#57 - Vulcan, Due Dates, and Upcoming Adventure.
Welcome to my weekly email, where I give a life update, discuss something I'm reading, and share a photograph. Enjoy!
Life update
Sorry folks, I missed the last two updates. Why? Well, we’ll explain that in a minute. But, I hope you’re all enjoying the return to school, the uptick in morning traffic, and the slightly cooler weather.
The last time I wrote to you was mid-August. The kids were in Kelowna, I had rented a camera to take pictures of Heather’s pregnancy, and we were busily settling into the house. On the following Saturday, I picked the kids up, and we got ready to head down to Vulcan.
Vulcan Trips
This has been the third annual Vulcan trip that I’ve taken the kids on. For the past three summers, in late August, we head down South the same week as my brother, sister-in-law, and my two nephews. My Mom signs the kids up for swimming lessons, and we spend the week taking the kids to the pool, watching them bike around the empty streets, going to the man-made fishing hole, and making trips to the playground.
I’ve described this trip as feeling “more like running a summer camp than going on a holiday,” but the memories are worth the effort. It’s a great opportunity for my kids to see their cousins and to live a little freer than I typically let them in the city.
As my nephew remarked near the end of the week: “I know why old people like to live in Vulcan. Because the streets are so peaceful.”
The reason I didn’t get around to writing or sending this email for a while is that both of the last two weekends were dedicated to travel. On those busy days, it’s hard to find time to sit down and type one of these out!
Countdown to Birth Day
We’re 17 days away from Heather’s due date. That’s soon!
She’s trying to wrap up all of her ongoing projects at work so that she can enter her mat leave with a clear conscience and we’re trying to get all of the remaining baby gear we need so we can enter this new phase with clear minds.
After picking up a stroller and car seat on Facebook marketplace over the last couple of days, I think we’re in a good place.
I, too, am looking forward to some upcoming time off, as I’m planning to take a month of parental leave to spend some extra time getting acquainted with the new baby.
What a thing! Making more people.
I find it hard to not want to have more kids after already having two. I love Wolf and Lilou. I get to watch their personalities develop, their minds and bodies grow, and our connection deepen. Having more kids just means I get to have more of those experiences. I get to meet more new people. I get to create (out of nothing! [and also, yes, Heather is doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to people-creating]) a whole new person to love and be loved by. What a deal!
Is raising kids hard? Well, sure, but not nearly as hard as it is good. Or, perhaps, worthwhile.
Upcoming Adventure
After a lot of debating and data collection, I’ve decided to join my fellow Adventure Clubbers on their upcoming excursion next weekend. Before you judge me for heading off into the backcountry ten days before the baby’s due date, I’d like to point out that Heather has been the biggest proponent of my going on this trip.
We talked a lot about the probability of this baby coming this early (did you know 90% of babies are born between weeks 39-41?) and the likelihood I could make it home in time if anything did start happening (thank goodness for satellite phones).
From the sounds of it, we’re going to climb Mount Andromache, a 3,033-metre mountain in the Bow River valley. I haven’t really been planning for it, so I have to get all my stuff in order this week so I can make it.
It should be a blast!
A Moment of Life
Here are some shots of the kids and their cousins from our week down in Vulcan.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next week.
Elijah