We daytripped to MDI today, and found two new free things, which is always good.  One is a path that one of Dave’s clients tipped him off to — it’s just off main street, but there’s no sign, just a small parking area (12cars max, maybe) and a roadcone. Anyway, we turned in there and wandered down to a cliffy area overlooking the water. You could scramble down to a few rocky beaches (and plenty of people had) but in tevas and with Ingrid in the new wrap (yay!) I didn’t feel too confident in doing that.  Either way, it was a great little walk, Ingrid saw the ocean for the first time, and we had fun.  After that, we drove around and ended up at a public beach that we’d never seen before. We’re big fans of Lamoine Beach, which is pretty secluded and away from MDI traffic, but more of a rocky beach than sandy one. The beach in Seal Harbor is broad and sandy, with a really low grade entry to the water, which is crystal clear. We were there at low tide,and the sand went right from the road to the waterline and beyond.  The parking was free, AND there was a bathroom. Score!

Another geeky thing is that our carseat can be tethered rear-facing, unlike many. BUT, you have to find a spot to do that, and I’ve half-assedly looked, but it’s usually when I’m putting Ingrid in the seat, or taking her out, and I’ve never really dug around much. Today, though, I found a great spot to tether, so I did, and now her seat is rock-solid. YAY. Especially since we saw a couple accidents on our way to MDI today, which freaks my shit out ten times more than it ever did. BUT, my arm is all sore from doing the "fuck, she spit out her paci and is crying, so I’m going to try to look in her baby-view mirror to find it, while wearing my seatbelt, but because I’m short, it means the middle of my upper arm is the fulcrum for this often fruitless maneuver." Ugh. I think we might use the paci-leash next time, so at least I could reel it in and not be digging for it. (And, oh yes, we had two in rotation, so when my backup disappeared from reach, too, we pulled over. Sigh.)

But what a cool day! And today Dave carried the camera, so there’s all kinds of pictures of me! Many unflattering, but hey, a nursing tank + wrap + 11weeks postpartum + you know, not a prime physical specimen PREpartum = "eww, my back looks like THAT?"  Oh well. At least the baby’s a beauty!

And on that note, as the fourth trimester starts to wrap up, I have so much more energy and ambition to eat food that involves more than pouring rice milk onto something, or hitting "toast."  this week I put together a salad o’ the week, like I used to, with some edits — baby spinach instead of romaine, no broccoli (sigh. My favorite scrubbing bubbles vegetable!) and avocado. And since I’m eating it at home, I just cut up a vine ripe tomato with each serving, which helps the salad keep. Basically, I filled a large gladware box with baby spinach, chopped up cucumber and orange pepper, and then added a vine ripe tomato and 1/2 an avocado and cubed cheese stick to each serving. DE. LICIOUS. I’ve also been adding frozen berries to my morning cereal, and flax meal as well, if I’m eating oatmeal. I’m thinking I’ll dig out my old Weight Watchers stuff soon, and make a more concerted effort. I am 10 pounds below my pre-preg weight, though, so that’s cool.

Oh, and new pics (most from today, and don’t even get me STARTED on how she sleeps, it freaks me out too) over there on the right, and albums will be updated monthly now that we’re rounding the bend from the fourth tri. Yay!