Fausto, future climber

As a warning, this next bit is written in rock climbing jargon.

On Fausto's 2 month birthday, his first major climbing achievement was throwing a perfect heel-hook to help balance out the sloper he was clinging to with both hands (and mouth!) while nursing. Mama thinks that The Breast might be excellent prep for The Nose.

Then this afternoon, papa, mama, and baby went on a little recon mission to the East Animas Climbing Area. The plan was simply to scope out the crag for the next trip, as I'm not quite ready to put a harness on over the c-section scar. Oh right, and daddy still has to learn how to belay! Anyway, we had a very exciting approach, the kind that made me long for a pair of Five-Tennies more than once. We finally hit our high point on the trail just below the high cliffs when the approach turned into scrambling more demanding and risky than anything I was willing to tackle with a baby strapped to my chest. Of course, the descent was far more epic than the approach, but we all made it through just fine. And in typical form, Baby Fausto slept through all of it -- except the couple of times I stopped moving, during which he promptly and assertively demanded more action. I know, I know; I'm bracing myself (eagerly) for what this little one holds in store.