Car Seat or Chair and It's Spring, Get Outside!

[GoatBeard]

I have found that Carter loves to sit in the car seat, even in the house. I think it's because she can sit up and see more stuff. And really, that's the only way I can figure to sit her up without holding her and/or worrying about her falling over. I have to lock her in because she wiggles around and gets in an uncomfortable-looking position, but it's a really good "chair" for her 3-month-old body.

Also, I have decided that we are going to spend as much time outside as possible. I have a sister-in-law that has 3 kids. They are TV zombies. If they walk by a TV that's on they zone-out and drop everything. She has used the TV as a babysitter and it's very obvious, and annoying... You can yell their names and they don't hear anything but what's on TV. I can't stand that and am trying to start this one getting outside very early on. I don't want to control her every move, but I'd rather get rid of every TV in the house than to have her turn into a TV zombie.

At any rate, I put her in shorts (no socks). I then put her in her car seat and stick it on the stroller, and when it's nice, we go outside and work all day in the yard. I have been mowing and planting trees/flowers, etc. She just sits in the shade and looks at the bird feeders, trees, birds or whatever babies look at. I stop by every 20 minutes or so to 'check in.' She's usually either sleeping or she is looking at stuff. If she's awake she will look up at me and smile.

[tt3]

I'd get social services called down on me if we went ouside for all morning or something, but thats because it was barely 50 this morning, as we still had frost when I woke. Made it to the zoo for an hour or so...
When it was just Tara and I, we'd go to the park up the road and walk, its a 3 or 4 mile hike up and down the stream bed, pretty cool. Strapped her in to the bjorn and away we went... 'cept the dog kept crapping everywhere. You know how hard it is to scoop poop with a kid strapped to your chest?!?
I digress, good on you for not wanting the tv-zomiosis sitting in!

[Weston]

Ive been doing yardwork off and on now for a month, most of the time with Alex outside nearby...either in his walker or just crawling around in the grass near me.

In my opinion, day time is meant for being outside, atleast when the weather is decent.

Hey T - did you find any herps along the creek bed? My brother's favorite past time/sometimes profession - herping.

[tt3]

Most of the trail is pretty steep down to the creek (so I guess my use of the term "bed" was incorrect) but you do see the occasional green frog. There's a cool field nature preserve up the way a bit that has some awesome little ponds and a bigger lake, tons of herps... ;) used to chase frogs and salamanders for a living!

[Weston]

T -

My brother is in California now...he's always on the look out for a "herp job". As you probably already know, its kind of hard to make a living out of it though. Most of the jobs he found were short term (6 month contracts)

He did have a possibility for a job working for the government following a pipeline that was being laid. His job would have been to keep an eye out on desert tortoise nests (i think) That never panned out, but would have been a great money maker - $50 an hour.

The guy's always looking under rocks near streams if we go hiking somewhere together :lol:

[Patrickz]

Sorry to make anyone jelious but it was 84 here yesterday and went for a fun jog with Alex. I had to put spf 50 on the boy and he sweat too. I think it is great that we get our kids out as I rearly have a time with Alex where he is grumpy. So many new things for them to see. 8) The pollen count was high however but no sign of irratation yet. :)

[Patrickz]

I think we all should pledge to not let our kids watch as much as we did when we were kids. I propose only two hrs of silly TV per week and 3 times that amount for outside activities.

Tony
My mother used to take me to the bridge as a toddler to through stones into the big lake. It is at the meratime museum and Grandmas. Is it still there and enough rocks to throw.?

[Don-Dad]

Not jealous, it was 70 degrees here :P That's very warm for northern, ny. Went to the Zoo with my son's kindergarden class and then spent the better part of the day outside. I was exhausted by days end.

[Patrickz]

Don't worry you northen guys it will come. :)

[jeffus]

Our daughter (about 3 & 3/4 years old now) likes to creep into our bedroom in the morning, climbs into her old infant car seat, and falls asleep in it.

Have a couple of photos of her sleeping in it. Kinda funny since her little butt barely fits in it - legs hanging out on the floor. Can't image how she finds that more comfortable than her bed, but what can you do?

We were keeping the seat for a friend who's expecting.

[tt3]

Sure is Patrick, and they've exanded the lakewalk and added some cool bits and bobs bayside past the aquarium. Tara rode in the traller a lot of times last summer as I biked the path. I try and avoid the lift bridge/grandma's/maritime museum area during summer because its such a tourist attraction (read "trap") but cool none the less.

Any of you guys ever make it up here, let me know, you'll get a great tour! :lol:

[Awwc]

If we spent any more time outside I might be tempted to strap my 2 year old son to the lawnmower and start it up.

"Come on. I know you're a quick learner. Watch the feet."

[Weston]

:lol:

[GoatBeard]

The wife and I always joke that our kid will be the only one who can say she got a push-mower for her 3rd birthday. :twisted:

[SideShowCecil]

Yes, William and I have been out doing yard work all week too. The weather this week has been amazing. He just loves getting his hands in the dirt, or the compost, or the Zeolite, or the leaf pile. He’s fascinated by lady bugs; he’ll pick up every one he finds. I’m so glad he’s past the putting everything in his mouth stage.

My brother bought William the Radio Flyer All Terrain Wagon for his first birthday last month, (the guy has no wife, no kids, a good job and money coming out of his arse; the bastard). Anyhow, William loves that wagon; being pulled around in it, pushing it around or just playing with the tires. It makes entertaining him outside so much easier.

I should have enough cash saved by the end of April to finally get that MEC bike trailer I’ve been eyeing for the last two months. Once I have that then we’ll never stay home. We have South Glenmore Park and the Weasel Head to the North, Fish Creek Provincial Park to the south and a huge municipal wading pool just down the road.