Vacationing in the Highlands

Spencer, Elliott and I enjoyed a relaxing week at my parents house in Highland County.  The weather was wonderfully cool and perfect to introduce Elliott to her first fall season.  We slept in everyday.  Okay, let me clarify:  Sleeping in is waking up when Elliott decides it's time which is usually around 7am.  However, we cannot complain because she is sleeping almost 12 hours a night!  

The house backs up to the Jackson River so we were serenaded by the sounds of the running waters.  Elliott loves the outdoors so the deck was the perfect place to sit and relax.

While Daddy fished, (and he caught lots of little brook and rainbow trout.  Unfortunately none were large enough for us to enjoy as a meal.  But Spencer's getting pretty good at fly fishing so I guess we'd better learn the ancient art of cleaning fish.....) I put Elliott in the Baby Bjourn and we walked in the river.  She was mesmerized by the sights and sounds of the little waterfalls and running streams.  

She really is becoming such a little girl and morphing out of her infant hood. It is really so bittersweet in that she is developing her skills more every day but she is no longer the tiny little infant.  She can almost sit up by herself (no Mommy-assistance needed in her infant bathtub anymore!  Now she can sit up and splash like crazy!  She especially loves to splash Mommy!) and she is squirming while on her tummy!  Almost like she's ready to crawl.  Then it's all over!

I introduced Elliott to the texture of leaves while we were in Vermont for Lauren's wedding.  She has been fascinated with them ever since.  Once she hit 5-months she really began reaching and grabbing so the leaf thing has really developed.  Spencer and I can't wait until Elliott is splashing around in the Jackson River with her rubber river boots on with her Franklin cousins.  There is even a designated room for the grandchildren complete with bunk beds and a carpeted loft area for when they are old enough to play up there safely.  We are truly blessed to have this getaway and we cannot wait to enjoy it more!  Thank you Babbie and Pop for the wonderful week and the opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous Highlands.  

But, being way out in the middle of nowhere definitely has it's drawbacks.  I swore that after dealing with clients who call in and ask about the most minute things, that I wouldn't be one of those parents who harasses the pediatrician with every little bump and bruise.  While staying out in Highland, I officially became one of "those" mothers.  I had heard that breast fed babies do have this magic "switch" where they go from multiple poopy diapers to one every few days but didn't think it would happen until we were full into food.  Well it had been three days since Elliott had relieved herself in that way so I was beginning to panic.  Was she impacted?  What would we do way out here?  Do I have to give her a suppository?  (I write that cringing because I can distinctly remember being constipated as a child and having one of my parents perform that horrendous act to me.  I can only pray that I can avoid this with my children.  Giving enemas to animals is one thing, humans-a completely different undertaking.)  I made a few frantic phone calls to friends of infants who all suggested mixing pears or pear juice to her rice cereal.  So we headed to the ONLY grocery store in Bath County.  Let me tell you, it was slim pickin's.  And wouldn't you know, no baby food at all!  A fully stocked walk-in beer cooler but no baby food?  Where are we, Wasila Alaska?  So I bit the bullet, swallowed my pride and made the call to Dr. Craft's office.  Keep in mind that we got horrible cell phone service out there so I was walking outside trying to find a spot where the nurse could actually hear me.  I could tell she was annoyed (great, another mom obsessing with her baby's bowel movements.) "Is she breast or bottle fed?" she asked, obviously annoyed.  "Breast, but it's been three days!  She's not impacted is she?"  "It is perfectly normal for a breast fed baby at 6 months to go several days without a bowel movement.  If she isn't uncomfortable, don't worry about it."  As soon as she said the words, don't worry about it, out of my daughter came the worst thing I have ever smelt.  And I have smelt some horrible things, remember, I'm a vet.  "Okay, never mind, she just pooped." I told the nurse.  I think I heard her snort or groan or actually heard her eyes roll over the phone.  Seriously, are our child's bowel movements really going to rule our lives?