Day 2 at Cottage

Since Danny arrived in our world, our alarm clock has hardly been used.   His squeal is the first sound I hear in the morning (also the only sound I hear during the night).  His moaning will get me out of the bed like a spring — life really has changed for me.

Stepped out of our bedroom, it was almost 9 o’clock.  The living room and kitchen were soaked in sunshine.  I don’t know about other people, but I am just so easily cheered up by good weather.  My dad was preparing breakfast for us in the kitchen already and he seemed to be in a good mood as well.  I did all the morning routine on Danny, changed his diaper, wiped his little face, hands and creamed him up.  After he enjoyed his breakfast, I dressed myself up.  Ron had already done his morning routine as well.  Three of us went outside.  The lake looked so shining and smooth, the reflection was so strong that I couldn’t open my eyes.  Both of us went in and grabbed sunglasses.  I put a hat on Danny, no sunglasses for him, so most of time his eyes were closed under the sun.  There were people sitting on their deck on the water and reading.   It looked relaxing, but I don’t know how they could handle the heat and brightness for so long.  When we were going to take some photos near the cabin, John and Paul came by to ask if we wanted to go grocery shopping with them.   We didn’t really know what we had brought with us since my parents packed all the food, so we decided that we would go later if we needed to. 

Back in the cabin, talked with my parents about what we had in the fridge.  It turned out that there wasn’t much food we brought and we needed to shop after all.  Danny was already showing signs that he needed a nap.  I walked him a bit and he fell asleep (It is always easier to put him for a nap than a night sleep).  Julia came by and asked for a napkin for Lindsay.  Apparently there was a playground right in front of our cabin and they were playing there.  After some discussion of whether both of my parents would go shopping with Ron or one of them would go and if so, who would go, Ron and dad went shopping and mom left to cook for lunch.  Life is complicated, isn’t it?

Danny woke up and mom was cooking in the kitchen.  I thought I should take Danny out to have some fun instead of staying cooped up inside.  Why not go to join the ladies and kids in the playground?  Danny would be too little to play, but it is good to let him have a chance to interact with other kids and me to interact with other mothers.  I wasn’t sure if they would still be there since it had been a while since they came by.   I grabbed Danny immediately and went out.  They were not in the playground,  I was a bit disappointed.  When I turned back, I saw Judith and the kids walking across, but soon they disappeared from my sight.  I wanted to call her name, but they were too far away.  I ran after them, but Danny was heavy to carry.  I walked fast instead of running.  Fortunately, they couldn’t move fast either because of the kids.  When I walked to the lakeshore,  I could already see them ahead walking.  It looked like they were going back to their cabin.  I still wanted to catch them at least to say hi.  I walked behind them quietly.

Julia found me stalking them at first.  Just as I thought, they were going back to their cabin to make lunch for the kids. I decided to go to their cabin for a short visit since I had nothing to do.  Their cabin was so far!  When we arrived, I already felt like it was time for me to go back.  I sat in their cabin for a short while, while the ladies were busy tending their kids.  On the way back, I was worried that I wouldn’t have enough strength to hold Danny to walk such a long distance again.  But surprisingly the journey back to our cabin seemed shorter.  Maybe a mother’s power is endless, must be!

Back at our cabin, lunch was ready.  The shopping team wasn’t home yet.  I put Danny into the saucer so that I could rest a bit on the couch.  Danny just loves jumping.  He can play on his own for quite a while before he is bored in the saucer.  Shortly, the shopping team got back home and the fridge was packed with food.  When we were having lunch, Ron explained to my parents that the lake in front of us was called Rice Lake.  “Rice, the stuff we eat every day!  And really it grows here in the lake. “  My parents were very happy to know that, not only because of the rice, they are always happy to learn English and communicate with Ron.  My dad actually studies English everyday now.  But he complains that it just takes 2 minutes for him to forget the words he just learned.  When he was young, he had to learn Russian instead of English.  Mom doesn’t care about learning, but still she thinks talking to Ron loudly and slowly in Chinese somehow would help him understand better.

After lunch, Danny was ready for his second nap of the day.   I don’t know how other moms handle this, Danny’s two naps in the day just decrease my mobility level almost to 0.  I can’t really go anywhere or I don’t really want to?!  Ron wanted to join the other two families,  they were at the beach.  Danny was sleeping and I didn’t really want to leave him alone again.  Ron said he wouldn’t spend the whole day not doing anything fun at the cottage, so he picked up all his swimming gear and left first. 

After Danny woke up, it was late afternoon already.  I hesitated for a while whether I should take Danny to the beach or not.  Then I decided to go since the weather was still charming and really we were at a cottage…   We bought lots of swimming gear for Danny before the trip.  Including a floaty, a fancy swimming suit, and a speedo swimming hat.  I took them all with me and carried Danny in the baby carrier to the beach.  Luckily the guys were still there.  I was a bit disappointed to see the beach.  It was tiny, with some couches on it.    The definition of beach in my mind is covered with twinkly white sand.   Well, we are in a high latitude country, I should be appreciating this wonderful weather.  Ron wanted to take Danny into the water.   The water didn’t look enticing to me with all the weeds in it besides I felt it was cold already.   For Danny’s first swimming experience, this might not be good enough.  I told Ron that I don’t really want to go swimming in the lake so Danny won’t either.  Ron was a bit disappointed but as usual, he never tried hard to persuade me.  John heard our talking and he told me that the water was actually quite warm and even the slight coldness won’t cause any problem.   I was still hesitating.  John said Quinn was in the water and he was fine.  I was still trying to be stubborn: “It is getting dark, and the water must be cooler now than it was.”  John changed Quinn to his swimming suit and took him into the water!  Alright!  Quinn is 6 weeks younger than my boy.  Even if my boy has an overcautious, timid mom, he should be brave and try things.   Thanks John, Danny had his first lake swimming experience.   Danny’s response was not happy but not unhappy either.  Most time he was focusing on two fake plastic eyeballs on the floaty and playing with it. 

We joined John and Paul’s families for a BBQ dinner.  Instead of leaving Danny with my parents, we took him with us and the saucer.  On the long walk to their cabin, I carried Danny while Ron carried the saucer and our food.  Ron started to complain the saucer was heavy and his arm was sore shortly after we hit the road.  After we arrived, both of us were quite happy to put the load down.  Danny was put in the saucer and after that he didn’t ask for any attention until he was tired.  He just bounced and bounced happily while we were having our hamburgers.   Lindsay passed a pacifier to Danny, and it cracked me up.  What a lovely gesture for a baby!   Julia gave us a ride back to the cabin after Danny fell asleep in my arms.  Ron went back with her to their cabin for a kids-free get-together.  Really, with kids, it is hard to find quiet time for a nice chat with friends, only after kids are gone to bed.   I wanted Ron to enjoy the time with friends.

Day 2 at cottage, mom and dad still hadn’t done anything fun.  Although they said they enjoyed the fresh air and the sunshine.  Tomorrow, I hope we do something fun with them.