Autumn Fun, Another Plug for Babywearing, and Jewish Festival

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." -L.M. Montgomery

Wow, October is here and in full swing - our favorite and definitely our busiest month of the whole year (TONS of fall activities, Joseph's birthday, our anniversary, etc.).  There is so much cool stuff to do!  And I love the cooler fall weather!

Yesterday afternoon, we took our annual trip to J. Razz and Tazz Farm in rural nearby Gibsonville (some of you will remember that Gibsonville is where David lived when we were dating and engaged, and we love it there!)  We go every year to go through the corn maze and buy our pumpkin (which we later carve into our Jack-O-Lantern).  Last year, when we took Joseph, he was only 6 DAYS OLD.  He was only about 5 1/2 pounds and it was our first big outing after his delivery, other than a quick trip to the pediatrician for a weight check.  I remember how crazy that first major outing was - I was still getting the hang of breastfeeding, we were losing tons of sleep, I was still a little in shock from Joseph's traumatic delivery, and all in all I was just a giant mess!  This year's trip was a little calmer and smoother, needless to say.  I have to post pics of the difference between last year and this year - my little man has gotten so big!!!

Joseph and Mommy 6 Days Postpartum - Mommy's looking pretty rough (especially the postpartum midsection - yikes!)

 

Joseph and Mommy now

 

Daddy and our two little pumpkins last year!

And this year, our "little pumpkin" is almost as big as the real pumpkin!

It took us a little while this year to pick out this wonderful pumpkin.  All the ones we saw at first were either too small, too tall and skinny, had green or brown spots on them, were crooked, or had NO character at all (I like a pumpkin with a little personality).  You can see, David and Joseph were very perplexed by the decision at hand...

Finally we found the perfect gourd for us, big, round, and a funky, twisty stem.  THIS was the personality I was looking for, so we decided to take this pumpkin home with us.  While David paid for it and put it in the car, I waited there at the patch with Joseph and took some pictures of the farm...

After David returned from putting the pumpkin in the car, it was Corn Maze time.  David and I had done this corn maze before, but not since we had Joseph.  Last year, we had decided against it because we THOUGHT I'd still be pregnant when we went to the farm, and decided the risk of going into labor in the middle of a corn maize wouldn't be worth it.  And then, once Joseph came early, we decided a corn maze with a 6 day year old baby that was basically wearing preemie clothes wouldn't be the best idea, either.  So this year, with our feet back on the ground, we decided to go for it.  Besides, last time we went (the year before we had Joseph), we hardly had any trouble navigating it and got out super quick.  We were sure we'd have the same luck this year (or not).

Here we are, starting out...

Now, this is the part of the blog where I'm going to do one of my frequent plugs for the practice of babywearing.  If you've read my blog, you know that we "wear" Joseph way, way, way, WAY more than we ever put him in a stroller.  It started out as a good thing to do to calm his fussiness and help the breastfeeding relationship, but it later became our favorite way of transporting him just because it is so much easier.  But for whatever reason, when we got to the farm yesterday, we decided to tackle the corn maze in the umbrella stroller instead of wearing Joseph in the Boba.  Worst.  Mistake.  EVER.  About 2 seconds into the corn maze it became evident that our little $20 umbrella stroller was not meant to tackle the bumpy, moist ground of the maze.  Joseph was being bounced around like laundry in a washing machine and didn't seem to be enjoying himself (whereas he LOVES being worn), and it was very hard for David to push the stroller over all the bumps comfortably.  So, out of the stroller Joseph came.  The umbrella stroller probably weighs 3-4 pounds versus Joseph's 17 1/2 pounds, so I carried the folded-up-stroller through the maze while David carried Joseph.  At this point, we both started saying, "Why didn't we use the Boba?"  We said it more and more and more the longer we were in the maze.  Unlike our previous experience, it took us quite a while to find our way out.  We realized at once point we were going in circles.  It had been misting rain and we were nervous it was going to start up again (luckily it did not), and Joseph fell asleep on David's shoulder and slept through virtually the whole maze, which took a while.  We laughed about it, but also alternated our mood between extreme humor at the situation, frustration that we didn't use the Boba, and mild panic that it could start raining again and we'd be trapped, in a corn maze, in the rain, with a baby, lol.  I tell you, whether or not people wear their babies is totally their own choice, but personally I could not function without doing it.  Wearing him is soooooooooooooo much easier than the dang stroller!  We won't make that mistake again!  All in all, though, the maze was a fun time, even if it took a while.  David finally navigated us out (so thankful for him - there is no way I could have gotten us out of there!)

Here is my poor husband hauling our sleeping child around the maze.

At a crossroads at this point and we really weren't sure which way to go.  Good thing I married a man with good navigational skills!

We finally found the bridge in the middle of the maze, at which point you can walk up to the top of it and at least get your vectors.  Here is our view from the elevated bridge over the rows of corn...

Back down into the corn to keep on trying!

Once we finally made it out of the maze, we played in the corn silo with Joseph.  They always have several silos set up, filled with corn, and you can get in and bury yourself in it, play in it, etc.  So much fun!

David takes a rest after the maze experience.

Great picture of David, but couldn't get Jojo to look at the camera here...

Or here...

I had to rest, too...carrying that umbrella stroller was hard work (okay, maybe not)

I've never really seen him make this face before...so random...

Exploring this new, strange substance

Looking very serious.

I love the concerned look on David's face here.  When we first put Joseph down in the corn, he immediately put a kernel in his mouth.  We got it out, of course, but I think he was watching to make sure he didn't do it again, lol.

Finally, we went to see some tractors.  I know that this time next year, Joseph will probably REALLY enjoy this part...

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What a fun fall Saturday activity!!!

Thanks to the lady who worked at Razz and Tazz, we got a family picture taken!

Now, let me be clear - the next part of our Saturday story is NOT something I'd typically share on the blog, but I have to because it was so random and really kind of funny.  So, with apologies for any grossness, here goes...

So, the whole time we were at the farm, I felt just fine.  I'd taken some Advil for a headache before we headed out for the afternoon adventure, but it quickly helped and I felt great.  But when we got in the car to head back home from the farm, we hadn't even made it to the end of the road before I started to feel bad.  VERY bad.  I laid my seat back and David asked if I was okay.  I told him I felt a little sick to my stomach (and for those of you who are wondering, no, I'm DEFINITELY not pregnant again).  It's about a 20-25 minute drive back to our house, and the further we went the worst I felt.  The conversation on the way home was pretty one-sided, with David alternating between saying "Oh gosh, you look REALLY pale" and "Do I need to pull over?"  When we made it home, I went to lay down on our bed, but not before grabbing the bathroom trashcan to put next to it, JUST in case.  It was at that point I realized that the Advil I'd taken earlier was taken on a quite empty stomach.  This has ALWAYS caused problems for me, so I'm not sure why I didn't know better.  But once I realized what I'd done, I knew that was the reason for my nausea.  Now, let me say, I am VERY bad with nausea.  I mean, the worst of anyone I know.  I'd rather have a sort throat, a headache, almost ANYTHING.  I'm terrified of throwing up and hadn't done so in almost 10 full years (last time was a food poisoning incident in 2004), mainly because I fight it, tooth and nail.  Even with my extreme morning sickness for the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, I fought it all day every day and managed to never vomit.  I had always told David how terrible I was with this stuff, and so he was quite worried about me because he knows being sick to my stomach is the ultimate in awful for me.  Once I realized the Advil on an empty stomach thing was the problem, David made me drink a glass of water and eat a granola bar.  No sooner than I had finished everything I grabbed the trashcan and got violently ill.  Okay, I know, you are thinking "What a disgusting story - why would she share this?!"  Well, it's because the pandemonium that broke out in our house was hilarious.  David was very very worried about me because I got sick so suddenly, so when I grabbed the trash can he ran and put Joseph in his crib so he could come take care of me.  The commotion scared Joseph to death, so he started wailing away in his crib.  So here I am sick as a dog, I have my husband holding my hair back and asking "Oh gosh, WHAT is going on?  Do we need to take you somewhere?" and I have my child screaming his head off in his crib!  lol.  It was such a circus.  When I finally managed to get myself together, all I could say was "Is Joseph okay?  Where did you put Joseph and why is he screaming?!"  haha.  David assured me he was in his crib and fine, just scared.  The funny thing was, as soon as that was over, I felt 1000% better and felt fine the rest of the day.  I had to assure David that I was okay, and then I had to go get a very scared and worried baby out of his crib and assure him that mommy was okay.  It was only a brief incident, but boy, I sure did traumatize my two guys in the process!  What a way to wrap up a Saturday of fun, huh? 

Two lessons from yesterday: 1) ALWAYS wear your baby and 2) ALWAYS take Advil on a full stomach.

Today, thus far, has been a little less eventful (and all have felt fine, thank goodness).  We went to church this morning and then went to the Jewish Festival at nearby Temple Emmanuel in the afternoon.  It's the second year we have gone, and it's really a lot of fun.   As Christians, I think it will be a fabulous way to teach Joseph about the history and practice of Judaism when we start formally homeschooling one day.

David got Matzoh Ball Chicken Soup to eat while we were there.  I tried a little and we both agreed it was very good.  We also got to sit in on a "sanctuary tour" where one of the rabbis explains the significance of everything (architecture, decor, etc) in the sanctuary.  Very informative.  Joseph enjoyed just cruising around by holding onto the pews.  Before we left, we bought an assortment of Jewish pastries.  So yummy!

David tries chocolate-covered Matzo...yummy!

So thankful for all the fun things I got to do with my two guys this weekend!  Looking forward to what the rest of the month has to offer as well!