Happy Halloween!

Gabriel the Garden Gnome

October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!

What It Is.

Holy guacamole, it has been an insane ride since the end of September, and I am finally getting a chance to open up about it to you all. Let's be honest, I am finally just up to writing at all-- I have been fighting a level of tired I have never known --it's less than, but different from (in a very hard way) the exhaustion of the early days of parenthood and breastfeeding-- and it has made it hard to keep my eyes open at times.

I am learning that this is what being pregnant with a baby-turning-toddler is.

It's a fast road... really. Time has literally flown since we got our BFP. When I was pregnant with Gabriel, time crawled. I was not working full-time so I literally almost slept through my first trimester (apparently pregnancy makes me extremely tired), but the weeks went by so slowly for me.

And I guess it makes sense-- I was pregnant for the first time. Every little part of the experience, every office visit, every test, every page of the books, every entry on the online pregnancy boards... they were new to me. I was restless to show, restless to feel the baby move, restless to meet our little baby.

And this time? I'm chasing Gabriel around the house, rushing to work, making sure Gabe eats a healthy meal even if I don't cook dinner (let's be clear here- my morning sickness is wicked), and trying to keep our home in order. My husband has been amazing at helping more than ever, and he has been changing Gabe's poopie diapers whenever he can (I am gagging so badly from them, I don't even believe it. I never even blinked an eye when swishing a prefold caked in peanut butter poop until now.)

Honestly, this pregnancy, I would be happy for time to pass slowly, savoring my time carrying Gabriel and relishing the straight eight hours of sleep I can get every night.

But time is flying. And I am hoping I don't wake up tomorrow morning to find it's already May...

Letting the cat out of the bag...

We're on the road to two under two!

Now that I have told my employer, I can finally let the blogging on our pregnancy begin...!
As in, I have been dealing with weaning due to low supply, morning sickness, exhaustion with a newly walking little one, and gagging worse than I ever knew I could while cleaning dirty cloth diapers. Oh, and with a due date of May 27, 2011 and a plan to have a natural birth, we're nine weeks along right now. Ole'!

Milk Mustache.

I owe a real post very soon-- I promise I will explain my silence asap-- but for now, just know our little monster is starting to toddle around, and he has started to drink organic cow's milk in combo with formula (my supply is pretty much gone, and he is only really nursing when he first wakes up now).

Obviously we have decided Gabe can have cow's milk-- only organic whole milk-- but many people are anti-milk or anti-pasteurized milk. How do you feel about milk and why? I'm very curious!

Musical Babies.

My husband and I met in college, on the dorm floor. As in, we were neighbors... on the music floor. Yes, Temple University has an entire floor devoted to its music and dance students. This is an overdramatic mess. But it's sort of fun, too... if you don't mind someone playing trumpet in the common room at 1 a.m. every few days.

In any case, my husband has both a performance and education degree in music, and I have a minor (I switched to journalism after 1.5 years of voice. Opera star? Seriously?). My point in this is really that with two musical parents, Gabriel is destined to be surrounded with... surround sound.

And he loves music. He dances on demand (Literally, we say, "Dance," and off he goes). He loves every little piece we have played for him, from classical to jazz to folk to plain old radio. It's wonderful, and we look forward to fostering his love of music wherever it takes him.

One little thing my husband discovered that is a real hit? The video below. There are quite a few of these videos on youtube-- classical pieces dissected by meticulous music theory students and illustrated with pain-staking detail. But the videos are musical in presentation, AND they keeps baby quite engaged. Something that our television does not do (oh how proud I am that my baby is not interested in television)! I love that it tantalizes Gabe's ears and eyes together.

So, check it out~ it's fun for adults, too.

I'm so tired.

No, really. I am. Gabriel is about to start walking-- he went four full balanced steps after dinner tonight-- and all I want to do is nap. Somehow I think this mix is not a good one!

But what is good?
The nursery artwork pictured below. I made it for some friends who are decorating a frog nursery. Their shower was this past Saturday, and it was wonderful. I was quite excited to give them a bumgenius 4.0 as part of their gift. Wow, I'm a regular cloth-diapering nerd, ay?

ribbit. ribbit.

Mom Wars

The more you read around the internet and peruse chat forums, the more you find a scary thing that I'd like to call Mom Wars.

Sure, it might sound fun, but it doesn't come with an amazing soundtrack or Darth Vader.

It DOES come with some topics of heated debate. People get really mad at Moms who do not think and act as they do... and I definitely understand some of the heat. I am an opinionated person, but a lot of these topics have to do with parenting choices. And ya know, the fact that we have choices in raising our children is a good thing-- I think. I often may not agree with someone's parenting style, but is it my place to correct him or her? And of course, if a child is clearly in danger, yes I should say something, but if not, is it really my place? This is what I have been wondering tonight.

In case you were wondering, here are some of the lovely topics which get Mommies particularly mad (and yes I exaggerate slightly):

-Rear Facing v. Front Facing Car Seats for Babies Under 2
-Breast is best v. Bottle is better
-Vaccine v. Alternative Vaccine Schedule
-14 wk. NT scan v. No 14 wk. NT Scan
-Nursing while Pregnant v. Not Nursing While Pregnant
-High Fructose Corn Syrup is awesome v. High Fructose Corn Syrup is evil
-Baby Wearing is the best thing ever for you and baby v. Baby Wearing will kill everyone
-Back v. Belly Sleeping Under Age 1
-Spanking v. No Spanking
-Organic v. Conventional/Processed Food for Kids
-Stay At Home Moms have it the worst! v. No way! Working Moms have it the worst!

annnnnd a current reheated debate due to a new study released the other day:

Drinking (in moderation) while pregnant will make your kid a genius!
v.
You should be arrested if you drink while pregnant!

What do I think? (As if it matters!)
I'll never tell! But I didn't have a sip while I was pregnant with Gabe.
Never will I ever? I just don't know.
Really, I think all Moms need to just get along. Being a Mommy is hard enough!

TU offering fresh produce to students.

Here's a tidbit for you-- I'm a Temple University graduate, and I love Philadelphia.

Something green and exciting I discovered today?
Temple University offers a farm market for students on the blocks of its campus in Northern Philadelphia. And North Philly is not a farm fresh-friendly place so this news made me very happy!

How cool is it to see an urban university partner with the Food Trust in promoting local farmers and providing students with healthy produce options?! Read an article on the farm market here.

I would love to hear about other colleges making green strides for student life. Please tell me if you know something!

Cinnamon Apple Squash Oatmeal

Please excuse the phone-fuzzy photo!

Thanks for joining me at the Collingswood Farmers Market last Saturday! It was great meeting so many local parents interested in homemade baby food.

As promised, here is the recipe for Cinnamon Apple Squash Oatmeal...

Your favorite baby oatmeal
(portion based on your baby's needs, mixed with water, Mom's milk or formula to desired consistency)
1 Serving Baby Food Apples
1 Serving Baby Food Butternut Squash
1 tiny dash cinnamon

To make the Butternut Squash...

1. Cut squash in half length-wise. Scoop seeds out of squash.
2. Place squash halves in pan face down. Cover in 1-inch water bath. Cover. Cook at 400 degrees for approximately one hour or until skin is clearly puckering. The squash needs to be very mushy to respond well to the blender or food processor.
3. Puree to your baby's needs. Use the blender for thinner purees. Choose the food processor for a chunkier blend, perfect for an older baby.
4. Either mix directly with the apple puree to store as a squash/apple mix or pour individual servings into ice cube tray to use in your choice of mixes. (Storing individually will allow you to change the amount of squash or apples in any dish at any time. Use baby's favorites to introduce new flavors in a subtle way.)

To make the Apples... visit my previous entry on baby apple purees.

To make the Cinnamon Apple Squash Oatmeal, mix the prepared baby oatmeal, pre-mixed squash/apple puree or individual servings of squash and apple. Add dash of cinnamon, mix, and serve.

For more information on homemade baby food, check out my other posts on the subject!

Hey South Jersey, Join A Mom Writing at the Farmers Market!

Yes, I'll be at the Collingswood Farmers Market tomorrow doing a homemade baby food demo!

I'll be featuring local, seasonal ingredients to create dishes like cinnamon apple squash oatmeal. Yum! Plus, I'll offer lots of information on the basics of homemade baby food and the little tips you need to know to be your baby's #1 Chef. The demo starts at 10 a.m., and I don't expect it to last more than 30 minutes. So bring your babes and come check out A Mom Writing tomorrow!

I'll post the recipes and tips on the blog on Sunday, too!