With temperatures hovering around the 60's & 70's for the past month or so (besides the occasional inch or two of snow that showed up once or twice), we definitely are heading into a great spring!
I read a book last month recommended to me by my friend Kelly called
Last Child in the Woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder by Richard Louv. It is wild to compare children that don't play outside versus children that do. There is such a huge difference, and the book talks about the evidence linking the lack of nature in children's lives and the rise in obesity, attention disorders and depression. We make sure Gavin is playing outside the majority of the day when he is here, as we notice a huge change in him after he is outside. Lochlan is a lucky boy and has been outside constantly practically since birth, and I'm sure when he starts talking, he'll be able to recognize the wind blowing on his cheeks, the bright sun in his eyes, the sounds of birds chirping, grass blowing in the wind, trees creaking in the woods, water running in a creek, etc. Kelly's son, Coen, hates the wind and he says the cutest things about it on windy days. Just the fact that he can recognize the wind blowing on his cheeks at the age of two is becoming less and less common in children now. The author's most memorable quote by a child comes from a fourth-grader in San Diego who stated, "I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are". This is such an innocent statement of a growing epidemic in children today.
We have been hiking most of the winter and outside as much as possible with the kids. They might be the "uncool" kids someday who don't sit around watching tv, playing on the computer, and playing video games at our house, but we just have to keep doing what we feel is right while raising them.
Over the past week, we have been busy with the home we have put under contract, going on lots of hikes, to playgroups, to the parks, mommy/baby yoga at the YMCA, having a huge yard sale, playing outside with the dogs, going to Stroller Strides for the first time (contrary to what it sounds like, it's a kick-ass workout, which I need!), building a Pottery Barn knock-off coffee table, playing with our seeds that are sprouting, making good meals, dancing with the kids, praising Lochlan for successful potty eliminations (almost daily), watching the Red Sox and Mets baseball games.
Here are some photos I've taken over the past week.
Working on our coffee table:
Still needs to be sanded, stained and sealed:
The house we have under contract:
Views from the backyard:
Watching the Red Sox season opener:
Heading to Gavin's favorite place in the whole wide world (the choo-choo train park):
He had to stop playing with his pail & shovel in the dirt to watch the train go by, of course!
Since the train is done going by for the moment, time to attack the slide:
Playing on the ride with our friend Violetta (from our Natural Parenting group):
Lochlan and his crony, Mama:
Playing in the yard, soaking up the rays:
The two BFF's, playing in the yard some more:
Lochlan absolutely loves watching older kids play:
Photos from the huge yard sale we had at our house on Saturday morning with some of our other mom friends and kiddos:
Yet another hike with our CO Mountain Mama friends:
Our seeds are sprouting!
Oh yeah! A huge milestone I almost forgot to mention! Lochlan started crawling yesterday (Monday, April 12th)! No, baby, Noooooooooooo!!!!!
Look out world! Here I come!
