PJ Party!

I decided today that if the girls and I can't make it out of our PJs until noon, at least we should have some rockin' PJs to hang out in. I started by making some for the girls but we adults might be next!

Sofia's panda pjs with polka ruffles

Leila's "Kee-cat" pj pants

It's not going to be a sew-for-me kind of week so I better get on it if I want anything else to come out of the productivity I have going on.... motivation seems so scarce sometimes!

Conversations with small people

Everyday I have interesting conversations with my children- ages 10, 3 1/2 and 1 1/2. The fun never ends, seriously. The other day I actually listened to myself and cracked up over what I was saying. The following is an actual account of conversations that took place with my littles... enjoy!


With Luke (10)....

Luke (in the other room dancing in front of the TV): Hmmmm this show is so interesting
Sofia: BROTHER, MOVE! (crying now)
Me (from the kitchen): Luke, are you being a butt?
Luke: (no answer)
Me: Don't be a butt. Ask yourself "Am I being a butt?" and if the answer is yes, STOP. Love your sister.

With Leila (1 1/2)....

Leila (comes up, takes binky out to speak): Ees yuckeee. dada. ana poop.
Me: Huh? Daddy's going poop and it's yucky?
Leila: Uh... yea! (walks away)

With Sofia (3 1/2)....

Sofia (in the car, toy frying pan in hand): Mom, if I ever see a monster in my room, I'm gonna wack him in the head with my frying pan and put him in my closet like Punzel (Rapunzel)!
Me: Well, honey, that's a good idea but I don't think monsters exist.
Sofia: They do! I saw one in my closet!
Me: Sometimes we see shadows on our walls that might look like monsters but they are just light and shadows. That's all.
Sofia: Oh...... (thinking about that one)

Bonus: With my husband (39)....
Me: Yikes, look at me, I totally left the house without wearing any make-up.
Jamie: It's ok, I did too.


I wish I would write more down... I will try to do that more from now on. And share it with you all, of course!

The problem with toys

Toys! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I love having small kids.

Don't get me wrong, some days are pretty hellacious (is that a word or one of those words your family uses for so many generations that you think it's a word but really isn't? anyway...). For the most part it is fun and everyday brings something new. New words, new expressions, new ways to play. Unfortunately for parents, having small kids also means having things to play with- toys. I DO NOT love toys.

Of course this Christmas we added to the madness, as if we already weren't struggling to walk through our house without tripping over something. I didn't want to go overboard but I got to tell you, I was pumped to get some new things to play with. As a stay at home mom, I am the primary play partner and things meant for kids three and under get old fast. Christmas and birthdays are about the only times we really shop for our kids so... things can easily get out of hand. And of course they did.

So after Christmas I freaked out and tried to purge some toys. Broken toys. Toys with missing pieces. Those stupid toys you get out of Happy Meals. At the end of it, I didn't end up with a lot to get rid of but I did find the pieces to most everything else. This was a victory. The side of me that decorated school planners weeks ahead and never missed an assignment or appointment jumps for joy when all the toys are put away and organized. But, as you know, that only lasts for about five minutes. After all, if you are going to have toys, you should probably let your kiddos play with them- hello!

If you are feeling me on toy insanity and you wish to regain your life (and living room), here are some ideas that may help you to do just that:

• Go through and throw out all broken toys, toys with missing arms/legs, dirty/stained baby dolls and stuffed animals, etc. 
• Now, go through and pick out things to donate. Old toys, played out toys, toys that are no longer developmentally appropriate, etc. Donating toys that are still in good shape is an excellent lesson for your child in sharing resources and loving on others. 
• Lastly, put away toys that you wish to keep (maybe for future children) but that your kid is done with. Yea, maybe your two year old still picks up the baby toy links and rattle every once in a while but it's not enough to keep from finding it under the couch every other day or in the bottom of the toy box. Redirect your child to more age-appropriate toys and form new interests.

What you will have left are the things that your kid still loves, new stuff and all the missing pieces to a bunch of different things. Put those missing pieces back where they go. Check. You are doing well. Here is what I am doing with what we have left:

There are several kinds of toys and the type determines where it goes. 

• If it is a toy that I trust my little ones getting into on their own, I put it down on a shelf so they can reach it and do self-play. For example, I have an old suitcase on the floor in my girls' room with dress-up clothes in it. Right next to that are wooden block trays. On the shelves in their rooms is a toy computer, a shape sorter, some chunky puzzles and some containers with little figurines.  
• If it's something that they will need help with or someone to play with them, I put it up and so they have to ask my to get it down or I can encourage them to play with it, with me. This includes games and toys with small pieces that maybe are appropriate for my 3 1/2 year old but not my 1 1/2 year old. 
• If it is more of a focused learning activity, it goes in the white plastic container. I've got lacing cards, matching games, a doctor kit, Bananagrams, alphabet stacking cubes, etc. in there. This is a new concept for us but I feel it's very Montessori-esque. I bought a cheap-o rug that stays rolled up on top and when my daughter wants to play with something in the white container, she is to get the rug down, roll it out, get out what she wants to play with on the rug, play, then put that toy/game/activity away before getting out something else. Some moms I know would think this is ridiculous but it is totally working! Sofia almost loves the routine of getting out the rug, choosing an activity, etc. The other thing is, that this new system is encouraging me as a mother to spend good, quality, intentional time with my kids. Just the other day I found the game "Pretty Pretty Princess" at the Goodwill for $.50 and we have played it everyday since, at least twice a day. On the rug. Love it. 

Some things I have realized about toys are that my kids are probably always going to have some, kids will carry toys all around the house and hoard them in mini shopping carts and strollers, no one wants to play with something that has missing pieces or that's broken, some toys are meant to be thrown in a bin and others are meant to played with more direction. Just like behavioral discipline is good and healthy for a growing child, I am learning that discipline with toys is healthy too. Yes, you have to take care of your things. Yes, you have to share with people who have little when you are in abundance. And if you live in my house, yes, you have to roll out a rug if you want to play with certain toys. 

My final thoughts on toys are these. Go for good wooden toys that last. Stay away from battery operated toys (I'm not going to lie, though, that I don't know where Leila would be without her glow worm). Find good quality, second hand toys and games to pacify your child's need for something new. Consider a toy swap with friends or other moms. Love on your babies and spend time with them- that's better than any gift or toy there is. 

In my spare time.....

The idea of spare time is so funny. For instance, the time I am using to write this post I would not classify as "spare" time, but more like "sleeping" time- time when I should be getting my beauty rest :)

Nonetheless, I do find other times here and there to do a little work. Here are a couple of things I have been working on (around Christmas time).........

A placenta model for a childbirth ed class (fetal side)

Same placenta model (maternal side)

Breastfeeding models with retractable nipple (oh yeah)



It might be a while before I make anymore models like these- surprisingly a lot of work! Exciting nonetheless! I will check in when sewing meets my sleeping time- I mean- spare time again!

Meee-ilk! Peas!

Yes, my daughter is going on 18 months and we are still nursing. That's her asking for the milk- "Mee-ilk peas" as she signs for "please." It's so cute, even if I wanted to turn her down, I couldn't. Long term nursing, and breastfeeding in general, is a somewhat controversial topic. I've been nursing for 3 out of the last 3 1/2 years, nursing my first daughter until 19 months and this daughter until... I don't know when. It's not as bad as it seems and not as weird either. Here's a little perspective.

I love the above pic. I have been thinking about a post for a long time called "nursing sutra." I think I just made up my own term! Basically it's when your beautiful little baby grows up but is still nursing and tries to do all kinds of crazy acrobatics while attached to the milk source, i.e. the nipple. In this pic, Leila is literally folded in half, feet on my tummy, drinking milk. She starts out in some sort of cradle hold and ends up like this or something worse about 30 seconds later. Awesome, especially if you are me. Abuse! It all started around 10 months with both my daughters. I have had headstands, one leg up in the air, upside down and even a couple flips off of the nursing chair (as seen in pic). But it's all worth it and for a total of about 5 minutes a day now, I think I can handle it.

Here is another one:

She is totally standing up on my stomach and bent over to drink milk. Can I catch a break?

So here are some great things about long term nursing........

• Continued bonding time even as child grows
• No pressure about weaning for mom or child
• The amount of time nursing gets drastically shorter as the child begins eating more and more table foods
• Great part of the bedtime routine

My favorite of these is relief of pressure about weaning. I feel like that is something that nursing moms fear many times- I know I had a moment where I felt really confused about how it would all shake out. With my first daughter, Sofia, I became pregnant when she was 15 months old. I didn't notice a drastic decline in her interest just because I was pregnant, we were already headed in that direction before that. We nursed less and less. If she asked for it, I said ok. If she did not ask for it, I didn't offer either. It was very peaceful for both of us and I was happy with how it gradually ended. I don't know how things will go with Leila, as she is a bit more of a momma's girl than Sofia ever was. She definitely loves her mee-ilk and still asks for it 2-3 times a day. As she may be my last child, I don't mind. The bonding I have experienced with both my girls through breastfeeding is priceless and I would do it over in a second.

If you are with child or hope to be, please consider breastfeeding your child.

If you are already breastfeeding- awesome! Don't freak out about long-term nursing just do what feels right and don't worry about what others may think. Wean only when ready.

Glad I could share a little piece of my "nursing sutra" with you. Please tell me that I am not the only one with a child who does this?

New Year, New Beginnings

I love that it's a new year.

If you have had the undeniably amazing opportunity to follow any of this blogventure (blog+adventure... I tried) you know that last year was something else for me. It was filled with grief, hurt, unbearable sadness, emptiness, anxiety, depression and all those other great life things. It's no wonder why I was looking forward to a new beginning.

Some argue that there is no difference between December 31st at 11:59pm and January 1st at 12am. For me, there is a clear break. In my mind I get a new chance, a fresh start- and who can't use one of those?

For this year, I am devoted to being better. A better wife and mother. A better friend. A better worker. That also means that I am devoted to intentional time with my kids and taking more dates with my darling husband. I get to be slow to anger and quick (er) to forgive. I am vowing to not procrastinate when someone asks me to hem a pair of pants. I am saying yes to more messages of encouragement to people who encourage me. It's a package. It's not just about me saying I am going to eat healthier, it's about the bigger picture of being able to see my children walk down the aisle one day or bounce my grandchild on my knee.

It's time to live for the bigger picture. I think I am ready.

A blessed New Year to you and yours! 

Soup!

So I hope I am not the only one who struggles to put food on the table sometimes. It's not necessarily that I don't have what I need (although that does happen). It's more about planning ahead and making something that everyone will want.

Right now I am working with my husband, a newly vegetarian, my stepson who is pretty good but if it looks funny- no way, my daughter Sofia (3) who eats so little sometimes I wonder how she keeps on living and Leila (16 months) who eats everything and twice as much as Sofia. I'm pretty easy going too but.... little to no dairy. That leaves me frustrated and wanting to head to the closest drive-thru.

As it turns out, with the  changing seasons and changes in seasonal foods, I have latched on to soup as my go to and I found the perfect book! From the library of course (love it!). The book is called SOUP and it is just a compilation of a bunch of super yummy, super easy, soup recipes. I don't think I have ever cooked so many recipes out of one book in my whole life. Pumpkin soup, chunky turkey soup, lentil soup, even Mulligatawny is honor of the Soup Nazi himself. I think I added too much ginger though. Time for some tweaking. Anyway.

The thing about soup is that most times it is easy and can be quick- but you have to have the right things laying around. I suggest you always pick these things up at the store and have them on hand:

butter

onions

vegetable or chicken stock

parsley

potatoes

carrots

celery

For some reason it seems like most recipes call for some combination of the above and having those things around can be a life saver. Especially after a long day.

I definitely recommend the book- just buy it, you won't be disappointed but until then here is one of my favorites:

Allotment soup

You need:

2 tbsp olive oil

1 medium leek, finely sliced

2 medium carrots, diced

1 large zucchini, diced

1 celery rib, diced

1 large potato, diced

2 tomatoes peeled and diced

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 quarts cold water

sea salt and ground pepper

6 oz frozen green beans

How to:

Heat oil in a large pot. Add leek, carrots, zucchini, celery, potato, tomato and garlic and cook, stirring regularly for 10-15 minutes until soft but not brown. Add water and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 45 minutes or until everything is tender. Add frozen green beans and heat until tender. Serve with some yummy crusty bread.

Yum-o! Enjoy!