No playground today

We have started going to the playground during our morning walks. Baikal likes the swing and I like to push her. Today it has been raining, so no playground today.

Baikal at the playground. Checking things out.

Swing: A Series

Summer Shade Festival

This weekend was the Summer Shade Festival in Grant Park. Courtney and Bill met up with us and enjoyed the festival. It was hot, but fun.

First 5K

Baikal competed in her first 5K. She won first place in the category of Bijorn carried. Paul Thomas won first place in the racing while sleeping category. Hooray! We had a great weekend with Beth, Tim, Noelle, and Kevin. Our friend Noelle is due in two weeks with a little boy of her own. She won first place for competing in a 5K race 9 months pregnant in August.

A new world

It is a new world for me now that I am a mom. Here's just one example how things have changed. I went for a walk this morning with Baikal and there was another mom out walking with her baby. We both stopped, said hello, and the next thing I knew we had been talking for 20 minutes. The exchange ended with swapping contact information and possibly meeting for walks on a regular basis. And this interaction happens to me all the time! And it is not just women. I was in the grocery store last week and there was a guy with twins around Baikal's age. Next thing I knew I was inviting his family over to the next neighborhood playgroup. This is getting a bit out of hand. Who are these people? Complete strangers! I have dogs and babies that look up to me. I really should set a better example and not just invite any stranger that has a baby over to our house for tea...

Up close and personal

Baikal is now crawling around and pulling up on whatever objects she can reach. It is a fun time for her and a busy time for mom.


I'm up!


Let's start the day!


Pulling up.



I'm up! Now what?



I can conquer the world!



Up close and personal.

Junaluska part 2

It was a great week at Junaluska. Well, almost a great week..Baikal was crying a lot the first few days. I am attributing that to teething, which I attribute most of her fussiness these days to. Also, I have been breaking out in hives and my top lip has started swelling mostly at night or early morning. Don't be alarmed. This has been going on for months. It has progressively gotten worse, so I have a doctor's appointment next monday. I have a non-medical theory that I am having an allergic reaction to the presence of oxytocin in my bloodstream. Oxytocin is the chemical released when your milk "lets down". I have been doing a bit of detective work over the past few months to pin-point the allergin to no avail. So this is my latest theory. Anyways, Junaluska was still a good time. Here are more pictures of the week.


Baikal at the scarry bookstore.


It is called the scarry bookstore for a reason. It is a mobile home in the front lawn of a local packrat. Every year there are more books and no clear fire exit.


We took a tour of the NC arboritum in Brevard.


Did I mention that the tour was on segways?


We were experts by the end of the tour!


Baikal and Karen at the tea room for lunch after a game of tennis.


On the rose walk.

Junaluska part 1

This past week we enjoyed our annual trip up to Lake Junaluska, NC for the Ryblot family vacation. The Rybolts have been coming up to these mountains for over 20 years.


Baikal slept most of the way. We stopped for lunch in Dillard, GA and ate at the Dillard House. It was great Southern-style food, but Baikal was more interested in fussing. It wasn't a long lunch...



On the way up, we saw a rubber chicken hanging out of the back of a truck...pretty funny.


WE'RE HERE!


Now, where are the rest of the Rybolts?


What a nice change from the hot Atlanta days!