A Change of Pace

Climbing has definitely been more challenging with a Lucy than without a Lucy. It will be easier when establish a climbing crew here, but it is possible with just the two of us. I strap her on my chest and now she is big enough to ride in the backpack, and we set a belay that is independent of the belayer in case the belayer (usually me) needs to escape the belay. We try to find places with moderate approaches, single pitch and lead or top rope. I mostly belay based on Lucy's need/desire to nurse and sleep on me, but if I get one climb in I am a happy mama. It is a thrill just to get out there and explore all of our new territory, so I try to take things as they are and accept whatever Lucy brings along for the day. Luckily she is champion nurser and we don't have to deal with bottles out in the woods. If we are fortunate enough to have a third belayer in our group, Jim and I act as one climber and the third person gets to climb as much as if he/she was in a group of two. We just met some fellow parent-climbers yesterday at the gym. It sounds like we are going to be able to connect with them and see if we can get some ropes up outside.


Hiking is easy peasy. Pack the kid up, bring your boobs, strap a light weight yoga mat to your day pack to make nursing and leg stretching more comfy for everyone and you are on your way. We did a 7 miler in Flagstaff. Lucy was done being strapped to my chest we when were done. I was wishing we had an ergo 360 or another carrier that had more options. It would be even better with her in the back backpack now.

We are loving biking. We got a Burley Bee on craigslist, found the infant seat for it at an REI garage sale (we live in walking distance to REI. THey are currently receiving a lot of our funds :-), and my at one time super awesome, expensive mountain bike now has a mom seat, a rear view mirror and a kickstand.  Lucy almost always falls asleep and if she isn't sleeping she is chatting away, chewing on something and looking around. I worry a bit about all the bumpiness to her growing brain, but we have specific streets called bicycle boulevards that are nicely paved and have barriers every so often to discourage cars from taking them, so we feel pretty safe.

Basically, it all changed for us, but haven't given anything up. We are climbing at the gym twice a week while Lucy spends an hour in the childcare center there. I only climb for that hour, but then we come home for a bath and Jim stays until his heart's content. Is that perfect? No...but it sure as hell is better than waiting until she is a teenager to be healthy, have fun and connect with my husband. It can't be the same as it used to be and I don't want it to be. That would mean no Lucy and she is remarkable. I definitely have moments, mostly around the 3am mark, that I wish we could pack up and head back to Thailand, but that will come in time. And we get to share those times with her now, which makes missing out on some fun now completely worth it.

I will say this. I have been biking, up hill 3.5 miles, to the YMCA with Lucy at least two-three days a week for the past couple of weeks. I have been focusing on regaining strength so lots of squats, wall sits, planks and pull-ups, etc...I only workout for half an hour, but it is so refreshing and rebuilding. I no longer have guilt at putting her child watch for a short time. She has fun with the other kids and grown-ups in there anyway. My back hurts less, my baby dispenser is feeling stronger and more "normal" and I have so much more energy for Lucy. It took a while to get in a routine, but it has been the smartest thing I could do for everyone in our family. I sometimes even get to shower when we get home. And, today, I dried my hair for the fourth day in a row. Watch out. We are about to take over the world. Well, at least take back over my own body :-).