for things past, but that is why I am keeping this blog. A way to remember for me, and a way to know for Jett. He, of course, will never remember this fourth of July.

We started the morning off with our good friends Amy and Noah and their two precious babes, Charlotte and Leo. We opted out of the pancake breakfast, but they headed over to the chaos and then came to our place for some chill time and a little hike. They left just before the 2nd wave of visitors came. This time it was the family. Milo, Leilani, Oscar, Misti, J, and of course, Neva and Oren. We had a few beers, some fajitas and then it was off to watch the parade. With blaring horns, fire sirens, horses, painted faces, and lots of candy, the parade was more entertainment than this town normally sees on a sleepy Sunday morning.

After the parade, Neva put on her birthday suit and splashed around in Jett's pool. She slid in with no fear from our slide with giant splashes. The day was hot and everyone got tired so they ventured back to Boulder.

I put Jett to bed, gave my Mom the video monitor, and Todd and I headed up to the Crow's nest to watch the fire works all across the front range. (we came home to a very awake baby playing with a very happy Lola and Grandpa)

Ain't holidays grand?!?!?

Holidays really are

The Crab!

Jett is finally crawling!!! Well, let's not give him that much credit. Its really a modified crab walk. He drags his right knee, then lunges forward with his left foot. His method is pretty good really. He gets where he needs to go and can quickly pull himself up onto a piece of furniture to grab something he isn't supposed too. There is one negative side effect. The entire top of his right foot is a scab from dragging it along behind him. He doesn't seem to mind... until we try to put a pair of shoes on him. Temper tantrum.
He gets quite a bit of attention for his "different" crawl, and i like it.


Carry on, Jett, Carry on!!!

I've got chompers!

Within 3 weeks of cutting his first tooth, Jett has 6!  Whew... that was a rough few nights and days!  But i think i like this cutting them all at once thing.  Let's get it done!!

Watch out, I'll bite!

So after a sleepless camping trip (aren't they all), we returned to have a good nights sleep. If you've read previous posts, you know Jett cut two teeth in the two days after we returned. He proceed to cut for more in the last two weeks. He hast six teeth!! Watch out! I am so glad he isn't in day care, because we would totally be those parents who get the phone call that their kid is biting all the other kids. Just another reason we are thankful for everything we have here in Gold Hill.

The verdict

The perfect camping trip. Our only mistake was not bringing Jett his own sleeping pad. The list i published before worked out great. Of course, there were a few things I did not use at all, but it is always best to be prepared. The plastic tablecloth was the most used item on the list. If we were hanging out during the day, i just plopped him right down on it with some toys.

Jett cut his first tooth the evening we returned from our trip. Yep, thats right. Jett was teething while we were camping and we still rocked that trip!! You don't usually get a great nights sleep while tent camping, so it didn't even cross my mind that anything was bothering him besides our new sleeping arrangement. He was in good spirits, took a 3 hour nap (his longest ever) in the tent the first day we were there, all seemed just fine.

A few last pointers:

• look up the weather where you are camping. See what the low will be during the night, then pack layers that would keep your baby warm in the weather if he were sleeping with no covers. Or.. if your baby is older than 9 months or so, i'd say invest in a kids sleeping bag. We will be doing that soon. Jett slept in a onesie, with a fleece sleeper and then we put him in one of his winter bunting bags. He stayed at just the right temp overnight with no covers.
• Keep your tent in the shade. Many reasons for this, but, as it is related to baby, it will keep the tent dark longer so that you can sleep in a little later :)
• I didn't use the stroller at any point, but i did use my pack A LOT
• No need for a swimsuit, just let your kiddo wear their birthday suit
• Pack baby food/snacks on hikes even if they are short. You never know if you'll get lost (no this did not happen to me)

Thats about it!! Can't wait til Jett can carry his own pack and we can do camping without the car!!

Let's go camping!!

We are headed off on our first camping trip with Jett. I am so excited!!! The excitement is interrupted by moments of complete terror. Will Jett sleep? Did i bring enough food? Will he be warm enough? Will I sleep? I've scanned the internet for a "camping with a baby" checklists. I've found dozens!! I just keeping looking knowing i'll find the one list that has the one thing that the other lists "forgot".

If you are thinking of taking your infant camping, here is the checklist i have come up with.

1. First things first!! A close to home campsite (meaning less than a few hours away just in case). We are heading to Golden Gate Canyon State Park. A one hour drive from our house, but still in the wilderness.
2. As always when traveling ANYWHERE with an infant, pack more than you think you'll need. more clothes, more food, more diapers, more wipes.
   
3. Clothes - Don't pack many bulking items. Pack in layers for each day. (onesie, pants, shorts, socks, long sleeve shirt, medium weight jacket)
   
4. Baby Food
5. Diapers
6. Wipes
7. Bibs
8. Spoons
9. Ointments
10. Booster/High Chair
11. Stroller (they can sit in it around the campfire even if you don't use it)
    
12. Toys and Books
13. Blankets
14. Crib or Play Pen (to keep them contained during the day)
    
15. Wash Tub (shampoo, lotion, etc)
    
16. Sunscreen
17. Hat
18. Plastic tablecloth (sounds strange, but it is great to lay on the ground for play time)
19. Bottles and Formula if you use them
20. Infant Carrying Pack
21. Swing (to hang on a tree)
22. Close toed pajamas (keep the critters out :)
23. Sippy Cup
24. Grooming essentials (nail clippers, nose bulb, etc.)
25. Swim Suit
26. Infant Tylenol (just in case that tooth decides to come in)

Alright.. that is the list. I will be back with a replay of the events next week.

The Fox and the Hen

T HERE was once a little red hen that lived in a house by herself in the wood. And over the hill, in a hole in the rocks, lived a sly, crafty old fox.

Now this crafty old fellow of a fox lay awake nights, and prowled slyly about days, trying to think of how he should get the little red hen. He wanted to carry her home to boil for his supper.

But the wise little hen never left her house without locking the door and putting the key in her pocket; so the old fox watched and prowled and lay awake nights till he grew pale and thin, but he found no way to get the wise little red hen.....

..... now i wish our story ended the way this one does, but it does not. Just to clarify before we begin, our chickens are alive and well (all 17 of them). Unfortunately, our neighbors hens are not. It seems a fox broke into their coop last night and slaughtered 3 of 4 of their chickens. Waking up to this disaster is every chicken keepers nightmare. This is the risk we take. It makes me apprehensive. However, Todd built our chicken house using the plans they use for high security prisons. I hope our chickens live long and lay well!!

Sunset VIew

As is our ritual, Jett and I took our pre-bedtime walk up to the top of Horsefal St. I pushed the stroller up the steep road, just far enough that I feel a slight burn in the bootie. This is actually my plan to get in shape. I know, I need to do more, but anything is better than nothing, right?

When we reached the top, I pulled Jett out of his stroller and decided we would watch the sunset. How romantic! Greyson and Mavric were with us and excited to take a little trek off the road the find some fresh wild scents. We walked to the edge of the mountain and I found a rock perfect to perch Jett. He sat like a King, with me, his first assistant, by his side... ready to respond if the King felt weak and began to slide out of his seat.

We sat for 15 minutes and watched the sunset. It was a lackluster sunset in comparison to the beauties we see nearly everyday, but no less special. Jett doesn't yet have a taste for the sunset. He didn't look at the sun at all, probably because it was blaring blindingly and it just wasn't comfortable to look at. He, instead, entertained himself by picking at the lichen on the rock.

Just before the Sunset hit its peak and I was completely in the moment, feeling connected to nature and feeling so lucky to have what I have, and to be where I am... Jett farted. And, like every time he farts, I laughed. In the broken silence, at the peak of the sunset, We smiled together, not at the sunset, but at each other. This is true love.

We walked back home from our Sunset date, Jett drank some milk, I had some wine and we both went to bed. Perfect date night if you ask me.

Gold Hill

It's been a year. What is the saying?

"The days are long and the years are short."

So true.

We've officially survived our first winter here in Gold Hill. 400 square foot cabin, no bathroom, a crib in our kitchen.

Here is the Who, What, When, Where and Why.

Who: The main characters of this blog. Todd, our son Jett and Myself, with regular appearances by our neighbors, my parents. We also have 4 dogs, 16 hens, 1 rooster, at least one bear, 1 friendly red fox, a black fox with a new litter of pups, etc...

What: A blog about our very simple and very complicated, somewhat chaotic life.

When: We moved here in July 2010 and plan to live here until... well indefinitely.

Where: Gold Hill, Colorado. Population 230. Located 10 Miles Northwest of Boulder. perched on a mountainside above Sunshine Canyon at an elevation of 8,300 feet.

Why: Why Not? Actually, with a baby on the way, we decided to simplify. We rented out our houses in Boulder and Arvada and in return we live a simpler life that allows us to live, laugh, love and learn with our now 8 month old son, Jett. So worth it.

With Giddy Love,
Jess

By the way....

I'm sitting on my own.

Love,

Jett

6 Month Stats

April 8th, 2011

17 lbs. 7 oz - 49%

27.5 inches - 84%

17.5 inch head circ - 71%

Lovely Baby Locks

Today is Jett's Six Month Birthday. A bittersweet day. Our sweet little man is growing up so fast. Where has the time gone?!?! Looking forward to tomorrow and the days ahead, but wishing the days would slow down, just long enough to stop and smell a few more roses along the way.
After many weeks of talking about trimming Jett's hair, we decided today was the day. Just a little trim, no big deal, right? But, as Todd grabbed the scissors, by stomach tightened... i wasn't ready to do this... But, I let him continue, every snip got to me a little more. I kept a smile on my face thinking to myself, "what's the big deal? It's only hair. It grows back."
After the last snip, i took a look at Jett's new look. Of course he looked crazy cute, and totally trendy with a slight "fauxhawk". He was all smiles, knowing nothing about what happened. Still the same sweet baby.

It was a while later while nursing him to sleep for an afternoon nap that i realized why I was so emotional about cutting his hair.
I remembered back to my 32 hrs of labor, the anticipation I felt to meet this baby. Boy? Girl? What color eyes? skinny? fat? long? short? As the doctors told me to push, i began to wonder even more. As Jett came into sight of the Doctors, nurses, and Todd, they all began to "ohh" and "ahh" at all the hair!!! As I continued to push the Dr. asked me if I would like to touch his head. This was the first time i felt Jett outside the womb. I touched his curly, wet mop of hair. Amazing.

His hair became his identity, he was a celebrity at the hospital. All of the nurses had to come visit our room to meet "the baby with all the hair".
This was why it made me sad to cut his hair. It was how i first met Jett, how i described him, how others knew him. But, the reality is... this little boy is so much more than his hair. His hair isn't why i love him, in fact, i really hated combing out the knots.

Jett, your personality continues to bloom.. I love you so much!! With or without your hair.

Roll Over!!!

Jett is right on target for all those milestones that i said i would never pay attention too. I said that my baby could grow and develop at whatever pace he wanted and i wouldn't panic. Of course, a few weeks ago i found my self concerned and obsessed with the fact that Jett had yet to roll-over. Then, out of nowhere he just did. I put him down for some belly time. He rolled over so effortlessly that i almost didn't notice. I thought it was a fluke so i rolled him onto his belly and sure enough, he rolled over 3 more times as if he had been doing it forever. He looked at me as though there was absolutely no reason for me to be so excited.... i was anyway.

Big Hopes for Two Boys

It has been a big week. A new little human came into the world. His name is Oren Malaya Woodson and he is Jett's cousin. This is his most important identity. Yes, of course he is Neva's little brother, Milo and Leilani's son, Sabina and Steve's Grandson, Todd's nephew, etc... all of which cannot be minimized. However, I expect that I will explain their relationship as cousins over any of these.

Oren and Jett will no doubt be forced into being playmates. My hope is that they are best friends and keep one another out of as much trouble as they get into. I hope they stand by each other indefinitely. I hope they share common interests, but keep their uniqueness. I hope they rough each other up and follow it up with a hug. I hope they are competitive with one another, but also an unbeatable team.

Oren and Jett... i love you both. I can only hope you love one another us much!