Walking = Sleep = Happy People

Julian Walker is officially walking! He took his first steps about a month ago but really hasn't started walking around until last week. Thankfully, this huge developmental change has also coincided with much needed SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Julian is about 11.5 months old and has not only never slept through the night, but until last week, was getting up anywhere from 6-12 times a night. Currently he is getting his molars; definitely the top two and possibly the bottom two as well. Until he started walking recently, all things sleep related were the worst they had ever been. Eagleye and I were at the very end of our ropes with the whole sleep deprivation thing. I have been hesitant to blog about him sleeping because I didn't want to jinx our sleeping streak but it has been a whole week (knock on wood)! Granted, he still gets up 2 to 3 times a night. Even still, this is not only a VAST improvement, he also goes back to sleep immediately, which is a welcome change. I am almost starting to feel like a normal person again!

I am so proud of EE and I for sticking it out with J and his abbysmal sleep dysfunction. We are a cosleeping family and consider it an important part of our family dynamic. "Cry It Out" (CIO) is not and never will be an option. I even had someone tell me that I was a bad mom for NOT letting him CIO. Since we won't CIO, we can say that we tried almost everything (within reason) to try and help Julian sleep. You name it and we have tried it. As it turns out, it wasn't anything that we could do for him, it was something that he had to work out within himself.

Watching Julian grow has been amazing. It is hard to believe that our little baby is becoming a little boy. Since I am part-time as of today (whohoo!), I will try to get more pictures and videos posted. We don't have a blog worthy video of him walking recently. It's definitely worth waiting for the right moment since the mummy walk (hands in the air) and accompanying baby babble are pretty cute.

The countdown to our hike has begun. We have almost all of our gear and our Muir Trail Ranch resupply buckets are already on their way to the wilderness. I have been meaning to get our trailjournal started for some time now so hopefully I can tackle that this weekend. Unfortunately, we won't be able to update in real time or near real time like we did on the PCT. There isn't much cell service in the Sierras, at least there wasn't the last two times we were out there. I am really looking forward to disconnecting anyway.

We have been on some shakedown hikes but not nearly enough in my opinion. There is something about not sleeping for 11 months that takes the pep right out of your step. I think we have abandoned the super heavy Sherpani child carrier/pack in favor of a more babywearing and nursing friendly Mei Tai that a friend and fellow Vegas mama is sewing for us.

We are SO looking forward to being back out on the trail again. Back out in the wilderness where we truly belong. Hopefully, Julian will be at peace out there and this will be the beginning of a life-long love affair with long distance hiking and the glorious Sierra Nevada. The mountains beckon.......

Enjoying some green smoothie and looking irresistibly cute

Julian tests some gear for the hike

Julian and I on a shakedown hike in Red Rocks

Julian and the all too familiar stink-eye look

Funny Stuff

Some psycho is stalking and heckling our family blog. This person checks our blog literally every day and we have no idea who it is (except for an IP address) but they sent me this e-mail:

Talk about a hypocrite. You praise all things holy and democratic, yet you censor the comments that people want to post in response to your psycobabbling blogs. Don't Democrats argue that censorship is a Republican driven machine? You don't have the balls to allow people to comment on your paranoia? You really are a crazy nut. One word: Bellvue.

This is in response to the fact that I have chosen to moderate comments on our blog (thanks to this crazy blog stalker). It's not uncommon, lots of people do it , mostly because there are lots of nuts in cyberspace that will say practically anything when anonymously hiding behind their keyboard. You talk about hypocrisy and balls Mr. "ANONYMOUS" psycho blog stalker? This medium of communication really brings out the worst in some people. They spout off at the mouth and say all sorts of crummy things that they would never have the guts to say in person. I'm not censoring you idiot. I still get your irrational comments. I don't want your trash on my family blog that's all. Anyone in their right mind would do the same thing. Let me guess, you are a Republican and are offended by the sight of a woman breastfeeding in public. Oh yeah, and per your last comment, you think natural birthing is a joke. Great. Now leave us alone you loon and find some other family blog to stalk.

Edited to add: It is approximately 3:00pm on the west coast and psycho blog stalker has already checked our blog 4 times today! YIKES! This nut also sent me another super funny e-mail. I'll spare you most of it but have to include this part because it is so freaking hysterical:

Get a life. To call this a "family blog" is hilarious. Ads about being a Democrat, articles on underwater births as well as Puerto Rican breastfeeding commercials have nothing to do with your family. They have to do with you being a loser with a lot of time on your hands. Just shutup, run for office, and tell us about your family.

Ummmmm.....OK crazy stalker. So even though we are proud not to be Republican, have had a waterbirth, and proudly breastfeed our 10.5 month old, these topics have nothing to do with my family. I suppose things like Baby-Led Weaning and Elimination Communication and ludicrous behaviors like recycling make me a loser too? Come on nutjob. I hardly think that posting once a month on average indicates that I have too much time on my hands. Actually, it is quite the oppsite. Psycho stalker checked our blog today 4 times by 3pm. Ummm...who has too much time on their hands? Who needs to get a life? Its a big blogosphere out there cowardly, anonymous, psycho blog stalker. Like I said - find another blog to stalk.

Puerto Rican Breastfeeding Ad

Boy, America has a long way to go.

NB: Obviously, for the completely obtuse and since this video is an ad for breastfeeding, I am referring only to the stark differences in the way the two cultures view, advocate, and accept breastfeeding.

Let's see....women being kicked out of restaurants and off of planes because they are breastfeeding....people being offended by the sight of a woman breastfeeding her child......yup, America still has a loooooong way to go.

Once I go part time I will........

I have been starting sentences this way so frequently as of late, I thought it deserved its own post (that and I don't have time to properly update this poor, neglected blog). In recent months, I have been stretched so thinly that at times I am barely holding it together. Stuff just keeps piling up and piling on until I feel completely overwhelmed. That and consistent doses of sleep deprivation make jackalope a dull girl. I am happily going part time as of the end of July and am counting down the days. I can't even count the number of ways in which I could finish this sentence so here are just a few (not in order of importance save the first one):

Once I go part time I will......

...spend more time with my baby
...cook more healthy meals for my family.
...spend some quality time with my husband.
...update my blogs more frequently
...organize our pictures and finally post new ones (the last batch having been posted in January!).
...call my far-away friends more (or more accurately, call my friends back).
...start training for the hike.
...spend more time with my old girl Marge.
...take Julian to swim lessons.
...vacuum the freaking stairs.
...finish the raised beds in my yard.
...finally have time to put laundry away.
...organize our bedroom and make it Julian-proof.
...mail my sisters the boxes of baby clothes they lent us that have been sitting in Julian's room for the last 5ish months.
...clean out the inside of my car.
...read my magazines from the last 4 months.
...scan my Vegetarian Times so I can pass them on.
...go inside the crafty room.
...maybe have time to actually sew something inside the crafty room.
...watch a few episodes of Seinfeld.
...sit on my ass and do nothing for just a few minutes!!!

To wet your whistles until I get my act together and post new pictures (see above), here are a few pictures of Julian from our trail magic tip to Walker Pass (Julian's second namesake) in early June:

I'm NOT Voting Republican

Mr. Personality Showcase

It is hard to believe that our little guy is 9 months old already! Here are a few recent videos of Mr. Personality being his goofy self.



Julian got this blinky, car thingy as a gift and he absolutely loves it which means that Brian and I hear it in our sleep. I can't even drive down the street without hearing, "Get out of the way!" echo inside my head.



Julian has been pulling up since he was about 5.5 months old. He absolutely loves to be on his feet and gets pretty excited when he's cruising around with help. He can also let go and balance for a few seconds before sitting down. You might notice the disaster that he leaves in his wake. It doesn't take him very long to tear the house apart. Of course, it takes much, much longer to put it all back together.



J loves to play peekaboo but this is the first time that he has ever initiated a game. He is too funny!

The Business of Being Born

America has lost its way when it comes to giving birth. It is SO important that people watch this move and THINK about the message that it sends. Julian's birth was a beautiful, wonderful, self-guided journey. Brian and I did it in the warmth and comfort of our home, safely, naturally, together, and with the help of a wonderful, skilled midwife. It was spiritual and intense, yet calm. I can't imagine doing it any other way.

The bewildered, blank stares on the faces of the hospital staff trying to recall if they had ever seen a truly natural birth really says it all. Come on people, let's get back to our roots. Take control back from the machine.