Travel

We have been on a journey with Rue into the West this week! My cousin is now a married lady, I have hugged a redwood, & now I am writing from my phone in the desert, under the roof of my husband's brother's beautiful family home! 

Rue did so well for her first time flying! We were moved to our own row on the long flight, so we were able to buckle her between us when she got particularly fidgety. 

Here are some photos from our adventures thus far (all from my iPhone, edited with VSCOcam, snapseed, & Mextures apps):

This trip has been amazing so far (follow me on Instagram to see our adventures as they unfold!), but the highlight for me has been seeing family. I haven't seen my cousins in ages & Rue has finally met her cousin, L! My heart may have exploded.

The girls are forming a band. You should hear the harmonies! Haha You can tell from the album art that an iTunes release is imminent! ;) (or not, but come on, that photo just SCREAMS "band album cover")

A couple of my images on IG are my submissions for Sakura Bloom's next sling diary series. I have been trying to be a diarist for... Forever, really, & I am hoping this time may be my lucky break! If you are unaware of the series, I urge you to check it out (sakurabloom.com or #slingdiaries on IG)! Search #sakurabloomauditions on IG to see my submissions & others, as well. There are so many inspiring thoughts on the topic of "courage".

I plan to pick up blogging again... Probably mobile blogging like this. I wonder what this entry will look like on the computer? Hmmm... I hope the formatting isn't wonky. My OCD for formatting makes me nervous when it comes to mobile blogging!

Anywho... Thanks for reading, especially those of you who have stuck around through my silence! I appreciate you all!

Back Posting

I am miserable at this blog thing at the moment.  I have been submerged in my own little world... & it is chaotic!  We have had a lot of life moments, which I am just going to summarize here with a huge montage.  I have not used my camera very much in recent history, except for client work, so almost all my personal images are iPhone photos... & that is okay.  I am okay with that.  I would rather have these moments recorded with my phone that not to have them at all!  And it is liberating in a way... I am not concerned with the technical aspects of the tool.  I can focus more on just capturing that elusive little grin Rue has, on remembering how she sleeps right now, eyelashes heavy veils against the light.  That dimpled hand & those thighs that are so chubby the rolls look like melting ice cream, just folded over themselves.  I am so enamoured with this little girl & her Daddy!  Life is beautiful, & I am trying to appreciate that.  We aren't rich, our home is cozy, & we definitely do not need much stuff to be happy.  What we have is enough! If I don't get around to posting more this November (I completely missed October!  Woah), I want to get this out now: I am so grateful for all that I have in this life.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.



My goal this month is to post a little bit more often!  We are doing handmade Christmas this year, & I am considering making a craft book to sell on Blurb for quick, cheap, easy & impressive crafts to make for & with children!  Does that sound like anything anyone would be interested in?

I am also working on an Etsy shop... hopefully I will have enough stock to open by April.  Spring means new beginnings, right?!?!

xo

Housewife (with Original Recipe!)

Well, as of yesterday, I officially became a stay-at-home Mama!  We looked into daycare for Rue, but were wait-listed, quoted insane rates, or given ultimatums about diapering & even told to have a bottle packed per feeding.  Going over our budget, adding in the cost of care, extra bottles, extra pumping supplies, disposable diapers, & things like gas to daycare, work, & home... I would have been making approximately $50 a week, tops.  And that was if we continued to eat all our meals at home.

Then we looked at how our time would be divided up & our overall quality of life.

Rue still wakes up in the middle of the night at least once, usually between 2-4 AM.  Then I would have to prep a slowcooker meal before work in the morning, so I would have to be up by 5 AM.  Then I would have to leave almost an hour earlier than I used to so I could drive in the opposite direction to drop off Rue all day.  Then I would go to work, where I would require 3 pumping breaks in the day to maintain supply & keep my freezer stocked with enough milk to keep Rue on breast milk exclusively at daycare.  At night, Rue can fight sleep until midnight, & often does, leaving next to NO sleep for Mama.  Basically, it was a big, expensive, exhaustive hassle.  And we wouldn't necessarily know who Rue was with all day, or what she was learning, or how much time was really spent with her.

Rue's face here says everything that needs to be said about how we felt about the situation:



So we decided to have me stay home.  But I am not giving up on bringing some income home!  I am working really hard on the photo business, & you can expect to see more client work popping up on here, as well as special offers & tutorials!  I am also taking my homemaker status very seriously.  While Ted is off bringing home the bacon (quite literally, we love bacon here), I am home cooking it.  And running endless loads of laundry.  And vacuuming.  And taking copious amounts of photos of my baby.




I have always had serious anxiety about cooking.  In my mind, I light a burner (& I mean light; we have a gas range) & my brain instantly begins to babble about fire hazards, singed eyebrows, & fume inhalation.  Electric stoves were not much better, with the ever-present possibility of a rodent gnawing through the wires JUST enough to expose the metal bits... & POOF!  There goes the insulation in the wall, & there goes the kitchen.  Microwaves leak radiation & refrigerators leak freon.  Common sense tells me I am being ridiculous.  Anxiety tells me these threats are not only very real, but are guaranteed to happen to me, specifically.  It's a real problem.  It was paralyzing sometimes.

Then I had your more average fears: I will burn dinner/ it will taste terrible/  I will start a meal & forget it.  I am happy to report that that has not happened.

I started by using Pinterest as a recipe generator.  It is incredible how useful that site is.  And sometimes not so much.  But mostly, pretty helpful!  But I almost always read recipes incorrectly & have to improvise... which has actually turned out pretty okay!

We had balsamic BBQ chicken breasts with green beans & salt & vinegar potatoes one night.  I never thought I would meet a potato I didn't like, but I learned that there is definitely such a thing as too much vinegar.  Ick.  We also had a steak dinner in a slow-cooker one night.  I substituted frozen baby carrots for the corn on the cob & used a roast cut of beef & as much A1 as we had in the house (which was 1/4 a tiny bottle brushed over the meat to create an even coat).  We also had a couple slices of Sunny Sourdough bread c/o Amber of SuperNaturale & Manna Organics!  It was delicious & I was incredibly proud!  We have breakfast for dinner at least once a week, & often have some sprouted breads with those!  We loved the Banana Walnut Hemp bread.  So delicious.



Ted suggested meatballs for dinner some night, & I knew I wanted some of those sweet & tangy meatballs that people make with jelly.  Notice the jelly jar in the above photo?  Yeah, I wanted to use that!

So I looked around online for recipes, & they all call for two ingredients: grape jelly & chili sauce.  Or ketchup as a base, jelly, & various spices.  Here's the thing: I cannot eat tomatoes.  I can have trace amount of tomato in things, like A1, or dipping sauces, when you use a small amount of that thing in proportion to a large amount of meat or whatever.  I haven't had a tomato in years (I really miss cherry & grape tomatoes... a lot).  When I eat one, my tongue gets itchy, which is a warning.  I have no idea what would happen beyond that; frankly, I am too chicken to play with fire.  Or at least food allergies.  Yikes.

Long story short, I would not be marinating my meal in tomatoes all day (or, as some friends like to call it, "Mary death-fruits".  I have the best, most serious friends!).  I found a recipe in our crock pot recipe book (the kind that is really more brochure than book & comes with the crock pot when you buy it. Ours is the "WalMart edition" crock pot.  Fancy!).  It was the kind that calls for a ketchup base.  I looked it over, said "that's what you think!" & set to work.  Making my own recipe.  I know, I know, pretty heavy stuff for a gal who is still getting over fear of common kitchen appliances.  But making dinner is now my job, & I always put 150% into my work.  Cooking not excluded.

Some of these ingredients are hard to come by, so I am including alternatives in parentheses.  Especially the jam I used, which we made ourselves using the fruit from the fig tree in our back yard.  I will post about canning some other time.  :)

SRIRACHA TERIYAKI MAPLE FIG MEATBALLS

(or Teriyaki Maple Jam Meatballs)

serves 4 

(or 2 really hungry people, or 1 person who really likes leftovers)

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup brown spicy mustard

* 1/3 cup Sriracha Teriyaki Sauce (or plain Teriyaki sauce)

* 1 cup soy sauce

* 3 TBSP fig jelly (or jelly of choice)

* 1 cup maple syrup

* 1 1/2 TSP ground allspice

* 1 TBSP minced garlic (optional or to taste)

* 1 pack frozen pre-cooked meatballs (22 oz)

* Combine ingredients sans meatballs in slow cooker.  Stir until well mixed.

* Turn on HIGH until obviously warm (the lid should fog up).

* Add in meatballs, stirring into sauce mixture.  Make sure each meatball is coated in sauce, & keep meatballs in a single layer in the mixture.

* Keep cooker on HIGH for 30 minutes.

* Stir & cook on LOW for 5-6 hours, covered.

* Stir before serving!

These come out of the cooker really soft & marinated through.  We enjoyed our over a bed of fluffy white rice with green beans & carrots on the side.  I also modified the recipe a bit; I originally used 1/2 cup of Sriracha Teriyaki sauce & 1/2 cup soy sauce, but found the mix a bit too intense for my taste.

Let me know if you try it!  I hope you like it!

Our Cloth Diaper Journey

When we found out we were pregnant, we began looking into parenting options.  I knew I wanted to be present in our baby's life, as well as sustainable & thrifty.  We decided early on that one thing we really wanted to emphasize was that we would spend time, more than money, on our children.



Diapering is a necessity of the early years of childhood.  Infants obviously aren't walking themselves to the bathroom.  We did a little research & I was disgusted by conventional disposables pretty quickly.  They use A LOT of energy to make them, they take years & years to biodegrade after being tossed (diapers I wore are still breaking down & have a long way to go!), & the chemicals used to make them so absorbent can wreak havoc on tiny tushies.  More sustainable disposable options (like Honest diapers) were a real long-term investment... they cost more & yet you still throw them out.  For me, there was only one logical answer: cloth.



We began our cloth journey when Rue was about 1.5 weeks old.  At this point, I was recovered enough to put in the effort (childbirth is no picnic!), & Ted was still in need of a little convincing that this option was hygienic & not completely disgusting for us- especially poo diapers.  We started with a pre-loved stash of small gDiapers I had bought online from a friend of my SILs. It was important to me to purchase pre-loved diapers- after all, we were trying to reduce the amount of waste in the world!  These were close enough to the design & function of disposables, & the inserts were the only part that required special CD detergent.  It made it easier for my husband to acclimate as we made the change from disposable to cloth.  We really adored these for the first month, but then our little chub outgrew them.  These would actually be the best option for someone who wants to save some cash but not go 100% cloth, as they have disposable, biodegradable FLUSHABLE inserts one can use in lieu of the cloth inserts.  And again, the rest of the diaper parts can go in with your regular laundry- no special detergent required!  They are also sold at Babies-R-Us, so no specialty baby boutique trip is needed, either.

In the beginning, most of our pocket diapers were a bit too baggy on Rue, so we also frequently used prefolds with Snappis to secure them, under a Thirsties or Swaddlebees cover (the kinds we have are no longer made).  We still have these prefolds & covers on hand, in case we have a situation in which we run out of pocket diapers!



Here is where we learned the #1 cloth diaper lesson: not all diaper brands & styles will work for your baby.  Furthermore, some diapers that DO work for your baby now may not ALWAYS work for your baby!  My cousin had gifted us her stash so we had a few off-brand options to work with.  We were also gifted several other types of diapers so we could find what worked best for us.

We graduated from the gDiapers to Monkey Snuggles in size small fitted diapers & one-size with rise snaps (again, no longer available).  These worked for a while longer, but some of the snaps were faulty on ours & we decided to try some no-name diapers that are similar to FuzziBunz in the cut, but also have (more secure) rise snaps, sans hip snaps.  We had a couple Bummis diapers that were gifts.  We loved the patterns & super light-weight, silky exterior fabric (not the PUL our other diapers all use).  However, our little one always managed to pee through that fabric!  We used extra doublers for the pocket & AIO (all in one) versions, & still she would literally soak through the outer layer.  Our travel wet bag is the same fabric, though, & it is completely durable, with nary a leak.  Maybe it's a force thing.  I am really not sure & still quite baffled.



What works best for us are FuzziBunz one-size Elite diapers (the wider style without the minky inserts, although we have a few with the minky insert that we also love for daytime use).  The wider ones can be used at night for Rue as long as we use the OS insert PLUS the newborn insert as a doubler, & I usually pop in a super-thin bamboo rayon soaker behind those to add just a bit more absorbency, since our little is a heavy wetter.  I totally let her fall asleep in a daytime-stuffed diaper last night & woke up in a tiny lake of urine.  Ick.  Even the best fitting diaper is no match to a night's worth of pee without proper stuffing.

We are also partial to Charlie Banana OS diapers (which- bonus- are found at our local Target stores!).  We love the disposable inserts for on-the-go use, as it allows us to carry less bulky diapers & keeps our smaller wet bag a bit more empty after a long day out.  The CB diapers are our favorite nighttime option!  They have a generous cut & wide pocket that accommodates the OS, newborn, & bamboo inserts beautifully, while still staying fairly trim on her bum.  The CBs have an envelope opening which is also nice.



I really would like to get a few BumGenius OS diapers as well.  We love the FBs & CBs because they feature adjustable elastic in the legs to adjust the rise rather than snaps, so our little waterworks doesn't leak nearly as much in those, even when she wears one for a long nap in daytime mode (one insert).  However, she is chubbing up really nicely, & I hear great things about the BGs for chubby legged babes!  Additionally, once you get into cloth diapering- CDing- the colors & patterns can suck you in.  And I am a sucker for the hues of the BGs!  haha  Must.  Collect.  All.  The.  Diapers.



Other accessories we cannot live without: our diaper sprayer, PlanetWise wet bags in our Target pail (works just as well as a CD specific pail- but cost $30 at our store!), Ruby Moon laundry detergent & pail sprinkles, Baby Bits wipe solution in a dollar store spray bottle, cheap baby washcloths with serged edges as wipes (I recently received handmade wipes from a friend that I will start using & will write about soon!), & a clothes rack, line, & clothespins.  We also use Diaper Lotion Potion Spray & Burt's Bees talc-free powder.  In fact, all the Burt's Bees baby products have been wonderful for Rue!



There are a million blogs dedicated to CDing, & a million tutorials online.  I just wanted to share a bit we have learned along the way.  Cloth diaper laundry day is every other day in our house, & I usually tackle it while Rue takes her morning nap.  I think it is one of my favorite chores to accomplish!  I feel so calm with the routine: rinse, wash with detergent, rinse, take outside to line dry.  I love the last bit.  The cats & their stray friends usually come around to help me & be fed (okay, really, to be fed), I enjoy a bit of fresh air & a nice breeze, & I get to notice new things about our backyard.  For example, the fig tree is heavy with ripe fruit waiting to be picked, & is surrounded by sticky over-ripened fruit rotting on the ground, feeding the ants & other insects, but also adding nutrients to the soil, making way for wildflowers & lush grasses.  Something about laundry drying on a line takes me back to my childhood summers in Michigan with my grandparents on their farm, or in New York with my other grandparents on the lake.  It's timeless & easy & simple, & I hope one day, Rue will see line-drying linens & remember the comfortable fluffy bottom of her early years.




Do you CD?  What are your must-haves?

Middle of the Night Memories

It's 4 AM.  I woke around 3 AM, after falling asleep around 1 AM, with a very uncomfortable little Rue fussing at me.

We've been dealing with the dreaded first fever, & I am running on an average 2-4 hours of sleep a night.  Sometimes, I have to think back to when I was carrying this little bundle & looking so forward to mamahood.  I have to think back before the fatigue, the breast-milk stained everything, the painful physical changes, the actual labor, the anxiety.  I have to remember the calm before the storm.

Our friend Heather gave me some beautiful images to help me remember the excitement.  The hope.  The anticipation.










Despite the sleeplessness, the stress, the moments of "will she ever stop crying?!?!"... it's all worth it!  I know I was born to be Rue's mama.  I have always wanted her, & I will always want her.

And now?  Here is hoping I get a little more sleep tonight!

Life With Rue- A Month After Birth

I cannot believe that tomorrow our baby will be seven weeks old.  SEVEN WEEKS!  How did we get here already?  My mind is a whirlwind of activity.  I cannot quite process the last seven weeks, & I am realizing with a heavy heart that my maternity leave is drawing to an end, & I still have been unable to secure a daycare for Rue.  There are a lot of things to figure out logistically.  This is another one of those things you don't really consider during pregnancy.  Unless you are lucky enough to already be a stay-at-home, or have planned to become one, daycare spots are almost as competitive as colleges & nearly as costly.  The time between delivery & returning to work is not nearly enough to feel like your child is off to a good start, let alone to get all your ducks in a row for childcare in the first place.

But I digress.

The past month & a half (almost 2 months!) flew by.  I feel like just yesterday I was caressing my swollen belly, wondering if I would have a son or a daughter, imagining the moment they snuggled to my breast, when I would whisper their name into the whorl of their ear.  And then that happened with Rue, & somehow we are already several days, weeks, & pounds later.

Some of the highlights of the last few weeks have been the Big Latch On, our visit to Children's Hospital for our hip sonogram (normal!) followed by a little fun at the National Harbor, bath & shower time with Mama, meeting new faces as friends & family visit us, & leisurely sleepy days in between.











Then we had our belated one month photo taken with our elephant friend for scale.  I couldn't pick which one I liked best, so I picked a few.  Rue surprised me & sat up from her boppy!  I keep forgetting how strong our baby is.  She wants to sit up on her own, & she came out of the womb able to hold up her head & look around.  She amazes me!






There are a few more photos over on my Flickr account, as well.  I also keep an ongoing phone photo & memo diary via VSCO's app website.  I love it, & welcome you to view that page as well!  It's a bit like my iPhonography Journal, but specific to mamahood.

I can't believe my little squish will be 2 months old in a week!  Where has the time gone?!?!