Raf is My Co-Pilot

Due to illness and college work running has been difficult to fit in - and also finding quality time with Al and Raf - so yesterday was the day to roll out the green Chariot and go for a three mile run around the neighborhood - with Raf my somewhat eager co-pilot.

Off we went - it's easier than you think - only vacant looks from men in their huge pickup trucks remind you that you are pushing a large combination of canvass and metal tubing, with a small slightly non-plussed child peering out the front. The small inclines were no problem, and the distant clap of thunder made us go a little faster towards the end. Raf didn't have any complaints and was quiet all the way around, possibly transfixed by the front wheel - that didn't come flying off this time!

This time was a test run - but for future runs we'll time some of these three mile loops and see how 'we' can bring down the times over the summer!! We also have a 7 mile trail run earmarked as our long run with the Chariot, and when it's warmer we'll finish at the lake for a dip, we're looking forward to that already...

9:03pm

And Raf is still up and going strong.

Gah!

He seems to have turned into a different child over the weekend. He is up to mischief a good deal of the time. right now he is ripping up my note book. And he's developed a very funny fake laugh :)

I'm going to make another attempt at putting him to bed.

What a monkey!

Trip to the Park

Thanks for making yourself known, readers. It's lovely to know you're out there, and also your comments are really nice as they form a sort of archive. I have no idea if Raf will ever read this blog, but your comments and participation is every bit as important as all the things we write and post here.

Anyway, another busy week. Both Rich and I are looking forward to the end of the semester. Rich, this past week, cut back his hours at work so he can take care of Raf for more hours during the week. Jen, the nanny, is really wonderful and we couldn't ask for a better carer for Raf, but we also want one of us to spend as much time with Raf as possible during these early couple of years. Unfortunately Im about to become chair of our department so I will have to be on campus more. I am really feeling sad about that - though I am trying to focus on the positives. Right.

Whilst I spent the day grading papers yesterday, today we had a nice family day together. This morning we hit the park - photos below. We've taken Raf to the park a couple of times but he has never really been into it. This is mostly, I think, because he's been tired or under the weather, and we've always managed to find parks that are super busy. This morning we went to one down the road from us, quite early on, and Raf had a very fun time. He loves the swings, and while he found the slide a bit perplexing he did like the fire engine with the big wheels to turn.

In other news... Raf is doing quite well with solids. We've been loosely doing baby led weaning whereby they feed themselves with finger foods. We have been giving Raf foods that we feed him which require a spoon - non-dairy yogurt, oats, hummus, etc - and lately he has been a wee bit lazy about feeding himself. Still, he's getting a lot of variety.

Today's menu for Raf:

Breakfast - non dairy yogurt (the probiotics are doing wonders for his tummy), combined with chopped kiwi fruit, banana, and melon. he also had a bit of my oats, oat bran and flaxseed.
Lunch - squash, hummus mashed with romaine lettuce, and avocado
Dinner - slices of pear, banana, melon and a massive helping of yogurt. We all had breakfast foods for dinner tonight, and Raf had a slice of the most expensive pear I have ever bought... mmm - organic pears are super pricey!

We are in a hummus rut, though... Any other suggestions. He LOVES it :)

Here we are at the park.

A date with friends

Hi all (or maybe just hi Louisa! I think our readership has gone down!)

I've had a very social weekend, even though it was also quite low key. Rich was horribly ill yesterday so we hung about the house. OUr friend Kate visited, though, and I think she was a little surprised by how much Raf has grown... She commented that Raf looks just like his mama, which is curious since everyone seems to say something different. Kate bought Raf the most beautiful little tooth holder for when he eventually loses his teeth - though we're anxiously awaiting the first tooth. The bottom two have definitely poked through but they're hiding behind the gum - you can just feel the sharpness for now. Anyway, I enjoyed a lovely, blissful walk with Kate, even whilst it was snowing (gah).

Today I met some friends for lunch. Meghann is pregnant, which is just very exciting! We went to Flatbread Pizza and had a great time. Because Rich and Raf are under the weather, Rich dropped Raf off towards the end of the lunch date so he could see his friends without becoming overwhelmed. Unfortunately he was nonetheless overwhelmed and spent the entire hour he was there seeming very shellshocked. I don wonder whether he is an introvert at heart. he is always so much happier at home. As soon as we got home he was back to his happy, beaming self. That said, it was very busy at the restaurant and he'd just woken up when he got there... still...

Here are some pics of Raf with Kim, Bistra, and Meghann.




Pretty happy with himself... loves ripping up paper!

9 month wellness check up

we're still a sick house, and poor Rich has bronchitis. But on Wed we also had Raf's 9 month wellness check up. What a big boy!

Height - 28.75 inches, which is quite a growth spurt
Weight - 20 pounds, which is a little less than he weighed a week or so ago but he's been ill and so Deb wasn't worried.
Head size - sheesh, he has such a big head! The first measurement was 51cm and so Deb remeasured for a noggin' size of 49cm. This still makes for a head size that is WAY off the charts!!

Daddy's first half marathon

Can you believe we're all sick again?! Yes, it's true... we all have colds and it's pretty miserable. Added to that Raf is cutting his first teeth. We can feel the bottom two coming through, though he won't really let us take a look. As you can imagine, I'm just dreaming about sleep these days.

Nonetheless, we did have a lovely weekend as Rich ran his first half marathon. It was also in NH, like mine, but unlike my event this was well organized and the sun was shining. We had another friend running the race from work, and it was really great to watch her, too. I'm hoping that Rich will write a report, but here are some pics. I secretly had some t-shirts made, which we're going to wear to all future events :) Yes, this is probably a bit sad!

Team Oliver-Campbell.. we take our mascot with us :)


And he's off....


Pops putting on a sprint finish!


Waiting for daddy to finish. Incidentally, Raf stayed wide awake during nap time as Rich ran, and as soon as Rich crossed the line Rafi fell promptly to sleep.


All of us in our shirts getting ready to drive home.

Day with Daddy

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