Like Mother Like Daughter

Sage wanted to try pumping.

Why I Love Shane-Part 6

This morning Shane grabbed a slice of freshly baked pumpkin bread on his way out the door. Later, when I walked into the kitchen to cut a slice for myself I noticed the end piece (cue the Hallelujah chorus) waiting for me on the cooling rack. Sweet Shane saved my most favorite part. It sure is wonderful that in this crazy world someone loves me enough to remember that I love the crusty, crunchy goodness of the end slice.

Count Your Blessings

I was all ready for my 3-day doula training this weekend.

Diapers and wipes. Check.

Lunch, dinner and snacks. Check.

Directions. Check.

Micah. Check.

Ready to go.

The class is in LA at a doula's home. Google Maps says that in traffic it will take 2 hours. I decide to leave super early to avoid the traffic and I arrive an hour and a half early. Micah and I kick around. He eats, I change a diaper, we go for a walk. As the time approaches 9 AM I knock on the door, no answer. Call on the phone, no answer. Knock on neighbors doors. "Do you know the lady next door?" "No" (welcome to Southern California folks). Finally I find a neighbor who tells me that the teacher is out of town until the 1st.

Right date. uhhhhh....no.

I was so mad that I drove so far, wasted so much time and energy. Driving down the road fuming and frustrated, a few mad tears in my eyes, I saw a billboard for a local news station, a great big anchor face staring out at me.

The name of the anchor? Micah.

Suddenly the angry cloud lifted and I remembered my Micah. I glanced over my shoulder at him sleeping peacefully in the back seat and my heart welled up with love. I remembered how much I have to be grateful for. I spent the long car ride home counting my blessings and arrived home with a smile on my face.

Listen Up-Flashback

Stina Nordenstam's voice is a Catch-22....odd yet compelling and lovely. You might remember this song from "Romeo & Juliet."

Yum Yum Monday

The perfect cup of hot cocoa to keep you toasty on a cold night.

Recipe here.

The Many Faces of Micah

Worried

Curious

Sleepy

Delighted

Homemade Baby Wipes

Call me cheap but I don't like paying $4.50 for "natural" baby wipes. I started looking around for alternatives: washable wipes I wasn't quite ready for so instead we made our own disposables. It takes about 10 minutes and the wipes are 100 times better than store bought. The essential oils help heal and prevent diaper rash; tea tree oil is an antibacterial and lavender has healing properties. Micah's bum has never looked better.

1 roll paper towels, cut in half
2 cups hot water
2 TBS. coconut oil (can use baby oil)
2 TBS. Dr. Bronner's Baby Soap (can use baby soap)
5 drops lavender oil--optional
5 drops tea tree oil--a must, it prevents the wipes from getting moldy

1. Here's the hardest part of the whole process: cut paper towel roll in half with a serrated knife (if you have an electric knife that would be really handy here).
2. Place 1/2 of paper towels, cut side down, in an empty wipes container.
3. Mix hot water with oil, baby wash and essential oils. Pour over wipes, close wipes container and turn upside down. After 5 minutes, remove cardboard tube and start wipes from center (where the tube was).
   

Dreamin'

At dinner recently we were discussing our dream to someday have land and animals.

Sage piped in:

"I'll have sooo many chores. I'll get the eggs from the chickens and the milk from the cows and the bacon from the pigs."

Is it just me?

Or does the name of this OC joint make you think ...

chronic diarrhea

Blech.

Count me out.

Conference Fun

Yay for Conference weekend! I love hearing the wisdom and counsel of our prophet and apostles. Since there's no cable 'round this house we head to the church to watch Conference. How do we get Sage to sit quietly? She has pictures (see above) laid out next to her on a pew. Every time she hears the word pictured she gets to choose a small treat from a bowl.

She has been SO excited about Conference because she knows that for 8 hours she'll get unlimited snacking on treats. Lucky girl.

The goodies