Quick Takes

We've been doing a lot of talking and praying lately......and......

1. We decided we're going to be staying in Washington....post-military.
2. We are looking for a small lot in Lacey, WA (suburbs of Olympia) on which to build a home. (Ben's contract ends in April, 2010. We have one more year of paychecks, so we decided to start home-shopping now, before he faces a period of unemployment)
3. We will be building a house there. :)
4. We are selling our van to give us some capital to accomplish all of the above. ($14500, in case you're interested)
5. Ben is still in school, finishing up his second set of courses.
6. We quit Violet's ballet, because of her lack of ability to respect her (albeit not-very-good) teacher.
7. We are hoping to get her into some sports soon....perhaps soccer.
8. Grace is crawling
9. I sewed an entire dress for Violet....and it is FINISHED.
10. I am still teaching 4 students, and no more have signed on. There is still very little interest out here "in the country."
11. The new home plan we settled on has an office in the front of the house, which will become the piano studio. I cannot WAIT to get comfy in that room and start up a studio for real. My goal is about 10 hours a week, totaling 20 students. :)
12. The frenzy of planning has taken its toll on our family. I need to spend a lot of time in prayer to not become overwhelmed with this decision and all it means.


We would appreciate all your prayers.

Household Gods

I recently was convicted about that feeling I kept getting at the end of every day, "Wow, where did the time go? I didn't get A.B. and C. done." In prayer one morning, God showed me that computer stuff was getting in my way. I think maybe stay-at-home moms everywhere can identify with this. We rule our own time...our work is "never done"....and the computer (with its promise of social interaction without ever leaving the house) is always there, within reach. With those 3 things creating the Perfect Storm, I got a little carried away with facebook and blogging....and internet shopping.......and reading up on other people's blogs....and photos.....

*sigh*

The morning I was referring to I was sitting in bed sort-of dreading the day coming up...with its promise of "I'll get that done this morning"....which always turns into "halfway through the afternoon and the breakfast dishes are still piled up." .......and then suddenly all the other things I had to do that day started barking at me from the sidelines, too. Laundry jeered from the hallway, bread demanded to be made, coffee begged to be roasted, and the guilt of not fixing my husband lunch to take to work started to creep up. From the distance I could see my sewing project waving to me sadly......instantly my hands went to my iPhone for "comfort" from social networking. These jobs were cracking the whip over my head, and I just wanted to retreat to something FUN!

In the midst of all this, a phrase started to form in my head........household gods........and I remembered the frequent referrals to them in the old testament as being something the Israelites turned to and then back to God....then back to the idols, then back to God. I realized I had set up my own household gods around me everywhere. Everywhere I turned, there they were, set up, commanding me to bow down. I let them rule me, and I forgot my First Love, Jesus Christ. I repented of this idolatry, and asked God to be first again. I prayed for the power to abide in Christ and bear fruit instead of worshipping at the feet of laundry and dishes....and facebook.



PS. That's one of the reasons I've been cyber-silent for a few days......more on the rest later.

Spring in Yelm

Would you believe it if I told you I am sitting in our SUNNY backyard and typing this?? Yep...we have sunshine. :) And--it's 58 degrees out right now. AND--there are flowers on my plum tree! AND my husband is mowing our lawn for the first time all year! Oh, wait. That's my neighbor. We still haven't mowed our lawn.........

We just got back from a family walk to our tiny little "downtown" here in Yelm. We're about a 5 minute walk from "The Corner." There you can find "Prairie Lanes," the local bowling alley, "Prairie Dental," a home with a charming picket fence, blooming muscari, and perfectly combed pea gravel drive. The office is downstairs, the family lives upstairs. At the light is Tim's Pharmacy, and across the street from that is a framing shop/art gallery that offers art classes for children. Around the corner from Tim's is the White Horse Tavern, frequently populated by bikers, and down the road a bit of a drive is my favorite store of the year, "Bullfrogs & Butterflies," used kids' clothing & toys. Across from there is the Yelm Timberland Library, where Grace, Violet & I spend time every couple of weeks.

We walked past Cochran Memorial Park, where we fed the ducks during the winter.....

Tim's Pharmacy & Gifts was our destination for today....they just opened up "Holy Grounds" espresso shop (The name is actually reflective of the owners' religion; they consistently have scripture quoted on their digital sign in front of the store.) in the back, where they serve espresso creations made from Batdorf & Bronson roast. B&B roasters are one of the most famous names in Western Washington. We got REALLY lucky to have this place within walking distance of our little country home.

Tim's Pharmacy is one of my favorite stores in this small town. They have a GORGEOUS assortment of gift items, stuff you'd never expect to find in the middle of the prairie. They have everything you'd think, "I have to order that on the internet, no one local would carry that." For instance, the "Scrapbook Nook" was a huge surprise...a place I linger in for hours, if I have no children with me. They also have some very unique home decor stuff, too. I bought Violet & Grace's "jewel berries" here, which I used in their bedroom decor. Then there's the handmade truffles...not to mention the huge variety of gourmet teas & candies....oh yeah, Ben bought me my Willow tree birthday figurines here.    :)

Anyway. Spring is here.


Ben is napping in the grass behind me....

Violet is barefooted.

I think I like this town today. Maybe we'll stay.....................

Baby Food 180

I spent the morning..........drum roll................making BABY FOOD in my kitchen! I know, I know, I've been a Scoffer of those who slave away pureeing and straining away the day when Gerber's commercial kitchens do it far better, for far cheaper. Or, at least, it used to be cheaper.

When Violet was starting baby food, someone forwarded me an internet coupon that was for $1 off 2 double-packs of Gerber's organic baby food at Target. There was no limit. I used that coupon to buy her entire supply. I think I spent about $30, and Violet feasted on pureed goodness for over 2 months. I even had some left over to give away when Violet had moved on to fist-feeding.

I had read the ingredients labels, and realized there was no real difference between Gerber's foods and what I might prepare in my own kitchen. Gerber's carrots included: water, carrots. What more could you ask for? I wasn't concerned about the nutritional aspect at all. I just didn't want to take the time.

Now, it's 3 years later, and I have no coupon. The price of Everything has gone up, and baby food is WAYYYYY up. It's now $1.29 for a Gerber's double pack. NOT organic! Also, Grace is a much heavier eater than Violet was. For instance, her breakfast this morning consisted of the following:

1. 1 whole banana
2. 1 whole buttermilk wheat pancake
3. 2 scrambled eggs
4. 2 slices of pear

It would cost me around $60 a month to allow her to eat Gerber's every meal.

ANYHOW. 

This morning, I prepared the following:

• 3 turnips
• 1 carrot
• 1/4 onion
• 2 T butter

(steamed, then mashed with the butter. No straining, she doesn't need it to be that smooth. *WHEW* at least I don't have to strain it, too!)

Cost: < $.50 This will last her 6 or more meals when paired with a protein and grain.

It was so delicious, I ate some myself! 

Then I did a vegetable turkey broth blend:

• turkey bouillon
• 1/2 red pepper 
• zucchini
• onion
• celery

Pureed, then, because it was too runny, slightly thickened with flour. Turned out not so great. The flour made it taste thick, not fresh & sunny like veggies should be. Also, the bouillon, I realized after, was too salty for baby food. Not a good choice. Oh well. Live and learn.)

Cost: $1.25~  It made enough to freeze and use for weeks to come. If I decide to use it....I'm also a little concerned about the wheat flour....

Next, I pureed some leftover brown rice to make a rice cereal, and added some butter.  

NOTE: I read recently that pure butter is an easy way to add "good fats" to baby's diet. You can put it in just about anything...and they love the taste, of course. Raw butter is the best.....but I can't afford that, so I just add a dollop of Kirkland brand. ;)   

Cost: negligible. (I buy rice in bulk from Costco, and it's pennies per pound.)

Then I roasted some sweet potatoes, mashed them with butter, and have about 6-8 meals' worth. 

Cost: $1~ 

Finally, I pureed some leftover chickpea soup. Just a cup, to see how she digests it. I haven't done much with beans with her....they tend to be difficult to digest. But so far, her stomach has taken EVERYTHING....and loved it. :)

So I have a freezer/fridge full of baby food for 2-3 weeks, and spend under $5 on everything. I supplement with eggs and yogurt with her, too, but that's about it!

P.S. This food is becoming more of a necessity because of the breast milk issue. I know that 9 month olds are rarely eating so much solid food. We are still working on getting her to accept formula...having more success with raw cow's milk....but hopeful for mommy's milk in the long run.

Back In Business (Almost)

On Facebook, y'all may have noticed I have been struggling with breastfeeding Grace recently.

Last Saturday night was the Time Change, and a combination of the lack of sleep, Grace's 2 top teeth coming in (and her refusing to nurse for 2 days because of the pain), and an unusually busy week to follow, caused me to drop in milk production drastically. Monday I began pumping with my manual pump, with zero results. I determined the suction just wan't hard enough to match Grace's 9-month old suction. I went ahead and started Grace on formula Tuesday (since she didn't seem to object to the bottle with her teething, just nursing), only to have her categorically refuse to drink it, in any form we could concoct. I had been introducing her little by little to cow's milk (raw) for the last 2 weeks, anyhow, so we just let her drink that and water for the rest of the week.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were all insanely busy days for me....I barely had time to think about trying to pump or nurse or up my production at all. It wasn't helping at all, that's for sure...

Finally, I realized she wasn't going to start up again any time soon I capitulated on Wednesday night, and went out late that night to Wal-Mart to buy an electric pump, hoping it would match her strength. The most expensive one they had was barely producing anything. At this point, I didn't know whether I just had no milk, or my pump wasn't working. By Thursday, I was down to 1/4 oz. per pumping session. .  Finally, Friday, I managed to see the lactation consultants at Madigan...who sent me home with a lovely (free) Medela double electric pump. I've been pumping 4-5 times a day, trying HARD to get it up to 8 times....as they recommended....and I'm taking fenugreek, drinking a LOT of water, & having a beer each evening.

So far, so good.

Milk production is definitely UP. I can mostly see an increase first thing in the morning during breastfeeding (Grace returned to nursing--but only when first waking up in the morning), and later at night when I pump. She will only consent to nursing once a day, and the other pumpings I just give her in a bottle. But I'm ok with pumping/bottle feeding. As long as she's receiving the health benefits, I can handle one nursing session a day.                  

I guess.

*sigh* My baby is growing up.

Sad Mommy

Ugh. Grace has been on a Nursing Strike since her top teeth started to pop out YESTERDAY. I have a pretty glum outlook on getting all the way to 12 months with breastfeeding her. She screams and thrashes and fights when I offer her nursing, and throws her head back and just CRIES....like I'm trying to harvest her organs or something. :(

She'll take a bottle, but I cannot pump at this late stage. I tried using my hand-pump yesterday and after a half an hour, I got about 2 tablespoons. I think it's because her suction level is so high that the manual pump is just not strong enough anymore. I am racking my brains to see if I know anyone who has an electric one I could borrow.....any offers?? Anyone??? I can't afford to shell out that kind of money to buy an electric one at this point...just for a few days (I hope). Right now, she's on raw cow's milk, and the occasional drip she gets from me before throwing her tantrum.

Sad, sad, sad Mommy. :(