I finally called my midwife to get a recommendation for a counselor. I know, I know...I said I was going to do this two weeks ago. But I didn't. The days passed. Things have been going a little better. I feel like I have a better handle on things. Some of the time. I talked with a friend who is going through some of the same things.
There's no shame in reaching out for some help. Sure, I could've done it earlier. I also know better today than tomorrow.
My midwife just called back and they have a list of counselors in the area. I figured that would be a better option than throwing a dart and picking one of the long list my insurance has. I chatted with my midwife and it felt good. I think it will really help to be able to go and talk with someone about all the stuff that's going on.
I haven't shied away from getting help (either psychological or pharmacological) in the past and there's no reason I should now. I would prefer to avoid pharmaceutical medications now and I think seeking help from a counselor is a great first step. I also want to start exercising again. I really need to walk my talk; here I am with a research background in the anti-depressant effects of exercise and doing nothing about it. But, if there's one thing I know about depression, it's the starting to do something about it that's the most important part.
******
And, one year ago today we found out we were having a baby boy. Seems like eons ago.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Wordless Wednesday: Falling Leaves
The neighbor's maple tree makes for a lot of fun (and work) for us in the Fall.
I'm linked up over at Hobo Mama so click on over to see more Wordless Wednesday posts.
 |
| Look! The tree is almost bare! |
I'm linked up over at Hobo Mama so click on over to see more Wordless Wednesday posts.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Attachment Parenting and Our Family.
Welcome to the November Carnival of Natural Parenting: What is natural parenting?
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our Carnival coincides with the launch of Natural Parents Network, a community of parents and parents-to-be who practice or are interested in attachment parenting and natural family living. Join us at Natural Parents Network to be informed, empowered, and inspired!
Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
***
It seems that every so often I hear the question, How did you find attachment parenting?
For our family the answer is very simple. We didn't.
I guess, in a way, it would be more accurate to say it found us.
When Beanie was born we didn't set out to parent in one particular way or another. We knew there were certain things that our parents did that we didn't want to do. We largely followed our instincts and parented in a way that seemed most logical and "right." We didn't know there was a label to how we were parenting. It wasn't until later we learned that we were following a philosophy of parenting called attachment parenting. Attachment parenting is responsive parenting, respectful parenting and instinctual parenting. It's a tool or set of ideas, not a checklist to which you must comply. Dr. Sears talks about the Seven Attachment Tools, or Baby B's, which are:
I'd like to share in a bit more detail how each of the attachment tools, or Baby B's, has helped our family thrive.
Birth bonding -- We had amazing birth experiences with both Beanie and Bubby. We were fortunate to deliver Beanie with a naturally-minded OB and we were under the care of a midwife for Bubby's birth. Both were delivered at a baby-friendly hospital so we initiated breastfeeding early, roomed in and had visits with lactation consultants. When we got home we worked hard to make sure that we promoted bonding with lots of holding, nursing on demand, and lots of love.
Breastfeeding -- For our family, breastfeeding is more than just a way to nourish our babies (and toddlers). Breastfeeding has become the way we nuture, the way we ease frustrations or pain, and, yes, the way we nourish our children. When Beanie was born I didn't really know a lot about breastfeeding. I just knew I was going to do it. I didn't know how long. When she turned one I questioned the idea that she "didn't need my milk anymore." I wondered what magical switch happened that one day she needed it and the next day she didn't. I didn't worry that, even at one year old, she wasn't all that interested in solids; I knew she was getting what she needed from me. I didn't worry when, as a toddler, she wanted to eat blueberries and Kix all day; I knew she would get the nutrition she needed from me. Breastfeeding Bubby has been an entirely different journey, definitely more difficult with colic, thrush, elimination diets and food intolerances. I am thankful every day to be surrounded by the support I need. I hope that someday I can provide that support to someone else. I can hardly put into words the impact that breastfeeding both my children has had on me; I've gone from a mom who knew little about breastfeeding to a strong advocate for all breastfeeding and hope-to-be-breastfeeding moms.
Babywearing -- The fact that I let a Moby sit on a closet shelf and go unused with Beanie amuses me now. Amuses me in a sort of angry I can't believe I never used that kind of way. With Bubby, babywearing is something that has made life as a mom of two easier. When Bubby's colic was really bad I would wear him in the Moby almost all day. When I take Beanie to the park I never have to worry about being able to care for both of them; Bubby is always snuggled right up next to me. We now use the Ergo most of the time. I've even gotten Glenn to try it out and he loves wearing Bubby in the Ergo too. I cannot image life as a mom of two without utilizing babywearing. I babywear every day. I love that Bubby is close to me. I love hearing his breath and knowing he is safe. I love when he looks up at me with his big blue eyes and just stares as I carry him around as we go about our day. I love that babywearing makes living life easy.
Bedding close to baby -- When we were pregnant with Beanie, Glenn & I discussed co-sleeping. I think the conversation went a little like this:
"Gosh, some people let their kids sleep in the bed with them!"
"I know. We will never do that."
And then I gave birth to my beautiful daughter and nothing seemed more natural than having her sleep right next to me. In fact, the thought of having her sleep far away in another room was something I could hardly fathom. I was comfortable. She was comfortable. We both slept better. Nighttime parenting and nursing was so much easier. As I stated before, co-sleeping was definitely an instinctual thing for me, not so much for Glenn. With Glenn's work schedule dictating that I be on solo nighttime parenting duty, co-sleeping became my decision by default. Since then, he has seen how much easier it makes things and we've worked on some compromises so everyone is happy with the situation.
Belief in the language value of your baby's cry -- I remember the first time someone told me I needed to let Beanie cry it out (CIO). I think she was about four months old. The thought of leaving her alone to cry broke my heart. It didn't feel right. Forget what any parenting guru tells you, the fact that it caused my anxiety to rise to even think about it told me it was not the path for us. Infants have no other way to communicate than to cry. They can't say "I'm too cold," "I just need you to hold me a bit longer," or "I'm hungry." They don't understand that you're "training" them. They need you and, in my opinion, by leaving them alone to cry it out you are letting them know that you aren't there for them when they're telling you they need it the most. When Bubby cries it's for a reason. We may not know that reason right away, but he can rest assured we will try our best to figure it out. And, even if we can't, we will hold him, nurse him, comfort him, and let him know that his parents are available when he needs them. We don't CIO with our three year-old. She has needs too and sometimes doesn't have the language to communicate them. Sure, sometimes she needs to have a good cry, but we are always there to comfort her and let her know that we are there for her.
Beware of baby trainers -- When Beanie was little, people (mostly family) would ask which method we were using to get her to sleep. They talked of different sleep "experts" and their thoughts on how we should get her to sleep better. Better, of course, is a matter of opinion. I love reading and devour information on parenting and babies left and right, but I can think of no better "expert" on my baby and his or her sleep patterns than myself (or hubby). I've found books with helpful ideas and information to guide us, but I am always leery of anyone who promises to "fix" our sleep problems, especially when we don't necessarily see our children's sleep patterns as problems in the first place.
Balance -- Surely balance is the Baby B that I struggle with the most, especially now as I am struggling with post-partum depression and anxiety. While achieving balance in our lives is a huge challenge, it isn't one that we treat lightly. Both Glenn and I struggle to maintain individual identities beyond that of mother and father, or even that of husband and wife. Somewhere there is that component that makes us individuals as well as caring partners and parents. We strive to find (and make) the time for each of us to remember what that part of us is, whether it is through Glenn's photography and love of nature or my love of writing. I think the struggle for balance is especially hard for breastfeeding mothers of infants, but it is important to get some me time even if it's only twenty minutes of reading or a long shower by yourself.
I am so glad that attachment parenting found us. For our family, attachment parenting makes life easier. It means that everyone in our family, no matter how young, is treated with respect and treated as an individual & an important part of our family. I am positive that our parenting philosophy made the transition into life as a family of four easier.
***
Stop by Natural Parents Network today to see excerpts from everyone's posts, and please visit a few to read more! Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants. Three of the participants below will instead be featured on Natural Parents Network throughout the month, so check back at NPN!
This list will be updated by afternoon November 9 with all the carnival links. We've arranged it this month according to the categories of our NPN resource pages on "What Is Natural Parenting?"
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our Carnival coincides with the launch of Natural Parents Network, a community of parents and parents-to-be who practice or are interested in attachment parenting and natural family living. Join us at Natural Parents Network to be informed, empowered, and inspired!
Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
***
It seems that every so often I hear the question, How did you find attachment parenting?
For our family the answer is very simple. We didn't.
I guess, in a way, it would be more accurate to say it found us.
When Beanie was born we didn't set out to parent in one particular way or another. We knew there were certain things that our parents did that we didn't want to do. We largely followed our instincts and parented in a way that seemed most logical and "right." We didn't know there was a label to how we were parenting. It wasn't until later we learned that we were following a philosophy of parenting called attachment parenting. Attachment parenting is responsive parenting, respectful parenting and instinctual parenting. It's a tool or set of ideas, not a checklist to which you must comply. Dr. Sears talks about the Seven Attachment Tools, or Baby B's, which are:
- Birth bonding
- Breastfeeding
- Babywearing
- Bedding close to baby (or bed-sharing or co-sleeping)
- Belief in the language value of your baby's cry
- Beware of baby trainers
- Balance
I'd like to share in a bit more detail how each of the attachment tools, or Baby B's, has helped our family thrive.
Birth bonding -- We had amazing birth experiences with both Beanie and Bubby. We were fortunate to deliver Beanie with a naturally-minded OB and we were under the care of a midwife for Bubby's birth. Both were delivered at a baby-friendly hospital so we initiated breastfeeding early, roomed in and had visits with lactation consultants. When we got home we worked hard to make sure that we promoted bonding with lots of holding, nursing on demand, and lots of love.
Breastfeeding -- For our family, breastfeeding is more than just a way to nourish our babies (and toddlers). Breastfeeding has become the way we nuture, the way we ease frustrations or pain, and, yes, the way we nourish our children. When Beanie was born I didn't really know a lot about breastfeeding. I just knew I was going to do it. I didn't know how long. When she turned one I questioned the idea that she "didn't need my milk anymore." I wondered what magical switch happened that one day she needed it and the next day she didn't. I didn't worry that, even at one year old, she wasn't all that interested in solids; I knew she was getting what she needed from me. I didn't worry when, as a toddler, she wanted to eat blueberries and Kix all day; I knew she would get the nutrition she needed from me. Breastfeeding Bubby has been an entirely different journey, definitely more difficult with colic, thrush, elimination diets and food intolerances. I am thankful every day to be surrounded by the support I need. I hope that someday I can provide that support to someone else. I can hardly put into words the impact that breastfeeding both my children has had on me; I've gone from a mom who knew little about breastfeeding to a strong advocate for all breastfeeding and hope-to-be-breastfeeding moms.
Babywearing -- The fact that I let a Moby sit on a closet shelf and go unused with Beanie amuses me now. Amuses me in a sort of angry I can't believe I never used that kind of way. With Bubby, babywearing is something that has made life as a mom of two easier. When Bubby's colic was really bad I would wear him in the Moby almost all day. When I take Beanie to the park I never have to worry about being able to care for both of them; Bubby is always snuggled right up next to me. We now use the Ergo most of the time. I've even gotten Glenn to try it out and he loves wearing Bubby in the Ergo too. I cannot image life as a mom of two without utilizing babywearing. I babywear every day. I love that Bubby is close to me. I love hearing his breath and knowing he is safe. I love when he looks up at me with his big blue eyes and just stares as I carry him around as we go about our day. I love that babywearing makes living life easy.
Bedding close to baby -- When we were pregnant with Beanie, Glenn & I discussed co-sleeping. I think the conversation went a little like this:
"Gosh, some people let their kids sleep in the bed with them!"
"I know. We will never do that."
And then I gave birth to my beautiful daughter and nothing seemed more natural than having her sleep right next to me. In fact, the thought of having her sleep far away in another room was something I could hardly fathom. I was comfortable. She was comfortable. We both slept better. Nighttime parenting and nursing was so much easier. As I stated before, co-sleeping was definitely an instinctual thing for me, not so much for Glenn. With Glenn's work schedule dictating that I be on solo nighttime parenting duty, co-sleeping became my decision by default. Since then, he has seen how much easier it makes things and we've worked on some compromises so everyone is happy with the situation.
Belief in the language value of your baby's cry -- I remember the first time someone told me I needed to let Beanie cry it out (CIO). I think she was about four months old. The thought of leaving her alone to cry broke my heart. It didn't feel right. Forget what any parenting guru tells you, the fact that it caused my anxiety to rise to even think about it told me it was not the path for us. Infants have no other way to communicate than to cry. They can't say "I'm too cold," "I just need you to hold me a bit longer," or "I'm hungry." They don't understand that you're "training" them. They need you and, in my opinion, by leaving them alone to cry it out you are letting them know that you aren't there for them when they're telling you they need it the most. When Bubby cries it's for a reason. We may not know that reason right away, but he can rest assured we will try our best to figure it out. And, even if we can't, we will hold him, nurse him, comfort him, and let him know that his parents are available when he needs them. We don't CIO with our three year-old. She has needs too and sometimes doesn't have the language to communicate them. Sure, sometimes she needs to have a good cry, but we are always there to comfort her and let her know that we are there for her.
Beware of baby trainers -- When Beanie was little, people (mostly family) would ask which method we were using to get her to sleep. They talked of different sleep "experts" and their thoughts on how we should get her to sleep better. Better, of course, is a matter of opinion. I love reading and devour information on parenting and babies left and right, but I can think of no better "expert" on my baby and his or her sleep patterns than myself (or hubby). I've found books with helpful ideas and information to guide us, but I am always leery of anyone who promises to "fix" our sleep problems, especially when we don't necessarily see our children's sleep patterns as problems in the first place.
Balance -- Surely balance is the Baby B that I struggle with the most, especially now as I am struggling with post-partum depression and anxiety. While achieving balance in our lives is a huge challenge, it isn't one that we treat lightly. Both Glenn and I struggle to maintain individual identities beyond that of mother and father, or even that of husband and wife. Somewhere there is that component that makes us individuals as well as caring partners and parents. We strive to find (and make) the time for each of us to remember what that part of us is, whether it is through Glenn's photography and love of nature or my love of writing. I think the struggle for balance is especially hard for breastfeeding mothers of infants, but it is important to get some me time even if it's only twenty minutes of reading or a long shower by yourself.
I am so glad that attachment parenting found us. For our family, attachment parenting makes life easier. It means that everyone in our family, no matter how young, is treated with respect and treated as an individual & an important part of our family. I am positive that our parenting philosophy made the transition into life as a family of four easier.
***
Stop by Natural Parents Network today to see excerpts from everyone's posts, and please visit a few to read more! Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants. Three of the participants below will instead be featured on Natural Parents Network throughout the month, so check back at NPN!
This list will be updated by afternoon November 9 with all the carnival links. We've arranged it this month according to the categories of our NPN resource pages on "What Is Natural Parenting?"
Attachment/Responsive Parenting
Attachment/responsive parenting is generally considered to include the following (descriptions/lists are not exhaustive; please follow each link to learn more):- PREPARE FOR PREGNANCY, BIRTH, AND PARENTING:
- "Preparing for Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting" — Sheryl at Little Snowflakes knows better now how to prepare for her second baby, focusing on attachment rather than nursery curtains. Watch for her post, which will be featured on Natural Parents Network on Tuesday, November 23. (@sheryljesin)
- "Begin at the Beginning" — Alison at BluebirdMama examines the first type of natural parenting she experienced: birthing at home. (@BluebirdMama)
- FEED WITH LOVE AND RESPECT:
- "Going With the {Tandem Milk} Flow" — Despite being told she would never be able to nurse her toddler through pregnancy, Jessika at Job Description: Mommy successfully nursed through her entire pregnancy, and she continues tandem nursing her two little ones fifteen months later! (@JobDescMommy)
- "Breastfeeding with Love and Respect" — Resisting the pressure to give up, breastfeeding was the way Dionna at NursingFreedom.org persisted in nourishing her son. (@NursingFreedom)
- "Why Should I Call It Extended?" — Amy at Toddler In Tow provides scientifically based research to support child-led weaning.
- RESPOND WITH SENSITIVITY:
- "Attachment Parenting Chose Us" — For a child who is born "sensitive," attachment parenting is more a way of life than a parenting "choice." Dionna at Code Name: Mama shares her experiences. (@CodeNameMama)
- "Parenting in the Present" — Acacia at Be Present Mama parents naturally by being fully present.
- "Parenting With Heart" — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment parents naturally because healthy attachments early in life help our little ones grow into healthy, functioning adults.
- USE NURTURING TOUCH:
- "Nurturing through touch" — Lauren at Hobo Mama finds that loving touch is a thread that runs through all her natural parenting practices. (@Hobo_Mama)
- ENSURE SAFE SLEEP:
- "Sometimes I Wish We Coslept" — Sheila at A Gift Universe has started to add cosleeping into her sleep routines and has found frequently unspoken benefits. Watch for her post, which will be featured on Natural Parents Network on Tuesday, November 30. (@agiftuniverse)
- PROVIDE CONSISTENT AND LOVING CARE:
- "Attachment Parenting . . . and Nanny Makes Three?" — When Jen at Grow with Graces first started interviewing nannies, she was looking for practicalities. After a few months with her first nanny, she's going to hire someone new, and this time, she'll make sure the nanny believes in AP principles. (@growwithgraces)
- "Do You Have This?" — For Rachael at The Variegated Life, natural parenting is about love and giving, rather than the alienation and longing present in so many in our Western culture. (@RachaelNevins)
- "What Natural Parenting Looks Like in Our Family" — Sybil at Musings of a Milk Maker shares what natural parenting is like as your little ones grow up.
- PRACTICE GENTLE/POSITIVE DISCIPLINE:
- "Unconditional Parenting" — The philosophy of Alfie Kohn resonates with Erin at Multiple Musings, who does not want to parent (or teach) using rewards and punishment. (@ErinLittle)
- STRIVE FOR BALANCE IN PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE:
- "Reducing Screen Time" — How does Mrs. H. at Fleeting Moments meaningfully connect with her kids every day? She turns off the TV.
- Also see our October Carnival all about finding balance!
Ecological Responsibility and Love of Nature
- "Healing Through Elimination Communication Part 1" — Amy at Innate Parenting explains how practicing elimination communication has helped her whole family gain awareness and healing in many areas of their lives. (@InnateWholeness)
- "Growing Out of Little Potties" — Stacy at Mama-Om is proud to be the "weird lady" who practices elimination communication with her babies. (@mama_om)
- "Let's Talk Diapers" — Lindsey at Mama Cum Laude started using cloth diapers because she felt they were a safer choice for her child; she stuck with them because they are convenient.
Holistic Health Practices
- "Supporting Natural Immunity" — If you have decided against the traditional vaccination schedule, Starr at Earth Mama has some helpful tips for strengthening your children's immune systems naturally.
Natural Learning
- "Acceptance as a Key to Natural Parenting" — Because Mrs. Green at Little Green Blog values accepting and responding to her daughter's needs, she was able to unravel the mystery of her daughter's learning "challenges." (@myzerowaste)
- "Let Them Look" — Betsy at Honest 2 Betsy makes time to look at, to touch, and to drool on the pinecones.
- "Why I Love Unschooling" — Unschooling isn't just about learning for Darcel at The Mahogany Way — it is a way of life. (@MahoganyWayMama)
- "Is He Already Behind?"Ever worry that your baby or toddler is behind the curve? Danielle at born.in.japan will reassure you about the many ways your little one is learning — naturally — every day. Watch for her post, which will be featured on Natural Parents Network on Tuesday, November 16. (@borninjp)
- "How to Help Your Child through Natural Learning" — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now offers tips on how to understand and nurture your child's natural learning style. (@DebChitwood)
Healthy Living
- "What 'Healthy Eating' Means to Me" — Wonder how a family of five makes healthy eating a priority? Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings shares some common sense tips. (@sunfrog)
- "What is Natural Parenting? Embracing Real Food" — Melodie at Breastfeeding Moms Unite! has always wanted to give her children the most nutritious foods possible: first through breastfeeding, and later through healthy, whole foods. (@bfmom)
Parenting Philosophies
- "Natural Parenting — Lazy Parenting" — To Olivia at Write About Birth, natural parenting isn't about a fixed set of ideals, but about what is instinctual. (@writeaboutbirth)
- "I'm not the most crunchy, but I'm still au naturel" — Jessica at This is Worthwhile follows her gut and parents with respect, and that's what feels natural to her. (@tisworthwhile)
- "Because Natural comes Naturally" — Breastfeeding, babywearing, cosleeping — Bess at mommakesmilk does these things because they feel right. (@MumtoEve)
- "What Do You Mean 'Natural Parenting'?" — Luschka at Diary of a First Child fell into natural parenting by listening to her baby and her own instincts. (@lvano)
- "One Little Change at a Time" — Ashley at Domestic Chaos made one small change at a time until "natural parenting" wasn't a punchline, but a way of life. (@ashleympoland)
- "WHY Attachment Parenting?" — While they might take some work to put into practice, Momma Jorje at A Slightly Crunchy Momma finds that all of the tenets of attachment parenting fit her family.
- "Yours, Respectfully" — For Kellie at Our Mindful Life, natural parenting is about being respectful: to yourself, your children, and your surroundings.
- "The Natural Parenting Label" — Michelle at The Parent Vortex explains that natural parenting is a mindset, not a set of specific choices or a few fancy acronyms. (@TheParentVortex)
- "When Our Children Are Grown" — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children parents naturally, because she is building a firm foundation for her children.
- "What is Natural Parenting to a Witch Mom?" — Lily at Witch Mom has planned out what she wants for her son, from health to socialization to interactions with the natural world. (@lilyshahar)
- "Attachment Parenting and Our Family" — Semi-crunchy Mama at Adventures in Mommyhood takes us through the way the Baby Bs have transformed their family of four. (@crunchymamato2)
- "I'm a Mama...Naturally" — Andrea!!! at Ella-Bean & Co. didn't intend to parent naturally, but it happened by instinct.
Political and Social Activism
- "A Private Matter" — Amy at Anktangle, who is a Registered Nurse, describes her encounters with circumcision in a medical environment and why they guided her decision to leave her own baby boy intact. (@anktangle)
- "Natural Parenting, Following Our Instincts, and Keeping Our Son Intact" — Kelly at KellyNaturally went against the tide and refused to circumcise her son. (@kellynaturally)
- "Relying on Kindness" — Sure, Navelgazing Bajan at Navelgazing wants her son to be kind — but kindness is not enough. (@BlkWmnDoBF)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Just Me, Blathering On...
I don't really have much important to say, so let's see if I can blog about nothing in particular and hold your interest. I'm determined to make it at least one week in NaBloPoMo.
******
I took Bubby in to the pediatrician today. We hardly ever go in except for our well-checks. I was worried he had an ear infection since he'd had a cold and has been super cranky, pulling at his ears, and nursing all night long. The good news is no ear infection! The bad news is these teeth are obviously really bothering him. The top right one cut completely though today (yay!) so I'm hoping teeth 4 ,5, and 6 are also planning to make their appearances shortly.
******
Beanie & Bubby played catch today. With the O-Ball. Well, as much as a three year old and an (almost) eight month old can. It was so neat to see them actually playing together, not just Bubby trying to roll and Beanie trying to show him the way. Or crowding his space.
******
The kids got up at six today (damn you Daylight Saving Time!!!) and we actually had a pretty productive morning. I washed our sheets and comforter, washed pans, vacuumed the living room and hallway, folded some laundry, went to the pediatrician's, went grocery shopping and put our dinner in the crock pot (Indonesian Chicken -- delish!). I'm feeling quite accomplished today. It helps with my depression to really get on a good roll in the mornings, otherwise the days just seem to waste away. Or things come up. You know with two kids things always come up. After this little break, I'm going to finish up a few more chores and I'll feel really good about today.
******
And, totally random, but does anyone have a recipe for bean soup? We got some delicious looking beans at Costco and I want to make some soup.
******
I'm also trying to plan out all our Thanksgiving fare. A lot of things will likely be easily adapted. The one recipe I'm most worried about is the stuffing. Not sure what route I'm going to take with that. I'm going to try our pumpkin pie recipe with coconut milk instead of evaporated milk. I saw some Sunny Valley Wheat Free pie crusts at PCC and they're also dairy-free & soy-free so I'll probably use those. I'm planning on a few test runs with the recipes so I'll let you know how they turn out.
******
That's it I guess.
What did you do today?
******
I took Bubby in to the pediatrician today. We hardly ever go in except for our well-checks. I was worried he had an ear infection since he'd had a cold and has been super cranky, pulling at his ears, and nursing all night long. The good news is no ear infection! The bad news is these teeth are obviously really bothering him. The top right one cut completely though today (yay!) so I'm hoping teeth 4 ,5, and 6 are also planning to make their appearances shortly.
******
Beanie & Bubby played catch today. With the O-Ball. Well, as much as a three year old and an (almost) eight month old can. It was so neat to see them actually playing together, not just Bubby trying to roll and Beanie trying to show him the way. Or crowding his space.
******
The kids got up at six today (damn you Daylight Saving Time!!!) and we actually had a pretty productive morning. I washed our sheets and comforter, washed pans, vacuumed the living room and hallway, folded some laundry, went to the pediatrician's, went grocery shopping and put our dinner in the crock pot (Indonesian Chicken -- delish!). I'm feeling quite accomplished today. It helps with my depression to really get on a good roll in the mornings, otherwise the days just seem to waste away. Or things come up. You know with two kids things always come up. After this little break, I'm going to finish up a few more chores and I'll feel really good about today.
******
And, totally random, but does anyone have a recipe for bean soup? We got some delicious looking beans at Costco and I want to make some soup.
******
I'm also trying to plan out all our Thanksgiving fare. A lot of things will likely be easily adapted. The one recipe I'm most worried about is the stuffing. Not sure what route I'm going to take with that. I'm going to try our pumpkin pie recipe with coconut milk instead of evaporated milk. I saw some Sunny Valley Wheat Free pie crusts at PCC and they're also dairy-free & soy-free so I'll probably use those. I'm planning on a few test runs with the recipes so I'll let you know how they turn out.
******
That's it I guess.
What did you do today?
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Daylight Saving Time was definitely not invented by parents.
Daylight Saving Time was started during World War I in order to take advantage of the greater amounts of sunlight during April and October. It was initiated again during World War II. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act and Daylight Saving Time was consistent across the states. In 2007, Daylight Saving Time was increased by four weeks in hopes to reduce the amount of oil consumption during daylight hours.
If there's one thing I know about Daylight Saving Time, it's that "fall back" or "spring forward" I lose an hour of sleep. This fact was reiterated once again this year as both my children woke up at 5:45, even with trying to push Beanie's bedtime back a bit.
There's no winning with Daylight Saving Time as a parent. The days of enjoying a late night with dreams of an extra hour of sleep are long gone. Sure, you can enjoy that extra hour Saturday night, but you just may find yourself pouring an extra big cup of coffee come 5:45 Sunday morning.
How did Daylight Saving Time go with your family? Did you get an extra hour of sleep?
If there's one thing I know about Daylight Saving Time, it's that "fall back" or "spring forward" I lose an hour of sleep. This fact was reiterated once again this year as both my children woke up at 5:45, even with trying to push Beanie's bedtime back a bit.
There's no winning with Daylight Saving Time as a parent. The days of enjoying a late night with dreams of an extra hour of sleep are long gone. Sure, you can enjoy that extra hour Saturday night, but you just may find yourself pouring an extra big cup of coffee come 5:45 Sunday morning.
How did Daylight Saving Time go with your family? Did you get an extra hour of sleep?
Saturday, November 6, 2010
What's Really Important.
I was all set to finish up a blog post about how Beanie and my relationship has changed since we became a family of four.
Instead I decided to sit in the rocking chair with her and read. Just the two of us. No little brother grabbing the book, getting cranky, or taking mommy's attention away.
So, I guess you'll just have to wait.
I'd apologize, but I'm not sorry in the slightest.
Instead I decided to sit in the rocking chair with her and read. Just the two of us. No little brother grabbing the book, getting cranky, or taking mommy's attention away.
So, I guess you'll just have to wait.
I'd apologize, but I'm not sorry in the slightest.
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Looming Reintroduction
In less than two weeks Bubby will be eight months old. The time is quickly coming when we can reintroduce the allergens into my (and subsequently his) diet. His pediatrician said that we could reintroduce at either nine months or twelve months old; she left it entirely up to us.
On one hand, I'm excited. According to our pediatrician, most babies outgrow milk protein & soy sensitivities by one year of age. She said that out of all the infants she'd seen with sensitivities she only had three who didn't outgrow at one year and only one who didn't outgrow the intolerance by three years old. Right now, it really isn't a big deal for Bubby. He nurses and he doesn't know any differently. I really hope he outgrows the intolerance by the time he's old enough to know what is going on. Being able to consume wheat, dairy and soy (or, really, any combination of the three) would make things a lot easier, for me right now and for Bubby later. It's only been in the last few weeks that I've started missing foods, started craving a grilled cheese sandwich, or started getting frustrated when Glenn comes up with dinner idea after dinner idea that I can't have. The other thing is that the holidays are looming right around the corner and, while I'm sort of looking forward to lots of recipe adaptations and exploration, it'd be nice to be able to enjoy some of the holiday favorites we are accustomed to. If we tried a reintroduction at nine months, there is the possibility we would be good to go at Christmas. When I think about the reintroduction from my "holiday perspective" as I call it, it makes me feel more than a tad selfish.
On the other hand, I'm nervous. I don't want to reintroduce these allergens if they're really going to bother Bubby. I know we have to try them out sooner or later. The fact that he had such a difficult time when I reintroduced before (mucousy, horrible diapers with streaks of blood and incredibly fussy) makes me want to wait as long as possible. Eliminating wheat, dairy and soy from my diet made all the difference in the world for Bubby. I don't want to cause him pain or discomfort.
I know the reintroduction is something we have to try sooner or later. Glenn and I have been talking about it. I've been reading what I can. We want to be able to make the best, most educated decision for our son. It's nervewracking, but it also brings about the possibility of no longer living gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free.
I know I should be (and I am!) happy about that prospect, but, the truth is, I have become very accustomed to this lifestyle. I feel healthier, although I am almost positive that can be attributed to the lack of dairy as I noticed a difference when I was only dairy-free. Part of the nervousness with the reintroduction has to do with not only how Bubby will react, but how my body will react.
There are a lot of unknowns with this looming reintroduction. I am excited to see how it all plays out and also a bit nervous too.
On one hand, I'm excited. According to our pediatrician, most babies outgrow milk protein & soy sensitivities by one year of age. She said that out of all the infants she'd seen with sensitivities she only had three who didn't outgrow at one year and only one who didn't outgrow the intolerance by three years old. Right now, it really isn't a big deal for Bubby. He nurses and he doesn't know any differently. I really hope he outgrows the intolerance by the time he's old enough to know what is going on. Being able to consume wheat, dairy and soy (or, really, any combination of the three) would make things a lot easier, for me right now and for Bubby later. It's only been in the last few weeks that I've started missing foods, started craving a grilled cheese sandwich, or started getting frustrated when Glenn comes up with dinner idea after dinner idea that I can't have. The other thing is that the holidays are looming right around the corner and, while I'm sort of looking forward to lots of recipe adaptations and exploration, it'd be nice to be able to enjoy some of the holiday favorites we are accustomed to. If we tried a reintroduction at nine months, there is the possibility we would be good to go at Christmas. When I think about the reintroduction from my "holiday perspective" as I call it, it makes me feel more than a tad selfish.
On the other hand, I'm nervous. I don't want to reintroduce these allergens if they're really going to bother Bubby. I know we have to try them out sooner or later. The fact that he had such a difficult time when I reintroduced before (mucousy, horrible diapers with streaks of blood and incredibly fussy) makes me want to wait as long as possible. Eliminating wheat, dairy and soy from my diet made all the difference in the world for Bubby. I don't want to cause him pain or discomfort.
I know the reintroduction is something we have to try sooner or later. Glenn and I have been talking about it. I've been reading what I can. We want to be able to make the best, most educated decision for our son. It's nervewracking, but it also brings about the possibility of no longer living gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free.
I know I should be (and I am!) happy about that prospect, but, the truth is, I have become very accustomed to this lifestyle. I feel healthier, although I am almost positive that can be attributed to the lack of dairy as I noticed a difference when I was only dairy-free. Part of the nervousness with the reintroduction has to do with not only how Bubby will react, but how my body will react.
There are a lot of unknowns with this looming reintroduction. I am excited to see how it all plays out and also a bit nervous too.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
My Two Moms.
No, they're not gay.
Although lately I have the feeling that would be easier to explain to a three year old.
When I was 14 (?) my parents got divorced. My dad quickly got remarried. BUT I've never considered my stepmom my mom. At all. It probably has a lot to do with the fact that our families were friends while my parents (and my stepmom & her husband) were still married. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that my stepmom would call and ask us if my mom was home when she knew she wouldn't be and then just ask to hang out with me, my sister and my dad. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that my dad chose his new wife over his children and we didn't speak for a long while.
All of that is in the past though. I do get along with my stepmom and my dad just fine now. Sure, the relationship has its awkwardness but, for the most part, it's as normal as a relationship with your parents can be. They see the kids more than any of the grandparents since my dad is in town for business at least once a month.
Beanie was convinced my stepmom is my mom. I tried to explain that, no, Grandma L was my stepmom. That the other Grandma L was my mom. The concept of divorce is lost on Beanie. I'm glad she doesn't understand that right now. I try to explain that my mom and dad used to be married to each other, but now they are married to other people. I tell her that it means she gets an extra set of grandparents.
I don't think she really gets it. I suppose if the circumstances were different I really wouldn't care that Beanie thought I had "two moms." But, the way it all went down (even though it was over 15 years ago) makes it that I don't want Beanie to think my stepmom is my mom. It isn't really that big of a deal I guess. I'm sure in time she will understand better.
Do you have step-parents? How do you explain those relationships to your young children?
Although lately I have the feeling that would be easier to explain to a three year old.
When I was 14 (?) my parents got divorced. My dad quickly got remarried. BUT I've never considered my stepmom my mom. At all. It probably has a lot to do with the fact that our families were friends while my parents (and my stepmom & her husband) were still married. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that my stepmom would call and ask us if my mom was home when she knew she wouldn't be and then just ask to hang out with me, my sister and my dad. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that my dad chose his new wife over his children and we didn't speak for a long while.
All of that is in the past though. I do get along with my stepmom and my dad just fine now. Sure, the relationship has its awkwardness but, for the most part, it's as normal as a relationship with your parents can be. They see the kids more than any of the grandparents since my dad is in town for business at least once a month.
Beanie was convinced my stepmom is my mom. I tried to explain that, no, Grandma L was my stepmom. That the other Grandma L was my mom. The concept of divorce is lost on Beanie. I'm glad she doesn't understand that right now. I try to explain that my mom and dad used to be married to each other, but now they are married to other people. I tell her that it means she gets an extra set of grandparents.
I don't think she really gets it. I suppose if the circumstances were different I really wouldn't care that Beanie thought I had "two moms." But, the way it all went down (even though it was over 15 years ago) makes it that I don't want Beanie to think my stepmom is my mom. It isn't really that big of a deal I guess. I'm sure in time she will understand better.
Do you have step-parents? How do you explain those relationships to your young children?
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Wordless Wednesday: Halloween
Okay, here are my obligatory Halloween pics.
I dare you to find a cuter butterfly or monster.
Dare you.
I'm linked up over at Hobo Mama so head over there for more Wordless Wednesday posts.
I dare you to find a cuter butterfly or monster.
Dare you.
I'm linked up over at Hobo Mama so head over there for more Wordless Wednesday posts.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Please Vote Today.
I have to admit I'm sort of bummed that voting here is mail in. It sure does make things easier, but I feel like I'm missing an opportunity to take Beanie to vote with me. To let her know how things in this country work, or are supposed to work.
That's it. Go vote. Or, if you're a mail in voter like me, make sure your ballot is postmarked by today.
Did you vote?
(I won't stop bugging you until you do.)
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