Mosquitoes don't like babies?!?

Yes, there have been a few occasions in the past week now where as dusk approached and the swarms of mosquitoes begin to buzz around where I have thought, uh-oh! Uma's is going to get eaten alive. And then strangely, as we both get bitten all over, Uma is left untouched, happy as can be. My theory: you know how eating certain foods will make mosquitoes bite you more or less? (Apparently, mosquitoes love bananas) Well, maybe mosquitoes don't like breastmilk!

I don't know, maybe that is a strange way to start this post. Travelling with a baby has been interesting so far. Some days are awesome, other days are a little taxing or downright challenging. Uma loves the new experiences and meeting new people all the time and at the same time, the lack of normal routine on travel days and sudden changes means that sometimes she has trouble adjusting. I'm really glad I put in all that work into sewing all those curtains because it has really paid off to be able to make the bus quite dark for the daytime naps. And of course good daytime naps are essential for good nighttime sleep, a happy baby, and sane parents who are not about to throttle each other's throats.

Everyone who meets Uma says, Oh what a cute, happy baby! (which I agree with, she is 98% of the time) or Wow, she is really calm and quiet (to which I have to laugh because she always is when she meets new people and she is checking them out, but the adjective Martine and I use most to describe Uma is "crazy") She is so active, and demands a lot of attention. I don't mean it like she wants us to pay attention to her. Right now, she is slowly getting mobile, and so she wants help standing and moving all the time. And she needs you to use both of your hands, so she can stand up at the table and grab everything on it and put it in her mouth. Or grab your hair or you beard, or your nose, or your mouth, or your knee, one time she even tried to eat my foot. The only other baby I met who was like this around this age was Miwa. So Ben and Jill, you guys know what I'm talking about. All the others I see are happy just sitting and sucking on their pacifier. Not Uma... I'm exhausted but I can't help but really love who she is.

We are still in Revelstoke and plan to stay until Monday. Their farmer's market is on Saturday morning and it is always a good way for us to meet like-minded people, buy awesome produce, and just get a feel for a community. So far, we really like it here. The people are down to earth and friendly, the town is a nice size, easy to ride bikes to and around in, the surrounding area is beautiful - the valley is big and wide even though there's huge mountains all around. Heard from multiple sources that the growing is really good around here. The owner of natural food store in town said that she's lived all around BC and her garden does the best here out of anywhere she's been. In fact, she said that before BC Hydro dammed the river here and flooded the valley, there were over 200 farms in the area. The other thing I like is that there seems to a lot of young families here, we've met a few others with babies already. I'm sure there'll be tons at the farmer's market.

Uma had a round of "firsts" since she's been on the road. She had her first outdoor bath last night, on the picnic table. She's had her first solid food, which she seems to be enjoying. From the first bite she wanted to grab the spoon and feed herself. She has put her toes in a lake for the first time. She kind of looked down as she squished the sand around.

Going to back-post a few photos here. I know some of you are dying of boredom reading so many words. So here are some pictures, taken the day that we left. Eight jugs of oil from A&W at Parkgate(160 litres) got us to Revelstoke with some to spare, the diesel tank is still full. Tomorrow we will get more oil from a few restaurants in town, the folks we talked to were all super open and willing to help us out!