Wednesday in the park

Before Kara and Nathan came to be, Luke and I spent a lot of our free time hiking through state parks throughout Indiana. Before him, I wasn't much of an outdoorsy person, and our first trip to McCormick's Creek back in 2002 left me winded and feeling very WTF? about nature in general. But the more we did it, the more I came to enjoy it, walking on the trails, breaking a sweat, being surrounded by so much quiet. Quite a few of our overnight getaways have been to state parks, and once we were married we talked a great deal about spending time there with our kids.

Then we found ourselves dealing with two pregnancies in two years, and mostly homebound, except for scattered visits back home to see family. We were both bummed over not getting out more, but I was so tired, and anyway, it seemed too cumbersome to do all that planning just to take Kara for a few hours, back when her life centered around eating, napping, and eating some more.

We are technically in that same timeframe with Nathan--he can't go longer than a few hours without eating or he goes all sorts of crazy--but this time around, we are hungry for activity, and his age just doesn't seem to be a factor anymore; at least, not for a lengthy day trip. Overnights apart from family? That's another story.

Anyway, the whole point of this is to say that I took a vacation day on Wednesday so Luke and I could take the kids to Fort Harrison State Park, a park with smoothly paved trails and a lovely restaurant and scattered playgrounds throughout the property. In short, the perfect place to go as a family.

The look on Nathan's face, however, would make you think we took them to watch paint dry. Or puppies being maimed. "The distastefulness of this outing hurts my eyes! I cannot bear to look into the face of tragedy!"

Luckily, Kara was cool with it, and full of kisses for Daddy.

Ah, the baby carrier. How did I manage before the baby carrier? Anytime we're out together, I wear Nathan in the carrier, as it allows him to bask in the glory of my motherly aura while keeping my hands free to throw groceries into a cart/browse through books at Barnes and Noble/follow along in the hymnal at church.

My cutest accessory.

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...a lot of trees!

Talking about sticks and leaves.

Kara loves water, but I doubt she was able to see much of it over the side of this ledge.

An attempt at capturing mother, daughter, and son, with...candid results.

Run, Kara, run!

(Will I ever stop working Forrest Gump references into my entries? The world may never know.)

One of Kara's new favorite things is to go down slides at the playground. We were happy to oblige.

I love seeing her so happy. Bonus points for getting it on camera.

It was tempting to leave out everything from this series of shots of Kara and me on the swings (hello, blindingly white thighs!), but in the name of fully documenting the day, I'm including just one.

Kara liked jumping up and down on the bridge and walking back and forth.

Luke normally isn't keen on using the carrier himself, but he graciously wore Nathan for a bit so I could run around with Kara.

Nathan was digging the one-on-one man time with Daddy.

Kara and me on the way to the car after eating lunch at the park's on-site restaurant, The Garrison, which isn't as fun with kids because the park has a golf course that attracts local businessmen in droves, which meant we got lost in the shuffle. It took fifteen minutes to get a high chair because they're all stored in the basement. Um, okay, then.

The sign of a properly tuckered-out toddler. She was out before we hit the expressway.

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I ended up having one more unexpected day out of the office yesterday, as Luke was sick with stomach pains and a headache, and when I e-mailed my boss about working from home to take care of the kids so Luke could get some rest, she made an off-hand comment about H1N1 and I was like  OH, MY GOD, I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT, and an hour later Luke was at the doctor's office even though he didn't think it was necessary, but I was all, THINK OF YOUR CHILDREN. Luckily, it was not H1N1, probably just a bacterial thing, so...not so much with the close call, there.

Comments

[Bren]

Can I ask what kind of carrier you have? We are planning a second baby and the carrier I had with Maggie was horrible. Starting to look for suggestions. Good for you for getting out with both of them. They really looked like they enjoyed the day! Nothing better than sleeping kids in the car.

[blooot]

It's different with the second, isn't it? More of a "have baby, will travel" mentality. With baby 2 we just went...that boy spent the first two years of his life napping on the go.

You'll so appreciate those moments in a few years, and the photos...so much of the first two years of two kids is a blur to me, but I remember those special days. And I have pictures! I know I was there!

[Jen L.]

I'm so glad you're digging the carrier! I couldn't have lived without mine those first several months. These pictures are some of my favorites you've ever posted of the four of you. Nathan is cuter than cute in that hat and Kara looks like she's having the time of her life! I'm so glad you guys got to take a special day for yourselves to play outside. Glad Luke doesn't have Hamthrax, too.
Also, my thighs could give yours a run for their money in the pasty department...

[Veronica]

What a beautiful park. Great pics.

[debi]

Love the pics. I love the look on Nathan as he hangs on his daddy. They are so damn cute. I am totally freaked out about the flu.There is always someone who brings a sick child to church and with the new baby in the house I guess we will be spending less Sundays at church this winter. Hope Luke is feeling better.

[Joanne]

I think there are different symptoms for H1N1, right? More of a sore throat type thing? I hope?

These pictures are excellent, we will have to try the (heretofore unknown) park for a nature walk of our own! You look great!

[AJU5's Mom]

That sounds like a great park and a great day! I used the carrier a decent amount, and it is easier than the stroller unless you are actually going for a walk!

[Trilby]

I loved my carrier. Sadly, Dillon has completely lost patience with it. He screams and head butts me until I take him out of it.

Looks like ya'll had a blast at the park. Yay for happy babies!

[eva]

Great photos - I'm sure I'm not alone in being very happy to have your attention back to this blog!
And yes - ode to baby carriers. My ergo is STILL in pretty much daily use with Megan. I recommend carriers to anyone I meet who's pregnant. Yes - even strangers!

[rkmama]

We have spent many weekends at state and county parks this summer- it is an awesome (and cheap!) way to spend the day.
You guys look like you had a fabulous time, love the pictures! We always take the sacked out in the carseat picture after we leave, as well. I can't even count how many of those we have of Rowan :)!