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Saturday, August 2, 2008

Liv is advancing quickly from newborn to baby!

Yesterday, she start really sucking on her hands. Finding them consistently.

Today- she is all about her hands, I gave her a wooden rattle- she brought it to her mouth, dropped it and stuck her whole fist in her mouth and chewed. Chews my shoulder, chews my fingers.

I know Ira started teething early, but didn't cut her first tooth until I think 6 months or so.

This just seems so young to have red gums, no?

She is also trying to roll and tries to sit up when laid in a reclining position.
So far she can get from back to her side and side to her tummy.

She also laughed her first squealing laugh!!!!!


It was so beautiful- like whimsical music!

Ira and I sat on the couch trying to make her laugh all night.

One beautiful thing- Liv was cranky later in the night, she had been woken up a couple times. She was crying and didnt want to nurse or be rocked or anything. Ira came over, put her hands on Liv's head and said, "momma she is tired" turns to look at Liv still with her hands on her head and says "Liv, your just tired". 

Then, no joke- Liv quits crying.

Sister love, Healing hands. 

who knows.

but is was beautiful.

July 31.

Its our 4 year wedding anniversary!

Jared bought me a beautiful gift- I got him nothing :(

Well, material that is.

We also stopped by the library (my latest obsession, can you tell)

and we picked up quite a few random books.

But two really great ones...

so cute, great art, and really quick! Totally keeps Ira captured... we had to read it to her like 15 times, and when we said no- she sat and "read" it to herself and then to us. She had MEMORIZED it. lol

Also very cute. We go to the zoo a lot, focus a lot of learning on animals, etc. This si good, adds the alphabet in there and keeps interest with fun rhymes.

Day Three of Green Tea- 7/30

Today was my third say of my big switch from coffee in the am to green tea.

Technically I feel great. No coffee withdrawal headache or anything- thanks to the green tea caffeine.... however.... I feel lonely.

I miss my long time friend.

That hot cuppa brown liquid with a little soy creamer in it.

I will now take a moment to meditate that vision of bliss from my head and instead fill it with visions of me enjoying my tea of health.

[rolling eyes at own absurdity]

Stencilicious

Today, Ira is officially midwestern.

She learned to stencil.


We were shopping at the children's resale shop for new babe gifts and well, I found some of those, but I also found some great wooden alphabet blocks, and a wooden stenciling set.

She really took right to it. It was really fun to see her so focused on holding down the stencil perfectly and tracing it out.

So intent. Then we made a cute little farm pic with a pig, barn, tree, etc.

Supa cute.

7/28 happenings

Today I taught ira a little of what flour can do.

Mix in a little water- and its dough. dough makes pie crust, pizza crust, bread, etc.

Or, you can just keep mixing, and mixing and add a little salt- PLAYDOUGH!!!!

She had a blast, jared had a panic attack when he saw the flour everywhere, and I had a good laugh.

all is well in the world.

AHHHH I love a new baby!

We met the newest babe in the tribe tonight.

I love him.

He is so perfect. 

He also makes Liv look like an amazon baby. 

I think they may be in love.




Friday, August 1, 2008

newer library books 7/27

today we picked up


cute. I also never really thought about how fun turning one word into another can be.
melon - lemon

gah!

First Flight (cannot find it anywhere online)

loved the art work in this book. really really loved it.
nice and refreshing.


great art, great story, fun to read. words roll off the tongue.


jared read this to the both of us. I cried at the end. I love a good true story.


mildred and dildred

THE FROG PRINCE

Well, I already said how much I love this store and its owner and alll the employees.

They put on these monthly plays and/or puppet shows.

Last month was the BILLY GOATS GRUFF. totally awesome.

This month was THE FROG PRINCE.

They are just adorable and they really capture the essence of a childs imagination. All of the children, spanning all age ranges- were completely captured by the performers.

I love attending.

I am glad ira does too.

Plus, how great is it to be recognized by your toy store employees and have them remeber details about you?


library list as of 7/24

we renewed all the previous books and picked up-



this one was okay- kinda boring? but decent.


very cute, the art was great, and anything to the "over in the meadow" tune is fun to read.



also very cute and fun to read... ira really enjoyed it as well.

It is a playful read.


AHHHHHHHH! do not read this book if you are creeped out by spiders at all.
I had to stop halfway through and let me husband finish it.

I could NOT handle it.


Didnt like this one either- ira had grabbed it off the shelf. 

I like messes ;)


new additions














new playthings have arrived.

we are officially in love.

ira wakes up everyday ready to play.... I love hearing her little voice pretending to be a million things.

warms my heart.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

New Life!

A beautiful new soul was born to this world by a friend. 

An amazing homebirth by an amazing mama. 

I have the feeling in my chest that I get when I exit a rollercoaster that was thrilling, scary and worth every second of the wait..... the feeling of excitement, not for me... but for all those in line to get on.

I always want to squeeze them and scream "THIS IS SO MUCH FUN! AHHHHHHHHHHHH"

Instead, I watch them get in... longingly, then run my jealous booty back to the  end of the line.

Let me just stay thrilled for my friends for a long time...

because I CANNOT get back in this line for a year or more :)

I cut my thumb!

with an open can of beans..... not joking.

it hurt, but i thought it was a surface cut.... went to wash it- 

Oh my goodness... it was deep!

I will share with you the conversation i had with myself- 

"thats deep. ommagodommagodommagod..... jen you are a registered nurse, you have pulled balloon pumps out of femoral arteries, you can handle a bleeding cut. calm. down."

it gushes blood

"ommagodommagodommagod..... its deep its deep its  deep. Jen. calm. pressure. butterfly stitches. ommagodommagodommagod...... elevate. ommagodommagodommagod..... im fine...
alright, this is fine. this is okay."

I cut some butterfly stitch tape out of a few band aids and i dressed it up.... kept it elevate as it throbbed....


But this is the deepest cut i have had since i had the tip of my pointer finger cut off in a door.

T'was scary. T'was scary.




Monday, July 21, 2008

Cucumber Salad

tastes like summer...

organic persian cucumbers sliced, skin on 
1 med org. red onion chopped
parsley 
rice vinegar
sesame oil

i mix together in a bowl adding more or less of vinegar/oil/parsley to taste.


Saturday, July 19, 2008

reading reading reading....

love the reading.....

we have a new fun library habit.

we walk through and pick out  every book that stands out, whether its because the art is cool, or the title is catchy..... whatever. This started because I would look for certain titles (which is impossible in the kid's section) and end up leaving frustrated after not finding any of the titles I went for....but getting home & realizing i really liked what i just grabbed randomly.

Now we walk and grab. 

Whatever strikes us, its quite fun... the excitement of what is in the bag when we get home...if we will like it, if not.


We have found some REALLY great books this way. aaaannnddddd some REALLY lame ones.

tonight we read 10 books, of those- 6 of them I would borrow again, 2 of them i will buy.

~worthy of public mention~

touching, educational and fun!

obvious, but i love different ways of teaching keira about the sonoran desert! 
it's our home!

cute story, great theme.

interesting, not so fun for a 3 year old to listen to- I had to get creative with the reading.

fun to read, great message.



Friday, July 18, 2008

we shall not be moved

we shall we shall not be moved 
we shall we shall not be moved 
just like a tree planted by the water
we shall not be moved

when we sing together we shall not be moved 
when we sing together we shall not be moved 
just like a tree planted by the water
we shall not be moved

when we work together we shall not be moved
when we work together we shall not be moved
just like a tree planted by the water
we shall not be moved

when we're playing banjos we shall not be moved
when we're playing banjos we shall not be moved
just like a tree planted by the water
we shall not be moved

we shall we shall not be moved 
we shall we shall not be moved 
just like a tree planted by the water
we shall not be moved

just like a tree planted by the water
we shall not be moved


dan zanes take


i like it

Our Morning Smoothie

also for dianna~ and whoever else ;)

1c frozen organic strawberries
2 handfuls of spinach
1 banana
1/2c (ish) hemp milk*
organic hemp protein powder^
greens powder of choice^
alfalfa sprouts^

put strawberries in blender with enough hemp milk to blend it smooth, then add the rest.


*i never measure, just add it as I blend the strawberries
^optional items, i rotate some in & out dependaning on what looks good at store. I also sometimes add organic peanut butter if i am out of hemp powder.


Vegan Pesto Pasta Salad

1  bag whole wheat organic pasta
2 handfuls fresh basil
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 handful of pine nuts
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
salt
put basil, garlic and pine nuts in food  processor/blender and blend, adding a drizzle of olive oil until creamy, then I add a drizzle of balsamic to taste... then salt.

mix dressing with pasta and refridge until nice and cold.

I love it... it may be just be me though.... I ABSOLUTELY LOVE strong, fresh flavors.

Black Bean Salad

*for ms. dianna- you're gonna love it*

1 can organic black beans~ rinsed & drained
1 16oz bag of organic frozen corn thawed
1 organic medium size red onion~ chopped
juice of two limes
palm full of salt
cilantro to taste
1-2 ish tsp of agave syrup

mix together & refridgerate for 2 hours-ish...

its so yum by itself or on blue corn tortilla chips


I am Another Mother for PEACE!

are you?

Family Cloth What?!?

In direct opposition to jared, ira & i have switched entirely to "family cloth" (A.K.A. cloth toilet paper).  I was a little off put by the thought, but knew that we were using much too much paper waste, and we have already gone cloth with EVERYTHING else. We use cloth napkins, cloth diapers, cloth wipes, etc. We never buy or use paper plates or anything (even for parties).

So, I made the plunge.

I cut up old stained/worn out towels (unfortunate decision in the aesthetic department), and we were off! At the moment, 4x4 squares work great, and I am thinking of venturing into the linen closet to see what old flannel things I have in there to cut up as well. 

Now, i think jared could have possibly been swayed had a chose a different fabric as starters, because the moment he saw the stained squares, he verbally reaffirmed that this was a disgusting lifestyle journey he would not be along for.

Although, he also shed a tear over losing his beloved napkins and look at him now. Proudly explaining to guests how we have converted to cloth.

Time will tell.

Im actually thinking of heading to the craft store for dyes to dye the cloths in vibrant appealing shades....i wonder what color triggers the "i need to wipe my butt with this cloth" center of the brain.


hmmmmm