Mulberry Spot

Kid Updates

2012-01-08T20:21:00.000-08:00

Finished Millie's scarf! I worked on it all the way to Texas and back, and then finished it up a few days after the new year. She and Tom both kept saying, is it too long? But I really wanted to knit enough to get back to the pink color. And really, I think it's a perfect length and she'll be able to wear it for lots of winters to come.

Here is Silas with his most favorite thing to get in the mail. A funny Silas story: yesterday Tom told Silas that a friend had invited him to go to Chuck E. Cheese for a birthday party. Our kids have never been there, so Tom asked, "do you know what that is?" And Silas replied, "Oh yes, I've heard of that. They're a proud sponsor of PBS kids!" So, while they may be pizza deprived, apparently our children are not TV deprived.

And here is my sweet Isaac who recently at the store was absolutely convinced that we needed to get this ((loud!)) horn for his bike. I said "we'll see." My favorite thing Isaac has said recently, while wiping his face after I gave him a kiss: "Mommy, I love you. I don't like your kisses, but I still love you."

And I can't leave out this girl, who is growing, talking, climbing, running, eating, playing, and generally keeping me pretty busy. The kids and I made a long list of all the things she says, which I'm not including here, except to mention our absolute favorite thing is that she calls Isaac "Ya ya." Sometimes she is screaming "YA YA!" if he makes her mad, but thankfully that's not too often. :)

Knitting on the Road

2011-12-28T13:48:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T07:35:00.001-08:00

Hope your Christmas is magical!

Naomi Love

2011-12-16T22:27:00.000-08:00

Make Me Smile

2011-12-15T22:30:00.000-08:00

A few recent, random photos that make me smile:

Hope you are enjoying a holiday filled with the smiles of your loved ones too!

A New Venture

2011-11-29T12:31:00.001-08:00

Hello, hello! Just a quick post here to share Millie's latest project. She and a friend have opened their own Etsy shop to sell their handmade jewelry. You can visit them here, or you can click on the pictures in my right sidebar to get there too! This has been a couple of years coming...not that we've worked on it all this time, but Millie first expressed an interest in starting her own "beading business" more than two years ago, and we've finally helped her make it happen. So, take a look and see if there's anything that might make a nice Christmas gift! :)

(Oh, and the picture above is from more than a year ago when Millie and her "business partner" Simone did their very first jewelry sale on the sidewalk in front of our house. I'd say they're moving up in the world!)

All Dressed Up

2011-10-31T21:59:00.000-07:00

Here's my crew all ready for Halloween and some serious trick-or-treating.

Naomi wore the same duck costume that both Silas and Isaac wore when they were toddlers.

Here's Silas as Buzz Lightyear. Not sure what that pose is supposed to be? But he was rather pleased with himself for thinking to hang his plastic pumpkin on one of the wings.

Princess Millie...

And Isaac as Spider Man, though he was definitely more interested in candy than in taking any pictures.

We did quite the trick-or-treating marathon this year. We did a quick jaunt around our block before Millie had to be at her theater class. The boys ate supper, then went out for another round with daddy. Then once Millie was done with her class, we met up with friends to tromp around their neighborhood and collect lots more candy. It was quite the night, and Isaac fell asleep while we were still out trick-or-treating.

And while I'm on the subject of our dear third-born, here are a few Isaac stories worth remembering:

**Isaac still sleeps next to me at night, and recently in the middle of the night, I noticed him getting out of bed, but didn't do anything about it because I was half asleep and figured he'd be back soon. When he got back in bed I heard a crinkly noise - sort of like the sound of the plastic covering on a library book, so I figured he'd brought a book to bed. But, I realized in the morning, he had actually gone to the fridge and got a whole loaf of Ezekiel bread, which he brought back to bed and slept curled up with for the remainder of the night. I guess he was hungry.

**One night at supper, Isaac asked me in all serious sweetness, "Mommy, does God have a jet pack?"

**Turns out Isaac is the nick-namer in our family. He frequently calls Tom "Mr. Daddy Man". And for some reason, about half the time he calls Naomi either bibs or bibbers or bibber baby. And he'll say it just as casually as you might say hi to a friend: "hey bibs."

**And finally, a few weeks ago I came into the bathroom to find wads of wet toilet paper covering one of the walls. When I questioned Isaac about it, he assured me it wasn't him, but rather that "Sticky Isaac" had made the mess (there he goes with the nicknames again). And it seems that "Sticky Isaac" made another visit today. And even as I write that, I just have to laugh. I love that kid.

Naomi on a Saturday Morning

2011-10-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

I don't think I could ask for a more gorgeous October weekend than the one we're currently enjoying. This warm spell just begs us to get outside and take in the golden colors. We were just home today since Tom needed the van for a couple of work things. But the kids find plenty to do just playing out front, dragging out everything with wheels and zooming up and down the sidewalk, or sometimes requesting a walk around the block. And Naomi is getting so independent outside - finally sturdy enough that I don't feel like I have to follow her around every second to keep her from crashing onto the concrete.

I was inspired to pull out the camera because Naomi was wearing this little outfit that Millie wore in China. Not just any little set of clothes, but one that I specifically went and bought with a Chinese friend because I wanted split pants for Millie for potty-training. (I sewed the "split" back together once Millie was potty trained) And of course this had me all nostalgic for Millie at that age and all the adventures and our sweet Chinese friends. I went back through our pictures to try to find one of Millie wearing this same thing, and I couldn't find one of just Millie. Only pictures of her with our Chinese students, and this one of our little family when we were visiting Hong Kong, posing here with the owner of a restaurant we would frequent during our year there.

And then (sorry, I'm really off on a tangent here), I came across this picture of Millie on what was probably her first ever playdate. With her little friend Albert. All bundled up in their coats even though they were, in fact, playing inside.

Fun memories.

Digging Out

2011-05-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

This is one of those tasks that feels a bit pointless to me. Not the actual shoveling and spreading of the compost. That has become a high priority now that we are ready to shift our gardening into high gear. But the fact that I am the one attempting to do it. Me, with my meager upper body strength. Me, with more than twenty pounds* of baby strapped on my back, making every movement slower and more tiresome. Me, with the inevitable interruptions every three and a half minutes. It begins to feel a bit like I'm shoveling with a teaspoon, making little headway. I wheel some of the compost over to a garden box, dump it on, spread it out, and I've hardly made any impact. Millie clamors for a turn. It's hard work, I warn her. The shovel is heavy, I say. She'll give up in two minutes, I think. But she doesn't. She happily works away, her pace probably as good as my own, and I leave her to it.

I am back the next day, digging again. Eager to get this black gold onto the beds. And even though Tom could do this faster, probably four times faster considering he is stronger and would have no interruptions and no baby tied on, here I am. I'm tempted to just let him do it**. It would make more sense. But I'm digging. Not just shoveling compost, but doing something because I need to do something. I'm digging out from disappointment. Trying to work through the why and what next. Knowing that God's hand holds mine, that I am poor in spirit, and it is this poverty that leads me back to God's grace.

And my thoughts turn to this miracle. This dirt under my feet; made up of the discarded, unwanted, unneeded. No use for these scraps - throw them out. And now they are transformed. The stuff that will bring life, growth, sustenance. Fruit of value and beauty. Right in my backyard, and I am grateful.

*I'm not actually sure how much Naomi weighs. But I'm sure she's at least 20 pounds. She is a chunky, heavy baby.
**In the end, Tom finished spreading the compost. In no time, I might add.

For Tom

2011-04-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Every night as we eat supper together as a family, we go around the table and each person tells one of the highlights from their day. Just the simple things, usually. And invariably, every day, Isaac says that the highlight of his day is, "Daddy coming home today."

Now, I won't worry too much about what this says about the kids being stuck home with mommy all day. But it's true that Tom brings the fun and joy, the laughter and playfulness, to our family.

Tom is surely one of my highlights every day. He is my support and encouragement, truly my best friend. He enthusiastically goes along with all my crazy ideas - everything from homebirth to co-sleeping to cloth diapering to extended nursing. He embraces fatherhood and loves to nurture and encourage our children. I'm especially thankful that Tom recognizes and embraces this current chapter of our lives, with all its sacrifices and challenges, and that we can laugh together at the end of each day.

Happy birthday Tom! I'm glad to be sharing this crazy, fun, exhausting, wonderful adventure with you!

Inspired by Finn Review

2011-04-11T19:47:00.000-07:00

I am loving Naomi's teething necklace that I mentioned back in this post. The brand is Inspired by Finn, and I wanted to provide a more in-depth review here.

How does it work?
The beads are made of Baltic Amber, which contains succinic acid. As the necklace is worn against the skin and warmed by body heat, the beads release trace amounts of succinic acid. Succinic acid helps boost the immune system and provides pain relief, among other health benefits. (This means the necklace needs to be worn against the skin, and not on top of clothing.)

Does it really work?
I, personally, find that it's hard to give a definitive answer. Every baby is different, and some seem to tolerate teething without much discomfort, while others are just plain miserable through the process. So I would imagine that Baltic Amber could be more effective for some individuals than for others. I can, however, tell you that we have had a positive experience. Naomi has been wearing her necklace all day every day for nearly a month, and during that time her first two teeth have erupted and she hasn't shown any discomfort. No excess drooling, no fever, no excess fussiness.

I love the natural look, and the length (12 inches) is just right for my 8-month-old. I think it's an excellent, safe way to alleviate teething pain, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a natural alternative to teething gels.

I purchased Naomi's necklace on the Mama Bargains site, so I paid 50% off the regular retail price. I also just saw that Inspired by Finn ran a sale through their Facebook page. So keep an eye out and you could probably get one of the necklaces at a discount.

Disclosure: I was given a discount by Inspired by Finn in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

In the Stroller

2011-04-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

It was such a gorgeous weekend here. Finally some warm weather, so we spent most of Saturday and Sunday outside. And this Naomi is getting downright heavy. I carry her in the Ergo a LOT, but after a while I get a little tired, and I think she does too. So yesterday she got to try out a ride in the stroller for the first time. Millie pushed her around our block, and both girls loved it. I loved getting a picture of all four kids. Seems like it happens so rarely that we get all four of them happily looking at the camera.

Six Word Fridays: Again

2011-04-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

(this is Isaac's favorite book - today)

We read his favorite book again,

And again and again and again...

More Six Word Fridays fun at Making Things Up

End of March Reflections

2011-03-31T20:41:00.000-07:00

It was my birthday month, but the little people in my house are the ones who have done some significant growing up during the past few weeks. I'm still marveling at the changes, some of which happened practically overnight. It's all good - some of it has me downright giddy. But as with any changes - even the good ones - there are new challenges too. A squirmy, busy baby doesn't want to hold still for diaper changes. A newly reading preschooler can be so eager that he wants to monopolize mommy's day by doing reading lessons all. day. long. A 2-year-old who may just be past his obstinate screaming phase ... oh wait, there are surely no downsides to that. Just a saner mama who is basking in a more peaceful home.
And the thing about all of it, is that it has so little to do with me, or my abilities as a mother, or my teaching or my discipline. These children simply are who they are, transforming, emerging. There are rough patches which they do come through, and mostly my job is to be there to love them and walk with them each step of the way. There's plenty of faith required in the process. And patience in not trying to force the results we want to see. I think that type of patience is easiest when they are littlest - of course they will learn to walk and talk. But as they grow it can be harder and harder to simply be with our children - and let them be who they are. Let them experience all the emotions and challenges of life and only gently guide. To lead by example, recognizing that it's not a magic parenting formula but a relationship. I'm still learning all this, growing along with my children. Maybe I did some growing up this month too.

Reading Together

2011-03-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

I really like this picture, even with the blurriness (and I promise Millie isn't actually picking her nose). I feel like we sometimes miss capturing the mundane, everyday stuff. But as mundane and everyday as this is, I love these moments. Everyone piled up, listening to a story. I'm sure I love it partly because no one is fighting (much) and I'm getting a little rest. But it really is one of my favorite things to have my kiddos cuddled up next to me.

When it Clicks

2011-03-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

We had two reading breakthroughs here today and I mostly want to write about it for my own benefit.

I think today was the first day Millie (age 7 1/2) ever sat and read a chapter book silently to herself. She's been feeling under the weather with a cold, and has mostly been laying on the couch blowing her nose. I think the inactivity was just what she needed to slow her down enough to make silent reading appealing. Learning to read has been no easy task for her. It has been a long, uphill climb. But it is finally all coming together and she's becoming a fluent reader. Her book of choice today was a recent selection from the library (Lily in Full Bloom, which is in the Disney Fairies series). I think she is still skipping over some words that are too hard for her, but she's been telling me about the story, so it seems she's getting the meaning, if not all of the details!

The other breakthrough was Silas, who is just a month away from turning 5. I've worked with Silas some on letters and phonics, and I had a hunch that learning to read would come easily for him. And tonight for Silas it totally clicked. It was actually quite humorous to see him clip along page after page in the beginning reader (Book 1 in the I Can Read It! series), then the wide eyes and big smile when he realized what he was doing. A definite "aha" moment, which was very exciting for both of us. Tom was in the room too, holding Naomi, and I was glad he was there to share such a fun moment.

Toofer

2011-03-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

Looks like I got this Inspired by Finn amber teething necklace just in time. Naomi finally popped her first tooth, just a few days after turning 8 months old. Is it helping with teething pain? Well, who knows, really. But either way, it's awfully cute.

Me at 33

2011-03-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

Today I turn 33...

I've been married for nearly 10 years. Tom still makes me laugh, I still think he's funny, smart, talented and just downright wonderful. And he is my biggest encourager and my best friend.

I'm the mother of four amazing children. I've given birth four times. I've been either pregnant or nursing for 8 consecutive years.

I'm currently in what has probably been my hardest year as a mother. It's been physically and emotionally challenging. But it's making me a stronger, wiser woman.

My hair has gone from curly to wavy, thanks to the aforementioned pregnancies. I miss the curls. I'm 15 pounds lighter than I ever remember being, thanks to the aforementioned nursing. I don't miss those pounds.

I've discovered that I love to garden. I'm hoping that in the future I'll have more space and time for growing food. It's incredible to be a part of that process.

I wish I had the time/energy for more creative pursuits - especially sewing. But I just don't right now.

I spend most of my days taking care of the kids, cooking and cleaning. I actually do like to cook, but these days it feels more like a chore. I actually don't like to clean. At all. So sometimes my house is kind of gross.

I'm homeschooling my children, and still trying to figure out exactly what that should look like. But I'm thankful to spend my days with them.

For my birthday, I hope I get some new yoga pants because my two pairs both have holes in them. I bet I also get a vegetable peeler. And I'm planning to buy a nursing necklace so that Naomi won't get into the habit of pulling my hair.

I'm humbled by God's grace extended to me. I see it in the eyes of my children, in the plants that emerge from my garden each spring, in the kindness of friends, in the blessing of family.

Speaking of family, my sister and her crew stayed with us this weekend, so my birthday breakfast this morning was really a party. When there are 8 kids in the house, it's always a party. Blessed indeed.

Silas' Turn

2011-03-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

I just realized the last three posts have featured the other three kids. So tonight is Silas' turn. He can be so incredibly sweet. If you don't know him very well, you will probably only see his mild-mannered, pleasant, quiet side. (Though the reality is that he can also be very rowdy and wild.)

I will probably never forget something Silas said after we had company over for a brief visit. Millie talked a mile a minute nearly the whole time, while Silas just smiled his shy smile. After our company left, Silas came over completely unprompted by me, and said softly, "Mommy, I just couldn't think of anything to say." I don't know that I've ever loved him so much, because oh do I know exactly what he means.

Also notable about Silas: at bedtime he can curl up, close his eyes, hold still, and fall asleep in less than 10 minutes. This is still amazing to me since the other children in our house seem to find that flopping and wiggling for about 30 minutes is the best way to go to sleep. This Silas is one talented boy.

Six Word Fridays: Go

2011-03-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

This girl is ready to go.

(But I'm glad she's still slow)

Linked to: Six Word Fridays

Fly to Me

2011-03-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

Last night, as we were getting ready for bed...
Isaac: "I wish I could fly."
Me: "Really? Where would you fly to?"
Isaac: "Uh....to you!"
Anytime, buddy. Anytime.

Carrying Her

2011-03-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

I was handling bedtime on my own last night, juggling teeth brushing and bedtime books, diapers and drinks of water. Millie stayed up reading books while I was getting the little ones to sleep. Once the last heavy eyelid had closed, I sneaked out of my bedroom and found Millie curled up on the couch, fast asleep herself. I checked her bed to make sure it wasn't littered with beads and books, then with some effort scooped her up and carried her to bed while she slept. As I turned out her light, I was struck by the fact that I won't be able to do that much longer.

This is the girl that I spent two years carrying in China, on my back, on my front, in taxis, through the rain, in packed crowds and up lonely mountains. I still remember Tom and I laughing with exasperation at the challenge of simultaneously holding a baby and taking off our shoes when we would arrive home to our tiny apartment. We mused that it would be so much easier when she could at least help by hanging on. And now we're down to just a couple more years, maybe, and I won't be able to carry her at all.

It's such an odd mix, this parenthood, and something I've only really been able to appreciate in the last few years. It's amazing seeing them go from being helpless and dependent, to becoming strong, capable people. Saying goodbye to that little person who captured your heart, but being overjoyed at the person they are becoming. For today it makes me want to hold on tight, embracing every bit of it, while I still can.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

2011-03-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

I think I've said the before, but it's worth repeating: for amazing vegetables, roast them! Some of my favorite vegetable dishes involve simply roasting with a bit of olive oil and salt. And if there's a vegetable you're struggling to learn to like, roasting may be the way to go. Brussel sprouts are exceptionally good this way. I think this might just be Isaac's favorite veggie dish right now.

So. Get yourself some brussel sprouts and simply wash, trim, and slice (either halves or quarters). Then toss with olive oil and salt. Roast at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes, stirring every so often. Easy enough! And you might just find your bunch fighting for the last serving.

Monday Night Miscellany

2011-03-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

Almost two weeks ago I filled up the dehydrator with travel snacks, and one of the recipes I tried was these corn cilantro chips, pictured above. But don't ask me for the recipe, because they weren't such a hit. Too much cilantro, honestly (and I love cilantro!). I thought they were pretty good with salsa, but no one else really liked them. Tom's complaint was that they stuck to his teeth. But they had a nice crunch, and I'm thinking I'd like to try corn chips in the dehydrator again sometime, but minus the cilantro.

For a while now I've meant to blog about these reusable snack bags. The brand is Itzy Ritzy. They have a zipper closure and are roomy and durable. We've had them nearly a year, and we like 'em.

Have you seen these cool Ravensburger Family Fun puzzles? My mom has a couple, and they are really great. The puzzle has three different size pieces for different skill levels. So a parent can work the puzzle alongside a four-year-old, and be appropriately challenged. Very fun if you love puzzles, and want to share the love with your kids.

(no affiliate links in this post, just sharing about some stuff I like)

Oh the Oatmeal

2011-03-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

Oatmeal is what we eat for breakfast most days. Either that or toast with nut butter. Very occasionally - usually a Saturday - we might make pancakes. And very, very occasionally Tom will make scrambled eggs. But on a typical weekday morning you'll find us eating oatmeal. It's easy, healthy, filling, and it's no trouble to suit everyone's specific preferences. I'll either cook up a pot of steel-cut oats (1 part oats to 3 parts water, bring to boil then simmer for about 25 minutes), or I'll fix individual bowls of rolled oats (1/2 cup oats, 2/3 cup hot water, stir together, wait 3-5 minutes). Then there are the add-ins, which are as follows:

#1 Millie: Millie likes either steel cut oats or quick oats. When I fix her bowl I'll add a teaspoon of both coconut oil and flax seed oil, then lately she asks for chopped apple, unsweetened coconut flakes, and honey. Sometimes she chooses frozen fruit instead of apple.

#2 Silas: "Oatmeal with raisins and honey and wait til it cools off and don't stir in the honey."
If you ask Silas what he wants to eat, those are his exact words nearly every morning. Fairly self-explanatory. Though I might add that he prefers rolled oats, but he will eat steel cut oats too. Oh, and I do slip some coconut oil and flax seed oil in his oatmeal as well. Shhhhh.

#3 Me: I prefer steel-cut oats, and if I'm not cooking up a pot, then I don't eat oatmeal and instead opt for fruit and nuts or a smoothie. But if we are having steel-cut oats, then for my serving I'll add a teaspoon of coconut oil, chopped apple, and chia seeds. And I'm living proof that taste buds can change, as I really prefer my oatmeal without any sweetener. (Not saying I don't still like sweets. I totally do. I just prefer my oatmeal unsweetened) Go figure.

Tom and Isaac currently don't have any strong oatmeal preferences. As long as I fix some for them, they're generally happy. And Isaac sometimes prefers my bowl over his.

The Root of Peace

2011-03-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

"In essence, there is only one thing God asks of us - that we be men and women of prayer, people who live close to God, people for whom God is everything and for whom God is enough. That is the root of peace. We have that peace when the gracious God is all we seek. When we start seeking something besides him, we lose it."

- Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

Words with Isaac

2011-03-18T21:17:00.000-07:00

Tom: "Isaac, do you need some attention?"
Isaac: "Yes, can I have a white one?"

Me: "Isaac, can I get you some clothes?"
Isaac: "No, I have tattoos."

Isaac can say Naomi's name just fine, but if he's talking fast he usually shortens it to "Nay". And for some reason he also likes to call her "Naom-a" or "Naoma-boma". And now we call her that sometimes too.

And as Isaac was drifting off to sleep tonight:
"Hey mama, you know what? Cars vroom on the road. Hey mama you know what? Trains vroom on the track. Hey Mama, you know what? Naomi's asleep, and Silas asleep but I'm not asleep."

Eating Green

2011-03-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

organic fruits & veggies from a local produce co-op

It's not too tough around here to come up with some natural green foods on St. Patrick's Day. We had this smoothie in the morning, and these potatoes at supper tonight, made with collard greens instead of kale. And at lunchtime, pancakes with minced spinach stirred into the batter. You barely taste the spinach, but it gives a nice green hue.

And while we're talking leafy greens, if you need some fresh ideas for your green smoothies, I recommend:
Green Smoothie Revolution by Victoria Boutenko
The Green Smoothies Diet by Robyn Openshaw
Both books have plenty of the why and how of green smoothies, with lots of recipes as well. Sometimes you need some inspiration for dandelion greens in your smoothie. Or maybe that's just me.

Sunshiny Day

2011-03-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

Tom texted me today around lunchtime to ask if we were outside. I looked around at my messy house and simply replied, not yet.

I made the kids put on jackets before we went out. The breeze seemed a bit cool to me. But once in the sun, busy running and playing, the kids quickly shed the extra layer.

Millie completely cleaned up her little garden box. She got her hands in the dirt and pulled up every little weed and then smoothed out the soil. It's pristine. My garden boxes never, and I mean never, look so nice.

Tomorrow we'll plant a few things. Now that we've been outside and I've seen the garden for myself, I just can't resist. Some lettuce, radishes, spinach, kale. And peas. If you've never planted peas, you simply must. There are few garden treats better than eating fresh, raw peas straight off the vine. And you're supposed to plant peas on St. Patrick's Day. Did you know that?

We also took the straw mulch off of our strawberries and garlic. There are signs of life there, but way too many weeds.

The boys were so content and busy outside. They got to run, shout, throw, and play like kids are supposed to. And all three kids decided it was a day to be barefoot. These toes have been missing the dirt.

I can't say enough how much we needed a day outside. Especially me.

(also, I am having some fun with Instagram)

I Was Right There

2011-03-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

It's bizarre that I don't know exactly when this happened. I know who did it, and I know it was sometime between 5:30 and 5:55 pm. Most bizarre is that I was only about 5 feet away from this chair, busily fixing supper. I guess it's amazing to me that I was standing that close, but I was so preoccupied elsewhere that I didn't see the creation of this, um, artwork.

It's probably a good parallel for what it's like being a stay-at-home mom sometimes. You are always right there, nearby. But it's easy for your brain to be somewhere else.

P.S. The marker washed out quite easily. I wasn't too worried considering we bought that chair at a yard sale 10 years ago for 40 dollars.

Perspective

2011-03-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

There's not much pleasant about a long car trip with very small children. Ages four and up do okay. And granted, listening to an audio book we all enjoy (anything by Beverly Cleary right now) actually can be quite nice. But the two-year-old and the baby? Well. I will admit that it's my fault for being a bit unprepared and not bringing much to keep Isaac occupied, leaving him to amuse himself with talking! very! loudly! And throwing things. Also, we did two potty stops for Isaac, who considers using the potty optional while at home, but is definitely going to insist on a stop while we're driving. So I get the pleasure of taking him into a dirty public restroom, where I have to completely undress him from the waist down (socks too!) and every other sentence out of my mouth is "Please don't touch that!"

Then our poor sweet baby has no idea why she has to sit in that car seat for so long. Why in the world is mommy not picking her up??! And I get the pleasure of doing something that looks like wrestling an octopus which is in fact only me trying to hold Naomi in my lap while wrestling her out of poopy-diaper blowout clothes and back into fresh clean clothes. And I also master the art of nursing the baby while she is riding in her car seat. One of those things that I never thought I'd do, but then you just do because you have to. The noise, the constant requests, the long drive: it all leaves me a bit frazzled and grumpy.

But then I start reading the news, and it's all about Japan. And the loss is tremendous. Homes, businesses, families, lives, all gone. Swept away. One moment a mother and daughter were together, the next moment the rushing waters pulled them apart. And now there is uncertainty and sadness, fear and grief. I cannot fathom. And my heart is so heavy for these people in a faraway place who have such different lives from my own, but in actuality are just like me.

There are still shrieks coming from my two-year-old, but they sound different now. I'm feeling humbled, blessed. Tears brimming, I can only be thankful for the treasure that is this moment, right now, today.

Back Safe Home Again

2011-03-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

We managed a quick trip this weekend. I wasn't sure if we'd be over the sickies, but we were just in time. It turned out to be a good weekend with some pleasant temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Perfect for playing outside, and snacking outside too.

On cold sweet potatoes, of all things.

And now we are back home with unpacking to do and the start to a new week. Since I'm already on a roll, I'm hoping to blog every day this month. Good luck to me!

On the Christian Way

2011-03-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

"A person has to be thoroughly disgusted with the way things are to find the motivation to set out on the Christian way. As long as we think the next election might eliminate crime and establish justice or another scientific breakthrough might save the environment or another pay raise might push us over the edge of anxiety into a life of tranquility, we are not likely to risk the arduous uncertainties of the life of faith. A person has to get fed up with the ways of the world before he, before she, acquires an appetite for the world of grace."

Eugene H. Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

Six Word Fridays - Wonder

2011-03-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

Much to wonder about these days.
Changes may be coming, or not.
Here or there, now or later.
Desire to be content either way.
And embrace the wonder of today.

Linked to Six Word Fridays at Making Things Up

10:36 pm

2011-03-10T21:03:00.000-08:00

Tonight I'm...

Hoping for a quick return to health for everyone in our family.

Praying that I stay healthy - no sick days for mama.

Snuggling up with my baby and giving my tired feet a rest.

Loving my sweet two-year-old, who had a good day.

Listening to the hum of the dehydrator, which is filled with snacks that will be ready in the morning.

Feeling thankful for quietness after a long day.

Ignoring the mess in the kitchen; it can wait til morning.

Wanting to know what's next for us, but just have to be patient.

Wishing for warmer weather and a real glimpse of spring.

Looking forward to the weekend.

Good night!

Oh, the Places You'll Go

2011-03-09T20:42:00.000-08:00

"What's this book even about?" Millie asked me this morning.

I was fixing oatmeal for breakfast, and she was sitting looking through the Dr. Seuss classic, which Tom had read to the kids last night.

"Hmmm, well what do you think?" I genuinely wanted to hear her thoughts, rather than give her "the answer".

"I think it's about growing up." she ventured, with a bit of a question in her voice. We both smiled, and I told her I thought she was right.

It squeezes my heart a bit to think of where life will take these children of mine. We tease that they'll live just across the street, maybe around the corner. Silas says he's never leaving.

Our culture says they have to go. Often faraway. Go find a job that pays well, go out and try to save the world. I'm thinking long and hard about all this. So many traditional cultures and peoples emphasize family, emphasize taking care of one another. God created families: to be our community, to teach us to love and serve. But here we live in a time and place that stresses the primary importance of individual calling, individual purpose, self-fulfillment.

I want to tell my kids they can go anywhere, they can be anything, they can follow their dreams. But I also want to tell them that they don't have to go far. That God can use them anywhere. That bigger doesn't always mean better. And honestly, I'm still trying to figure all this out for myself.

Hummus for Lunch

2011-03-08T19:49:00.000-08:00

A quick and simple lunch: whole wheat pita with hummus, cucumbers, spinach and broccoli sprouts. Millie won't eat hummus on pita unless there's some vegetable added. Cucumber is her favorite; she likes the broccoli sprouts too but on this day left off the spinach. Silas won't eat hummus on pita if there is a vegetable added. So he eats his "plain" with carrots on the side. And I throw extra spinach in their smoothies.

Pad Thai

2011-03-07T20:00:00.000-08:00

I posted on Facebook the other night that I was making Pad Thai for supper, and I had several people ask for the recipe. My initial thought was that it isn't really a recipe, more of a method. Sort of like stir-fry, this can be made by "feel", adding more of what you like, and leaving out ingredients that you don't. This dish has some sentimental value since Tom and I have visited Thailand on four separate trips, one of which was our honeymoon. The food we ate in Thailand was always amazing, with lots of fresh vegetables. Pad Thai is probably one of the best-known Thai dishes, and you could order it at pretty much any little restaurant.

Now I need to confess that anytime I've made Pad Thai in the past it's been from a boxed kit that contained the noodles and the sauce. I really wanted to make the sauce from scratch this time, so I did a quick google search to see what ingredients I would need (rice noodles, tamarind paste and fish sauce), then headed off to the Asian Market near our house.

I snatched up two of the crucial elements, and the cost was much cheaper than I would have paid at my usual grocery store. Here are rice noodles and Pad Thai sauce:

I know, I know...this means I didn't make the sauce from scratch. But when I saw this, and read that the ingredient list was fairly short, I couldn't resist. And I'd never seen bottled Pad Thai sauce before, so that was part of the allure too. Also, when I saw the bottle of tamarind paste, I was totally intimidated.

Okay, so time for the recipe already! Here's how it goes at our house (these proportions serve 3 large portions, or 4-5 small-ish portions):

Ingredients:
Rice noodles (12 ounces)
tofu (about half a block) (can substitute either chicken or shrimp for the tofu)
soy sauce (or Bragg's liquid aminos, which is what I used)
2 eggs
1/2 cup (approx) Pad thai sauce
1/4 cup (approx) fish sauce
green onions
bean sprouts
chopped peanuts
cilantro
lime

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then turn off the heat. Put rice noodles in the hot water and allow to soak for 6-8 minutes, then drain.

For the tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Brush cubes with soy sauce, then bake on a greased baking sheet at 400 for 40 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes.

In a large skillet, scramble the eggs in some oil. Then add in the cooked noodles and tofu. Add both sauces, more or less to taste. Stir well. Garnish with remaining ingredients as desired.

I can't say that this is truly authentic, but our family really likes this dish. Also not authentic, but quite good, is to add in some shredded carrots or cooked greens. Enjoy!

Two Challenging

2011-03-06T21:42:00.000-08:00

Days with this boy are unpredictable. There is sweetness and laughter, cuteness and fun. But also? Tears, whining, screaming, and a stubborn determination to do the opposite of anything anyone suggests. He is exactly two-and-a-half. So I really shouldn't be surprised. (And for you mothers of two-year-olds who have no idea what I'm talking about? Well, what can I say? Lucky you!)

There are a few tricks of the trade for coping with this phase. Notice, I said coping, not solving. I'm convinced that little ones have their phases that can not (should not) be rushed along and the best strategy is to simply hold on tight through the bumpy ride.

So what do we do? We pick our battles, and try to recognize when to stand firm and when to let it go (keeping in mind that children can learn to be flexible when we model flexibility). We try to make sleep a priority, since a well-rested kid tends to be a happier kid. And a hefty dose of playful parenting, keeping little hands busy, and errands with daddy all help too.

When all that fails: deep breathing and chocolate. For mommy.

Sorting

2011-03-05T21:26:00.000-08:00

Today the boys wanted me to "play cars" with them. I'm not very good at that, but I managed to convince them that it would be fun! to sort the cars into colors...
       red...
                        blue...
                                          green....
                                                               yellow...

In my mind these days I'm doing my own sorting. What's important and what's not? Is it enough to "just" be a mom? Where else should I invest myself? And how much of that sort of investing can I handle? Where do I want to be 5, 10, 20 years from now? How do I prioritize all the little things -and big things- that I encounter in my days? Which of those things will really matter later, in the grand scheme? Sorting, sorting...

Six Word Fridays: Might

2011-03-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

She tries with all her might

To coax the geese her way

A loaf of bread to share

But still they only fly away

Linked to: Six Word Fridays at Making Things Up

Parenting to Sleep

2011-03-03T21:41:00.000-08:00

Tom with baby Millie, in our apartment in China

We just finished reading Peter Pan to our kids. They were thrilled with the flying and adventures. I was struck by the description of Mrs. Darling singing lullabies to the children each night until they fell asleep. This reminded me of Pa Ingalls, playing his fiddle at night to help Mary and Laura go to sleep. I'm always fascinated by these glimpses into simpler times, when parenting was based on long-held traditions and intuition, and not on what the latest expert in the best-selling parenting book has to say. Times when parents didn't feel too busy and rushed, when there were not so many other diversions and a half-hour spent singing wouldn't be viewed as a waste of time.

I would dare say a more human time. Not to completely romanticize the past, as I know some aspects of parenting then were harsher than what we would accept today. But still, maybe there's something to be learned.

Now we parents are desperate for "our" time. So desperate that we feel compelled to train our children as quickly as possible to need us as little as possible. Getting baby to fall asleep on his own is the gold standard. Any rocking, nursing, or cuddling to sleep are bad habits. Such nonsense. Parents have been available to their children at night for countless generations, usually right at baby's side. Mama could be counted on to be available if a little one were sick or scared, or needed reassurance after a bad dream.

Too many parents today may confess only with some embarrassment that they do, in fact, lay down next to their toddler while she falls asleep. Or that, yes, baby sleeps best in our bed and the crib doesn't get much use. I'll consider it a good thing when we aren't afraid to admit these things, and can happily embrace the benefits of keeping our little ones close, even at night.

Naomi in a Pink Hat

2011-03-02T21:39:00.000-08:00

I wanted to get a picture of Naomi in the little hat that I knit for her. We were out again to enjoy another sunny yet cold day. But it's awfully hard to hold a baby and also take her picture. It seems I needed a longer arm. I think I did manage to capture those chubby cheeks though.

So I gave my phone to Millie and let her try. She managed to get some good smiles.

And here's what Silas came up with. Not too bad.

March First

2011-03-01T21:23:00.000-08:00

A good start to a new month. Today was cold but sunny. I took the kids out for a walk in the green space behind our house. Isaac had an exceptionally good day, and I hope I get to see this version of him more often. I had a long post written here, but somehow lost it this evening. So instead of trying to recreate it, I'm off to bed. But I'm looking forward to some good things this month, and expect to be here more often.

February Highlights

2011-02-28T17:42:00.000-08:00

With just a few hours left in February, I thought I'd do a little recap of some of the highlights of the month, which really flew by. It's rather nice when a cold winter month goes by quickly, as opposed to, say, dragging along because you are hunkered down just trying to stay warm. Aside from being a short month already, it was also just plain busy.

February started off with lots of excitement with an actual blizzard blowing through. The kids were very excited, and I will admit to being kind of excited too, considering I'd never experienced a blizzard before. In honor of the occasion we read a few chapters at the end of "On the Banks of Plum Creek", in which Laura Ingalls Wilder describes some of the many blizzards she experienced during her childhood. We stayed up listening to the wind howl, peering out the window in amazement at the whiteout conditions.

The storm came through on a Tuesday night, and on Wednesday morning the snow was still blowing. You can see it in this picture:

The great thing about the blizzard, was that in addition to shutting everything down (a rarity in Chicagoland), there were lots of fun drifts for the kids to play in.

Or make into snow caves.

Isaac did play out in the snow a lot. But also needed some breaks inside.

A couple of weeks after the blizzard we got to escape the cold somewhat with a visit to Southern Illinois for a weekend. It's always nice to catch up with family and friends there.

Then, the following weekend, it was a fun work/play getaway in Wisconsin Dells. Tom has helped with our church's student retreat there for the past few years, and the perk is that the kids and I get to tag along and play at the indoor water park. It's seriously one of the highlights of the year for our kids.

And with that, good bye to February. We are looking forward to Spring!

Piling Up

2011-02-26T20:31:00.000-08:00

we even have piles of cars

Life right now is just piling up around me. Piles of papers on my countertop. Piles of books next to my chair. Piles of dirty dishes in the sink (while I wait for our dishwasher to get fixed). Piles of clothes that need to be put away. Even my phone is not immune. I have 72 notes (72!) on my phone. Shopping lists, random business ideas, blog posts that never actually make it to my blog. The oldest note is from April of last year: a list of baby boy names, before we knew Naomi was a girl.

And although it's a bit crazy-making, all these piles are actually a good thing. Life is full, and busy, and good. The kids are healthy and doing well. Our days are filled with learning, whether it looks like it or not. I am being stretched as a mom, but again, that is good. One day at a time, one pile at a time.

A New Quilt

2011-02-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

Just the thing we needed! We've had a store-bought quilt on our bed that we got when we were newlyweds (almost 10 years ago!), and it was threadbare and falling apart, literally. My grandmother just gave us this one, which she hand-quilted on a pre-printed quilt top (no need to fuss with piecing). Perfect timing! And I expect it will last much longer than just 10 years.

Fall Read-Alouds

2011-01-31T08:47:00.000-08:00

It's a little late to be posting about the books we read last fall, but I think I'll appreciate being able to look back and see what we read. So here's our list!

From the Thornton Burgess Animal Stories series:
The Adventures of Reddy Fox
The Adventures of Peter Cottontail
The Adventures of Grandfather Frog
The Adventures of Chatterer the Squirrel
(And I should add, the kids adored these books, which are quite amusing. We have a couple more in the series to read.)

American Girl books:
Lanie
Lanie's Real Adventures

Others:
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Florence Atwater
Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle

Munchies

2011-01-27T13:46:00.000-08:00

A recent yummy variation on our date nut snacks. We made these chocolate-cherry flavored, and added a dash of vanilla.

And these teriyaki almonds are ready to go into the dehydrator for some crisping. These are a slightly sweet and spicy treat, and hard to stop eating.

Naomi - 6 months

2011-01-25T13:45:00.000-08:00

This sweet girl is six months old today. We're loving her many smiles and giggles.

No teeth yet, though I can feel the changes in her gums. Although I'm laughing a bit at the coincidence that Millie lost a tooth on the day Naomi was born...and she lost another tooth today.

And this boy? Well, he's just a busy, funny kid (eating a snack here). And a very loving big brother.

Big Brothers

2010-12-13T08:34:00.000-08:00

Three Months

2010-10-25T15:10:00.000-07:00

How did that happen? I blinked, and suddenly Naomi is three months old, full of smiles and lots of coos. We have the sweetest little conversations. She has a lot to say. It's almost like she just lives for our little talks. And the milk too, of course.

Winding Down in the Garden

2010-10-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Still no hard frost here, so we are still pulling tomatoes out of the garden. These Amish paste tomatoes I simply peeled, chopped and put in the freezer.

And one final look at the garden fort! The morning glories are what really filled it out (look closely, and you can see the morning glories are even climbing the tree!). And finally my confession: the kids never played in the garden fort! It was really fun to watch it grow, but they didn't like being inside it. In the above photo, Millie is collecting dried beans to save for seed, but all summer this was the only time she was actually in the fort, enticed by collecting seeds. Go figure.

Wear That Baby

2010-10-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

Mothers tend to be, by nature, quite pragmatic. And I'm no different. There are many things that I choose to do because they make my life easier. One of those things is babywearing.

Naomi entered the world basically needing one main thing: me. And the other little people in my house still need me too. The good news is that if I've got Naomi happily snuggled with me in a carrier, I can still fix meals, help littles get dressed and go to the bathroom, clean up the kitchen, fold laundry, and help my 7-year-old with a math worksheet. All while the tiniest member of our family is safe and content.

Besides making my life easier, babywearing is good for baby. And good for mama too. Mothers have been carrying their babies for centuries, and I like parenting techniques that have a proven track record.

It's International Babywearing Week! And also, if you'd like to share about wearing your little one, you can link up at Adventures in Babywearing for the chance to win a Sakura Bloom sling.

Marigolds

2010-10-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

The marigolds Millie planted...

and the seeds she collected. I've decided that a child's gardening experience is incomplete until they've seen the cycle all the way through and have seeds in hand.

Naomi in a Sweater

2010-09-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

Naomi is two months old. We are so enjoying her smiles these days.

Though a little half-grin is all we've managed to capture.

This little sweater fits her just perfectly right now. It was a find from a thrift shop, given to us when Millie was a baby. I honestly don't know if Millie ever wore it, but it's just the thing for Naomi these days.

Keep it Outside

2010-09-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

The past few days we've had lovely fall weather. So I set up our picnic table outdoors in the sunshine, gave the kids some play-doh, and let them mash and mold to their heart's content. I usually despise play-doh and the crummy mess it leaves, but it's wonderful once it becomes an outside activity. Now if I could just convince Isaac to quit eating it.

This post is linked to:
Works for Me Wednesday

Let's Go Fly a Kite

2010-09-27T19:31:00.000-07:00

I find there's not much to like about a windy day. But at least it's good kite flying weather.

Hiking

2010-09-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

On a whim last weekend we got out to do a bit of hiking with the kids. Cool weather is fast approaching, so we are trying to make an effort to get outside and enjoy the mild days that we have left.

I was glad to get this sweet picture of the four kids and me. Such precious days.

Baby on Board

2010-09-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

Please ignore my tired eyes. Focus on the cute baby!

Here's the little "project" I've been working on recently. Getting Naomi on my back in the storch. All by myself. I probably tied her on at least 20 times and then would take her right back out because something wasn't right. Either she was in crooked, or it wasn't tight enough. I watched some youtube videos made by other moms. And then kept practicing. It will still be a couple of months before she'll be big enough to ride on my back in the Ergo. So in the meantime, she gets to be wrapped up. I think she likes it just fine.

Kitchen Helper

2010-09-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest trick for making life with a 2-year-old more manageable. When I'm chopping veggies with my big sharp knife, and he wants to "help" (which is so very helpful, you know), I give him his own little set-up. Cutting board, butter knife, a bit of vegetable (cucumber, here), and he can go to town.

Sunglasses optional.

No More Almost

2010-09-13T16:16:00.000-07:00

It's nice Isaac has finally had his birthday. Now I can say I have a two-year-old, instead of needing to say he's almost 2 years old. He seems so BIG these days. Talking up a storm. We said goodbye to diapers altogether a few months ago. (Though we are still nursing. Yes, that means we're tandem nursing. It works for us for now.)

We had such fun as a family celebrating his birthday. The week before, anytime we'd ask, "Isaac, what do you want for your birthday?" he would always answer either "balloons" or "Emily". That would be Emily from Thomas the Tank Engine. He did get balloons. He carried either one or two pretty much all day on his birthday. And he got beloved Emily as well. His other favorite from the day was a little toy "hello-copter".

Happy birthday, Isaac!

This Close

2010-09-09T17:15:00.000-07:00

When all else fails, baby pics are good, right? Naomi turned six weeks old on Sunday. We snapped just a few shots of her today. She's just thisclose to smiling at us. We get little half smiles here and there, but I'm still holding out for the real thing.

With my hands literally full these days, it seems I can't even manage to pick up the camera. Even for the out-of-the-ordinary fun stuff. Over the weekend we visited an apple orchard and also picked some late-season raspberries. But I have no pictures to show for it.

We also finally made it to this yarn shop that I've wanted to visit for quite some time. We picked up a kit to make some felted birds, using a needle felting technique. It was new to me, but easy to learn. I made a little chickadee, and Millie made a bluebird on her own.

Millie is the one who took this picture:

I have a feeling Naomi is going to give that first big grin to one of the kids.

August Harvest

2010-08-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

It could hardly be August without daily trips out to the garden to see what we can find.

Baby in Blue

2010-08-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

Naomi is one month old today. In this picture she's wearing a dress that I wore as a newborn.

Summer Read-Alouds

2010-08-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

Here's our list of books we read aloud as a family this summer.

1. All Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

2. The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli

3. Homer Price by Robert McCloskey

4. Follow My Leader by James B. Garfield

5. The Boxcar Children: Animal Shelter Mystery

6. The Wheel on the School by Meindert Dejong

7. The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz

8. Chrissa (American Girl)

9. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

10. Pioneer Cat by William H. Hooks

I just asked Millie which one was her favorite, and after saying it was hard to decide because they were all so good, she said The Wheel on the School. That was Tom's favorite too. Like Millie, I have a hard time choosing a favorite. (Though my least favorite was the Boxcar Children mystery - I just don't like that series!) I'd say the most "challenging" read (considering that our kids are ages 7, 4, and almost 2) was The Door in the Wall, though that was probably one of my favorites.

Did you read any good books this summer?

This post is linked to:
Top Ten Tuesday

Millie Turns Seven

2010-08-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Well, hello! Just thought I'd take a break from the nursing marathon over here to share a bit about Millie's birthday. Millie turned 7 last week, and with the busy-ness and lack of sleep that comes with life with a newborn, we decided on a low-key celebration. She invited her best friend over to spend the night, and I basically let them come up with whatever fun they could find here at home.

Although I'd planned to decorate a cake for Millie, I finally decided it just wasn't going to happen, so I let the kids decorate their own cupcakes instead:

The girls also managed to find a bit of makeup to do makeovers, though I did not get a picture of them with their blue eye shadow. And do you remember these?

I slept in rollers like these many nights in my childhood.

And finally, what I suppose may be the most memorable part of Millie's birthday, we let the girls set up a little table to sell some homemade jewelry. This is something Millie has been wanting to do since last year sometime.

Much to everyone's excitement, they did actually sell two of their necklaces.

Alright, back to my sweet new baby. Hope you're having a good weekend!

Baby Girl

2010-08-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't know if Naomi looks much different now that she's nearly three weeks old, but any pictures of her will be outdated in no time, so here are a couple of recent shots.

Okay, mama, get that camera out of my face, please.

Naomi's Birth Story

2010-08-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

I haven't figured out a way to keep a birth story concise, so if you're so inclined, settle in for a long read...

Saturday morning I woke up shortly after 5am. I was having contractions that felt like "real" contractions. I hadn't slept well the past couple of nights, so I lay in bed trying to sleep, but the contractions kept me awake. I would glance at the clock each time one started, and noticed that they were regularly 10 minutes apart. I figured this would end one of two ways: either we'd have a baby in the next 24 hours or so, or it would still be another week. I've had it go both ways with my past couple of labors.

My due date was still more than a week away, and we were not ready for this baby. My to-do list for the weekend included getting our birth supplies together. As everyone woke up, we went about our normal relaxed Saturday morning breakfast routine. I told Tom about the contractions, and we decided that we probably ought to go grocery shopping "just in case" this was it. My only other priority for the day was to attempt a nap.

I called our midwife, J, before we went shopping, just to give her a heads-up that I might be in labor, with an emphasis on might. We then realized that we didn't even have our list of birth supplies, so we called her back and asked her to email the list to us, just in case. I felt very scatter-brained while shopping, to say the least. I wasn't sure if I should buy our normal groceries, with the assumption that I'd be cooking for the next week, or if I should buy more convenience foods, under the assumption that I'd be recovering from birth.

Isaac fell asleep on the way home and when we got home I tried to nap with him, but didn't really sleep. For the next several hours we puttered around the house a bit, eating lunch, cleaning up and gathering birth supplies into one place, all the while with me trying to gauge whether this was truly labor or not. Contractions weren't really uncomfortable, though I recognized them as actual labor contractions - the kind that radiate into the back and hips, and they were still steady at about 10 minutes apart.

Finally at about 2 pm, after debating back and forth, I decided to call my mom and let her know that I might be in labor, with an emphasis on might. My mom lives several hours away from us, and I figured that since it was the weekend we would maybe go ahead and have her come up for the night in case labor picked up. With three little ones, we knew we would need some help with the kids during labor, and they are more comfortable with her than anyone else.

After I talked to my mom I decided to run out by myself and do just a bit more shopping - there were a few things we realized we still needed. I actually got a little bit nervous while I was out. The contractions were feeling stronger, though still erratic, and I really didn't want to get caught driving if a harder one hit.

I arrived back home at about 4 pm, and at that point labor seemed to stop. I only had maybe 3 contractions during the next hour. This was frustrating. Here my mom was on her way, and I wasn't really in labor. Everything was just going to taper off, I was sure. I fixed supper for everyone, feeling bad that I was making my mom come drive up for no reason. I ate a good helping for supper, feeling quite sure that I wasn't really in labor.

But then labor picked back up. Soon contractions were back to regular 10 minute intervals, maybe slightly stronger than they had been the rest of the day. My mom arrived early that evening, and we spent the next couple of hours essentially trying to decide if this was "it". We were on the phone some with J, and she advised that we time things, and watch for contractions that lasted a full minute.

After timing for an hour, with contractions hovering just under a minute, we decided to call J. I was still feeling hesitant about having her make the almost 2-hour drive, but Tom and my mom both felt it would be best to get her here, as there was always the possibility that things could pick up and go quickly.

J and her assistant arrived around 11:30 pm, and labor seemed to stall again. The contractions were inconsistent: far apart, with varying intensity. At this point I was just plain old tired. My typical labor philosophy told me that I should stay busy with some sort of a labor project. But all I felt like doing was laying down between contractions. I was tired of the uncertainty, and really just wished that I could sleep.

By 12:30 pm, with things looking about the same, and maybe even slower, we decided to check and see how far along I was. This is something I would normally avoid. I don't like checking dilation, as I feel like that can just set a woman up for frustration. But I felt like we needed to decide if J should stay or go back home, and if we knew the state of my cervix, that would help me make a decision. We checked, and I was at 4 centimeters. This was somewhat encouraging, as I could see that these inconsistent contractions were actually working, but it still left me uncertain about what to expect. A woman can walk around for several weeks at 4 cm. It was possible that the contractions could still taper off. So we decided to send J home. At that point I said, "I just want to sleep", and it was my full intention to lay down and try to sleep.

So at 1 am we all went to bed and I attempted to sleep. I may have dozed off for a couple of minutes here and there, but I essentially spent the next three hours rolling out of bed every 10 to 15 minutes so that I could squat and breathe through contractions. My hips and lower back felt really achy, so I brought a heating pad to bed with me for a little bit of relief. I was glad that at least Tom was getting some sleep at this point, and decided I would try to let him sleep as long as possible.

Finally at 4 am contractions were getting strong enough that I was pretty sure this was really it. I was still puzzled by the inconsistency of the timing, though the intensity of them had me working hard. I woke Tom up and told him to call J to come back, feeling a bit guilty the whole time to have to wake her up after so little sleep.

At this point I just couldn't get comfortable with the contractions. We tried having Tom apply some pressure either to my lower back or hips. I tried my normal squatting, swaying and breathing, but I just couldn't seem to find the right thing. It was definitely time for a hot shower.

The shower helped so much, just taking the edge off of the contractions. But emotionally I was starting to feel panicky. This was it. I was really going to have to push this baby out, and that was the part I'd been dreading for a while. This was my time to pull it together, so at this point I was praying, asking God to give me peace, and I really felt God reminding me that I wasn't alone, that He would carry me through this. Isaiah 43 came to mind, and the song that goes with it:

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you,

And the waves will not

Overcome you.

Do not fear,

For I have redeemed you,

I have called you by name,

You are Mine.

For I am the Lord your God

The Holy One of Israel
Your Savior

Do not fear

I began to sing this song quietly to myself as each contraction would come. Looking back, I realize that my other labors I was able to get through on my own…my own techniques, my own mental focus. But this time I recognized my need for help. I needed God to carry me through the rest of this labor, and He was faithful to meet me in that place of need.

I got out of the shower eventually, ready to face whatever was ahead. Everyone was still asleep, including Tom who had gone back to bed.

J and her assistant returned to our house by about 5:30 am. This time one of J's daughters was also along to help. Everyone was tired, and I felt bad that contractions continued at such a slow pace, even though they had reached an incredible intensity. With everyone sleepily gathered in the living room, I felt a bit like a watched pot taking forever to boil. Tom suggested I do something to keep me busy and occupy my mind. He asked if I'd like to bake something (I made baked oatmeal the morning Isaac was born), but that didn't appeal to me. I decided to step outside into our backyard and maybe do a bit of weeding in the garden.

And that's what I did. The sun was just up and it was a beautiful, cool morning. There was plenty of weeding to do. The mindless repetition of pulling up weeds kept me occupied, with only the occasional pause to writhe through another contraction. But I was still feeling frustrated, wondering why the pace was so erratic.

I was ready to get back in the shower, beginning to hope that just maybe we were getting closer. Again, the hot water took the edge off, but it wasn't long before I grew tired of standing up. I also began to feel just the slightest tinge of, just maybe, feeling pushy? Maybe?

I went back out into the living room. At this point it was nearly 7 am and all the kids were awake, but my mom was fortunately doing a great job of taking care of them and keeping them busy. After a few more contractions while leaned against the couch in the living room, I was ready to check and see where things stood. J checked, and I was completely dilated. It was the first time in 24 hours that I was able to really, truly believe we would be having our baby!

We moved everything to our bedroom, and everyone began to scurry around to get things set up. Six-year-old Millie joined us at this point. She had been saying that she'd like to see the baby being born, so Tom asked J's daughter to stay with Millie and answer any questions she might have.Tom has caught all three of our children, and he would be catching this one as well.

But the pushing phase went just as slow as all the labor leading up to that point. With my first pushing contraction, sweet Millie said she had changed her mind and asked to leave the room. She told us later that she just didn't want to see me in pain.

More waiting, waiting between contractions. I started out standing up, but soon grew tired and knelt at the edge of the bed. The long breaks between contractions continued, and I wondered just how long this was going to take. It felt like nothing was happening. But once I got some momentum, it all progressed quickly. Suddenly I could feel that baby was nearly there. I could only think that I was so close, I was ready to be done. A few good pushes and baby was out! I looked down to see baby emerge, still in the amniotic sac, which broke as baby was caught by Tom and our midwife. I reached down to grab baby, instantly overjoyed and mostly just relieved that baby was here and labor was over! The birth took place just after 8am, so I had pushed for a bit more than 30 minutes.

The kids came rushing into the room within just a minute of the birth, as they heard me exclaiming over baby. One of them asked, "Is Naomi here?" I realized then that we hadn't even double-checked to see if baby was, in fact, a girl. I took a quick peek, which confirmed that we did indeed have a baby girl, and the kids climbed up on the bed to get a closer look at their new sister. Millie and Silas were so excited, while Isaac had no idea what to make of all the commotion and clung close to my mom.

The next day when J came to check on Naomi and me, she said that the verse that came to her mind repeatedly during my labor was "Lean not on thine own understanding" from Proverbs 3:5-6. The whole verse is:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

Naomi's labor was certainly one that didn't make any sense to my mind, and challenged me nearly as much as the very first time I gave birth. But I am thankful that God met me in that helpless place and carried me through, and we are incredibly blessed to have Naomi as a part of our family.

One, Two, Three, Four

2010-08-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

Silas, Millie, Isaac, Naomi

Tuesday was my first day home all day with just me and the kids. And it went pretty well. Naomi is only a little over a week old, so of course we are still finding our groove. But we managed just fine, and I even got to take a nice, long nap with Isaac and Naomi. And any day that includes a good nap is a good day.

Tiny Hands

2010-08-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about Naomi right now: her tiny, delicate hands. Her hands were one of the first things that struck me after she was born - little wisps of fingers with such long fingernails. Soon enough they'll fill out into pudgy, dimpled baby hands. But for now they are perfectly dainty.

Woven Wrap

2010-08-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, here we go. My first attempt using a woven wrap - here Naomi is six days old. My sister gave me a bit of inspiration toward woven wraps, and my friend Natalie is letting me borrow her Storch for a while. (And isn't it lovely to have other mothers around for inspiration, support and encouragement?) I could use some more practice on my technique, but there will be plenty of time and opportunity for that. So far, so good.

In the Garden ~ Late July

2010-07-31T17:46:00.000-07:00

We have our usual array of volunteer sunflowers, which the goldfinches love to visit.

Cherry tomatoes, coming along nicely.

Apparently we found the sweet spot for our peppers and eggplants this year. I've never had single plants that have been so productive.

After I took this picture, I harvested some of this kale to make kale chips.

And last but not least, of course I have to show the progress of the garden fort! It's filling up pretty well, though the Japanese beetles seem to think this is THE place to be. We pick them off as we find them.

So, that's just a little bit of what's going on as July comes to a close. Not pictured are all the failures. I'm finding some blossom end rot on some of my roma tomatoes, we've lost most of our zucchini to squash bugs, and some of my other kale plants are getting eaten up. So while the weather has been good this year, the bugs have been more of a concern than usual. Another typical year with our share of garden successes and failures.

My Two Girls

2010-07-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

You can bet Millie is so very thrilled to finally have a sister.

As I've been trying to write out Naomi's birth story (Long labor = long birth story!), I was amused to realize a couple of key things about my girls' births. With both Millie and Naomi I was in labor for 27 hours. With both of them, labor began shortly after 5am, and they were both born after 8am the following day (Naomi at 8:03, and Millie at 8:30). The big difference? With Millie, labor began with my water breaking. With Naomi, my water never broke - at least, not until she was out! Naomi was born "in the caul" (inside the amniotic sac), which is quite rare, apparently. My midwife said that in the 800 home births she's attended, she's only seen this maybe 4 times.

Early Blessing

2010-07-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

I really thought I would still be pregnant this week, and possibly even the week after that. I'm not, and I think I'm still barely over the surprise. She's here, and it's still the last week of July.

What an incredibly lovely blessing...the way everything worked out just right for my mom to be here for the birth. Laboring on a Saturday and welcoming this little bundle on a Sunday morning. It was a good way to spend the weekend.

I hope to have a birth story to share soon. I am still pondering and processing the whole long labor, and realizing that while I previously thought I had birth figured out, this birth taught me so much.

Naomi Charlotte

2010-07-26T17:04:00.000-07:00

just minutes after birth

Baby Naomi arrived Sunday, July 25th, at 8:03 am.

8 pounds, 1 ounce

20 inches long

We are feeling so very happy, thankful, blessed...and tired. Labor was long, and we've still got some catching-up-on-sleep to do. Not to mention all the baby-gazing. Welcome, sweet girl!

Six Word Fridays: Together

2010-07-23T06:09:00.000-07:00

I love seeing these two together,
Laughing, playing, becoming best of friends.

(Except on days when they're not.)

Linked to: Six Word Fridays

Kale Chips

2010-07-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

I made these on a bit of whim yesterday, with a medium-sized bunch of kale ("dino" variety) that was in the fridge waiting to be used. Kale chips aren't anything new - I've seen quite a few different recipes and techniques for making them (My mom makes kale chips in her dehydrator) - though this was my first time to make them myself.

First I washed the kale and cut it into 2-inch pieces. Then after comparing a couple of different recipes for baked kale chips, I simply eyeballed it, and added salt, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, and olive oil to the kale, using my hands to mix it all together and coat the kale with the seasonings.

I baked these in the oven at 350, for about 14 minutes. They came out crispy and salty, and the kids couldn't get enough of them. I think next time I'll use less oil and salt (really, these had too much). This version certainly isn't the healthiest way to make kale chips, but it's still a good way to get kids eating kale!

Breakfast Date

2010-07-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

We'd been wanting to treat the "big kids" to some one-on-one time before baby arrives. So this past weekend we did breakfast dates with Millie and Silas. Silas and I "snuck out" on Saturday morning before anyone else was awake. His request was a bagel with cream cheese, specifically a bagel "with raisins". Doesn't take too much to make this kid happy.

Benefits of Midwifery Care

2010-07-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

I mentioned last week that I've given birth in a few different situations. At this point I'm most comfortable giving birth with a midwife in a homebirth setting. Here's why:

1. Relationship - I've been to her home, she's been to mine. Check-ups are never rushed, and through the course of our visits we've gotten to know about one another and our families. It's so reassuring to have a personal relationship with a care provider that I know and trust.

2. Continuity of care - I like knowing exactly who is going to be at my birth, and that my midwife knows me and and my history. Birth is a very intimate, intense time, and it makes me more comfortable to know there won't be total strangers witnessing me giving birth.

3. Home visits - we've had our midwife come to our home for several of our prenatal check-ups. It's so nice to do those visits in the comfort of our home - no waiting rooms.

4. Focus on prevention - I've found that my midwife puts a specific emphasis on preventing problems in the first place. She's serious about helping me to give birth at home with minimal problems, so she has specific recommendations for preventing things like tearing or postpartum hemorrhage.

5. Knowledge of alternative medicine - my midwife recommends specific herbs throughout pregnancy, and has resources relating to herbs and homeopathy. This is very much in line with my desire to take a natural approach to health.

6. Resources beyond birth - we've learned lots from our midwife about topics beyond birth, as our conversations naturally touch on things like homeschooling, natural living, and family life.

7. Emotional and spiritual support - there's the recognition that birth isn't just a physical act - that there's an emotional and spiritual component to it as well. Our midwife has certainly been able to provide support and counsel in those areas, whether through prayer, scripture, or just the general respect of the emotions associated with preparing for labor.

8. Low c-section rate - maybe obvious, but when you consider that the current c-section rate for a typical hospital in the U.S. hovers around 33%, there's something to be said for choosing a provider that has a track record for preventing c-sections.

9. More autonomy and control for the mother - when it comes to giving birth, I like knowing I can do whatever makes me most comfortable, such as moving around during labor, etc.

10. Genuine empathy - most midwives have experienced a natural labor and delivery, and can truly empathize with a woman in labor. Our midwife is a mother of six. There's something comforting and reassuring about being supported by someone who has walked the same difficult path.

**I realize that some of these positive things can be found with a hospital-based care provider. These are simply the benefits I've found in my current situation working with a direct-entry midwife.

Linked to:
Top Ten Tuesday
Works for Me Wednesday

Baby Bump - 38 weeks

2010-07-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

We are officially in the home stretch, and yes, I do realize I am officially "out there". But even with this large belly, I'm feeling really good, and maybe even enjoying a bit of an increase in energy as the nesting instinct kicks in.

We had a really good visit last week with our midwife. She came to our home and we managed to have a nice check-up and chat, even with 3 very! excited! children! who had much they wanted to add to the conversation. Yes, even Isaac wanted to get in on the fun by singing his rendition of twinkle, twinkle little star. Everything looks good with both me and baby, and we are technically good to go "any day"!

Of course, I fully expect it to be at least two more weeks, if not three, before this little one makes an appearance. I still have a long to-do list, so we'll be trying to make the most of each day.

A Bit of Crafting

2010-07-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

There's been very little happening on the crafting front, though I suppose my consolation is that even a few simple, meager projects is better than creating nothing.

With baby due in just a few short weeks, I had the motivation to sign myself up for a quilting class while I could still get away for an evening. This is the block I pieced during the class.

My knitting is still limited to hats and dishcloths, it seems! I knit this dishcloth during a road trip a while back.

And the oh-so-exciting milestone of Millie losing her first tooth meant I finally had the motivation to get her tooth fairy pillow done.

Just a very simple little pillow with a pocket.

But I was quite glad that we had it - that baby tooth was tiny, and I managed to drop it and nearly lose it more than once!

Pot Holder Loom

2010-07-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

Some classic pot holder making has kept Millie and Silas busy during afternoons while Isaac naps. We love to savor as much of the outdoors as we can during the summer, but it's nice to have some indoor activities too, for those rainy days or especially hot afternoons.

Here are a few other fun ideas for creative activities for younger ones:

Finger knitting
Homemade slime
Creating with scrap paper

This post is linked to:
Works for Me Wednesday

Garlicky Summer Squash

2010-07-12T21:32:00.000-07:00

This recipe is a favorite summer dish for our family. Even though I hadn't made it since last summer, Millie requested this dish when she found out I had zucchini to use. It's simple, but there's just something especially nice about the way the flavors come together.

Garlicky Summer Squash

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, sliced
4 gloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 ear corn, kernels cut from cob
2 cups sliced yellow squash
2 cups sliced zucchini
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper, to taste

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, and cook the onion and garlic until slightly tender. Mix in the vegetable broth and corn kernels, and cook until heated through. Mix in the squash and zucchini. Cover, and continue cooking 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until squash and zucchini are tender.
Remove from heat. Mix in the basil, and season with salt and pepper.

This post is linked to:
Tasty Tuesday

Thinking About Labor...Or Not

2010-07-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

I am down to 3 weeks left. Less than a month. I can hardly believe we'll be holding this newest member of our family, very very soon. One thing that has been so different about this pregnancy compared to my other pregnancies has been my lack of focusing on labor. Every other pregnancy I've done lots of reading and research, pondering and worrying. Part of that may be because with my other pregnancies I had to make a decision about a care provider each time. Here's what I mean:

First pregnancy (Millie) - We chose to give birth in a hospital, attended by a certified nurse midwife (recommended by my sister). Considered, might even say we had planned, for a water birth. I worried SO much about labor. Would I be able to handle it? Just how bad would it be? It was pretty tough, but I did handle it. Was not impressed with the water, so no water birth for me. But we had a good, natural labor and delivery, and it boosted my confidence that I could indeed labor drug-free.

Second pregnancy (Silas) - With this pregnancy we had moved to a new city, and I needed to find a new care provider. I did quite a bit of research and decided that homebirth would be a great option for me. We used a practice of doctors that attended homebirths in our area. Once it was time for the birth, the doctor didn't make it in time, though a nurse was here. I had been a little nervous about a homebirth. Would everything go okay? But it was fine, and I loved getting to labor and give birth in the comfort of my own home.

Third pregnancy (Isaac) - We weren't too thrilled by our experience with the practice of doctors for Silas' birth, so we started researching again. There were very few other options for homebirth attendants in our area at that time, but finally we settled on a direct-entry midwife. Really enjoyed getting to know her over the course of my pregnancy. Isaac's birth was fairly uneventful, though the pushing phase was more painful compared to my other births.

This pregnancy (number four!) - So here I am a few weeks away from labor. Of course there's some apprehension anticipating the pain. I honestly haven't given it too much thought, and so far I haven't picked up a single book related to pregnancy or labor (even though I have some favorites!) There are probably several reasons - feeling busy, or just procrastinating. In some ways it feels like I just gave birth to Isaac yesterday. And this birth will be in the exact same place, with all the same people. So there's the feeling that I've done this, I know what I'm doing, I know how to work through labor. I have a lot of confidence in my body, and confidence that my midwife is capable and knowledgeable. I know that just because I've had three straightforward, complication-free births doesn't mean I'm guaranteed another. But in some ways I guess it feels like I've worked through all the worries before, and re-hashing them won't really help anything.

So that's where I'm at right now. Our midwife is actually coming to our home tomorrow for a visit and little check-up. Maybe that will help get me thinking more about getting ready for this birth, because I probably need to spend some time thinking about it.

Weekend Links

2010-07-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

Some recent favorites:

I am digging this great idea at Silly Eagle Books for a collage using pages from a favorite children's book.

Maybe I should think about knitting something for this baby? I've always wanted to make some baby legwarmers - love the look of these from The Purl Bee.

Get Out of the Kitchen from Life as Mom.

Not surprising: The Health Benefits of Nature.

Tom and I have a running list of things that we'll never buy new, so I was interested to see how ours matched up to this: 21 Things You Should Never Buy New.

This post is linked to:
Saturday Stumbles

Six Word Fridays: Feeling

2010-07-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

Very pregnant - big, hot and tired.
Overwhelmed, there's just too much work.
A long list, before baby arrives!
How to get it all done?

Impatient, with interruptions and little squabbles.
And the kitchen, such a mess.
A change of pace could help?
We just need to go outside.

The sun shining down on me.
Accomplishment, as I tend the garden:
My first time to harvest garlic.
Eggplant, tomatoes, growing tall and strong.

This baby, moving around inside me.
Thankful, for these healthy, precious children.
Love for this family we're raising.
I'm the most blessed mama today.

This post is linked to:
Six Word Fridays

Saving Seeds - Kale

2010-07-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

So, my kale that flowered back in May, now has these tall stalks:

Quite the sight. Here's a closer look:

All these little pods are filled with tiny black seeds.

I've been really fascinated to see the whole process over the course of the past year. Collecting the seeds is a bit tricky because the dry seed pods are rather delicate. Millie came up with a pretty good method of basically shaking the pods into a paper bag. So now we have a nice collection of our very own saved kale seeds. I noticed today a little finch landed on one of the stalks to help herself to some as well. It's nice to have plenty to share.

Home Again, Home Again

2010-07-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

Spider flower in my mom's garden

We are back home after visiting my family to celebrate the 4th. This was our last road trip before baby arrives - we're planning on staying put for the next month. I didn't pick up my camera nearly as much as maybe I should have; mostly I was just enjoying the time with family, and also trying to keep up with Isaac.

Good things from our weekend:

1. Meeting my new little niece, who is now one month old. Pure sweetness.

2. Eating a fresh, local peach. Peaches have to be local. The ones you get at the grocery store that have been picked early and shipped a long way just can't begin to compare.

3. Lots of outside time for the kids, playing with cousins.

4. Sweet corn. The good stuff - local and fresh.

5. Late night chats with my sister and brother-in-law.

6. Picnic with extended family - it's always nice to catch up with everyone.

7. My mom's garden. The kids were on a mission to get rid of all the Japanese beetles, and they did a great job! Mom sent us home with potatoes and garlic.

8. Picking (and eating!) black raspberries. Isaac loved them.

9. Great weather - hot, yes. But no rain!

10. Fireworks, of course. A small town display, but still really nice, and magical for the kids.

Hope your weekend was filled with good things too!

This post is linked to:
Top Ten Tuesday

4th of July

2010-07-04T00:22:00.000-07:00

Wishing you a happy 4th of July weekend!

Strawberry Banana Ice Cream

2010-07-02T12:34:00.000-07:00

I've made this ice cream more times than I can count. It's easy, creamy, and tasty. Just the thing on a warm afternoon.

Strawberry Banana Ice Cream

2 frozen bananas

handful frozen strawberries (about 6-8 large berries)

1/4 cup water or milk (any kind)

Blend all together. A high-powered blender works best (we have a Vitamix). If your blender doesn't have quite that kind of umph, you might let the fruit thaw just a bit before blending. This makes enough for three active children.

This post is linked to:

Works for Me Wednesday

Life as Mom

Green

2010-07-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

(me, 35 weeks)

This post is linked to:

You Capture

T-Ball

2010-06-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

Another summer with our little informal t-ball group, and the kids are loving it.

They are determined...

swift...

and as usual, pretty goofy.

CSN Stores Giveaway Winner

2010-06-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

And the winner is...

Comment number 7, which belongs to Heather at Homemade Mom. Congrats, Heather!

And thanks everyone for playing along!

Tips for Family Camping

2010-06-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

Even if you've done a lot of camping in your pre-kid days, there can be a bit of a learning curve to camping as a family. We did our first family camping trip when Millie was 3 and Silas was about 4 months old, and we've gone on quite a few trips since then. Here's what we've learned along the way:

1. Start small. A short drive, and staying just one night is a good introduction. You'll learn a lot about what works for your family, and get a sense for what's involved in camping with little ones.

2. Keep the food simple. I have lots of memories of my parents fixing all kinds of yummy camping foods, including big breakfasts of pancakes and scrambled eggs. But once I was juggling the baby and keeping the toddler out of the fire, we found that quick, easy meals were best. We only camp a few times each year, so while I do bring along some prepped fruits and veggies, we also indulge in some "junkie" convenience food during camping trips.

3. Expect and accept the dirt. The kids are going to be really dirty. You'll all smell like smoke. Just know that you can get a good bath when you get home, and focus on enjoying the time outdoors.

4. Bring along some children's books. Our kids are accustomed to reading a couple of books at night before bed. Reading books before going to sleep helps them to settle down from the day's activity and excitement, and it's also comforting and familiar to them.

5. Include the kids in the work. Children love to help, so find ways to include them in the work around the campsite. A few of the jobs our kids like: helping set up the tent, unrolling sleeping bags inside the tent, carrying items from the car to the campsite, gathering kindling, and helping to fetch water.

6. Bring a good baby carrier. A soft structured carrier is perfect for bringing the littlest ones along on a hike. While toddlers can walk for some distance, often they'll want to be carried as well. We've used an Ergo for years, and really love it - it's great for heavy toddlers. On our most recent camping trip I found that my ring sling was just what I needed.

7. Get the kids excited about nature. Point out the birds you see, pull out the field guides, and set an example of being observant and appreciative of all that you see around you. Kids will catch your enthusiasm, and in no time they'll be the ones pointing out the birds to you, and stopping to get a closer look at an interesting bug or plant.

8. Be prepared for the elements. Check the weather before you go, and pack those long sleeves for cool evenings and chilly mornings. We bring along natural insect repellent, since during the summers mosquitoes are a given.

9. Bring some outdoor toys and a child-sized shovel. It doesn't have to be a lot, but a ball or two, and maybe some toy trucks are pretty great for those times when mom and dad are doing the final packing up, or maybe just sitting and relaxing. We've been amazed at how much our kids like just digging in the dirt.

10. Read up a bit, and get some ideas from others! Get recommendations from friends on kid-friendly places to camp. And don't forget about the wealth of information online: here are a few tips over at Simple Mom for making family trips a little easier. And another great article on camping with little ones here at Simple Organic.

We really treasure our family camping trips, as we know we are making memories that will last a lifetime.

This post is linked to:
Top Ten Tuesday
Works for Me Wednesday

In the Garden ~ Late June

2010-06-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

Black-eyed Susans

Things in our backyard garden are growing well - especially the weeds. We're having a little mulch issue, as in, we haven't mulched at all. And so all sorts of weeds abound. Especially purslane, which I was just reading indicates good soil fertility. And it's funny because I was going to plant purslane this year, but didn't end up ordering the seeds, so I guess I'm glad to see it in my garden for multiple reasons.

So, besides the weeds, here are just some of the other things we're growing...

We've been enjoying lovely lettuce salads

Again this year, these purple-podded shelling peas.

They make great snacks, just wish we had more!

Basil. I love fresh basil. Wish we had more of this too.

Hello, tomato.

This little cutie is actually a yellow zucchini, not summer squash.

Pumpkins will be taking up half the yard in no time, it seems.

And finally, look how our garden fort is growing! So fun!

This post is linked to:
GrowCookEat

Weekend Links

2010-06-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

A few favorites from the past week...

You may remember I mentioned how much fun my kids have had with their butterfly nets. Check out this tutorial on Skip to My Lou for making your own.

Impress Your Kids has a fun "Summer Camp" series. The kids would have a blast making these "solar s'mores".

Really liked this post at Steady Mom that expands on the idea that "The purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship." So true!

Good thoughts from Making Things Up about closing doors.

Keep some smoothies in the freezer for quick summertime snacks - smart idea from Life as Mom.

Six Word Fridays: Goal

2010-06-25T07:08:00.000-07:00

To make it through the day
Kids fed, house not a wreck

*****

Time with kids, reading and talking
Feed my family some good vegetables
Checking off items on my list
Do something that will nourish me

This post is linked to:
Six Word Fridays

Napping on the Beach

2010-06-24T07:40:00.000-07:00

We spent the better part of a day playing on the beach during our recent camping trip. Isaac was in desperate need of a nap, and all I had to do was pop him in my Maya Wrap ring sling and go for a stroll down the beach. He was asleep in no time, and dozed on a blanket under a beach umbrella for well over an hour.

This post is linked to:
You Capture

A Giveaway!

2010-06-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

Giveaway is now closed.

I was contacted recently by CSN stores about a giveaway opportunity for readers of Mulberry Spot. CSN stores has more than 200 online stores, where you can find an incredible array of products -- whether you need school supplies, toys, a bedroom vanity, shoes, cookware, and much more. Really, there is a LOT of stuff available.

For the giveaway, one person will receive a $40 gift certificate to use in any one of CSN's 200 online stores. Pretty good deal!

I browsed their sites a bit, and here are a few things that caught my eye:

I really like these cute cloth napkins:

This would be a fun family game:

Also, I just adore the color of these Le Creuset baking dishes:

But you can choose whatever you'd like!

For the chance to win the $40 gift certificate, just leave a comment (and please include your email address).

You can also gain additional entries, and more chances to win, by doing the following (and leaving a separate comment for each one):

Become a follower or subscriber of Mulberry Spot (or tell me you already are).

"Like" Mulberry Spot on Facebook.

Blog about this giveaway, and leave a link to your blog post.

Tweet about this giveaway.

The giveaway will run until 8pm (CST) on Tuesday, June 29. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday. Good luck!

(This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.)

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