Getting Out There

Today was a bit different for Zacharie and I. We went over to the Starbucks to meet up with some of the momma's in our new mom network for a brisk walk around the newly developing areas. The weather was nice enough with a beautiful blue sky and a bright shining sun, overcoming the more than slight chill in the air. And even though I ended up carrying him for about half of the almost two hour walk, it was a nice reprieve from our usual boring routine of playing on the floor. Not just with the new mom's network are the two of us branching out, but also by attending a strollerobics class at the YMCA. I had forgotten how great it felt to get out there and get moving! Two weeks ago at the start of our first exercise class I was a sad sight to see, straggling behind all the other super fit moms who probably worked out while baby naps. Now though, I feel better than ever! It is amazing how little I have to switch with my current routines to make them a little more fit friendly. Now when rocking him to sleep, I can do lunges, lifts, squats... When playing I can use Zee as a weight lifting exercise and do crunches... Even something as simple as turning off the television has made our connection a whole lot deeper! And I can see that all of these things benefit him too. He gets a great role model for physical activity, and gets different perspectives of the rooms and world by me lifting and spinning or moving around with him in tow during motions of activity. And already I can see that if the radio or television is on while it is time to nurse, he has a very hard time staying latched. Oh how I love these bittersweet moments of closeness. It will be so hard to leave him behind in May when I board the bus to school. But with getting in shape now comes many rewards for when that time does come. When we have full weekends together we can do swim lessons, hikes in the trails, romps in the garden, meet up with our momma friends... And still, even though the list of bonding experiences for then are limitless, it doesn't make the thought of leaving him behind any easier to swallow. So for now we can just soak in these moments of getting out and getting in shape. Besides... Our house gets to be boring after a few months of just sitting on the living room floor. I think I have named everything in our house to him on more than one occasion. Might as well point out things in nature, feel wind, see sky and birds... Might as well start living well and enjoying every moment to the fullest.