This hat is going to be the end of me.

Today lots of my very favorite people went back to school. They sat in meetings all day and prepared for next week when all the kiddos show up with their sparkly backpacks and sharpened pencils. I spent today watching the raindrops hit the ground wondering if Summer really is over. I keep waiting for the strangeness to hit me and to feel the urge to go to school and ready my classroom.

Instead today I felt comfort and joy in my daughter’s yummy smelling breath and chubby legs. I sipped on my tea and listened to her practice her new noises and felt contentment.

One of my very favorite things about teaching is the freshness that each year brings and seeing former students come back with bright, bright smiles – happy to return to the routine of school and familiar faces.  I’m going to miss those faces and those of my friends who also happen to be coworkers.

Right now, though, I’m feeling just fine and dandy being at home with Maggie and the freshness that she brings to our home each day.

On Sunday we continued our baby-filled weekend by converging at Midge’s house with my cousin Ben, his wife Emily, and their son Peyton. Plus the grandparents of both Peyton and Maggie were there along with Nate, Ben’s brother. Baby Peyton is adorable and looks exactly like Ben.

Peyton is ten days younger than Maggie and is pretty much exactly the same size, give or take a few ounces. He’s got super olive skin and chocolate brown eyes, basically the opposite of Maggie who has blue eyes and porcelain skin.

We got Midge to hold both the babies and for a split second all was right in the world. I love Maggie’s face in this photo because she’s wondering what in the world is going on….and she isn’t too happy about it.

But then she realizes that her chubby dog is right next to her and is happy as a little clam. Peyton, on the other hand, continues to be relaxed in Midge’s arms. Cute as a little muffin, that guy.

We went to Westport this past weekend four our second camping trip of the summer. It is crazy to think that mid August we’re just logging our second camping trip, but at the same time having a 4 month old and doing our second camping trip of the season seems monumental in its own right.

We met up with Brian, Darcy, Chach, Brian, Marc and Lara….it was confusing with both the Brians.  Sydney typically loves the beach, but I think that Ruger’s enthusiastic charm made her a bit gun shy.

We had Beer Butt Chicken, Beer pancakes and I think some non-nursing people had just plain old beer. Thanks to Brian P. who did almost all the cooking! Barry, Brian M. and Darcy did a bit of surfing and the rest of us relaxed in the sunny weather and watched Ruger and Brian P. splash around in the waves.

Brian and Chaya showed up with the largest tent I’ve ever seen in my entire life. It is bigger than a circus tent. At one point I was in there with Lara, Thomas, Maggie, Ruger’s Costco sized dog bed, a queen air mattress, two camping chairs, and at least 6 huge Tupperware containers. Plus, there was still room to walk around. No longer do we call our tent The Mansion.

Coming home we got stuck in traffic and saw a ton of motorcycle riders heading South by the Tacoma Dome. Police officers had closed off the ramps on to I-5, so the only thing on the freeway were motorcycles. It was pretty astounding, but neither of us heard what it was about.  We think our traffic jam was because the people in our lane were rubber necking.

All in all, it was a successful second camping trip. Since Maggie loves being outside so much it makes it easier to go.

Quite honestly, I think this trip made us wonder if we need to step it up in the tent department. Either that, or we need to seriously look into a motor home. Next year, people, next year. You want to come camping with us? We’ve got a cute baby, a chubby dog and apparently a smallish tent.

Maggie is one lucky girl because not only does she have the Tubby Torpedo and us to love on her, but she also has ten magnificent grandparents that absolutely adore her. I kept doing the math in my head because ten seems like such a large number, but in this case I think it is just perfect.

SIX GREAT GRANDPARENTS:

FOUR GRANDPARENTS:

6+4=10

Dear Papa,

I really miss you. Yesterday I went to play with Thomas and we got to swim in his pool. It was so much fun! Today I got to to a huge garage sale with Mama and Granny. They bought me more books and I already tried to eat one, it didn’t taste too good. We stopped and saw Great Granny Midge on our way home!

Also, Nana came over and she brought Great Grandpa and Grandma Rhone. You’ll never, ever believe it, but I laughed so hard in Nana’s arms! She’s a funny lady. After they left Granny and Mama put me in the bath outside and I laughed some more. I kept hearing them laugh too, so it must have been really funny to see me, a naked baby, in the tub.

After I got to splash in the tub and I ate I put on my resort wear and Mama put me back in the empty tub to sleep. I’m was so tired from all that laughing I did.

I’ve attached a couple pictures, in case you are wondering if I’ve grown in the last 24 hours – I have.

I really miss you, Papa. I hope you have fun on your hike, but when you get back can we feed the fish together and will you play a game with me. There are certain things you do that Mama just can’t, even though she tries.  Plus, you need to hear me laugh because Mama says that it’ll make you laugh too!

Love,

Lil M

So, we went out to dinner the other night.

Without Maggie.

Dinner was delicious, the conversation was fantastic and I really enjoyed sitting down to eat a full meal with My Man.  But leaving Maggie was more difficult than I ever imagined it would be, even though there were six (yes,six!) adults ready to care for her.  My parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle were all at my grandparent’s and Barry and I left Maggie for a whole hour almost….GASP!!

I found myself saying ridiculous things to my grandma about making sure Maggie was breathing and other first-time-mother type of things, as if my grandmother didn’t raise two of her own children and rock all of her grandbabies to sleep. I just couldn’t help myself.

I once read that having a child is like having your heart walk around outside your body. It is so true, even if you are going down the street for an hour to eat sushi with your wonderful husband.

It isn’t as if I’ll never, ever do it again, but next time I leave my baby I’m going to prepare myself a bit more emotionally so I don’t have to choke back my own tears as she fights sleep in the arms of another.

Because, man alive, I love going on dates with That Barry.

He makes me smile.

While we were camping I challenged myself to get pictures of both Maggie and my dad in their various hats since they both came prepared with an assortment of head coverings.

I only was able to snap a few of them together wearing actual hats, but when I was going through my photos I realized that Maggie’s snowsuit and Flip’s wetsuit looked eerily similar.

Or not…

We found ourselves at Neah Bay this weekend enjoying the foggy weather and cold water. What a way to welcome in August, right? The campground was crowded but in true Elvrum Style my parents were able to snag our favorite secluded campsite early in the week.

For being a first time camper, Maggie was amazing. I was a bit worried because at home we take her outside to cheer her up and since we’d be camping I wasn’t sure what my secret strategy would be to stop the tears. Having the waves, dogs and plenty of loving arms was enough to keep the Cherub happy.

Barry was able to  surf, kayak and  even try my dad’s SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board), which he ended up surfing on that as well. We took lots of walks up and down the beach, watching Sydney romp with the other dogs and waiting for the sun to break through.

Hobuck has really changed in the past years as it has become much more popular, but I still feel like it was really special to have Maggie’s first camping trip to be there – right on the ocean front! From what we can tell, we think she’s going to love the outdoors. Wahooo!!!

When we pulled up to Barry’s parent’s house Barry’s brother and dad and were playing catch in the driveway and Barry excitedly yelled to them that he had his cleats on and was ready to join in.

I don’t think that either Greg or Brian heard what Barry yelled, but I found it really sweet that Barry was so excited to play ball with his dad and brother.

I’m pretty sure that Barry located his mitt and joined. I think this trio has been tossing the ball around in such a way for years and years.

And when they are done, they talk about baseball because that is what Miller Men do.

We don’t get to see Darcy and Brian as much as we’d like, but when we do we always end up having a great time. After the wedding we all found ourselves in our PJs sitting around Barry’s parent’s living room and I’m pretty sure that I laughed so hard I cried.

Darcy shared some classic stories from their East Coast travels and I retold the story of Barry climbing over me Christmas Day to get up and open his stocking while I continued to sleep, oblivious that the rest of the household was awake enjoying the holiday.

We’re going camping with them in a few weeks and I am certain that we’ll create a few more memories that we can laugh about down the road.