Back to work...for a bit

I officially went back to work this week for a total of 5 working days between maternity leave and summer break--I think we worked this pregnancy thing out pretty well! Thankfully, my mom was able to help us out and watch Selah while I worked mornings and bring Selah to the school to join me in the afternoons. As it was the last week of school, things were pretty relaxed so I just tied up loose ends and showed off my girl. Even though I only had to spend about 4 hours at a time away from her, I missed her like crazy! I can't imagine having to go back full time for all of the foreseeable future like most Americans must do. I am SO thankful to have summer break off with my family...starting NOW! We are planning to hit the road Monday on our way to Yosemite and the Sierras for about 5 weeks, then back here for a wedding mid July, then to the Czech Republic for another wedding, then back to work mid August. It should be a great time. We are very much looking forward to exposing the little one to camping, backpacking, fishing, climbing, etc. She is going to spend her first summer on the road! We are already imagining naps in El Cap Meadows, baths in the Merced, peering off of the top of Half Dome--what a life!!

In other news, we just found out that we will be living on campus at the school where I work next year and for as long as I am employed there. While it is a bummer that we have to move, the benefits greatly outweigh the inconveniences. Mike is already talking about unlimited delicious food and how he won't have to do dishes anymore. I am excited about Selah having a grassy 300 acre campus to explore with all of the other "faculty brats" and 150 ready and willing babysitters. I already get to eat without her in my arms when the students are around--as soon as I enter the Bar Fork (aka cafeteria), one student or another sweeps her away and plays with her as long as I can tolerate it.

Selah had her 2 month check up this week and her first round of vaccinations. I think the shots were much harder on me than they were on her--and I wasn't even in the room when they poked her. Just thinking about it while I waited made me nauseous and sweaty. Despite all of the recent controversy, we have decided to vaccinate with the CDC recommended schedule. It was very nerve wracking, but we think it was the right decision. She now weighs 10 lb, 8 oz (50th percentile) and is 22 1/2 inches long (also 50%) and is in the 99th percentile for cuteness.

Running is finally starting to feel kind of normal again. Last week, Sari drug me out on my first long run since my December half marathon--10.5 miles on flat pavement while she pushed her 2 year old and many toys in the jogger. I felt pretty awful at the end, but it set me in motion for getting my endurance back. I did a 13 mile trail run with lots of hills a few days later and my quads are still sore. But who cares?! I'm back! I'm truly more excited about long trail runs this summer than I am about climbing! El came up with the idea of doing the Leadville 100 next August and I invited myself along, so now I have that in the back of my mind while training. It is a long way away, but if I get the goal in my head now, I will be more motivated all year. (Now I'm committed since I wrote it on the internet). We decided that next summer will be the best option for training for and completing a 100 miler since we each have only one child--here's to not getting pregnant again any time soon!

...And a few pictures of course!

This is Selah and me in my office at school.