A Favorite

I've been wanting to post pics of a treasure I enjoy from time to time.
It's just so cute....this little Reader I picked up for a quarter or something at a library book sale.

Take a peek and see if you can keep from falling in love.









This spider poem gets stuck in my head.













These are just a few of the illustrations, which I think are just adorable. I like to pull it out on grey, rainy days, which we are about to have in plenty. A cuppa and a sweet book, perfect combo.

I can't wait to teach Leon the spider poem.

Baby Pics

I'm back.



Silas is less than 12 hours old. This is the morning he was born. 2:13 am, 18.5", 6 lbs even.



Trying to sun him in the window for jaundice...



Leon's fascination with dandelions (and drooling) continues. You can see the rooster pecks from
a week ago below his eye and middle of forehead. Needless to say, the rooster is no longer with us.
We're so grateful his eye wasn't hurt. Now he just has to adjust to having a new baby brother.







One of the treats Kim brought home from the Farmers' Market.
I really must plant some ranunculus next year...they are so gorgeous!

That's all for now. I've pulled an all-nighter with a headache and should try to sleep now.

Hiatus

I guess I've taken an extensive hiatus as of late...the third trimester took its toll, and then the baby came "early" because my due dates were off,

and then the midwife didn't make it in time and we had an unassisted birth that was PERFECT! ...anyway, lots to catch up on for sure.

 

I am going to try to find time to backpost a bit, do forgive.
I want to record our story somehow before this mommy brain forgets everything that happened.

Spring was lovely. I miss all the flowers.

But we have a new baby boy to keep us busy! Here is Silas at 2 days old.

I kind of thought he was a girl, and couldn't resist buying a few adorable girlie outfits like this one.

Here I am in all my pregnant glory, hours before he was born.

The smell of lilacs will always remind me of when I had Silas.

So anyway, I'm back for a little bit. My head is spinning with all the excitement
and craziness that is two kids, but we are managing and I hope to share a bit here and there.

Have a good'n!

Stalling On Housework.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Middle name Ann, after my mother.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Sometime in the last week and a half, over something stupid. I seem to get worked up over the littlest things this pregnancy. I'm actually surprised it's been that long!

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I used to, when I wrote a lot more and practised different "fonts" and such. Now it's pretty sloppy.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Amish roast beef. I'm trying to avoid lunch meats in general though, and not succeeding.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Son, 17 mos old. Baby Bean, in utero and halfway baked.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I think so. I'm usually pretty easy going with most people, though probably not the most interesting person to talk to these days. My life centers too much around pregnancy and birth, babies, breastfeeding and natural living.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Only occasionally.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Affirmative.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Maybe. I would really really love to go whitewater rafting though, and hopefully in this lifetime.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
I'm going to have to steal Kim's answer on this one. Homemade granola, which I try to keep made, or Cracklin' Oat Bran, which I never buy cause I'm too cheap.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
I rarely wear shoes that tie. I'm not really a tennis shoe type person, more into flip flops, which is hard in the winter of TN.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Relatively. Birthing naturally and pushing for 3 hours really affirmed some of the inner strength that I think women have. But I think I'm stronger than a lot of women my age, because of growing up on a farm and working hard with my family. (And a side dish of stubbornness to boot.)

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Ritter's Custard. Twistee Treat. Homemade too of course. Fruit before chocolate.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their face and eyes.

15. RED OR PINK?
Red. If we have a girl I'm not buying pink for her either, it will be greens and peachy orange if I have any choice in the matter.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My inability to stay on top of life. Everyone else is so put together it seems. Meanwhile my house is a shambles with all kinds of clutter. Hum. I need to learn to prioritize or something, or maybe just stay off the computer.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Kim and our exercise/talking times. My grandfathers.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO DO THIS?
Sure.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Just white socks to keep the chill away. I'd really like to make some slippers though with a maroonish felted sweater I'm saving.
http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/felt-slippers?lnc=bf89cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=cf_link&comments_page=1&rsc=comments_more#conversation-container

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Jam bars - fig, strawberry and blackberry. Thank goodness they're almost gone, I can't stop eating them.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Computer humming, Little Man's asleep.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Burnt orange.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Orange trees blooming. Baby just bathed. Fresh cut hay field. Anything yummy baking. Oh! the peonies and lilacs too. Clean laundry.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My mom. Trying to convince her to move up here. She's camping right now.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Of course!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
I generally cannot stand sports. However, my DH is a Yankees fan, and this year for some reason got involved in football. So...I try to muster mild interest, but half the time it doesn't work.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Dark brown, very straight.

28. EYE COLOR?
Hazel.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No contacts or glasses, but the day is soon coming I believe.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Local fare - Cootie Brown's http://www.cootiebrowns.com/  or the Harvest Table. (Yes, be jealous, be jealous indeed.) http://www.meadowviewfarmersguild.com/HarvestTable.html  A pet project of Barbara Kingsolver's husband.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Actually prefer indy or foreign films. Not usually into blockbusters or even chick flicks.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
The Visitor. Very excellent recommendation from Kim and Bill. http://www.thevisitorfilm.com/

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black, and too short to cover all my belly when I'm standing.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Hmmm, summer. They are bearable further north, unlike when I lived in FL. Our house is old so we just try to get through the winter.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Um, kisses only from my True Love and Little Man. Hugs from others.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Cheesecake - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/White-Chocolate-Raspberry-Cheesecake/Detail.aspx
But I'm not too picky when it comes to sweets. =-)

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
no idea.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
no idea.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
"The Reader" or "Tess of the Durburvilles," still trying to decide.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Lord of the Rings. I think it was a gift.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
We didn't! I'm so tired of the TV being on, and I think we're going to put it up soon. We usually get suckered into watching Comedy Night on Thursdays...mainly for The Office and 30 Rock. Instead we went over to the fam's and played Bingo.

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
My Little Man laughing and playing with his daddy.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Not too far, unfortunately. Washington State and New Hampshire/Maine

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
These days my talents seem limited to keeping our little three-some clothed and supper on the table before 8 pm. Oh, and keeping mold from growing on the toilets. I have a few learned skills - I feel pretty proficient at sewing and baking, and they help keep me sane at times though the rest of life goes to pot in the meanwhile. Would love to do more photography.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Winter Park, FL

47. WHAT ARE YOU BAKING NEXT?
Hmm, not sure. Probably this bread recipe. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-12-01/Easy-No-Knead-Dutch-Oven-Crusty-Bread.aspx?page=2
I'm trying to do better at making bread and this requires more brain than brawn. (Which means half the time I'm out of luck, with serious preggo-brain.)

48. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR FIRST LOVER IS?
Yes, I live with him!

49. WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING RIGHT NOW?
Nothing, which is bad. Time for tea.

50. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Don't know.

Time for laundry. *sigh* That was a nice break.

New Year

Here's hoping to have left 2008 in the dust. It has been clawing away at us and we feel pretty banged up, the last blow coming just a week before Christmas, courtesy of the IRS. Thanks a lot. We'll see how the recovery goes. Now if only there aren't surprise twins or something...whew.

On the bright side, we went to FL to visit friends and relatives, and thankfully made it home without mishap. Whirl wind trip for sure, but sun every day and wonderful warm temps! It helped to ease the winter doldrums for a while, helped by some quality time with soul mates. I'm grateful to be home, ready to cleanse our house of all the holiday mess and clutter and start fresh. My Dh might deny my attempts, in that I brought home a stash of fabric to add to my collection and need to get some things under control, but I'm working on it, I promise!

Leon has enjoyed all the fun new toys, gravitating towards the ones that make noise right now. I'm learning more and more that Christmas is really about the giver. I may have specific ideas about the toys I want our children playing with, but communicating that is difficult and leaves me feeling alone and misunderstood. (Not to mention coming across like an a-hole.) *sigh* So I will let the plastic stay, for a little bit. (And be very grateful for those who had ears to hear, or at least to care.) When the enamor wears off they will quietly disappear. I just hope that I can gently help people to think about what they are buying and supporting. Why should children and underpaid workers make toys for our rich American lifestyles? It is easy to choose one quality toy that is sustainably made (ie, true cost is reflected, workers paid fairly, trees harvested with long term in mind) verses several plastic toys that won't last, are more than likely made in China, and will end up polluting our lives in a landfill somewhere. I'm so tired of all the crap! And I become more convinced that natural and classic toys stimulate the imagination instead of being limited and manipulating the child, in a sense.

Ok, now I'm rambling on a tangent and not making any sense. Humm.

Anyway, for this year I would like to reduce our trash output, prepare to use cloth diapers on our next child, and put up a clothesline. (The last is a goal from 2 years ago, grrr.) I also need to focus on our food budget because things are going to get tighter than they have been already, and I want to be better at planning a menu. And then the garden this year too - we need to take full advantage of planting early and storing food as it's harvested. We did better last year, but this will be a challenge with a new baby in the mix. Whew!

Oh, just thought of something else. I want to make tempeh more regularly and also yogurt. I can't continue to pay $4 a quart! And fresh bread too. There is a great no-knead recipe here, at Mother Earth News. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-12-01/Easy-No-Knead-Dutch-Oven-Crusty-Bread.aspx  It soaks itself and is very easy, as long as you have pots that will go in the oven and can remember to start it a day ahead! I have doubled it with no problem as well.

Alrighty, over and out....



Sweet Boy, no longer a baby but still my baby,
cuddled up to me, eyes dazed as you nurse.
These times are fewer and further between.
I cherish every one
as you lay curled on my lap,
almost too big, but not quite.
Your baby sister? kicks, and
soon she will join us, but for now
we have this time.