Raising Frolic

Reviving the ol' Raising Frolic

2011-09-12T20:58:00.004-05:00

Well, hello, there! I'm still here! Anyone out there? I just re-found my passwords, decided to see if this thing still works. Yep, seems to! Cool!

Not quite sure what I'll do with this yet, but for now know that I am still here, and my adorable Bean and Peach are growing fast and are happy and well. Peach is over a year now, walking well and starting to talk quite a bit. Cat, Hat, Dog, Dada, Mama....Lots of shrieking, too...always surprises WF, especially in the car. She's staying true to her earlier indications of being a quick, active girl who wants to keep up with her big brother!

Bean is now about 3.5, and just started preschool! Two days per week, and he is very excited. It's his "big boy school", with a lunch bag and Bob the Builder backpack (Mama's been trolling garage sales...). He's growing into a careful, caring boy, most of the time... he's still capable of bopping his sister, of course. He's a talker, still, when he knows the situation. If he doesn't know you, don't expect that sort of talking for a while, till he checks everything out.

I am plugging away at various odds and ends of independent work-type projects, and I'm happy to be back to a more regular two-day per week childcare/work schedule. WF is still at his old place of employement, supporting us with good benefits, etc. We're still living at our old rural place, now ON the grid, with bigger gardens, etc.

One of my biggest challenges in the past year has been colds/allergies/sinus infections; it seems my allergies to mold and/or dust have gotten worse, and our house is full of it... sneezing constantly doesn't leave much energy for cleaning, especially when the cleanign makes things worse for a while. I had about 8 colds during Peach's first year, perhaps mixed with allergies. I often can't breathe through my nose AT ALL, which makes sleeping uncomfortable. I'm in the house more than I used to be (ie home with kids), but haven't managed to get it cleaned up very well.

SO... part of my purpose for reviving the blog is to create a public accountability (but a slightly different public than Facebook; mixed feelings about that venue right now) regarding a CLEANUP project for the house and my own health. I was toying with "name" ideas... how about GREEN ROUTINES? Ie environmentally and healthy actions, done in a routine so as to make them more set in our fairly chaotic lives. Yes, something like that. More soon, I hope! I'll leave you with a picture of some sort...

At the "rock beach" on my Birthday... getting two to smile at once is nearly impossible!

6 months! (and 400 posts!)

2011-02-17T20:28:00.004-06:00

Oh! We are still here, but didn't realize it had quite been since OCTOBER that I last posted. Hmmm. Blogger tells me that this is my 400th post, as well... in about 5years. I used to keep this fairly current back in the day!

We have a milestone right about now, with Miss Peach turning 6 months old! In keeping with her brother's schedule, she popped her first tooth this week, right at 6 months. She does NOT approve of how teething feels, and lets us know quite forcefully. She slept so well for months, and now wakes up crying. We even resorted to tylenol for a night, so we could all sleep. Ahhh....

She's a grabby, lively, active little one... she's wearing sometimes still 3 month size clothes, which blows me away; Bean was wearing 18 month clothes by this age. She can sit, grab, reach, pivot... I won't be surprised if she's crawling in a couple months. WF calls it an olympic sport to try to eat dinner with her in his lap; she reaches for EVERYTHING lightning fast. We need a little distance, and the high chair seems to be working OK for a bit. She tasted her first food the other day, avacado, but is still rather perplexed by the idea.

The rest of us are doing fine, sleeping sometimes, fighting cold and sinus germs, workin', neglecting the housekeeping, learning to use the potty (Bean is, anyway). He's doing well with that milestone, finally... such a big boy! Learning to count, recognizing letters (he shouted out to me today in the library "That's a K, mama!" when he saw one scrolling across a computer screen).

He's also so sweetly innocent of some things. He got a sucker at ECFE, and said thanks to the girl who brought treats. Then he turned to me and said, "What is this?" The conversation about this odd item continued later, to the amusement of the teachers. I later told him that people lick suckers, so that's what he did; never put it in his mouth because he'd never seen it done. And then gave it to me to save for later. Not sure if we've sheltered him too much? Ah, well, he'll learn soon enough about sugar, eh? We have been really careful, and I'm hoping I've saved him the fate of "bad family teeth", which I suspect is really "bad family sugar traditions."

Ok, a few pictures are in order...

My beans are so lovely, and I am so blessed. Much Gratitude!

9-10 weeks

2010-10-29T23:06:00.006-05:00

Hmmm, yep, the blog. Still here, still of interest. It gets confusing, y'all. Things posted here get to different people than Facebook, which is different than real life (really!). I get lost sometimes, assuming some in one world know things posted elsewhere. And huh, maybe it would be nice to see/communicate/interact with people more in PERSON. What a concept, eh?

I'm enjoying most parts of my "new life" (ie home more with kids, no workplace, no regular paycheck....hmmm) but am really realizing what a support system a real full-time job can be. Benefits, co-workers, SICK PAY. I've been struggling to get enough paying hours completed, between kid's germs and my germs and various other things. We are still working to get the hang of things. Oddly, I miss that old workplace more NOW than I did for the past nearly-year that I've been gone. We get a little isolated out here.

But here, I do have some very cute "co-workers"... one almost 10-week old little person, who is still looking much like her brother (in similar-aged photo on left)! She definitely seems to be a bit more social, with lots of "talking" and eye contact.

Big brother Bean is still doing well, most of the time. I've had some not-great mama bear moments with him lately, when he's deliberately doing something to pester baby Peach; grrr! But he's mostly a very good boy. Here he's showing off a HUGE apple from our tree, a "crisp" (honeycrisp) apple that was very tasty when we had it for lunch today!

And in other news (that should probaby get it's own post when I get a chance)... we are now hooked up to the electric grid out here! The yard is still a mess from the trenching (digger! In the yard!) and they haven't re-connected the solar panel yet (boo). But it's been nice not to worry about power on these dark wet fall days. We'll get our first power bill in a decade soon, though, which might not be as fun.

More later!

Dancin'!

2010-10-18T02:42:00.004-05:00

We had a big day yesterday, with a dinner out (the annual Co-op dinner, a big event with free, fancy food!) and even a dance! We stopped in at the Tamarack dance briefly (it was getting late), but Bean danced on his own, very well, with Dada. Peach refused to nurse even though she was hungry, because there was just too much to watch!

She's definitely a social one, and seems to like music. Someday we can have our own square of 4 for dancin'!

Square Compare II

2010-10-18T01:56:00.003-05:00

So, this one's for Grandma T! Following in the tradition of these posts...

Baby Peach is doing so well... growing, smiling, "talking"... she's very social and has been cooing more than I remember Bean doing at this age. He is doing well with the new addition still, just a bit more testing limits with us lately. But he does love "baby sister"!

Catching Up

2010-09-27T01:08:00.002-05:00

Wow, has it been a whole month since I updated this? Crazy. Sorry, you few and hearty blog loyalists! I may actually start updating this more frequently; I've recently remembered how much I used this as Bean's online "baby book" and it's nice to have that record. I have more traditional baby books, too, but since I now spend so much time online, it might be nice to have something more permanent and coherent than Facebook. That site does take alot of my online energy/writing, but it's just not a place to practice writing or keep a more complete record, I don't think.

Anyway. It's very late and I really should be in bed, so here's a quick look at Baby Peach, who has been SMILING for a while now. I finally captured it on camera! She loves her changing table as it's a perfect spot to be closer to faces, which she loves to look at and cooo.... Bean loved the changing table, too, but he seemed to be more into the view out the window; not as much eye contact from him at this age.

Ok, cut to the chase, the pictures, eh? Enjoy!

One Week Old!

2010-08-25T23:19:00.004-05:00

Baby Peach has been with us "on the outside" for just one week! She seems somehow older and wiser than that, don't you think?

And continuing the tradition from Baby Bean, here is her very own "measuring quilt" from Grandma! (taken a few days ago; her belly button thingee already fell off!)

She's here!

2010-08-19T06:13:00.003-05:00

Baby (Apple? Peach? Not sure of blog name yet) is here, safe and sound and solid! We're not that late with the update, SHE was late! 18 days, to be exact.

Whew. We were reaching the absolute limit on what care providers were comfortable with (ie days overdue; the midwife and family practice docs had passed us off to an OB) and probably would have had a scheduled c-section on the 17th (couldn't induce since Bean was born via c-section), but I handily went into natural labor on the very last possible morning! I was very happy about that. Things went really well, but in the end (after 14 hours of active labor and 3 of good pushing) we decided that perhaps she was just too big and had a c-section. Not my favorite experience, that surgery, but things are going well so far.

Baby is a good nurser, and a spitting image of Bean at that age. Facebook has been abuzz, but here's a pic or two to get started. Bean met her briefly yesterday, and was very gentle, if perplexed. More pictures later?

Blessed Be, baby is here!

Still here, waiting

2010-08-04T15:01:00.003-05:00

Ah, the blog! Nothing like a little unannounced break, eh? Facebook has completely eaten my time and motivation for this, but maybe we will revive it someday... there will be more content, soon! But less time, likely. Hmm.

Anyway. We are well, I'm just really really really pregnant (was due a few days ago). Bean is growing up so fast, over 2 now, running, talking, sharing. WF is a great daddy, and I'm contemplating how to be a momma of 2 very soon!

Wish us luck, and hope to pop back in to post here when we have some more news!
Peace!
GTR

Heehaw music!

2010-05-18T13:16:00.002-05:00

Bean has been enjoying bluegrass lately, especially a classic recording by a group called the Gordons from 1977. He can even pick out the fiddles and show us a little fiddling action! He calls it heehaw music. Enjoy!

Happy Bean Day!

2010-04-30T22:25:00.004-05:00

2 years ago today at this time, I had yet to meet our little/big Bean. He came to us after a very long labor at 11:57 pm on this day. He was a big, sleepy baby.

Now he is a full-fledged 2-year-old; he's been acting like it for a while. Not in the terrible two's way, but in the very verbal, very "with it" (as WF says) persona he projects. He's a storyteller, a problem solver, a kid with a good memory and a discerning eye. I was cooking buckwheat groats the other day, and he looked over and said "That's buckwheat!" I used to try to call it rice when I served it, but he knows better. His vocabulary is in the hundreds, I'm sure; I've lost count. He loves to help with outdoor and chicken chores, thanks to WF and his great sharing of outdoor/work time.

We had cake and candles this evening; he was excited by the candles and singing; not so much by the chocolate cake. We've tried hard to keep him "innocent" of many things, including sugar. He loves things like bunny grahams, but chocolate is just not his thing. I'll make a yellow cake for his little party on Sunday.

There's so much more I'd like to write about him, to preserve this time. Life will chance soon when he is no longer an only child, but I think he will be a good big brother. He loves his trucks, but he's also been spotted giving "milkies" to some dolls and has been dressing them up in the hand-me-down baby clothes we were given the other day. A well balanced soul, and I am very, very grateful! We are very blessed.

Happy 2nd birthday, little Bean! You are growing to be an amazing boy!

Sitting and Running

2010-04-21T09:47:00.005-05:00

Ah, the blog. It's still here, isn't it? Just barely. I don't intend to abandon it completely, it just slips away. Darn Facebook!

We are well. My belly is growing "bigger bigger" as Bean would say, and I'm finding it pretty hard to get up from sitting on the floor. I don't remember that from being pregnant with Bean, but I guess I wasn't sitting on the floor (to tie shoes, to play legos, etc) as much during that pregnancy! I AM really big, though; I just carry babies right out front, I guess. I feel like I'm as big as some other people in my prenatal yoga class who are ready to give birth next week. Ah, well.

I am really enjoying my new business venture. I have a good contract right now with my former employer, so I'm sort of the "super contractor" who can come in and set myself up in the conference room and do my oral history interview thing; it's a bit of a honeymoon. It won't last much longer, and then we'll see how I can pursue other similar jobs. I NEVER pictured myself as a "business person", and I'm still not really, but I get a little kick out of telling the bank, etc that I'm a sole proprietor. Right now it's very freeing and inspiring to be my own boss and enjoy what I do! I feel really lucky. I suppose someday I may miss the structure and security (and income?) of a steady regular job, but I'm enjoying the ride right now.

Bean is doing well, growing, talking, running, telling Mama to "put the camera away!" He's just not a fan of the camera, so fewer pictures lately. But we snuck in a few! WF and he really have a great time together outside for long stretches at a time. I went to a presentation by a brain researcher/expert the other day who emphasized that toddlers need lots of outdoor time and little "screen time"... I feel good that we've been able to give that to Bean. He's almost 2, and we're still resisting TV/videos completely at home. Not sure how much longer we can sustain that, but it's definitely easier if we just don't have at TV around, so it's not a part of his world, etc.

Put it away, Mama! Mama, run!

Spring!

2010-03-14T14:09:00.003-05:00

I guess it's really Spring now... cousins running around on the deck, one with no coat, no hats, no mittens?! They enjoyed themselves!

And a big thank-you to Grandma T for the fun boat/sandbox that was delivered... it has already been enjoyed!

Introducing...

2010-03-12T12:28:00.004-06:00

For HER blog debut... Baby 2-to-be! Or Baby Apple (blog name), maybe? Bean insists on saying "apple" every time he sees the ultrasound pictures. I have been craving apples, and WF loves apple trees... we'll see! But excited to meet her..sometime at the very beginning of August. And we're pretty sure it's a her... the ultrasound tech pointed out her "business" very clearly. A new adventure! Welcome...

We're Back

2010-03-12T11:32:00.004-06:00

I'm back! Horray! Anyone else still out there in blogland? We had a good trip, but caught some horrible bugs (sinus, cough, blah) that lingered for a couple weeks. Traveling with a sick toddler while sleep deprived through snowy airports with multiple flight delays was enough to scare me off family air travel for a LONG time. But before he got sick, Bean enjoyed meeting (and charming) some relatives he's never met (and their cat, a big hit)! He wasn't himself by the time we got to Boston for cousin fun, but they still managed to have a few good times together.

I shared vacation photos on facebook and it feels like very old news now, so I'll just update a few shots of Bean acting like a big kid (a common theme)...

He loves to help with chores, and is actually getting quite good at shaking out and hanging up diapers and wipes...

Bean asked to wear this baby on his back, just like his dada does for him.

Coloring is quite popular, and he now knows a few shapes as well as all the colors. we haven't been even trying to teach them, it just happens...amazing, eh?

And yet another crazy mama toy splurge; a vintage (but cleaned and safe) Fisher Price farm set from the 70's/80's, like I had growing up. They have one at ECFE and Bean plays with it every week, so much so that the teachers said "He just really seems like a farm boy!" (not knowing that we actually DO have chickens, etc). So, it was pretty cheap on Ebay (about my second purchase ever) and within a few days, we were reliving my childhood and learning about farms at the same time. Bean loves it, and I'm happy that it doesn't beep and light up and all sorts of questionable things the "modern" version does. He's already figured out that just one door goes "Mooo!"

Big Kid

2010-01-31T11:20:00.003-06:00

We're getting ready for our first airplane trip in over a year, and we were testing out some new shoes and a backpack for Bean (all purchased from Savers, so just new to us). I had a flash of the "going to Kindergarten" picture... eeeep! But doesn't he look SO BIG? He's not even 2 yet. We're going to bring his birth certificate on the plane so we don't get questioned about our "free infant-in-lap". A bit nervous about all the flying, but we're packing lots of good stuff for eating and entertainment.

This picture also shows the current Bean-Schroeder relationship: He loves her, she doesn't let him near her unless she's safe behind a gate. (Can you see her by his head?)

Also, one belated picture of Bean's first snowman! We have been watching the snowman change shape and melt, with just a bit of concern. "Fix 'no-man? 'No-man uh-oh! 'No-man in window..."

Wish us luck... more soon!

Thank You Card

2010-01-26T10:45:00.004-06:00

This may be a little belated, but we received so many great gifts this holiday season from family and friends. Bean's been enjoying them very much! Here's a little glimpse of some of that fun...

A homemade doll bed by Grandpa T and quilt by Grandma T. Bean puts babies to bed frequently!

A special mop and broom just Bean's size from the R Grandparents; Bean LOVES them... Grandma R was initially skeptical when we put it on the list, and was pleasantly surprised what a hit they were...

Lincoln Log type things from friends Noel and Lindy (who are currently overseas)... Bean asks often to "make-a-yogs"... they are a little above his age range, but we help him make garages for his trucks, etc...

A lovely little play kitchen from craig's list and Grandparents T... Bean loves it, but Bean's first concern was that real water doesn't come out of the sink. Water come? he says...

And a little splurge from Mama... wooden "cutting" fruit, which Bean also enjoys working with in his kitchen.

We are blessed! But right now, he's happily playing with a baby blanket "Kehton make tent"... he's a talker these days!

Flying Catch-Up

2010-01-23T20:21:00.004-06:00

Flying in just before it’s been a WHOLE MONTH since we’ve posted… oops! We are still here, still thinking about posts, but they haven’t happened for a few big reasons. All is well; just many, many changes on the horizon. Some news and new things first, and then I’ll throw pictures at you, maybe, to catch up.

1. I am FINISHED with my former “real” job! My last day was Thursday; 5 months after giving notice, it was a sprint to the finish. I wrapped up as much as I could, copied some files, cleaned out my cubicle, turned in my keys and drove away for the last time. After 6 years of pack-rat tendencies and rather varied projects, even just the sorting and cleaning and deleting and recycling was a big deal. But now I’m FREE…to develop new things, to figure out how to finance our lives, to be home more with Bean. It feels good, it will be a new adventure.

2. I started my own business; I’m filed with the state, have a website and business cards, even have a new business credit card for keeping expenses separate. I don’t actually have CLIENTS yet, ahem, but that will come. I have a few things in mind that I’ll hear about soon. It’s a writing/editing/Personal Historian/oral history type service. If you want more details, email me or leave a comment.

3.Last but definitely not least... I’m pregnant! Yep, just over 12 weeks right now. I’ve been queasy a lot, which never happened with Bean, and its felt a bit more uncertain this time. But I think that’s part of a second pregnancy with a toddler to chase… there’s not time to sit and write in a pregnancy journal, etc. Due late July or early August… a summer baby!

So, yeah. That’s where we’ve been. I’m finally feeling a bit better, after recovering from the month-long cold/sinus/early pregnancy exhaustion. I made it through my last work days, and Bean is doing really well; talking up a storm and correctly identifying most colors without prompting (!). He’ll continue to go to his daycare 2 days a week so I can catch up on house projects, rest, and get this business going. Just a few things on the list...We’re busy and grateful. New lands ahead!

Bean is excited about my new "mobile office" briefcase!

Talkin' Cousins

2009-12-26T00:05:00.002-06:00

More video fun... for our far-away nieces/cousins.... Bean trying out his photo-ID skills on the new Christmas pictures!

We'll see them soon... and maybe he'll know their names!

Happy Christmas Eve!

2009-12-24T21:06:00.003-06:00

We are indeed still here! Solstice has passed and we're looking forward to lighter days. I've been dealing with cold/sinus/virus stuff for a full month now, going to bed early, etc...so it's been hard to get to the blog.

But we want to say Merry Christmas and share a glimpse of what we've been up to. Happy Holidays!

He started this yesterday, after a day of festive sledding at daycare. His first "song"! We're so proud.

This was something I meant to post a while ago... a solar-powered radio dance party in the driveway! A good use for a sunny day. Need more of those!

And Bean is a master with the shovel. We're in the midst of a pretty big blizzard right now, and he was out helping WF a couple times already.

We are grateful for all our blessings this year, and wish you all a wonderful new year!

A New Train of Thought

2009-11-25T15:18:00.004-06:00

Time for some new content. We have finally entered the world of Thomas the Tank Engine trains at our house. Bean has been playing with them at daycare, the library and even with some magnetic trucks at ECFE. He's been lining up cars at home and getting frustrated that they didn't follow each other. So, I finally broke down and opened the 3 trains we got from his cousins this summer (I was saving them till he was older). He immediately knew what to do!

A new train-lover is confirmed. We have a pillowcase from Savers with Thomas on it, and it was distracting last night when we were trying to go to sleep. "Choo-choos!" I didn't teach him that, just repeating him on the video. Soon after I took this, we were gifted with some outgrown trains from a friend; so we are well stocked. But I do forsee some train-heavy gift lists in future years, possibly!

Farewell Lutsen Cat

2009-11-14T23:19:00.005-06:00

We had to say goodbye to a good cat soul today... Lutsen-cat, a patient, friendly, "involved" cat, aged 12. She had been battling diabetes for a while now, but was still patrolling the yard for mice and voles until a couple days ago. She took a turn for the worse rather suddenly last night, and we had to make the final vet visit this morning. She's at peace now, but we will miss her so much.

She came to live at this rural home about 11 years ago, shortly after WF moved in. She'd been a starving stray, and once she got here, started eating voraciously. Turns out she came with 5 free, bonus cats inside! She gave birth here and was a good mother to Schroeder (her spitting image) and 4 others who went to live with friends.

Lutsen has really been WF's shadow for a long time. She's always been here, longer than I have, sleeping on WF's chest or following him around, "helping" with projects. She would even follow us far into the woods while hiking; a bit like a dog in that way! I imagine she was a bit surprised to find herself in a household with a Baby Bean years later, but she was so patient with him. He loved her... his first real word was "Caaaaa" (he still doesn't pronounce the T) and his face just lit up when she'd appear. She never once scratched him, only mrrrr'ing in protest occasionally as he flattened her with his attentions or pulled her around by her tail. Poor Lutey; we tried to teach him gentleness, but especially since she didn't do much in return, it was hard. She was brave.

Lutsen was also our social ambassador; she'd jump into any available lap, stranger or no. She'd help repairmen if we didn't keep her away. She waited at the door each evening and rocketed out into the yard most days, or greeted you carside (or jumping INTO the car to say Hi). She was a great vole hunter. Yeah, I know, outdoor cats... but she was specific to her vole/mole/mouse prey, not going for birds, and her work helped save WF's beloved fruit trees. Leftovers went to the chickens. She loved being outside, and was patient with us forgetting to let her back in some nights. I fretted about predators, but she was pretty street (or woods)smart. She was very much part of the spirit of this place.

So farewell, dear Lutsen. Thank you for your patience and love. WF will especially miss you; I thank you for being there for him through some hard times, and for showing me that he was likely to be a good daddy (and we were right!)...he was so smitten and gentle with you. You were Bean's first cat, and have showed us that the long line of cat-loving men in this family will continue. We'll take good care of Schroeder.

Peace and purrs to you...

Hallo-was

2009-11-11T23:21:00.003-06:00

So, yeah. There's this thing in November, when some people try to write a novel in one month (NaNoWriMo) or make a blog post every day (NaNoBloMo). In the interest of being contrary, I am almost doing the opposite; writing NOTHING all month! Ahem.

Anyway. We are still here, occasionally wearing costumes, occasionally not. It's the dark time, sun-wise, so that makes life just a little more interesting when living off the grid.

For instance, we spend Halloween evening at the laundromat! Wheee! We had sheets and blankets to wash, and this is the only way. Luckily, Bean is young enough that Halloween doesn't mean much yet. So, we did get dressed up, attended the co-op party (Bean's highlight was either the music from Terrance and Kelly, or "sweeping" the empty aisles afterward. The boy does love a good broom!) and then headed out to wash. We don't get trick-or-treaters at our house, anyway, so we were not missing that part of the day. It was festive, in a laundry sort of way.

We did also visit with cousin A at the mall... an crazy thing, but fun to see a cute little ladybug. Bean wasn't quite sure what to think, but she liked him!

We've also survived a nasty round of stomach flu (worse for the adults than Bean) and... it was sunny yesterday, so I celebrated by having some toast... an extravagance not usually seen all winter.

Life is good.

Vocab-boy

2009-10-27T23:08:00.003-05:00

So, as WF said the other day, "He's learning the language!". I followed Bean around today with a pen in hand, and by the end of the day we had over 50 words! This includes "Zoop!" when looking at a big stew pot (who taught him that?), "Bear" when looking at a plastic honey-bear, water and bath when, well, taking a bath. We have juice, cup, spoon, fork, yogurt, corn, meat, booh-beh (blueberries), PEES (please) and pumpkin. We have cat, hat, boot, shoe, sock ("zock") and shovel. Shovel is quite emphatic while we are outside, or when Dada has been spotted carrying a shovel outside when Bean has not been invited to help. He loves to help with outside chores. Inside chores, too...he recognizes the fly swatter (runs around yelling "fwies!" (flies) and the "boom" (broom) is quite a hit.

I'm not sure what's average at this age, but it's fun to have this record right before he turns 18 months old. There's definitely some gears turning up there these days, and it's so much fun to watch!

Talking pictures

2009-10-24T12:27:00.001-05:00

Another little sneak peak for the grandparents... and anyone else who cares to listen in. Adding new words every day!

Sneak Peek

2009-10-23T15:46:00.005-05:00

So, we found this Tigger and put him to work raking leaves (at a friend's birthday party in town)...

A frog came along to help (a friend of a friend's son, not sure of his name...)

Luckily his tail didn't get in the way!

He had enough energy left over to do some reading afterwards...

And talk to a friend!!

Yep, I'm revealing Bean's Halloween costume early, but I thought the Grandparents who missed out on a visit today due to germs might like a sneak peek. He's too cute not to share. Very cuddly in this second-hand suit, too, I might add. He doesn't really seem to notice his new tail, etc, but did say "Cat!" when he first saw the costume. Yep, a few steps ahead from this first halloween!

This party was for a friend who is exactly 6 months older than Bean, turning 2 years old! That means in just 6 months, we'll be....Oh, my. Time flies!

10-10 = Snow Start

2009-10-10T22:54:00.004-05:00

So this was a suprise! I got home late last night to clear and starry weather (was out for a rare night with other moms sans kids; whoo!), and woke up to WHITE! SNOW! EVERYWHERE! Not the normal first snow for the year. A bit early (!!!!) but beautiful nonetheless. It took me a minute to figure out why it looked so strange; green leaves and white ground usually do not mix!

We went out before breakfast for a quick visit; Bean's first snow while walking and more aware!

First tromp through snow; didn't even stop to inspect it first; nothing phases this boy!

Oh, wait! Something's different, mom!

And what are these silly things you managed to sneak onto my hands? I'll take care of that!

Ohhhh... cold! Do not like this!

Oh, well, never mind... I'll just get on with clearing it for you....

The snow is mostly melted by now, but the forecast calls for more this weekend. Yikes. It's been such an odd weather year, but I guess we best embrace the cold. We're pretty well outfitted through fortutitious garages sale, Grandma shopping gifts and wonderful friend hand-me-downs (thanks for the snowsuit, Mary; great timing!). We're ready for more winter now; but maybe some true Fall, first?

5 Years

2009-10-02T23:06:00.005-05:00

Went walkin' in the woods with my guys today... one tall, one not-so-tall.

It was a nice short celebration of 5 years together (married) for WF and I... it's been a good time, and now we are three!

We looked at the pictures from that day 5 years ago, sharing them with the new addition. He recognized pictures of "dada-papa"... Grandpa, I think. Fun to start sharing some of his family history with Bean, now that he recognizes pictures. Mind boggling, isn't it all?

Love you, WF... here's to many more 5-year milestones!

Great Great!

2009-10-01T13:49:00.004-05:00

We had a great, short visit from Bean's Great-Great-Aunt (wow!) and her family, all the way from Seattle and California! Bean never got to meet his Great-Grandma; this is her sister, 12 years younger...as close as he can come on this plane. Big families mean all sorts of interesting age combinations!

We have many similar ideas about food, etc, and it was fun to share our new, zingy live kraut; Bean definitely impressed them with his zeal for the purple stuff!

In other news, we are still just muddling along, trying to kick some germs (currently colonizing my sinuses) and keep up with the house. No new action, just keepin' up. This is my first week of 3 day work in a while, so hoping that helps us feel a bit caught up. Fall is here; we've had touches of frost. Maybe a garden post (such as it is?) will happen soon...

Growing Up

2009-09-24T13:09:00.004-05:00

We are here and growing every day. I'm still working in town, due to another temporary 3-day-a-week compromise that might run through the end of the year. Part time is ideal, so we'll ride it out. Just not as exciting as throwing myself into new pursuits more full-time just yet, but there are financial realities. Y'know.

But BEAN! The blog needs an update just to share pictures, as I've never gotten into a routine of sharing with relatives, etc. Just in the past week or so, I've been noticing the angles of Bean's face changing... the baby is departing and the little boy is emerging. It happens so fast; he's not even 18 months old, yet! Oh, my heart, he is going to be a flirt!

He can now crawl up on chairs and sit like a big person. He can really cruise on the driveway, almost running. He's doing puzzles somewhat accurately, and those words are coming! We see buses, ask for crackers (ca-cahs) and even point out chicken, ahh, droppings. "Poop!" What can I say? They are around, they get attention.

But he's not too big to still ride on Daddy's back to enjoy a woodsy walk. We are truly blessed!

Eatin'

2009-09-07T23:49:00.003-05:00

Can a toddler subsist on sauerkraut alone? Sometimes it seems that Bean would like to try. He loves it!

But wait, he DOES eat some other good, summer foods....

It was a good summer last hurrah, and now we are starting on on the fall foods, some gathered right here at home...

Updates

2009-09-07T23:19:00.004-05:00

Well, hello! I just wanted to check in a give a few updates, for those of you who are playing along at home.

My job, (or what the heck?): Yes, indeed, I finally made the leap last week. I sent a big serious letter to family members back in May giving my reasons for wanting to move on from my "good job" in town, but then was offered a temporary part-time situation, so I stayed. And tried to be happy. And tried to appreciate all the good things about that place. And so on and so on and BLAH! And now the part-time is ending, and I just am not ready or willing to do 5 days a week away from my home and son. Leaving feels good, even if scary from a financial standpoint. I've been agonizing over this decision for a very long time, and it feels SO good to finally have brain space again, not always thinking about what the right decision might be and what would this or that be like, or what. I realize I've made new challenges for myself, but I'm excited to face those new things.

Lyme Disease: I have just finished my antibiotics and feel much better. I'm slowly getting some energy back. Last week, I could hardly walk a mile without wanting to lay down for a quick nap. Today, I ran a ways and it felt really good. I've been motivated to get some exercise every day; trying to get back into it slowly. My rash is gone, but I still have a weird, peeling ring on my leg; ewww.

Our House: Yep, it is still tehnically "on the market", but we still have so much to do. We want to move to the Spiral Earth Land Cooperative, a group we are helping to form. They own land on the South Shore of Lake Superior, closer to the lake, near a wonderful sandy beach. We'd have to build our own home to live there permanently, so we'll have to sell this one first. And so, it may be a great, crazy adventure, but I'm feeling more energy these days (see job and lymes, above).

Bean: continues to be exceptionally cute, if I do say so myself, and into more things these days. He loves his grandparents and the great new (garage sale) toys they brought on their last visit. His words are increasing every day; Baby, Apple (with both syllables), No... it's a new world dawning, in more ways than one!

Onward!

2009-08-31T23:57:00.005-05:00

We topped off the weekend with a little beach ramble, and a ceremonial swim for me! Brrr...Zing! Washing off the past, and moving forward for new, good changes! I have officially given notice at my "day job" and am planning to focus more on our family, our place and our community. Brave and crazy all together, indeed!

My Weekend

2009-08-31T23:42:00.003-05:00

I turned 37 this weekend. I am officially old. But I am going to do new things and appreciate this life!

Helping Bean make me a card...(the one way to be sure I'll get a card from my household, ahem!)

Contemplating my next steps...

Which serindipidously involved a rare lighthouse tower visit; yay!

And taking a break at Spiral Earth. More soon!

A New Road

2009-08-28T11:01:00.004-05:00

So. Our house is for sale on Craig's List. I have very mixed feelings, to say the least. Feeling quite overwhelmed, actually. We're far from ready to really "show" it off to best advantage. But let's hope this leads us down a good, positive new path. Who knows...

Words

2009-08-26T16:54:00.001-05:00

A random list, bubbling over from my brain today:

Thinking big at work: just wrote $275,000 worth of grant pre-proposals. I’m oddly good at writing general grant “government-ese”. Must have been my early years working for the Feds. Now hoping that some of these projects come to pass, even perhaps offering new opportunities to people looking for part-time work (who might that be, hmmm?)

I am loving eating lacto-fermented sauerkraut lately; even Bean likes it. It’s sour, but not very, and it’s helping to replenish the lost good bacteria in our guts. Now I’m inspiring to try to make my own. Ingredients: cabbage and salt. The helpful critters appear on their own!

My Lyme rash is dwindling and feeling much better…. Still a bit swollen and itchy, but hoping that means that the good white blood cells are doing their work against the evil spirochetes.

I’ve been so tired lately, so I haven’t been exercising, but then I get more tired, so I don’t exercise… a vicious circle. But my need for a belt is decreasing (ahem!), and that may finally motivate me out the door. We don’t have a scale, so I judge thing on how my pants fit. The pants say: get moving!

Bean has been getting more words all the time lately; one of this favorite right now is “Hop hop!” We get this from seeing real rabbits in our yard, looking at pictures, or playing with his stuffed bunny. Also at a few random times, like when hearing birds from inside the house. Does he think the hop-hops are chirping? This is such a fun age, where it just seems so astounding that he recognizes pictures and associates things; I think he was even trying to “put on” some shoes pictured in a book; he was at least showing that he knew shoes went on feet. Very fun.

He also had quite a night of using baby sign language the other day; his own versions of more, please, eat… it was very cute! Now if we can only get him to use that more than the standard “uuuurrrggghhhh” grunting request! He’s got body language, why bother with words? I’m hoping the words keep coming….

Summer Fun

2009-08-23T00:10:00.004-05:00

While I'm on a roll here, I'll post another catch-up entry (who knows when I'll get back to the computer when everyone else is sleeping?!)

We went to the Carlon County Fair, and Bean met some goats and "Baaaaas". For some reason, his first recognizable animal sound (when looking at books, etc) is Baaaa. We were slightly traumatized by a really LOUD BAAA, but later were OK with visiting the real sheep. Bean was very quiet when we visited the cows, but later pronounced MOO while looking at a picture of a cow. Genius!

Other recent fun includes visiting the cabin and using the special Bean-sized beach made by Grandpa, riding on the pontoon boat (even though the life jacket was objectionable) and picking raspberries. Yep, we're puttin' him to work picking his favorite fruit; he's got a good eye! We've also recently been out in a kayak for Bean's first very quick ride.. maybe more pics soon!

Walk before you can run

2009-08-22T23:40:00.003-05:00

In my combination of busy, tired and now Lymes excitement, I neglected to post about a BIG milestone for our little (big) Bean! For just over 2 weeks now, he's been officially walking!

Just after he turned 15 months, something clicked. Now he walks everywhere, cruising over tall grass, rocks and hills! The first day he figured it out, we were all up till 10:30, watching the gleeful demonstration. I got a few choppy videos, but no official pictures... but it's hard to tell the new motion in a picture, eh? He impressed his daycare provider the next day, weaving through the room around the other kids.

He's quite confident by now, but he did take his time working up to this... like all his earlier milestones. An email I got from Babycenter said 90% of kids walk by 15 months, but I wasn't worried. Apparently I walked at 15 months. He's been walking with help for a long time. He took his first solo steps about a month earlier, but mostly stuck with crawling; a much faster way to get around if you plop down on your diaper-padded backside every few steps. I took short videos of the crawling, because I knew it wouldn't last. So now, he walks. 2 weeks later, we're even quite used to it. He's even started walking and drumming; it's old hat by now!

Welcome to the walking world, Bean. Now that you're upright with the rest of us, you seem so much more grown up. Adulthood, here we come!

Ticked Off

2009-08-20T17:45:00.004-05:00

So. We had an interesting day yesterday. Can't remember the last time I was in an emergency room (maybe it was when I was 3 and stuck that raisin up my nose? I've been lucky). Sure didn't think I'd end up there yesterday because of a simple tick bite!

I first found a little bump and perhaps rash on my leg on Sunday; never saw a tick. But it was just on the top of my sock line; a suspicious place. By Monday is was bigger, so I brought myself to Urgent Care to get it looked at; really seemed like a bit of a Lyme rash and if so I wanted to start treatment right away. I've know a couple people who have suffered terribly from Lyme. Dr. said hmmm, maybe, here's a prescription if you want to fill it later if it spreads, or after the not-so-accurate tests come back in a week or so. It spread and began to hurt, so I started the antibiotics on Tuesday on the way to the big Women's Gathering in WI with Bean. The normal Lyme antibiotic treatment is not compatible with nursing, so I ended up with a not-so-strong type, hoping for the best.

Didn't feel better, felt worse and worse. The rash grew and grew, swelled up and stung like crazy. In hindsight, camping in a COLD tent with Bean (he was fine, I was cold) wasn't the greatest way to deal with this, but I really just thought it would be fine. Showed it to a doctor who was present at the gathering, and she said "Ooooh." And started mentioning MRSA, stronger antibiotics, etc. Most people agreed that it looked worse than Lyme, now. By the time my lips started to feel hot and I was limping, I decided to go back to Urgent Care.

At Urgent Care, the triage nurse took one look at it and also said "Oooooh!". And started mentioning the Emergency Room and intravenous antibiotics. So, me and my little tick bite were essentially admitted to the hospital, where we waited. Doctors finally came, said WOW and began conferring with each other. I had to correct one about an antiobiotic that's not safe for nursing, but to their credit they didn't give me trouble about nursing a young toddler, who is nowhere near ready to wean. We settled on a shot of a stronger antibiotic (which is considered safe with nursing, I told them where to look it up) and MORE amoxicillin. Just sitting with it up on bed for a couple hours made it feel better, and they pronounced it just a heck of a case of Lyme Disease, not MRSA or anything else ickier.

Not that Lyme isn't icky. I still feel sore, tired, a bit feverish. Took a 3 hour nap today with Bean. I guess the lesson is to LOOK FOR TICKS a bit more carefully after being in the woods. This one was likely very tiny, probably picked up on the South Shore near Spiral Earth (where we hope to live someday). I guess the one thing I'm grateful for is that Bean didn't get the tick. I had the same experience a couple weeks ago, when I got stung by a yellowjacket (OUCH!) in the grass where I was going to set Bean down. The thing that scared me the most was that he might have gotten the sting instead. I knew that Lyme was serious out East, but I didn't realize that Wisconsin is also an infection hot spot. Ug.

I've had requests for pictures of the exciting rash, so here it is, in all it's erythema migrans glory. The circle was from yesterday's doctor, so we could see if it was growing or shrinking. I don't think it's grown, but it hasn't shrunk yet, either. We're doing OK, just a few expected, ah, intestinal effects upon Bean, who is essentially taking the antibiotics along with me. We are pushing the probiotics. Rooting for the good microbes, not the bad! Onward...

Stylin'!

2009-08-13T16:33:00.003-05:00

Dashing out the door, but wanted to post these! We're zooming around in style these days! Bean seems to enjoy himself in his little "pod", but it's extra fun when we bike to a berry patch! Yum!

And this picture gives you a realistic glimpse of our usual, rural life. Ratty garage, random chickens (behind me), friendly cat, and happy boy ready for outdoor adventures!

Basket Case and a Bike

2009-07-27T16:58:00.006-05:00

Hey! I know I've been slacking, but we are busybusybusy. I'm still absorbed with trying to figure out what the heck to do for work, and we're getting more serious about selling our house (getting it ready for showing will be a MONUMENTAL task, indeed). More on that later, I'm sure.

Bean is doing well, teething on and off, growing, eating, exploring. He's not QUITE walking yet, but there have been a few steps. Usually it's a few steps and then a lunge, but he's getting pretty good balance just standing up.I'll try to post a few pictures. The camera was full, then I downloaded everything at home, now I'm at work, finishing up with a second pumping for more milk. Multitasking, momma style, eh.

But here's a few of him discovering baskets; not really a basket case! Very cute, eh?

I also have some fun news of my OWN: I got brave and bought a new bike! Yep, brand new, just for me. Just saying those words feels fun; I'm not sure why it brings out the kid in me. It feels somewhat extravagant, but I've been thinking about it since last summer, and finally just got it together to go look at bikes, find one that fits, and manage to get it ordered and purchased, Bean on hip for some of that. Being a busy working mom, I've only gotten to ride it a couple times for a few minutes so far, but it makes me happy, and hopefully will get me out for exercise a bit more often.

And Bean will soon be able to ride along; we've also made the leap and ordered a Chariot; a super extravagance for us, really. But it will be a good investment in getting around without a car (we're down to one car right now). Someday sooner than later we hope to live within bikeable distance of the Lake, and this will be great. It will also be a jogging stroller; Bean is actually outgrowing our current nice stroller. Friends who have this system (even can use it for XC skiing!) swear by it, and are still using it with their 4 year old. So, also a good investment, with resale value, I'm told!

Whew. I NEVER buy new gear; I always buy used cars, I have a funky ugly used kayak, my lifejacket clashes with the boat because I bought it used, even my wetsuit is used (ewww). I don't buy new clothes or books, even, that often. But to get a bike that FITS me, and is my first choice is fun, and I feel like it's a good investment. This bike is a good fit for our bumpy gravel roads; shocks! Amazing! Such technology didn't exist the last time I looked at bikes, seriously.

I've never been THAT into biking, but that's perhaps because of my checkered bike-owning past. My current bike was purchased for $50 about 15 years ago. It's rusty, and the brakes don't completely let off (and I've been told they are unfixable). The last and only other bike I have purchased new (when I was 19!) was way too big for me; I ended up giving it to my Dad. Other bikes before that included a neighbor's purple super-heavy 10 speed Schwinn and an uncle's banana seat bike without brakes. That made learning to ride interesting!

But this is MY bike, and I hope to have many good riding times with it and my family. Back to our regularly scheduled crazy schedule...

Beach 'n Chicks

2009-07-13T16:57:00.003-05:00

Oh, no time to be clever right now. Just some quick pics to show you what we've been up to. I'm afraid my posting has been dwindling as I turn more toward Facebook for snippets and Shutterfly for our pictures. Email me if you want to see those.

But some updates here: Bean's been to his first Island, Madeline (not even part of the National Lakeshore, a shame to my NPS days, but much more doable right now). He LOVES the beach! Cold water and all. He can definitely say "Hat!" now, based on all our discussions about the need to wear sun hats. And he probably said "Cold!" when we got into the water.

He also loves strawberries... we had a bit of trouble getting him back into the carseat after visiting the Northwind Organic Farm. He didn't want to leave the "coos" (chickens) or the lovely dirt fields. Much like a beach, I guess!

When we got home, there were new "coos" to look at: chicks! We had broody hens again this year, so with a minimum of fanfare, we have more chicks around the place. Poor chickens don't get nearly as much attention here (or in real life) as they used to, but maybe that's OK with them. They know what they are doing.

So far, we have 9 new babies on the place, and the young hens (who were babies here last year) are doing a good job. The cycle continues, even if it's not posted on Youtube anymore!

Now it's July

2009-07-03T01:56:00.003-05:00

Wow. Where does time go? We are here.

With steer-able baskets...

And giant rhubarb...

And Alaska shirts courtesty of the grandparents...

And even a little jealousy.

But all is well and we're just keeping up with summer. More later!

Wheelin'

2009-06-14T22:29:00.003-05:00

I call this one "The Bum Steer".

Creamery Fete

2009-06-12T21:22:00.003-05:00

I was trying to clean and sort in our basement today, and have a bad habit of getting absorbed in the history held within the stuff. But I had to share this article, front page news exactly 63 years ago TODAY; what timing! There was a big celebration at the co-op creamery where my grandfather was a buttermaker. My father was about Bean's age when this festival was held. He assumes he was there...

From the Fairmont Daily Sentinal, June 12, 1946

500 Hear Thye At East Chain Creamery Fete

Picnic Dinners, Talks by Old-Timers, make Aniversary A Success

Gov. Ed Thye filled two non-political dates in Martin County Tuesday and didn’t hurt his chances for being the next United States senator from Minnesota a single bit.

In the afternoon, he was the principal speaker at the East Chain creamery’s 50th anniversary celebration and in the evening he was at the Cedar Point area boy Scouts meeting at the Scout camp. He was accompanied by Mrs. Thye.

East Chain’s celebration was a big event. Something like 500 people picnicked together at noon in the fine woods just north of the creamery, as fine a setting for such an event as the state affords. Like the creamery, the anniversary of which was being celebrated, the dinner was “cooperative” with abundance for all, even the Fairmont intruders who barged in without so much as a dill pickle to contribute on the menu. And there was oodles of ice cream for everyone, both before and after the program.

High School Band Plays

Howard Johnson brought his high school band down from Fairmont in the school bus and the way hose youngsters played for an hour one might think they were getting a million dollars for it.

Frank Pierce, the busy chairman, had to take liberties with the regular program as official duties at his office in St. Paul kept Gov. Thye busy until after noon and his arrival at East Chain was much delayed.

Walt Norman got the crowd to going with group singing that made the old woods ring, more or less. Henrietta Dahl helped with accordion accompaniment.

John Dickenson, secretary of Fairmont’s Chamber of Commerce, felicitated nicely for the very considerable Fairmont group taking the afternoon off to be neighborly. John pours forth speech into the microphone quite as elegantly as he pours coffee at Kiwanis lunches.

Major Nelson was dragged out of the crowd and onto the platform where, after the usual coaxing, he was persuaded to kill off a few of the minutes of waiting for the governor.

Pioneer Buttermaker Talks

John Knutson, now of Hanska, talked interestingly of the ten or more years he served as buttermaker and manager of the creamery in the horse and buggy days when one drove into East Chain village, put up his horses at the livery barn and had dinner at the hotel.

Somebody, the reporter forgets who, told about the beginnings of the creamery in 1896. Enough cows were pledged in the community to assure a sufficient milk flow and seven public spirited men went good at the Martin County Bankd for a loan to upt up the first building, provide the machinery and hire a buttermaker. CR Boynton, still of the East Chain community, was the man haired, Rheumatism finally caused him to change his vocation to farming. The creamery is only one of numerous cooperatives rural butter factories once dotting the county that remains today, a monument to fifty years of successfully pulling together for the common good.

Rowley talks at 90

A special highlight was the splendid talk by Tim Rowley, ninety years old, so feeble physically that he hat to sit while speaking, but with strong voice and mentality as keen as ever. Tim, as everyone knows, is Martin County’s oldest living pioneer, having lived at East Chain since 1859. During most of the creamery’s period of service he was on the board as secretary.

OC Johnson, superintendent of the dairy division of the state department of agriculture, extended felicitations and encouraging words. Art Temple, the present buttermaker, held the mike for a couple of minutes.

Pete introduces Thye

After all this stalling for time, which the large audience didn’t seem to mind at all, the governor finally arrived….

And it goes on to talk of bidding for cakes baked by the Catholic ladies, and everyone eating more ice cream, but needing to get home for milking time. I love the cooperative spirit and the tone of the article!

Phone's for you!

2009-06-08T14:26:00.004-05:00

Phone's for you, momma!

Isn't technology great?

Awwww, you're just using this as a photo opp!

Darn right, 13-month-old Bean! He's growing so fast, and just in past few days, really has gotten into some "pretend play". My toddler!

Garden Greens

2009-06-08T14:15:00.003-05:00

It's about 44 degrees, windy and raining right now, so it's a good day to remember that it IS almost summer. We have a hearty greens bed that has weathered some good cold frosts in the month since I planted it. The peas were doing great until the darn ground squirrel came and mowed them down.That's despite 2 layers of fencing. Grrrrr.

The "weeds" this year are largely edible mustards that planted themselves last year when things went to seed; I wasn't really paying that much attention. But the edible weeds have been handy, because the ground squirrel avoids anything in the brassica family, and I'm trying to use them as cover for the surviving pea plants. We'll see.

But for now, we are almost to the buy-no-more-imported-greens stage, which is great. We'll get more things planted soon. Even Bean (shown here "helping" a few days ago when the weather didn't require winter jackets) is enjoying eating cooked greens. Mmm!

A Day in the North

2009-06-03T14:21:00.003-05:00

Things not normally done on the same day:

Scraping frost off the windshield and wearing sandals.

Dressing your baby in a warm sweatshirt AND finding his sun hat for later.

Scraping frost off the windshield in the morning and eating greens grown in your front yard for lunch.

But wait... that's not terribly unusual around here. Gotta love the North! (It IS warming up now, but don't forget your ice scraper, even if it's June!)

Still Here

2009-05-26T22:13:00.003-05:00

We are indeed still here! Busy busy. Family visit prep and whirlwind. Big work decisions. And now germs. But I hope we're turning a corner!

Some highlights:
Bean helped get laundry, etc done in preparation for the big family visit. Very good at emptying basket and removing items from racks; not so great at putting them ON racks, etc.

He got a great garage-sale push tractor from the T Grandparents... loves it!

He didn't want to leave it, and they helped oblige him on the walk back to the car.

Fun was had with the cousins on the too-quick trip, but unfortunately some germs were setting in with this picture. We had a rough few days after this... fever, sadness, sleeping.

But he's keeping up on the phone messages... gotta stay in touch, you know!

All is well. We venture back into the world tomorrow, I think.

Mom day

2009-05-10T22:06:00.004-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to me and to all other moms out there! My mothering charge is a bit young to tell me much on this day, and I am STILL getting used to the idea that I'm a mom, myself. This year it feels a bit more normal than last year, though; last year was still a blur at this time.

Now our lives are getting to a different kind of blur, of ACTION! We had a brief sunny stop at the Lake on Friday, and Bean just wanted to head to the water. He even threw some rocks. It was hard to get any posed pictures, as you can see he was headed to the Lake! That's my boy...

It was a bit chilly, but he didn't care at all and would have crawled right in if we hadn't held him back. Someday soon, buddy. We'll all go swimming! I've been grateful lately that his birthday is in the spring; such a nice time of new beginnings and great days to be outside! His crawling has really improved in the last couple weeks and he wants to explore. So glad we can do it without snowsuits. Come on, summer!

Grandparents

2009-05-04T23:15:00.006-05:00

We kept the birthday celebration quite small, just with my parents around to help us eat cake and open presents, but that was OK. Bean is really lucky to have...

A Grandma who reads with him...and plays ball!

And a Grandpa who can show him a few things in the woods, AND have a snuggle!

Maybe we're all lucky!

Big Birthday Boy

2009-05-04T22:18:00.004-05:00

Despite their expressions, it does seem like it is "Fun to be One" for Bean...

Bean LOVES his new push/pull puppy toy, made by hand by Grandpa! It's right up Bean's alley with wheels and moving parts. Woof!

We also tried out a big-boy bike, which is still a bit big. But definitely adds to the overall effect of LOOKING LIKE A TEENAGER ALREADY! Mein Gott!

Already too cool to smile at Momma...sniff!

Birthday Bean

2009-04-30T23:27:00.003-05:00

The Baby Bean is ONE year old today! Officially the Toddler-Bean, I suppose. Wow. Hard to believe it's already been a year, and also hard to believe it's ONLY been a year. At this time last year, we STILL hadn't met this amazing little boy. I'm remembering the long birth journey that ended at 11:57 pm; his birthday was very nearly tomorrow, and we thought it was going to be yesterday!

We love our Bean so much... welcome to the world of age ONE!

(bigger retrospective post to come...)

Happy Earth Week

2009-04-24T16:41:00.003-05:00

This is a bit late getting out, but our computer ended up with a virus... we think it's cleaned off now, whew.

But I hope your week was happy and full of opportunities to commune with the earth and get your hands (and face) dirty!

Talkin' Turkey

2009-04-20T16:48:00.002-05:00

Or chicken, actually. Bean had his first taste of a very local chicken this weekend, with some tasty chicken soup made from scratch by WF. And I mean from scratch! That chicken was conceived, hatched, raised (partly on scratch or tasty corn for chickens) and butchered by WF on our property. Well, OK, he didn’t conceive the chicken in that sense, only in the thinking sense, but he’s facilitated the sustainable flock idea; ie rooster + broody hen = more baby chicks. And then he even made the soup! That’s local, man. And what a good, skilled guy to have around!

Bean appreciates his daddy’s efforts. And will likely tell us about them very soon. We captured this new style of “talking” this weekend, as well. Kinda like gobbling, I suppose….

Still Snowy

2009-04-20T16:36:00.002-05:00

Oops, I spoke too soon on the spring thing. Friday was indeed 72 degrees, but I spent most of it indoors. Then, Saturday and Sunday had predictions of SNOW, which did indeed come true. Ack!

We gathered on a beach near our friend’s Spiral Earth intentional community for a lovely little ceremony despite the weather. We’re tough northerners, but this was ridiculous! I suppose it lent a more intimate air to the whole event, a nice day to remember. Here’s to a good communal future!

Spring IS Here

2009-04-16T15:29:00.003-05:00

...Maybe.

What a difference 2 weeks makes, eh? We're cautiously optimistic.

Walking and Helping

2009-04-14T14:18:00.004-05:00

Bean may still be my "little" baby, but he's sure interested in getting more involved in daily life, even chores!

We present...walking! Maybe the vaccuum cleaner is next?

Easter Weekend

2009-04-14T13:53:00.003-05:00

We made it through a busy weekend of car travel and visiting...Both sets of grandparents, Aunt and Uncle and even Cousin A! Lots to see and do, and Bean did very well with the long drives.

It was fun to visit, but we caught a first little glance at jealousy when Bean was sad that his daddy was holding Cousin A too much. HIS daddy!

Cousin A is catching up a bit, but Bean definitely has a head start!

Easter basket time... bunnies? Bah! Let's get at that fake grass instead....

And Bean continues to be a charmer, even with the grandparents he doesn't see as much.

We are so lucky to have such a cheerful little bean!

11 months

2009-04-05T21:41:00.004-05:00

The month of Bean's birth is here! He's still my little baby for a just tiny bit longer, soon to be an official toddler! Hard to believe...I really didn't expect this time to go quite THIS fast. I'm not ready for a birthday party quite yet!

11 months has brought some fun milestones: Real clapping. Pushing up into "yoga moves". Actually eating and enjoying some avocado, not just puffed rice and corn (current favorites). Figuring out how to get from his belly to sitting upright (involves the yoga moves). Growing into a whole 'nother square on the "Grandma quilt"!

He's also really starting to show a preference for some toys; anything stackable and sort of "structural"... blocks, bowls, big wooden beads, cars. I try to give him dolls or other stuffed animals, and they get mostly tossed aside. I want to think toy preferences are gender neutral, but he already seems be gravitating toward some typical boy toys. He'll push around wheeled things for a good half-hour on his own, intent on moving them in a big circle, etc. No motor sounds yet, though!

Crawling is still "elbows and toes" but those knees are getting some practice, and he just started pulling himself up on the couch on his own.

Definitely getting SO BIG!

This IS Spring in MN

2009-04-02T15:25:00.003-05:00

We're making the best of it. Even Lutsen.

Road Trip

2009-03-29T23:27:00.005-05:00

I'm a bit behind on posting. But here's some catch up:

So, the weather's been pretty gray and icky lately. It makes one yearn for a place that serves something warm and spicy, like maybe "Rasta Pasta"... so we joined a couple of friends and hit the road! Nope, not a tropical island, but tiny Gilbert, MN, the home of the Whistling Bird Jamaican restaurant.

Susan and Alexis enjoying the Rasta Pasta.

My "date" kept throwing his spoon on the floor, but overall was a great dinner guest.

He got to come along on the "girl's day out" and did seem to have a good time. It was nice to explore a few places on the Iron Range that I had never visited before. Just a tiny bit of traveling, but still good for the soul.

We made it back before any bad weather. The ice storm hit Monday, but amazingly, we didn't lose and trees and the timing was nearly perfect: the roads thawed enough for safe driving, and the "enchanted tunnel" that was our driveway only kept the car at the end of the driveway overnight. It was impressive! We didn't get many pictures because the camera cards were full and night was coming, and by morning it was all gone, melted by warmer rain.

More blessings! And more posts soon.

The Camera's Back!

2009-03-17T22:56:00.002-05:00

I finally found the camera battery charger! Whew. We missed a whole couple of weeks, including cousin A's baptism and gathering. But we've been havin' a good time...

Testing out the new teeth...

Chasing things with the ever-speedier army crawl...

Smiling (with vintage Apple from my childhood; Thanks Grandma!)

Standing up a lot...

And even welcoming the Almost-Spring. It will be here soon!

Good 'ol Toyota

2009-03-09T12:17:00.002-05:00

My old trusty Toyota is dying a slow, rusty death, but it's not dead yet. Anyone want a good old 4WD car? It's smelly, rusty, drippy and probably not real safe, but it was a good old car and it RUNS! Gets the best mileage of any of our vehicles, ironically. Never left me stranded on the side of the road like some other vehicles I've had, but it's time to move on... I wish I could buy a new one of these, but they stopped making them years ago.

Craig's list here...

Germ Missive

2009-03-04T17:07:00.000-06:00

Dear Rhin O. Virus (aka cold germs):

It’s been nice getting to know you in the communal way; so thoughtful of you to visit the entire family via Bean’s daycare. However, I have too much to do right now to spend much time entertaining you. I am asking that you kindly pack up and depart ASAP.

Yes, I know that sugar suppresses immunity and makes this seems like an even cushier place to hang out and multiply. However, I HAD to eat those cookies. I’d been thinking about them for days. I worked my backside off last week and I’m still tired. I think I deserve a cookie or two, no?

Please be advised that I will be employing less-tasty methods to encourage your eviction soon; zinc, echinaechae, goldenseal, garlic, onions. Do note that the lack of dairy products around here; not so homey for the snot anymore, is it?

Your prompt departure is appreciated.

GTR

10 months

2009-03-03T12:26:00.003-06:00

10 months old. Already quite proficient with a sippy cup. Check out those pinkies! Very elegant.

What?

Big eyes, pink cheeks. The cheeks are a bit less pink now that we are both avoiding dairy on the recommendation of the allergist. I miss it, but I think we're doing better. Less snot, better skin, less thrush.

Still working on crawling, but walking (with lots of help) is quite intriguing....

Moving Pictures

2009-02-24T19:09:00.001-06:00

Some "almost" crawling.... And some laughing!! Enjoy!

Mobility

2009-02-23T09:41:00.003-06:00

Lutsen, meet Bean. A baby who can now scoot across the floor for even more cat-grabbing, full-body tackling action!

More documentation soon... it's very cute. We're on the verge of a whole new world!!!

40 Years

2009-02-22T21:51:00.003-06:00

In celebration of what began 40 years ago today! 4 decades, 4 descendants (so far), countless blessings...

Thanks for the inspiration and good role modeling, Mom and Dad!

Rememberance

2009-02-18T01:32:00.003-06:00

The week got away from me, but I really wanted to post some harmonica music last week. Music performed by my grandfather. Last week was his birthday; he passed away almost 6 years ago. I recorded his playing onto a CD 8 years ago. I just finally played it for Bean, and he smiled and waved his arms toward the radio. I so wish they could have met each other.

My limited online skills won't let me post those CD recordings here, but I've had this song in my head quite a bit lately; Springtime in the Rockies. He loved to belt out this tune, once he got going! Imagine this song sung faster, loudly, and with a slight German accent.

Once again I'll say I love you, when da birds sing all da day...

We miss you, Grandpa.

Eat and Grow

2009-02-18T01:09:00.005-06:00

Bean update: Much momma-milk has been consumed, food is being accepted a bit more, and growth continues to be FAST! The somewhat late 9 month check-up today showed that he's staying consistent with the 95% percentile, all the way. The doctor joked about giving me an IV to maintain hydration after all this nursing (haha, doctor humor-?). But it does still astound me; I have been eating for two for a long time! Past "reserves" are leaving my hips and going into him, which is kind of nice, I'll admit.

A round of drinks (in sippy cups) for everyone! And maybe some mashed beans and carrot cubes. Mmm!

Pictures are a bit sparse lately as I can't find my "good" camera battery charger: ug. And work is ramping up even more, so we might be scarce on the blog. Hoping for a breather in later March, maybe.

This ought to be cute enough to hold you for a while...

Musical Bean

2009-02-10T17:15:00.001-06:00

I have played the tin whistle (rather simplistically) for years. It seems that our musical Bean has some interest, as well!

Square Compare

2009-02-06T22:30:00.003-06:00

The 9 month "square compare" pictures have been taken! More squares on the "grandma quilt" are being filled!

Newborn

5 months

9 months

And the reason we may not get this same arrangement in future months! Still not really crawling, but much more deliberate pivoting and pushing. Bean is growing up!

Sacred Cedars

2009-02-01T19:21:00.004-06:00

Thanks for the good wishes and thoughts after my last angsty posts. We're OK.

Today, in honor of the Bean having been with us for 9 whole months (!) already, we made a visit to The Cedars. The secret sacred swamp within an easy snowshoe from our place. We make at least an annual pilgrimage, noted here and here. It really does help me remember that we live in an amazing place, if I can forget the inconvenience of the commute, etc.

He enjoyed the trip, even the bushwhacking that led to a shirt (and diaper, somehow!) full of woody bits. I felt quite a bit more energetic than the last time I was there, 8 months pregnant or so.

It was good to share this special place with Bean, part of his real name namesake. May we all live long and strong like these trees!

Gratitude

2009-01-30T09:53:00.004-06:00

Yes, I know. More positive! Gratitude! Joy! Fun! Smile!

I am indeed grateful for a loving care-giver for my son during the day. She is amazing and is willing to wear him on her back for his limited daytime naps. We appreciate that very much. My work schedule is just ramping up, and my Fridays (which used to be quiet home days with naps together, etc) are now spent at work/daycare with the associated heartache of that. And it doesn't help ME to think that he's happier with her, although I should be grateful that he's happy there, etc. I'm OK with him there a couple days a week, but now that I'm working toward full-time schedule (not my choice, only necessary for this job, which I need to keep for financial reasons) it causes me more stress. Need to be grateful for what we have. Am grateful. Mostly.

So, I tend to get a bit dramatic on Fridays. I suppose we'll get more used to it soon enough.

And I really have been reading some good stuff lately about the law of attraction and other positive thinking things. Trying hard to think about things we DO want rather than stuff we don't. Carry on...

Working Mom Whines

2009-01-30T09:02:00.001-06:00

Vignettes from a reluctant working Mom’s life:

See Baby coming home smelling like another woman, the new daycare assistant whom we haven’t even met. Feel very viscerally wrong to have baby smell like a stranger.

See Baby falling asleep on the drive home AND on the drive in to town because he’s not really napping at daycare. Awake hours with baby in evening yesterday: 1. Total for day: maybe 3 (including drive to town and morning “get ready” time).

See Mom stressing about lowered mom-milk production, leading to more “quality” time with the pump at work and desperate middle-of-the-night “extra” pumping sessions. Ouch.

See house disintegrate into chaos due to lack of organization and being home for approximately 1.5 awake hours on most working days. Too messy for guests, cats or even smooth daily living. Ug.

See Mom’s mood deteriorate due to not having time to exercise (exacerbated due to snow, cold and darkness). See Mom argue with husband about a variety of things due to darkened mood.

See Mom eat cookies and drink coffee in desperate attempt to stay awake and get something done… see mood deterioration, above.

See Mom stress about inability to use timesaving crockpot, vaccum cleaner, washing machine, chest freezer, dishwasher, dryer, microwave etc either because of the lack of solar energy to run them or the lack of said appliance due to moral/frugality ideals. Cursed ideals!

See Mom sitting alone in cubicle, trying to motivate self to do random silent office work, feeling ever-increasingly guilty about goals not met. See Mom trying to tell herself she is lucky to have job, etc. See Mom remain unconvinced.

THE WORST ONE: (that lead me to post this when I held back yesterday, thinking it too whiney): See Baby exhibit separation anxiety FOR the daycare provider (ie cry/reach for her this morning, over Mom.) Ouch.

See Mom try desperately to rise above situation and motivate some sort of big family/professional change; sell house? Move to town? Stage big fit? Freelance? Beg for money? Hmmm. Any advice or inspiration out there? Stay tuned!

Cousin Catch-Up

2009-01-27T19:29:00.002-06:00

We're a little swamped with regular life lately, but there's been some good grandparent and cousin visiting lately. And teeth!

More Kazoo for Yoo...

A cousin! 2 grandkids! Yay!

Baby Cousin Bean

2009-01-20T18:51:00.004-06:00

The new cousin is here (the daughter of my brother and his wife)! A couple weeks early, a nice suprise for everyone!

She arrived on Friday and is apparently already almost back to her original birth weight. Everything went smoothly and quickly!

We visited with Bean the first night, but they both missed their first meeting... snoozing together. He's been taking naps after daycare; too much going on to sleep there, I guess.

Congrats, A and R... and welcome to baby A! We need to find a good blog name... we'll keep you posted!

Baby Safe

2009-01-06T22:34:00.004-06:00

We're feeling better now, able to get some projects done! This one required skilled hired help, but still, it's something important off our list, completed.

Our house is wierd. It was built in the 80's by a family who was living in the basement as they built it, as far as we know, and I've always suspected it was designed by someone who didn't usually design houses (sketched on a napkin, perhaps?).

This little piece of oddity had never really bothered me before, until I thought of it in terms of a toddler...

There is 8-foot drop into the entry way from the dining room... divided by a wall that comes up just past my knee. Eeeek. You can see the top of the front door in this picture.

We usually had many plants on the "wall", so it was less noticable. Perhaps it's nice to have all that light, but yikes, what were the builders thinking? Luckily, it occured to me that it definitely wasn't baby-safe before Bean had a chance to show us that himself; he's still not very mobile.

So, this is what we now have! WF was worried it would look a bit like a prison, but it's definitely safer. I think it looks fine...We'll have to relocate plants, etc, but here's to a more kid-safe house!

Topsy turvy temps

2009-01-05T15:46:00.000-06:00

There’s something wrong with this picture;

My (usually accurate) car thermometer read -26 F at the lowest point on the way to work this morning. And now my personal thermometer reads 100.8. Hmmm… thought I had kicked this bug yesterday!

So, where do I apply to have those numbers rearranged a bit? Guess I should go home and try to sleep….

Snowy, Germy New Year!

2009-01-03T19:23:00.003-06:00

Well, it's 2009, but we haven't ventured into the world enough to notice, really. We've missed so many social visits due to snow and sickness this winter... various combinations of snot and fever and pinkeye and gut bugs; blah! I even missed work today (a special event) while pushes ALL my guilt buttons. Ah, well, it was better to stay home with my fever and recover.. feeling better now. We're lucky nothing has been super serious.

Yesterday was good for Bean and I, though. Pictures were taken. 8 months old!

Christmas Wrap-Up

2008-12-31T01:47:00.005-06:00

I hope everyone out there had a good holiday. We did, indeed.

I hope Santa was good to you...

That you had proper time to inspect and appreciate the presents...

And that everything tasted good!

Bean got some nice stuff, and enjoyed some good grandparent time. Now it's back to the grind, daycare tomorrow and work for me. Happy New Year!

Snow Snow Snow!

2008-12-20T17:40:00.005-06:00

We have a rather astounding amount of snow. We're on our second snowstorm of the weekend, the second weekend of snowed-in-ness. Last weekend it was also really cold with driving snow, so we didn't get out that much. This weekend, we had a little window this morning before the next storm came in, so we got OUT a bit. My first snowshoe of the season.

Here is the "snowshoe eye view" of the house... from the crab apple orchard, a side not often viewed. Yep, huge-looking house. Not as huge inside, somehow.

Our neighbors gave us their nice tot-backpack, and we've come across other good used winter stuff with help from family and friends. So, here we are providing a good outdoor napping location for the Bean!

The rest of the weekend should include some cooking, baking, cleaning and catching up with various projects. I've been feeling more than a little overwhelmed by all the little details of life lately, but I'm hoping I'm feeling a little rebound. We can do it! The fresh air and snowshoing today helped. Onward...

Still Here and Snowy

2008-12-19T18:42:00.004-06:00

Indeed. Still here and thoroughly snowed in. WF is snowed OUT right now; hope he can get home okay... he may be walking down the driveway. Perfect time for a blog post; my little line to the outside world!

Life has been busy, new, germy, teethy and constantly changing. Bean is still growing by leaps and bounds and now looks like he's about 14. Eeek! Where did my little baby go?

I've been wondering lately... why are there so many classes and books and preparations for BIRTH and NEWBORNS, when the more freaky stage seems to be...

THIS! Wow, we are not quite ready for mobility yet. Or rather, the house isn't. A perfect time to finally truly declutter and rearrange; much to do. The cats will be surprised. Notice Lutsen here, confident that the Bean she is tolerating won't be able to reach her. Ha.

He's not REALLY getting around yet, just reaching and pivoting on that tummy. But it can't be far off, and I need to get ready. People do tell you how fast they grow, and it's hard to fathom until it happens. Wow....

Perhaps more posts on the super abundance of snow, soon...

Kazoo for Yoo

2008-12-02T15:45:00.005-06:00

We have a child prodigy, it seems. 7 months old and playing his first instrument.... a kazoo! Indeed. It was adorable. Grampa played for Bean, Bean laughed with delight, then tried to buzz his lips. Eventually Bean got Grandpa's harmonica for his own and started playing! Well, sort of. But still, I say he's a genius!

It was a fun weekend with lots of family visiting. Bean did well as usual; we're very lucky. And grateful!

Superbaby does his flying trick on the carpet, then shows off his push-up skills; the tummy is a good pivot still, no real movement on his knees yet. Not sure I'm ready for crawling; the house sure isn't! Books continue to be a fascination, but he learned a few card tricks, too. Good to be well rounded, eh?

It's good to remember it all while I sit here in the cold dark when I should be in bed; Bean either caught a cold on the way back home or is more allergic to our house than we realized. Snot galore and not enough sleep since our return: I'm sure a wake-up call will come soon from the bedroom. We're really hoping it's not the cats. Fingers crossed.

I am already officially tired of germs, and I suppose we're not too far into the season. Pinkeye last week, no fun. I think I need to start thinking healthy, positive thoughts to "attract abundance" instead of more germs... yes indeed. Universe, I ask for your help in staying healthy and being productive; we have lots to do before the end of this big year. Many thanks...

Mouthy

2008-11-22T08:00:00.002-06:00

So, the other night we dug out the vodka....

Nope, not in celebration or even in misery (not quite, anyway). For cleaning up some stray Gentian Violet, spilled in our second round of yeast-fighting. Sigh... The vodka actually worked quite well (I had it in the house for tincture-making), not sure if i can say that about the GV yet.

I'm better, but it's hard to know much about Bean as he's also TEETHING with a vengence, mostly at night. We've had a few discussions about HOW one uses that first new tooth, and it's NOT on Mama. Ouch! Just one tooth so far, it broke through a couple weeks ago. But there's got to be another on the way; sleep comes in very short shifts right now, with more nighttime upsets than he's ever had before.

But the new tooth is so cute... you can almost see it in this picture:

Awww. But wait! There was food on that spoon! Foul applesauce!

He's not a fan of food just yet... only a bit of cereal seems OK so far.

Yep. We'll keep at it. Lots of Ergo time, too... a favorite napping spot. Mamas need strong backs!

Adventure, Complete

2008-11-12T22:23:00.006-06:00

Things I learned (or was reminded of) last weekend:

Even babies are required to remove their shoes at airport security checkpoints.

Singing familiar songs out loud on a crowded plane may be a bit embarrassing, but works wonders for calming and distracting a certain Bean baby.

A 22+ lb 6 month old is MORE than a lapful, but this particular 6-month old can still manage to nap there if needed.

Bean is a shameless flirt with people on planes, subway and city busses; piercings and dubious looks make no difference.

Cousins are lots of fun!

One should make sure the camera battery is charged before heading into a beautiful fall evening in the Boston Commons.

It’s fun to say “Train to Maine”… and you can even get clam chowder while aboard!

WF is a superhero: a hilarious, helpful daddy, even while waiting for me to attend a work conference at a smarmy hotel.

Yes, indeed, we managed our first plane/train/subway/bus adventure with Bean-tot! We flew to Boston for our yearly visit, then "trained to Maine" for a work conference for me (much of the adventure financed through a work project; whoot!) The weather was great; still so many fall leaves out there.

Bean was amazing; a born traveler. We figured out that he gamely rode with us on 6 different forms of tranport. And as he's not very mobile yet, we were able to get away with wearing him in the Ergo carrier most of the time. No stroller! WF was, as always, great at making Bean laugh to distract him. Makes me want to quick fly out and travel the world! But alas, reality calls. Now we're back to regular life and some semblence of routine, with good memories of Bean's first big trip!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T13:25:00.002-05:00

Remember these photos?

For 6 months, we had to add a costume:

Happy Halloween!
(and yes, the bare toes are appropriate; it's about 65 degrees and sunny today!)

First food

2008-10-26T22:50:00.002-05:00

We decided the Bean baby was growing and up for a new adventure this weekend (he turns 6 months this week). He's not entirely sure he's up for it, yet, though!

Spoon looks interesting so far...

Hey, wait, that's not milk!

They say it's good, but I'm not buying it just yet. I know it's local squash and all, but hmmmm....

We'll try some standard banana and rice cereal, too, but thought a local squash would be a good first "locavore" symbolic food. He's not so sure, and I'm in no hurry to stop being his main source of nutrition! Baby steps with the spoon...

Sugar calls

2008-10-23T12:52:00.003-05:00

Note to self: when encouraged to bring Halloween treats to work for visiting colleague’s kids, pick something I don’t like or something non edible! These “fun size” snickers won’t stop calling to me through the tightly closed desk drawer! Must find a lock!

Bean’s been waking up more at night lately (and deciding that naps are boring, apparently?!) so the siren calls of sugar and caffeine are sounding rather good…
Actually, the thrush thing seems to be very much better; I got some more potent probiotics and that’s helped a lot. So I’ve given in and eaten a bit of sugar; mmmm. So good, but also makes me MORE tired. Need to remember that!

I will maybe use sugar this weekend, though; we're hosting a chicken, ah, processing day. I think people who are willing to help out with that sort of chore REQUIRE sugar. (If any local readers what to help/learn, let me know...)I'm not looking forward to the day, really, but it will be nice to have some fresh healthy chicken to eat and a few less chickens around for WF to chase. Wish us luck!

New Skills

2008-10-19T22:46:00.004-05:00

Sitting up or bouncing fairly well... especially good when there's something to grab!

Cleansing Bean

2008-10-16T09:05:00.003-05:00

Yeah, yeah...I know. Too negative. I've been chided (off-blog) for not appreciating the good things I have in life, etc. It's true, I suppose, somewhat; I get too easily caught up in the small dramas in front of us, the whining about my not-so-bad situation. But when you're stuck in something, it's hard to get perspective and make needed changes, sometimes. Just venting a bit, and this is MY blog; I do what I want. Have likely scared away most old regular readers, anyway, so.

We'll cleanse with a cute photo of a sunbathing Bean, taken a couple weeks ago by WF while I was at work... ooops, there I go again...

Anyway, been meaning to make it my desktop wallpaper; hope work doesn't mind a little baby nudity!

Rising Rants

2008-10-15T13:02:00.001-05:00

Warning: whining and TMI ahead.

I HATE yeast. Not necessarily those in baked goods, but I’m not allowed to eat baked goods, anyway, because of the wheat/sugar they contain. And I just want to eat a cookie, darnit!

We are still in the throes of thrush, and I am really frustrated. I’m not in pain much myself, but Bean’s got white patches in his mouth again, and seems to be uncomfortable with nursing. He is still happy other times, though, thank goodness. Our best way to inspect his mouth spots is to get him laughing and giving big open-mouthed smiles (I feel vaguely disingenuous being funny mostly so I can inspect his mouth, ug).

I don’t know why we’re in this mess; I have had a couple rounds of antibiotics at birth and a couple months ago, but otherwise try to be careful. But I’m realizing that for a trying-to-be-natural, (reluctantly) working mother living off the grid, kicking this stuff is HARD. Behold the various recommendations and my associated rants:

Wash bras, towels, etc in hot water daily. (haha; we’re lucky to get a couple rounds of laundry done each week; we’re entering the dark time now, not enough sun. Also no dryer, not enough room to dry everything daily).

Dry things in the sun for UV (ha; see weather turning, above. I can’t use the sun that does show up 3 days week when I’m at work). I do the best I can.

Use Gentian Violet in baby’s mouth and on nipples (This is a coal-tar derived dye that also kills yeast; it is usually more effective than other antifungals that the yeast are now resistant to.). It stains mouth and clothes, and can cause mouth ulcers and in long exposure, cancer. Mmm! But it’s doctor/LLL recommended! We actually tried it for 6 days, maybe in a too-diluted strength, and we still have yeast. Bean doesn’t like it, and I just have a visceral reaction against staining his face and mouth purple. I’m also getting lots of conflicting information about how exactly to use it, and at what concentration, etc. Got a call back from the doctor’s nurse yesterday and he just said to use GV, but had “no idea” what concentration should be used. You can only buy it in 2%, but most references say to use it in .5% or even .25%. But I think that’s what I’ll try again for a few days, to see if we can knock it back again. Blah.

Boil toys, nipples and pump parts for 20 minutes every day (Grr. We’ve tried to stay away from plastic toys and have lots of cloth/wood toys; hard to wash, let alone boil. Even the plastic teethers, etc we do have say don’t boil. ???). We’re dealing with this at an older age, when he loves toys and puts everything in his mouth… I can’t boil everything. Plus, when I boil nipples and pump parts in our hard water, they get skuzzy. Need to remember to buy distilled water. I also need to address the bottles/nipples he uses at daycare, probably just buy new ones (which also have to be boiled before use). I have been trying to use the sun on toys when I can. Unrelated note: spellcheck approves of the word “skuzzy” but doesn’t approve of the word “spellcheck.” Hmm.

Don’t freeze expressed milk; use later could reintroduce yeast. (Argh. This one gets me the most. How am I supposed to get milk to feed him when I’m at work, especially on Mondays when I have to use the milk from Thursday? I envision this endless cycle of re-infection and depleting my small frozen supply from long ago). ???

Take acidophilus, grapefruit seed extract, garlic, Echinacea, avoid dairy, wheat and sugar. Yep, doing all that, not too bad (other than that the grapefruit seed extract tastes HORRIBLE and is also a pretty potent substance). But darnit, sometimes I just want to eat a cookie or put real milk on my cereal! Maybe someday….

I can’t help but think of all the things that would be avoided if I was not back at work and away from him 3 days a week; at least then I wouldn’t have bottles/ pump parts to worry about. He may have even “caught” this at daycare; there’s another younger baby there who had bad thrush (he’s bottlefed, though, so it was easier to cure; no reinfection from momma). I know it’s not supposed to be contagious, but if you can give it back to youself-??? Daycare provider has said Bean should bring his own toys, but I’m sure it’s hard to keep everything separate with 9 little ones around (a whole ‘nother story). I don’t know. I’ve read entirely too much on the topic, have advice from plenty of people, but everyone’s got a slightly different idea on what’s right. And I hate to think of us as being “infected” and “contagious”. Yuck.

OK, lunch hour is over, now I’m back to writing grant reports about totally unrelated topics. Wheeeeeeeeeee. Maybe more cheeriness for y’all later. I know we are lucky in many many ways, I just want to get rid of the yeasty beasties!!

Hikin'

2008-10-08T00:49:00.003-05:00

We finally got out onto the trail on Sunday to enjoy the leaves and views before the real Fall weather hit!

This weekend is historically beautiful up here, but now! Rain, cold... I think the leaves have already peaked and are starting to fall...

Mt. Diaper

2008-10-03T21:48:00.004-05:00

Wow, mom! We've really got a great supply of these prefolds, don't we?

I'll be sure to put these to good use!

I will now bow to this great stack of diapers, doing a little celebratory yoga.

What? You don't usually pay homage to such things?

You're missing out! Try appreciating the small things, like reaching your own toes!

4 years

2008-10-02T11:02:00.004-05:00

In some ways it’s hard to believe it was already 4-years-ago that WF and I said our vows on a beautiful October day. In other ways it seems rather long ago (we’ve come a ways from worrying about locally-grown reception food and flowers to considering our son’s health and education!). This is our first anniversary as parents, and it’s a whole new, sometimes rocky world…

I love you, WF, and may we celebrate many, many more of these days, as a family!

5 months

2008-09-30T22:38:00.003-05:00

We're celebrating 5 months with some resting to recover from germs and yeast, but there was a little time for a photo shoot. Compare to this!

Now at 5 months, there is a new skill that makes these comparison photos a bit more difficult to stage:

And the other critters around the place thought they should also be a part of the photo shoot...

3 Days

2008-09-29T10:17:00.003-05:00

Variety IS the spice of life, eh? Check out my weekend summary:

Visited 1.5 week old baby born in a log cabin built by his daddy; brought food to help with their off-grid new-baby life.

Attended a baby shower (with Bean) that included a great wisdom-sharing circle and other blessings for a baby boy-to-be, the son of two mommies older than me.

Sat briefly by the shore of the big Lake, watching waves and showing Bean smooth rocks

Found myself fainted on the floor of the bathroom at 3 am, then revisited my dinner in a most unpleasant way; scared us all, but recovered quickly. Food poisoning?

Worked a little on cleaning, and seriously stressed about an upcoming visit by a realtor; need to do more cleaning!!!

Decided we DO have a case of thrush, and ran around the town looking for grape seed extract. Hope we can catch it pretty quick; Bean’s got white patches on his tongue and is grumpy about nursing. Acidophilus, Vinegar, sunlight, grapeseed extract is our current arsenal; we’ll see; fingers crossed.

Attended a great play called BIRTH; I had helped with publicity for the local show. Saw my own “belly pics” from late pregnancy projected on the wall as part of the play (surprise!).

Sat on stage after the play as part of a panel that included my midwife, lactation consultant and other amazing local women; I was the last-minute “mother/consumer” participant; an honor!

Ran home after the play to meet old friends from Alaska who were passing through town and dropped by with little notice; was so good to see them, but wow!

Started getting stuffy and feeling like I was coming down with a cold by Sunday evening…

From baby to wisdom to throwing up to sitting on stage to welcoming old friends; what a wild ride! But now it’s Monday, and I’m supposed to be productive at work, and should be avoiding coffee (with cream) and sugar for thrush-prevention reasons. Hmmmm.

A Reader!

2008-09-27T22:30:00.003-05:00

Time to catch up a bit with a few pictures: we've been falling behind and not even taking that many pictures lately! Eeek! We just visited a 1.5 week old baby yesterday (who wasn't much smaller than Bean when born) and it's so hard to even imagine that Bean was once that size. How time flies and things change in 5 months!

It seems we are raising a reader! This is great, but definitely impresses my mom, who is a long-time advocate of lots of early reading (she taught kids to read for decades!). Here they are sharing a book a couple weeks ago:

Our bedtime routine has not yet involved many books, because he's usually out like a light very quickly (we are so lucky, yes, we know that!). But in the last few days, his self-selected bedtime of 8:00 (he's very punctual; it's uncanny!) has been pushed to about 8:30 or so... with plenty of wiggling beforehand. Here we are tonight trying out a bedtime book:

It worked fairly well; the book was interesting and tasty, too. But it's not all scholarly around here; sometimes we just have to gaze into mirrors and admire the cute babies that live inside!

Those mirror-babies sure are funny! (And one of the only ways to capture smiles on camera, because he is still suspicious of those flashy things...)

Today is Tuesday

2008-09-23T22:27:00.004-05:00

It's my once-a-week Tuesday post! Just barely. Beginning a new pattern, here, I see. Too busy and scattered to get many more posts up, lately.

I've been trying and trying to upload a very cute video of the Bean rolling over, but it just won't work. Alas. Just imagine a very determined little guy, working hard to get over that pesky arm, then making it juuuust over that hump and plop! Onto the belly with some enthusiastic kicking and squealing. Very cute. Now he makes it look pretty easy, but it's still exciting (for all of us!)

I do have evidence of a new milestone, though; hiking with the Ergo in the back position! He did well, sleeping through some short North Shore hikes while we were on our way back from a rare out-of-town work event for me.

Awww... I tried this position today, and found it much more comfy for MY back, too... I like having him in the front-carry position, but it's killing my posture. And I'm not being wimpy; we found out today that he just doesn't seem big, he IS big! Now he's OVER the 95th percentile for all measurements; my little overachiever. Or maybe certain parts of my anatomy are the overachievers... hmmmm.