Green Motherhood

My Swan Song

2020-07-20T10:13:00.000-05:00

Lest you think I'm being dramatic, I'm not actually writing my last post. But, there was a time that I thought that I would.

You see, on top of caring for two toddlers during the day(mine plus a good friend's), running a household and getting horribly sick with pregnancyitis, I had stopped blogging....so much.

But really, it was more than that. I had some things I needed to think about before I got back to oversharing our life.

In the beginning, I started this blog for the sole reason of keeping all of our family updated on my pregnancy progress. No more, no less. It was, essentially, a good enough reason to not have to call everyone on the phone after every check-up because, if you know me, you know how much I hate talking on the phone.

At the time, I didn't even know that professional bloggers existed.

At the time, I didn't even know that strangers could read a blog.

(if you look back at the first year+ this is pretty obvious).

After I had Isla June, I suddenly had this urge to share ALL.MY.NEW.INFORMATION with the world. Because, there's tons of stuff that no one ever tells you when it comes to a newborn.

And life as a new mom.

It's overwhelming.

I figured that everyone would be as shocked as I was to learn that there are toxins in disposable diapers.

That the first vaccine an infant receives is for a sexually transmitted disease.

That there is another way to feed your baby other than the traditional infant cereal route.

That conventional food is harming our children.

That feeding your child fresh, whole foods can help heal food allergies.

That fluoride is actually a neurotoxin.

I assumed that I was helping others by sharing this information. I thought other people wanted to know these things too.

What I learned is that this information can be scary to some.

And it can cause them to feel very, very defensive.

You see, I truly believe that we are all doing what we believe is absolutely the best thing with the information we have been provided. I haven't made every single right choice as a mother. I know that.

But, I can promise that I never stop searching and praying for the answer.

So, lest anyone think I'm just a google crazy momma, here's a little background on me that I have never really divulged on this blog. Mainly for privacy reasons and out of respect for others. But also because I jumped into this whole blogging thing without really taking the time to form some sort of starting point.

My first job out of college was working full time at a daycare center in the 2 yr old classroom. I had a child with autism in my group. He was severe but we had some strategies that would help him function in the classroom. I guess this spawned my interest in special needs children.

3 years later, I ended up as the Head Teacher in a public school classroom for Exceptional Children (students aged 3-5 with diagnosed disabilities).

My understanding and implementation of a communication system for children with autism encouraged the children who fell under the autism umbrella to be filtered into my classroom.

Not all of my students were given an autism diagnosis. Many, in fact, were not.

This was the fascinating thing for me. Similar symptoms, different diagnosis. Or different symptoms, same diagnosis.

If I was to truly help my students with their disabilities, I figured I had to find out what caused the disability in the first place.

Thus started my research.

I had medical and developmental history on every child in my care; knowing this information was a vital part of creating an educational plan for them. I scoured over these documents to find some answers that would unlock a missing piece in our therapy. I spoke extensively with parents about their child's temperament, eating/sleeping habits, medications, etc. I had the opportunity to speak with many of my student's doctors as well. I knew my student's and their families more than most teachers ever will, and I had a passion for helping them.

And then I got pregnant. Let's just say that teaching children everyday who have genetic and environmental factors that effect their development can be a scary realization when you're attempting to grow a human inside of you. It was a constant reminder that there is so much that can happen to this sweet, helpless baby.

So I kept researching. I researched and I researched.

I've read multiple books from multiple authors about topics regarding vaccines, environmental toxins and alternative health including homeopathy vs. conventional treatments and healing the body through food.

I've read scietific and medical documents.

Through these years of research, I've learned to be pretty good at digging through the articles that are out there and find the hidden truth. When you know the medical jargon, it's easier.

I've been in contact with mothers who have or, are in the process of, healing their child's neurological conditions through detoxification, natural remedies and diet/nutrition.

Truth be told, it's fascinating. And, it's overwhelming.

This is the path that God has put me on for my family. I'm not sure why He gave me a passion for research and health. I'm not sure why He steered my ship into the special needs arena.

But, He did.

Why am I telling you all of this?

Because, I want you to know that anytime I share new research, or an article I've recently read, or a webiste I've found, or reccomend a book, it's because I've taken the time to really know if it's a source that I can trust. A source that has reliable, verifiable, truthful and documented research of information. It's information that I believe could be beneficial to your family, because I know it is beneficial for mine.

But, with all that being said, this is MY path that God has put ME on.

I'm not hear to judge anyone for making different choices! I'm just here to share what I've learned.

So, if you cloth diaper or use disposables,

if you feed your child twinkies or carrots,

if you vaccinate or you don't,

if you breast feed or formula feed,

if you co-sleep or keep baby in a crib,

if you work or stay at home,

I.don't.care.

I'm not here to judge you because, really, as mother's we get enough of that from the rest of the world (and from ourselves quite a bit). I'm just here to share.

You make the decisions that God has called you to make for your family.

And, if you ever have a question about something I've said or shared, ask me (nicely).

We don't have to agree, but we can share our feelings. I don't mind doing that.

So, this is me, being more brave about sharing. About telling you the whats, hows and whys of our family decisions. It's a little scary for me, because of the whole judging thing, but God is stirring something inside of me to keep going, to tell our story.

And I'm doing my best to listen.

My Experience with Placenta Encapsulation

2014-02-15T10:11:00.000-06:00

I've learned in my old age to never say never. This lesson often comes to you as a mother because there are now little people running around your house doing everything in their power to contradict any and everything you ever thought to be enforceable.

When I first heard someone tell me that they were planning on ingesting their placenta, my reaction was probably much like any one else: EWWWWW!

I seriously thought it was over the line and gross. I wondered why anyone would do it.

My postpartum time with Isla June was stressful. She was a colicky baby. And I was taking 3 online college teaching courses. It was mayhem in our house. And I was overwhelmed.

Looking back, I can definitely say that I had the baby blues. But, I never had post partum depression.

Until I stopped breastfeeding.

Which wasn't until a year later.

Most people aren't aware (as I wasn't) that weaning can cause a similar fluctuation in hormones that can bring on post partum symptoms. I had no idea what was going on and felt a little crazy. I'm sure my husband was confused. I later found out, after recovering from the symptoms, what had happened.

And I never wanted to go through that again.

Enter my research where I stumbled upon Placenta Encapsulation. Anecdotal evidence shows that it lessens the likeliood of postpartum depression and baby blues as well as offering the benefit of more energy for a recovering mother. It's also been said to reduce post partum bleeding (something I had already had a problem with after Isla June).

I read evidence based reports and scoured to find other mother's personal stories. It seemed as though it was worth a try. The only thing holding me back was the cost. It was going to be over $200 dollars to have someone take care of the encapsulation for me. Considering we were already going to be paying for all of my medical expenses out of pocket, I was a little hesitant to add one more thing to the bill.

But, then I got sick.

And I really felt like my body was giving up on me.

I knew I was going to need everything I could get to make it through this post partum time.

Thankfully, my amazing midwife handled all of the care and set-up for the encapsulation. She brought the cooler to the delivery. She handled the refrigeration aspect of it and handed it off to their encapsulation specialist (who was a nurse at the hospital I delivered), and a week later I had these little pills in a cute mason jar that looked a lot like vitamins. (the placenta is actually dehydrated and ground into a fine powder).

I seriously didn't even see the placenta. Not.once.

It was so not a big deal.

My experience with it?

I am so thankful everyday that I made the last minute decision to encapsulate my placenta.

Considering that I hemorrhaged, twice, after labor, this was a life saving pill for me. It had a lot of the iron I needed to get my health back on track. I almost asked for it after labor because I was so tired and scared of the hemorrhages! I don't know for sure if it would have helped then, but there is a good chance it would have.

I was also so, so much happier this time around. Even considering the stress of the health issues and bed rest I was put on after the delivery. The first week post partum, I cried 4 times: because I was happy, because I was sad, because I was overwhelmed; I was just emotional. Then, I started the pills, and I only cried once in the next two months. It leveled out my emotions that well.

My post partum bleeding was also pretty much non existent this time. It was so light and stopped completely at 5 weeks and never came back, MUCH different from my last experience.

Another amazing benefit of the pills is the increase in milk production. I'm not exactly sure what was going on this time because I never had supply issues with Isla June but, either due to my medical issues (low iron and high blood pressure), which can effect milk production, or the fact that Everly didn't eat very much in the beginning due to her super small size, I felt as though my milk was dwindling. Two pills later and everything was back on track.

I still have half a bag of pills left in my freezer that I am saving for the time that we wean, just in case I experience similar issues as before. It has given me such peace of mind to know that I have something natural to use to help my body recover and support me in this venture.

Originally, I had sworn to never utter a word about this to anyone other than family because of the reactions I knew people would have to the notion of me ingesting my placenta, considering I used to have the same reaction about the topic.

But now, I want to help normalize this issue. If my story can help just one woman not experience post partum depression, or help a mother more successfully nurse her baby, then I say it's worth it. I feel as though God has given us something to help support us through a somewhat difficult and transitional time; Why not use it?

(Mommypotamus shares her Placenta Experience and answers some common questions HERE)

The Bottle Battle

2014-01-15T14:05:00.001-06:00

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Chicco. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and as a thank you for participating.

I have been incredibly blessed with the opportunity to nurse both of my babies. Despite the rough start Everly and I had in the first few days, every meal of hers has been made by me. :) We've dealt with food insensitivity and preemie belly upsets, but, we've persevered. Nursing is one of my favorite things about this newborn stage.

But, with that being said, I do like the opportunity to step away from my momma duties and let someone else help out. This means I can go on a date with my husband, or a dinner out with my friends, or just take a long, peaceful bath! I need those moments to recharge.

With Isla June, she was such a hungry little girl that she didn't care what vessel her food came out of, as long as it was momma's milk. It was so easy to switch between nursing and bottle feeding with her, which was vital considering I went back to work when she was 3 months old.

But, as I've learned, every child is different. Even if they're from the same womb. Everly is not a bottle fan. And on top of that, she really hates pacifiers. It's been a small source of frustration for this mommy. I've assured her that life will be easier if she could just accept the pacis and bottles every now and then. She has yet to believe me.

When Mom Central Consulting and Chicco gave me the opportunity to try out the new line of NaturalFit bottles, I jumped at the chance. Maybe this was the answer to our bottle feeding prayers!

The bottles come in 4 different sizes. Since we were still getting used to the idea of bottles, I started us out with the 0+ months bottle. Its a small 5 oz. bottle designed specifically for easy transition from breast to bottle.

I really liked that the bottles are made in Italy and feature twin anti-colic valves to help prevent air ingestion, gas and spit up. Because, every momma knows that spit up is the pits!

Other momma approved features include:

a wide base with a soft, flexible nipple to help mimic the mother's breast
a uniquely made nipple with a wider and rounder base for proper neck positioning
internal ridges that help prevent nipple collapse
an angled newborn flow nipple designed for the way newborns feed that reduces air intake and is easy for baby to latch on to due to the soft silicone

The one downside to the bottles, in my eyes, is that they do not have a glass option. So, we heat up the milk in a glass bottle and then transfer it to the Chicco bottle for feeding.

Because Everly still refuses to take bottles from me (she just chews on them if I try), Daddy became our bottle tester. He said that she took to this bottle much easier than any other we've tried. There was less cajoling her to eat and more actually eating. Hooray!

Chicco was amazing enough to also send us some pacifiers to try out. The NaturalFit Deco Orthodontic pacifiers were developed with leading European orthodontists to help support oral development.
Sadly, they aren't taken to by Everly(yet), but I think if I had them in the beginning (like when she was 2 weeks old), then we might have actually had a chance at using pacifiers. The smaller nipple would have been ideal for her preemie mouth in the first few weeks. I think that was our problem with every other pacifier.
I'm going to keep trying though! Between the three options Chicco sent us, I think she'll eventually take to one.

I would definitely recommend these new Chicco bottle and pacifiers to moms with new babies, especially preemie's whose mouths and sucking reflexes are small and still developing.

(They can be purchased in store or online at buybuy BABY)

Did your baby have trouble taking a bottle or pacifier?
This is new territory for me, so I would love to hear about other mommy's experiences!

The Before the Birth Story

2013-09-22T13:51:00.001-05:00

The day I wrote my last post, I also had my 36 week doctors appointment. Little Girl and I loaded up the van and drove the two hours to Charleston for, what I thought, was going to be a routine appointment. I was actually wondering how I was going to convince my midwife to let me schedule my next appointment for 2 weeks instead of the recommended one.

And then, everything changed.

My urine test showed elevated levels of protein.

My blood pressure was unnaturally high.

At first I thought it was just a fluke.

I was frustrated and figured that hanging out with a 3 yr old had caused a little bit too much stress.

But then my midwife uttered the word Preeclampsia.

And I was floored. There was a name for what was going on with my body.

She mentioned "hospital birth", and I fought back tears.

I agreed to go home with instructions for modified bed rest and twice daily blood pressure readings.

And of course, I googled the crap out of that word.

THAT didn't help my blood pressure. Not.one.bit.

Hubs and I spent the next two days in a "rest but scramble to get all of the last minute things done because this baby needs to come out sooner rather than later and who knows whats going to happen" state.

Two days after my appointment (a Saturday), my blood pressure was consistently staying around the 140/90 limit my midwife gave me. Reluctantly, I called into the oncall midwife under the assumption that she would just tell me to lay down and rest.

Instead, she insisted I check into the hospital to be put under 24 hour montioring.

shock. tears. anxiety.

I felt like everything was spiralling out of my control. And, it was.

My amazing husband packed us up and thankfully, my stepfather was already in town to care for Isla June.

The car ride down there was strangely calm.

I think I was actually enjoying this one-on-one time with my husband that we so infrequently get.

When we walked into the hospital, it was eerily quiet.

The labor and devlivery nurses were already expecting us and set me up on the monitoring system, took my blood work and instructed me on how to collect my urine for the next 24 hours. (Yay.)

We put a football game on the large flat screen in my room and I practiced my deep breathing to try and trick my blood pressure to return to a lower state.

Once my blood work came back as normal, the baby showed no signs of distress and my blood pressure was keeping consistent (though elevated), we were moved to the recovery wing.

At this point, it was kind of like a vacation. I wasn't allowed to leave my bed except to pee. All I could do was read or watch TV. I didn't have to chase a 3 yr old around, worry about laundry or cooking dinner. I was actually, almost enjoying it. As long as I didn't think of the long term scenarios.

Most of the nursing staff told us we would probably be going home the next day under orders for bed rest. I was anxious to hear that from my midwife and get home to my little girl.

Unfortunately, that's not the news we ended up getting.

The protein in my urine was off the charts. My midwife scheduled an induction for the next morning.

I was so strangely calm about this news. I began texting and calling to organize care for Isla June and to let our family and close friends know what was going on.

And, I asked for prayers. Lots and lots of prayers.

I knew that was the only way I was going to make it through this.

Knowing we were being lifted up in prayer helped keep me calm.

Just before we were given the news of my induction, I wrote the following post.

I never published it because I was having crazy pregnancy brain and couldn't decide if I had actually written a coherent sentence or not.

I'm still not sure if it's any good, but it's what was on my heart that day.

When All of your plans change......

Alternatively titled "the post I never thought I would have to write"

"the post I almost never wrote because I just don't want to talk about it."

But then I realized that, like so many things in life, this is an opportunity.

Boy, does God like opportunities.

You see? I'm currently in the hospital under observation. I am possibly a "high risk pregnancy".

crazy talk in my book.

All of my years and years of research have allowed me to sit in my little corner of the world, look out, and continually tell myself, "that won't happen to me".

Sheer determination? Or naievete?

I'm not sure.

But, like I said, God loves an opportunity;

And He LOVES to humble me.

I can't even count the number of times I have had a fleeting moment of superiority and ended up tripping and falling flat on my face. literally.

Took a little while, but I learned my lesson on that one.

God will always give me opportunities for humility.

And here I am again, being humbled.

All of my research and diet and nurtrition couldn't stop my blood pressure from creeping up to unnaturally high levels. There is no rhyme or reason to this. I'm not predisposed to the condition, I have no risk factors, I eat the diet reccomended to prevent this condition.

This is God. I know it.

There may have been times, in the past, where I sat in my corner and thought "that won't happen to me" when women told me about their preterm baby, or their labor induction, or c-section, or fetal monitoring, or extensive lab work. I didn't try to judge, I just always felt like that was someone elses problem.

Now?

Now I believe we are all warriors. Bringing a child into this world requires strength and determination.

I don't care how you do it.

Our bodies are our armor and we fight. We fight for this little person we haven't even met yet.

That takes courage. And sacrifice.

I see that now. I see it in every mother I meet. The strength she has to give up herself for her child. We may all have a different story, but they have the same theme.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ~2 Corinthians 11:30

Natural Remedies for Morning Sickness

2013-08-03T15:39:00.001-05:00

This second pregnancy has been a doozy.

I lived through morning sickness the first time. And I had somehow convinced myself that it was all in my head. I swore that I wasn't going to get as sick, I couldn't get as sick. It just couldn't happen again.

And really, it didn't. Because this sickness was different. This sickness was debilitating.

With my first pregnancy, food helped. Keeping my blood sugar up helped. Throwing up first thing in the morning helped.

This time?

Don't.talk.to.me.about.food.

If I threw up, I wouldn't stop.

I could barely get out of bed kind of sick.

It was terrible. I spent a lot of time in prayer. And thankful for my good health.

Because there are people who feel like this all the time. I knew that this had to stop (eventually).

And, thankfully, it did.

Here's how I managed and what I learned along the way.

Nausea Wrist Bands

I remember one of my good friends in high school using these whenever we were on long trips in the car or a bus. And honestly? I thought that they were more of a placebo than anything else. More to calm your nerves.

But truly, they work. I walked/laid around with them on for 2 solid months.

(warning: they are a dead giveaway that you are pregnant)

Magnesium Supplement

After reading THIS article linking pregnancy illness with low magnesium levels, I spent a lot of time trying to up my stores of magnesium in an attempt to keep morning sickness at bay before conceiving. I was taking oral magnesium supplements, drinking bone broth and soaking in Epsom salt baths. I thought that I would be ok.

Unfortunately, I wasn't. (getting pregnant in the winter months means my vitamin D and magnesium levels were already running a little low)

I learned that the best way to increase your magnesium levels is through topical applications. It's how God intended our body's to absorb it, so naturally, that's going to be the best method.

Once I started using Magnesium Lotion, I saw an immediate difference.

Better sleep and less sickness. Thank the Good Lord!

I will sing the praises of this product over and over again. And I wish I had tried it so much sooner.

Bone Broths

This was the only thing that I could keep down most mornings. Plus, it's full of good magnesium and calcium; lots of good stuff for baby and mommy. Make a big batch to freeze ahead of time so that you have a big reserve to get you through the tough months.

Great recipe found HERE

Vitamin B6

A friend of mine is a former OB/GYN and gave me some tips/tricks for my sickness, Vitamin B6 being one of them. I wasn't able to stomach my liquid b complex, but I could take single pills of B6. 3 times a day (you need high doses). I really saw a difference with my energy levels once I started this therapy.

Protein Powder

Not being able to eat is not conducive to growing a baby. I couldn't keep much down. I couldn't take any of my supplements. I was worried.

Every morning, hubs would bring me a big thermos of almond milk and this protein powder. I settled my stomach and it gave me (some) of the nutrients that baby and I so desperately needed.

It's the best protein powder I've found on the market. It's full of good stuff and free of the bad.

Acupuncture Therapy

After a full day of vomitting and not keeping anything down, hubs got scared. Real.scared.

So he called the accupuncturist for an appointment first thing the next morning.

At that point my fear of needles was a moot point. I was more afraid of being admitted to the hospital to IV fluids.

And?

It worked.

For the first time I actually asked for food.

It was a miracle. It didn't make everything go away and it didn't last forever, but weekly appointments made a huge difference in my recovery.

What I Wish I Would Have Known:

Magnesium Lotion- use it now and use it liberally
Being Gluten free is difficult when it comes to being pregnant. A lot of the early cravings for bread/starches caused stomach upset. Udi's make's great gluten free products that are GMO free. Keep some in the fridge/freezer in preparation.
Cook ahead of time. Even if you don't end up needing it, having leftovers that your family can easily prepare and feed themselves while your too sick to enter the kitchen can be a lifesaver for all involved.

If you've ever experienced severe morning/pregnancy sickness, please share what worked for you in the comments!
My heart goes out to anyone who has been through it.
Just remember, it does get better eventually.

Going Green: A Big Girl Room for a Little Girl

2013-07-25T07:30:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking about this big girl room ever since Isla June turned 1. I guess because of the move and the looming thought of her out growing the crib, and maybe the over planner/researcher at heart that I am, I spent two years over thinking this space.

Now, that does not mean that I have everything for it. By no means am I finished with the final details. But, the basics are there. And they are as green and non-toxic as I can afford them to be.

Almost everything is second hand. That's the great thing about being green, it's actually more affordable when you think about it! Plus, thrifting has become so chic lately.

Let's all pop some tags (unless that means some sort of stealing. This white girl is lost on the lingo).

Isla June's new to her bed was mine growing up. I love the classic-ness of a rod iron bed.

This thing should be around for her children.

Most of my 2 years of growing research involved Isla June's mattress. Now, her crib mattress was organic. And we loved it (THIS ONE.Naturepedic No Compromise Organic Cotton Classic 150 Seamless Dual Firmness Crib Mattress )

I knew when we upgraded her that I would want something comparable.

But, here's the thing. Organic mattresses are ex-pen-sive.

My plan was to get a second hand twin bed and an organic cotton mattress (THIS one Naturepedic Organic Queen Size Mattress Quilted)

Then, hubs and I got a new king size bed and we ended up with two extra Queen sized ones. So, it seemed silly to have all these extra beds/mattresses floating around and not use them.

Oh! The conundrum!

Enter the bed wrapping.

It's an affordable way to make an older/non organic mattress safer to sleep on. It's main purpose it to keep the chemicals from leeching out and into your lungs while you breath at night.

(more info about toxins in mattresses can be found here)

The food grade plastic had no odor when I opened it (such a relief!). But, I will say- it's cumbersome.

Took hubs and I some good planning to get it all settled on the bed. And, it's loud.

As Isla June says, "my bed's a little noisy."

I'm hoping to get an organic topper for it soon to help muffle the sound.

It's worth the peace of mind for me.

The rest of the room is second hand as well.

From the craigslist dresser (refinished in chalk paint- no odor!), to the rocker that we kept from her nursery. The mirror was her Gramma Lee's and was in our bedroom previously.

Even the lamp lived in another part of the house for the past 5 years.

All of the accessories were in her nursery.

The rug was formerly in our living room/kitchen.

And, of course, there is a plant and an air purifier in there to help keep her lungs as healthy as possible.

I've got plans for a patterned quilt/comforter for her (in this summer heat, it seems pointless right now) and coordinating curtains. But, for now the what-we-already-have-on-hand bed linens (washed in vinegar) and the simple black-out shades seem to be doing the trick.

Now, if only we could get her to actually stay in her big girl bed all night!

It's a Fiesta!

2013-07-12T11:28:00.001-05:00

It's official.

Isla June thinks her birthday is actually an entire month and not just one day.

I guess with all the talking about it happening, the actually day of, and then the party a week later, plus, the mounds of gifts that showed up at our door throughout the month ("Is that one for little girl?!?"), well, i can see why she sees it that way.

A week after her actually birthday, Isla June's Nana, Boppa, Aunt Abbie and 5 cousins came careening down to the Carolina's in a rented RV. Just to celebrate with us.

What troopers.

We showed them a good time at our favorite pool,

took them to putt putt,

and they even managed a beach day in between the rains.

I was so crazy hectic, but so so fun.

We threw her party on a Sunday. She requested a Fiesta like Dora.

So, that's what she got.

All of the decorations are from Target. Serving-ware is our own stash.

Party favors: Maracas (HUGE hit!)

Our new neighborhood's clubhouse was the perfect spot.

Facilities that are already party ready and a pool. yes, ma'am.

Great friends, loving family and....

A Pinata!

Now, if you've ever had a kid party and didn't have a pinata, I would say, get one.

Well worth it to see the kids excitement.

Everyone got a turn whacking.

But, cousin Aidan had to come in for the kill.

We found a local bakery to make gluten free cupcakes.

With all the chaos of company, I wasn't about to attempt another homemade version.

Thankful I had somewhere local I could call.

Oh, that face. Love.Her.Up.

The night before, during some crazy cousin dancing, Isla June fell and busted her lip.

That's not lipstick, ya'll.

As a southern lady, I'm a bit opposed to opening gifts at parties.

Sounds silly, I know.

But, all the cousins insisted and since they pretty much took over the experience, I just sat back and photographed.

She's one blessed little girl.

Oh, sweet cousins.

Not sure if I'm going to be able to top this birthday!

Atleast I've got a whole year to start planning.....

Living in a Miniature World

2013-01-29T21:29:00.000-06:00

A year ago, I saw my favorite blogging family reveal an amazing gift for their little girl.
A handmade doll house. Constructed by her father.
I was in awe. It was everything I ever wanted in a doll house.

I asked Jeremy if he could somehow manage to pull this off for Isla June's 2nd Birthday. But, alas, all of his tools are still in storage. I figured I would have to wait months/years before I could get this coveted item for my little lady.
I even checked the always wonderful but tricky craigslist. No dice. (or very, very expensive dice)

Thankfully, Isla June's Boppa came in to save the day. I emailed him the plans and he whipped this up in time to deliver it a few weeks before Christmas.

It.was.perfect.

One of my favorite things about it is the removable board on the bottom. When Isla June outgrows this piece, it can be hung on her wall as a book shelf.
Multipurpose items. Gotta love that.

As luck would have it, we picked up an entire doll house furniture set from a local consignment store for a total out of pocket expense of $12.00. I knew that this was a steal. Most doll house furniture costs $10-$20 per room.
Score one for me.
(this is similar furniture- same company)

Then, at another local consignment sale, my mother was able to find a Plan Toys family of 4 collection practically brand new for only $10.
It was meant to be.

Many days are spent rearranging the furniture and pretending with the mommy and daddy. (we have since added a baby to the mix) I can definitely see this as a toy that will grow with her.

Thank you, Boppa!

What I Learned From Potty Training {Review}

2012-12-09T14:49:00.000-06:00

There are so many important life lessons that I learned from potty training a toddler: never push someone into something they don't want to do, wait until they're ready, have lots and lots and lots of paper towels on hand at all times and bribery works!

Well, at least it did for us. When I found the right things to entice her. See, we don't do candy in our household. We rarely do sugary treats. For us, fruit is our after diner dessert. Isla June has gotten 2 lollipops in her whole life and those were from the tellers at the bank (she thinks that's why I give them my money).
When it came to this huge milestone in her life, I knew I was going to need a little bit extra incentive to keep this potty ball rolling but, I didn't want to just throw out all my hesitations about high sugar candy.......

Enter the Fruit Sparx Xlear Candy. It's made with natural color and flavoring and is sweetened with xylitol which has been shown to not promote tooth decay (which sugar can do). And thanks to Mom's Meet we were able to sample the product during this pivotal time in my toddler's life. I have to say, for us, it worked!

It was the perfect sweet treat that reinforced what a great job Isla June was doing and how proud of her I was for working hard at something that isn't always easy. She only received 2 candy pellets after each potty success, but those special treats were so savored by my little lady. And I wasn't fretting over the impact the candy would be having on her beautiful teeth!

About Xlear

Xlear, Inc. is committed to providing consumers with the health benefits of xylitol, a naturally occurring sweetener, by manufacturing all-natural, health-enhancing products. Xlear® Nasal Spray is an award-winning, patented saline and xylitol solution; a complete line of dental health products under the Spry Dental Defense System® brand; XyloSweet®, raw xylitol crystals used as a sugar substitute in cooking, baking and general consumption; and SparX® Candy, a growing line of healthy, xylitol based candies. ®, SM, © 2012 May Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

Xlear SparX is sweetened naturally with xylitol, a plant-based, dentist-recommended sweetener that’s been proven to improve dental health and strengthen tooth enamel.
Xylitol doesn’t interfere with the body’s blood sugar levels or insulin production, making it safe for kids and adults on a sugar-controlled diet.
Xlear SparX Candy is available in Berry, Citrus, and Fruit varieties; all are free of artificial colors and flavors.
Xlear SparX Candy retails for $1.49 for one tube.

Xlear has also saved our toothbrushing routine. Thanks to the samples we recieved of Kid's Spry Tooth Gel with Xylitol. Isla June and I are no longer battling multiple times a day in order to get her teeth brushed. She loves both the flavors and actually asks me to brush her teeth. It's a miracle if you ask me! This toothpaste will now be a regular part of our toothbrushing routine. And I love that it's floride free.

Find Xlear on Facebook

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it

directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions

do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

For the Love of Reading {Review and Giveaway}

2012-12-04T18:54:00.000-06:00

I remember sitting in the back corner of my family's living room, tucked behind the recliner, pouring over our collection of National Geographic that spanned over a 10 year time frame.

When Moms Meet gave me the opportunity to review the National Geographic Kids Super Readers, my mind immediately flashed back to those memories. Memories that I wanted to share with Isla June.

website

Just hearing the words, "National Geographic" brings to mind a quality magazine full of powerful pictures and meaningful content. I had my fingers crossed that these qualities would carry over to the Kids version.

I was so pleasantly surprised when I opened up my package to find the vibrantly colored, picture filled, easy reading material. I couldn't wait to show Isla June.

About National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world through award-winning magazines, books,apps, games, toys, videos, events, and a website.

It is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core.

National Geographic Kids Books is the leading nonfiction publisher with as many as 100 nonfiction titles each year, including the New York Times best seller National Geographic Kids Almanac and our best selling series National Geographic Super Readers.

Isla June loved the stickers (of course) and the fun characters on the pages. She seemed to really enjoy looking at the pictures, especially the ones that featured any type of animal. Some of the material was more focused towards older children who could really take the opportunity to explore the books independently or sit for longer reading times.

My absolute favorite part was the Ultimate Weird but True book that featured "1,000 wild and wacky facts and photos!" I can see this book being a part of our library for a very long time. It's something I would love to gift to all of my nieces and nephews as well! A definite family favorite and amazing resource guide for the inquisitive mind.

I think we all want to give our children the absolute best, even a head start, especially when it comes to academics. Fostering a love of reading, science and exploration are skills I hope to instill in Isla June. And I truly believe that the Super Readers program and National Geographic Kids books can be a part of that.

The National Geographic Super Readers program for Kids:

Was developed in consultation with literacy education experts, each National Geographic Super Reader is filled with cool information about nonfiction topics kids love such as dinosaurs, tigers, planes and trains, plus big, colorful photographs, all in an easy-to-read and kid-friendly design.
Filled with fun incentives to keep reading, an interactive website, and fun characters to get to know, the National Geographic Super Readers program has everything you need to get kids SUPER excited about reading.
At kids.nationalgeographic.com/superreader, kids can sign up to become Super Readers, download the Super Readers poster, and start reading! Once they finish their book, they can cross it off on their poster and start getting fun rewards and prizes.

Any of the National Geographic Kids books or the Super Readers Program would be an amazing gift for any child in your life.

Want to introduce this amazing Reading Program to your family? Enter Here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Find National Geographic on Facebook and Twitter

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from themanufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

What We're Doing Differently When it Comes to Supplementing

2012-12-03T13:20:00.001-06:00

Many who have followed this blog from it's inception know that I am a big fan of supplements. I actually tried to attempt to be a non veggie eating vegetarian throughout college by supplementing my diet with, well, supplements.
Let's just say that didn't really go well.

All of my research lately has led me to conclude that supplements have a place in our food regimen, but shouldn't be the center of the show. It all starts with a clean, healthy diet and then adding what's needed from there.
I've also really started working on simplifying our supplements.
So, without further ado.......here's Isla June's vitamin regimen

Cod Liver Oil- Full of DHA, EPA and Omega's. Plus it's packed with Vitamin A and D. Much more of a "whole" supplement instead of just using an Omega 3,6,9. Having a diet high in animal soluble oils (Omega 3's) is vitally important to balancing out the high amount of plant based Omega 6's that are running rampant throughout our food system. The proper balance of Omega's in our system is vital for healthy teeth and gums and bringing down the inflammation in the body (among many other things!)
Children's Multi Vitamin- I can't bear to stop giving Isla June a multi vitamin, but I only give her a half dose. This is a new vitamin for her as I discovered her last multi contained Fructose. Not the worst thing, but I wanted to find something better. This one is full of the B vitamins and C. I'm a big believer in liquid vitamins as well. Better absorption into the system.
Kefir- One of the best things I have ever introduced into our supplement regimen has been this Coconut Kefir. I'm not even sure I can call it a supplement because Kefir is kind of just a food source. Kefir is filled with hundreds of thousands of good bacteria. Even more than most probiotic supplement in pill form. A regimen of fermented foods (like Kefir) are a huge part of healing the gut. Since including this in our daily routine, Isla June is more able to handle any gluten, or dairy that creeps into her diet.
Vitamin D- This is my travel vitamin. All three items above live in our fridge, so when we are on the road, I take the travel size Vitamin D with me. And on exceptionally rainy weeks, we take this along with the Cod Liver Oil. *Vitamin D is a vitamin you can overdose on, but we are all chronically low in it.*

And that's it! Really. That's all there is to Isla June's vitamin routine.

She gets all three of these in the morning and then we are done for the day!

Well, not really because the rest of her nutrients come from the food she eats (I don't want to leave that important part of this equation out)

Want more information on these supplements?

Great reading about this topic can be found here and here and here

Our Favorite Teething Remedies: Getting Teeth Stinks

2012-11-19T15:00:00.003-06:00

We've been through a lot with this little lady. First the bouts of colic, the all night pacing of the halls.

Then, the food allergies. The diapers that involved were almost as bad as the midnight zombie walks. Both issues were solved with natural remedies (PROBIOTICS! and eliminating dairy, soy and gluten).

So, when we started the dreaded teething, I didn't reach for the Tylenol. I had been through enough to realize that over the counter medications aren't going to be the best choice and that there may be a better, more natural way for her body to handle these milestones.

After all, God gives us this stage for a reason.

Now that Isla June has 20 pearly chompers, including the dreaded Incisors, Molars and front Bugs Bunny teeth, we've been through the storm and can live to tell about it.

This is what worked for us (and what didn't):

Amber Teething Necklace - My first go-to for any teething baby. We absolutely swear by ours. I ordered it for Isla June when she was 7 months old and she's yet to take it off (because when we did she would start the fussing).

Amber works by acting as a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic. The oil from the Amber is absorbed through the skin, which is why most children wear the stone around their necks- closer to the teeth. If you're going to order one (because you should!), make sure it is from a reliable source and it is light Amber. Buttery in color is best. The lighter the Amber, the more potent. Also, make sure it is from a reputable dealer. You want the real thing.

Razbaby Teether- We were fans of the Sophie in our house. She was fun and pretty, but she wasn't so super great for the teeth. Maybe Isla June just didn't like chewing on her cute face.

Surprisingly, Little Girl was able to get by with just hugs for most of her teeth, but when those two year old molars came in, she needed something. While digging around in her drawers one day, she found an old medicine pacifier. And she loved it. We called it her "Plug" and I laughed about the fact that she hadn't used a pacifier in over a year and a half, but now she wanted one. I thought it was a phase. But then, she kept asking for it. So I decided to find a suitable replacement: enter the Razberry Teether. It's BPA free, non-toxic and made from medical grade silicone. You can even put it in the freezer.

Humphrey's Teething Tablets- I know a lot of people swear by the Hyland's teething tablets, but they just didn't work for us. With Homeopathy, you have to remember that every one's body chemistry is different. What works for someone elses baby won't necessarily work for yours.

The Humphrey's were a life saver for us, though. I'm not exactly sure about the difference between Humphrey's and Hyland's, but they did the trick. Plus, they have less sugar in them.
*tip: get them at your local CVS*

Chamomilla- I keep Chamomile on hand all the time. It's my go to for fussy baby, teething baby, won't sleep baby, every time. We've used the pellets from Boiron, but these Camilia droppers are the best. And, Amazon has them one Subscribe and Save.

What about Teething Gel? We never used any kind of teething gel because there can be very adverse reactions to it, epsecially for children under 2. As well, it can impair other functions of the mouth if you accidentally get it on your baby's tongue.

But, there's a natural way to make your own!

*I'd love it if you would share what worked for your baby or toddler in the comments. We've all been through this stage and sharing how we got out of it is the best way to help!*

Another great resource for teething information- The Mommypotamus

CrockPot Pear Sauce {Recipe}

2012-11-01T08:08:00.000-05:00

My CSA basket for the past three weeks contained a bag full of 10-15 pears. They looked pretty beat up (because they are fresh off the farm) and they were pretty tough. I left them in the fridge and then on the counter for a week hoping that they would ripen, but it seems that they are just a very very hearty pear. Isla June will eat them just fine, but not me. :)

On the hunt for what to do with them, I came across a few recipes for apple or pear sauce. It seemed easy enough. After looking through quite a few tutorials, I figured that I could put a few of the tips together and make my own.

The hardest part of this was cutting up 20+ pears. I started the process at 9 o'clock at night and still made it in bed by 10. So, it wasn't too bad.

Pear Sauce
15-20 Pears (cored, sliced and then diced)
Ground Cinnamon- 1Tbs
Ginger - 1tsp
Nutmeg - 1 tsp
Cloves - 1/4 tsp
Lemon Juice- 2 Tbs
*Honey- 1/4 C OR Brown Sugar- 1 cup
*optional

I cooked mine overnight (12 hours) It comes out chunky but very soft. If you want to take the chunks away, you could blend it very easily.
While still a little hot, I put the finished mixture in my caning jars and put the lid on. The heat helped to "seal" them without needing a boil. But, we ate it so quickly it's not like I was worried about any of it spoiling.
We added the sauce to:

Vanilla Ice Cream
Vanilla Yogurt
Over Pancakes/Waffles
On Toast

I think this will become a Fall staple for us. It's also perfect as a housewarming gift or Christmas gift for neighbors.

Happy November!

Toddler Meals

2012-10-30T07:48:00.000-05:00

BREAKFAST

Organic Gluten Free Granola Cereal and Banana

Homemade Gluten Free Blueberry Pancakes with Honey and Organic Butter
Clementine slices
Scoop of Almond Butter

Made THIS recipe for Cinnamon French Toast, tried to substitute with Almond Milk, Gluten Free Bread and Brown Sugar
it was ok. I'm sure it would have been better with the original ingredients :)

Gluten Free toast with Organic Butter
Organic Scrambled Eggs
Kiwis

Gluten Free Homemade Mickey Mouse Pancakes

LUNCH

Leaves and Goat Cheese
Organic Brown Rice (that has been soaked)

Homemade Guacamole (organic salsa and avocado)
Organic Corn Chips
Rice noodles

Organic Chicken Slices
Sweet Potato Fries
Coconut Water

Hummus and Veggie Straws
Grapes

DINNER

CrockPot Chicken
Organic Brown Rice (soaked)
Sweet Potato Fries

30 before 30: Run a 5K

2012-10-25T13:22:00.000-05:00

I've secretly wanted to be a runner all my life. Some of my good friends in high school were on the track team (like the long distance track team) and I would sporadically attempt an afternoon run with them. I was always left behind.

So, I just gave up. I would run occasionally in college, but I stuck to walking (which kept me in good enough shape considering how big our campus was and the complete lack of parking situation we had going on at the time).

But, this little thing kept nagging me. Over and over again, every time I thought about my New Year's resolution I pondered, "Is this the year I do it?" and by "it" I mean run an actual race. Only a 5K, but still, it nagged me.

And so I decided, by 30 I would just do it. I started some training last summer. Totally fell off the bandwagon and then kicked it back up again in the spring of this year. Thanks to one of my favorite trainers at the gym (who gives it to me straight- you won't be a runner without running- thanks, Gary.) I crossed my fingers that this would be my year.

I signed up for a Mud Run at a local farm. People told me I was crazy. I thought it would be fun. And distracting. Let's just say everyone was right.

I was so nervous before the race. I hadn't really done a lot of training in the 2 weeks before the event. The furthest I had run so far was 1.6 miles. That was it. I knew I could maybe push myself to 2, but I wasn't so sure about making the 3.1. Good thing the Hubs was there.

Oh, and did I mention this was the morning of my 30th birthday? Talk about procrastinating.

Post Race muddiness

Let's just say, I made it. I had fun. And I ran most of the race. A Mud Run is much harder than a road race: soaking wet shoes in soft sand in not an easy thing to navigate.

I was proud of myself. And Hubs was pretty proud of me too.

Who knows? Maybe I'll do it again next year.

30 before 30: Go Kayaking and Surfing

2012-10-23T13:19:00.000-05:00

I grew up on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Days of running through the sand, snorkeling in the ocean and searching for periwinkles are typical memories of my childhood.

Being back in a beach town feels just like home to me.

But, the one and only time I ever headed out past my waist into the depths of the sea was with a high school/college friend of mine who was determined to teach me how to surf. Without embarrassing myself with details, let's just say that I gave up after loosing my top for the 500th time and having the board smack me in the head over and over again. He never gave me a lesson again.

That was 11 years ago.

And I thought I wanted to try again. And, I thought I wanted to go kayaking (we have a great inter-coastal waterway), but when Jer started talking about Paddle Boarding, I got so excited.

See, it is essentially surfing and kayaking at the same time.

So, because I am super wife, I set up a paddle board lesson for the two of us in honor of hubs birthday (and to be honest here, mine too).

And we treated it like a date. Got a babysitter and everything. And we even took the Harley out.

We have a great ski and surf store here in town. I was hoping to get a paddle board for Hub's birthday (along with the help of our sweet families), but we just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

We had an instructor and everything. I opted for a private lesson, so it was just the three of us. Luckily, our instructor transported the paddle boards (I don't think they would have fit on the Harley :) )

Our boards were 10 and 11 feet long and weighed around 30 pounds! I carried my own board the whole way to the beach (and had a bruise on my hip to prove it)

I don't have any pictures of us out on the boards (no place to keep a camera safe!), but we were out there for over an hour. Jer was up and paddling pretty quickly, but the waves kept me paddling from my knees for a while. Once I go the hang of flowing with the waves, I was up for good.

Then I looked over to see my crazy husband surfing/paddling the surf!

We had a blast, but man! We were worn out. It is such a fun, but hard, workout.

We both loved it so much. I'm not normally one to rave about a physical activity, but this was an absolutely amazing experience.

We can't wait to get boards of our own.

So thankful for my list to push me to try something new.

Building Something Together: Mega Bloks Review and Giveaway

2012-10-04T14:05:00.000-05:00

Using blocks creates challenges and with repeated use inspires your child to be more creative and aim for more complex outcomes.

~source

When I first started teaching in my Preschool classroom, I quickly realized that Blocks were a main staple for the curriculum. There's just so much you can do with them.

Thus began my love affair with the 4 sided cubes.

Imagine my excitement when I was given the opportunity to review some new blocks thanks to MomSelect, MommyParties and Mega Bloks First Builders.

I.LOVE.BLOCKS.

So with all my giddiness bubbling up, I was ready to throw a party.

It was a block and truck themed party because the two just go together, you know?

Isla June was the perfect hostess.

can you imagine my excited face when all of this arrived on our door step? It was like Christmas morning.

The Toys that were included:

Play'n Go Wagon (in Pink)
Tiny 'n Tuff Race 'n Chase Rig
A-B-C Spell! First Builders
1-2-3 Count! First Builders

The kids dove right into the Mega Bloks and trucks. I was able to provide a separate bag of blocks for every child that showed up to play; such an amazing gift that made for very few squabbles :)

I love these blocks because they are so easy for little hands to use. They aren't too big, and they aren't too small, they are easy to put together and take apart, yet they don't fall apart when stacked (isn't that the worst? when your blocks won't stick??)

One of my absolute favorite things about these blocks though, is where they are made.

No Made-in-China-what's-in-these-things-is-it-toxic-plastic? here.

The Mega Bloks are made in Canada. (yay!)

Lots and lots of tower building happening.

That cute little flower was part of the wagon set. A first I was a little hesitant about a "gender specific" color for the blocks, but the flowers are just too cute!

All the girls and our little guy loved them.

The Play'n Go Wagon that came with the set was a perfect place to store all of the blocks and provided another fun toy for all of the children. I've noticed that anything on wheels makes my child happy, and a place to store toys makes me a happy mom. This wagon is a win-win for us.

The assortment of the Mega Bloks offered both ABC Spell! stickers or 1-2-3 Count! stickers.

I honestly wasn't so sure about the stickers. You have to put them on yourself, and I was afraid Isla June would just want to take them off and wear them. But, surprisingly, they offered a whole other option for play with the blocks.

She loves to look for numbers or shapes, stacks the blocks in number order or just call out her favorite numbers to me.

I'm so glad I took the time to put them on!

One of our friends won that sweet little Race'n Chase Rig. Isla June was so sad to see it go!

This playdate reminded and reinstilled in me my love, love, love affair with blocks.

We've gotten them out to build with everyday since they arrived.

Truck and block coloring pages to match our theme.

Such a fun and amazing party with our friends and all thanks to Mega Bloks and MommyParties.

Do you need some blocks for your little one?

We have a bag that we saved just for you!

Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. It will choose a winner next week!

P.S. If you don't win, one bag of Mega Bloks is only $9.99. Such an awesome deal if you ask me!

disclaimer: I was given the assortment from MegaBloks and MomSelect in return for an opinionated post. I was not given monetary compensation for my time or opinions. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Essentially, if I wouldn't pay for it with my own money, I wouldn't ask you to either.

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Learn to Use My Sewing Machine: 30 before 30

2012-10-02T19:16:00.000-05:00

I don't know what it was, maybe the frugal DIYer in me or the new mother status, but I've been itching to learn to sew. I'm kicking myself for never taking Home Economics in high school (because when would I ever need that! *eye roll*). You live and you learn.

When did sewing become so taboo that we stopped passing this handy talent down to our children? My grandmother could sew, my aunt could sew, my mother and mother-in-law could sew. Was it the feminist movement that ruined it for us?

Well, I say women can have equal rights and use a sewing machine.

Why not have one more thing we are better at than men?

/rant over/

After a couple of self-taught trials in in using my sewing machine, I figured that this shove-some-fabric-under-the-needle-and-push-the-peddle tactic I was using wasn't really going to work out so well. And in hearing my frustration, my mother signed me up for a sewing class.

Boy do I miss classes. Someone who knows more than you telling you what to do?

Please, step right in and guide me.

Here's the thing. I was late, I was unprepared (as in NO supplies on hand). The worst student ever.

But, I was eager to learn (so maybe not the worst). Thankfully, my teacher took pitty on me and offered me some of her tools and some free fabric. I brought along my machine to use so that I could learn how to use the tools I had available to me at home. *best idea ever*

We were to be making a scarf. (yes, a scarf.)

The class was three hours long and we spent the better part of two hours talking about what we were going to do and then finally cutting and pinning fabric. We didn't actually get out our machines until the final hour. crazyness. I was itching to ask a million questions about this thing.

Our instructor was amazingly informed and knowledgeable about every machine in the class (even ones dating back to the 1950s). She was patient and helpful when we had the same question over and over again. When the simplest thing stopped us in our tracks and when our machines began to eat our fabric under our novice fingers, she calmed our fears.

I was so encouraged and delighted when my final product actually looked like the picture on the board. Elated is an understatement. Who would have known that an ugly little scarf could bring me so much pride and joy?

I'm looking into more classes because I really want to continue with this and I'm not totally secure in my own knowledge of the skill.

Here's hoping Isla June will EVENTUALLY get a hand-made from momma pillowcase dress.

Learn to Cook a Turkey: 30 before 30

2012-09-27T19:18:00.000-05:00

On my 30 before 30 list I put "Learn How to Cook a Turkey" as number 15. It wasn't the first thing that came to mind, but it also wasn't the last.

I guess I figured that I want to be able to host Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner for my family without having to rely on someone else to cook. Not that I mind my stepfathers or mother in-law's cooking. They do a great job. But, they won't always be around. I've got to learn to stand on my own two feet and make it happen.

Plus, I want to teach my children this invaluable skill. I have the utmost respect for those who cook for their families. It's a very encompassing project (at least it is for me!)

With no major turkey holiday between when I wrote my list and my birthday, I haven't really gotten the chance to try and attempt this feat. But the other day, God heard my ~~excuses~~ thoughts and knew just the thing that would push me over the edge. He took all of the packaged Organic Chicken out of the store. Yes, I know it was Him. And I had a good chuckle in the store at the Big Guy's sense of humor.

So, I threw two WHOLE Organic Chickens in my cart with the determination of a saint (because I had obviously been ordained by God to make this happen. At least that was what I was telling myself.)

Little did I know how easy it was going to be. I found THIS recipe. Followed it to (mostly) a tee and said a little prayer over the bird, cranked up the heat and walked away.

And don't you know, 5 hours later I had the most divine little chicken ever. Both Isla June and I gobbled it up (Jeremy was out of town otherwise half this thing would have been gone that night!)

So now it's going to be a monthly staple. It's too easy (and affordable) not to keep this up.

That's right, I am a bone-e-fide cook.

Next up? Bone broth.

Who am I? (Well, I kind of like her )

Toddler Meals

2012-09-26T08:14:00.000-05:00

BREAKFAST

gluten free blueberry pancakes
Pamela's Gluten Free Pancake Mix
Coconut Oil
Organic Eggs
Water
Organic Flax Seeds
Frozen Organic Blueberries
Pear, Broccoli and Peas puree mixed in
Honey instead of Syrup

Gluten Free Toast
Almond Butter and Honey
Banana

Organic Scrambled Eggs with Salsa and Sauteed Spinach
Strawberries

Gluten Free Toast
Organic Peanut Butter
Banana
Grapes

LUNCH

Guacamole: Avocados and Organic Salsa
Organic Tortilla Chips
Almond Yogurt with Veggie Puree mixed in
Vitamins mixed in as well :)

Organic Chicken Salsa
Almond Yogurt with Veggie Puree and Vitamins mixed in

DINNER

BarBQue Crockpot Organic Chicken
Garlic and Parmesan Squash and Zucchini

Roasted Organic Chicken
Okra
Pear Puree

Oven Baked Organic Chicken
Sweet Potato Fries

I'm going to try and do bi-weekly posts of Isla June's meals. I know feeding a toddler fresh, healthy and allergy friendly meals can be extrememly difficult. I enjoy getting new ideas and seeing what other moms are offering. If you have some great meals your toddler loves, share them with me (please! we need more ideas!)

How to Choose a Pediatrician

2012-09-25T11:30:00.000-05:00

source

Before Isla June was born, I freaked out about the idea of picking out a doctor for her. I knew I was going to have to find someone who could handle my controlling and research obsessed nature and respect the fact that I was a well informed parent while offering beneficial medicaladvice as a balance. I was looking for an east meets west kind of person and I didn't think I would find it.
But, after one mommy recommendation (yes, just one), the perfect Ped entered our life with halos around her head. And I just thought it was that easy.

And then we moved. And then it wasn't.
We've been to great Peditrician's and we've been to a terrible (for us) one.
Here's what I've learned.

Get recommendations from friends/mommy's you trust. That's how I found our first (wonderful) pediatrician, so I figured it would be the best way to find our new one. Normally, this is a great resource, but it isn't always fool proof. The Pediatrician Office so many of my mommy friends took their little ones too turned out to be a terrible fit for our family. I kept asking other mommy's for their opinions, though. My best bet was to find a mommy who had similar view points and find out her recommendations. And then, ta da! we found a new Doc.
Call the Pediatrician's office and ask to interview the doctor. Our favorite first Pediatrician did this routinely and actually set aside time for the doctors to schedule interview appointments with new patients. The first Peds office we visited when we moved (the one that went horribly array) told me that they wouldn't do this. Red flag #1. Should have listened to my gut. If the doctor doesn't want to give you his/her time to make sure that you will have a good relationship together, then s/he probably won't be very open to your mommy opinions. And I, personally don't want a doctor who doesn't respect the fact that I know my child best (I mean, I do live with her).
Spend a little bit of time talking to the nurses. I never realized that this could really make or break a doctor's office until I was given the (extremely) cold shoulder by the nurses at the "bad experience" Ped's office. For example, if you prefer to have your child's toe pricked (instead of the finger) for blood samples, the nurses should comply. What nurse would prefer a screaming toddler to a content one? If you and the nurse disagree on an issue, she should not take that out on your child. If the nurses seem to be without a heart, I would say find a new Ped.
Go with your gut. You know your child's temperament, medical history, likes/dislikes and overall level of contentment better than anyone else. If the doctor's or nurses are refusing to listen to you and your concerns, it's time to find a new Ped. If you don't feel comfortable with a procedure, stop it. You have the right.
Don't be afraid to leave. ever. If the nurse refuses to listen to your concerns, leave. If the doctor tries to convince you that your child has a life threatening disease whilst your toddler is running circles around the room, leave. If the doctor says things like, "I always give antibiotics for all ear infections" or " All Vaccines are 100% safe" or "I think you're really overreacting" then by all means, leave. It's your child and your choice. always. You can and will find a doctor who cares and supports you. No need to be intimidated by one who doesn't. Find a doctor who is honest and well informed (because none of those statements are true).
Do your own research. If I had known the symptoms of Meningitis ahead of time, then I would have realized that the doctor was lying to me and attempting to intimidate me with the possible (mis)diagnosis of my child. Not cool, doc. Now I know.

So, do you love your Peditrician?
We have a great one that I am so happy with (and the nurses agree to the toe prick, too!)
Did you ever have a bad experience with a doctor? Or is it just me....

*Disclaimer- This is purely my opinion and very much meant to be helpful. Everything I've said above has actually happened to us. You live and you learn.

Diary of a Single Mother

2012-09-20T18:58:00.000-05:00

Day 1: go to the airport to drop off daddy. Little girl has explosive diarrhea that drips to the floor. After carrying her like a toxic bomb to the bathroom, using every last wipe available and yelling for the 100th time NOT to touch the public restroom toilets, we wave daddy through security. Little girl is naked except for a disposable diaper and large hair bow. She yells loudly, "yuv you!" and waves. Everyone turns and stares.
We go home.

Day 2: little girl sleeps in until 8:30. We're late for her doctors appointment. Little girl weighs 28 pounds. It must be all that pooping. She yells at the nurse because she can't have two prizes. I'm embarrassed. We discuss what it means to be greedy. They give her a lollipop. She can't stop talking about it.
We go shopping for a present for Boppa. I cut my finger open on our stroller. Stifle a curse. Little girl hides in the racks. I have a heart attack.
We stop by the fountains. I convince her not to jump in. We go home. Little girl cries.
No nap is taken.

Day 3: dog is whining and complaining of back pain. We call vet and they say "come on in!". Two hours later we actually see the vet. More medication. More bills. Saved by the skin of my teeth with Mickey Mouse clubhouse playing on repeat on my cell phone. Not my finest mothering moment.
We go home. No nap is taken.
Saving Grace? Dinner with best friends at their house.
I drink wine.

Day 4: Little girl wakes up at 5:45 am. We do not fall back asleep. The rest of the morning is blurry.
No nap is taken.
Saving Grace? Going swimming with fun friends and having our favorite Mexican dinner together.

Day 5: Little Girl wakes up with another explosive diaper. We skip Church and spend the day resting. She finally naps.
Gleefully head out to Target to pick up some much needed (and a few unneeded) items hoping that a little retail therapy will brighten our days. Little girl runs amok. See one of our mommy friends. She says I "look tired". Ain't that the truth.
My favorite take-out place is rude to me in the drive through. Feel like the whole world is against me.

Day 6: Attempt our normal routine. Go to the bank to open up a savings account for the little girl. She refers to this place as the "banket". She gets a lollipop. She is happy.
Head to the gym. Train for my upcoming 5K. I feel good.
Go to the post office on the way home. Little girl runs amok. Hopefully packages actually make it to the intended recipients as I can't remember if I put the addresses on correctly.
No nap is taken.
I make my first whole chicken in the crockpot.
Little girl loves it. My heart swells.
Saving Grace? Little girl pees on the potty for the second time in ever. All of the weeks sorrows are washed away and I am filled with pride. We have a dance party and eat gummy snacks.

Day 7: Only got 5 hours of sleep last night. Throw a big playdate party. What was I thinking? Saved by my sweet and understanding friends. All the kids leave happy.
No nap is taken.

Day 8: We head to the library. It's a perfectly perfect morning. We play computers. We play letters. We have fun. We go home.
She takes a nap!
We go to the store. My little helper helps. We go on a scavenger hunt to find STOP signs.
We have fun.
Little girl pees on the potty 2 times before bed. We have a dance party. We eat gummy snacks.
My heart bursts.

Day 9: At 9am we pick up daddy from the airport. All is right with the world.

Not doing that again any.time.soon.

One Green Thing V.8

2012-09-06T13:50:00.002-05:00

I've been eyeing play kitchens for over a year now. I don't know if it's the mother in me or the former preschool teacher in me or both, but I just knew we needed some fake food up in this place.

And after cajoling one of Isla June's cousins, we finally acquired a hand-me-down little play kitchen!

*Green Note* Second hand items are more green friendly for the environment because it means that materials and chemicals aren't having to be used to build a new item and saves old items from filling up landfills. As well, second hand items have already done quite a bit of off gassing and that means less toxins in your house. Plus, it's more affordable :)

Isla June is in love. She has played with it non-stop since it arrived.

It was also the hit of our Rockstar Party. There's just something about pretending to cook up some food.

On a side note, one of the first things our little lady did was to put a whole stick of butter on the stove and a hand full of berries in the blender. She's obviously been watching me in the kitchen :)

I've contemplated maybe painting it with some no VOC paint to give it a different look (maybe change the pink?), but it works perfectly for us right now. I mean, she's got stainless steel appliances!

Getting this as a hand me down is such a wonderful gift! Even used the play kitchens go for a pretty penny.

The only new thing we've added so far are these cutting foods that Mimi picked up at a local boutique. They are Melissa and Doug and such a great toy to practice fine motor movement. Love them.

To compliment the kitchen, I found this adorable little table and chair set on Craigslist for $20 bucks.

It needs a little TLC and I'm seriously thinking it needs to be painted (gray? white?), but for an affordable price, it is the perfect addition to our little preschool.

Isla June loves that she has a table to sit at for coloring or playdough or stickers or whatever. She's taken to wanting to eat here too. Not sure how I feel about that......

If/When I make changes, I'll definitely update! But, for now, we're just enjoying all the extra independent and imaginative play.

Allergy Friendly Toddler Meals

2012-09-05T13:51:00.001-05:00

Almond Peach yogurt with Fresh organic Peaches mixed in

Organic Tomato soup

GlutenFree Organic Blueberry and Vanilla Pancakes with Organic Falx Seeds and Coconut Oil

Organic Strawberries

Scrambled Organic Eggs

Gluten Free toast (made with Rice flour) and Almond butter

Organic Apricots

Blueberry Coconut Yogurt

Organic Fresh Blueberries

Gluten Free Granola Cereal with Organic Rice Milk

Gluten Free toast and Coconut Yogurt

Home made Rice Pudding with Cinnamon and Raisins

Organic Chicken Salsa (slowcooker meal)

Organic Fresh Blueberies

Review: Leapfrog Touch Magic Rock and Learn Party!

2012-08-30T15:20:00.001-05:00

*Update* The winner of the LeapFrog Rock N Learn guitar is.......Melody!

We're big fans of the Leapfrog company in our house.

Isla June's Mimi gifted her the Chat and Count Phone when she was just 7 months old and it has been a hit ever since. I'm pretty sure it's part of the reason she recognizes the numbers 1-10 and can count objects with extreme precision.

Last Christmas we received the Leapfrog Letter Factory DVD and it taught our little lady all of her letters and their sounds..... at 19 months old.

So, yeah, I think that this company is doing good things. When LeapFrog and MomSelect gave me the opportunity to review some of their new products I was ecstatic. I knew it was going to be good stuff.

In honor of our new found Leapfrog products, I threw a party.....

A Rockstar Party to exact.

I figured that I would need some extra little bodies around to test out the toys and make sure it was good stuff!

Leapfrog sent me TWO Rockn' Learn Guitars and the Touch Magic Learning Bus.

Everything came with batteries so they were ready to go for the party (can I tell you how nice it is to have something arrive ready to be played with? 2 year olds do not like to wait for mommy to find the power source)

We're not real big fans of plastic toys in our house (if I'm being completely honest), but these are well made and educational, so I see them as something that will stand the test of time, which makes them a little more "green" in my eyes.

I pulled out all of our other instruments so that we could really get a band going.

And then 8 children between the ages of 4 and 1 came screaming into our house. :)

The guitars were an instant hit. Thank goodness they sent me two!

Isla June was backup on the keys boards.

An instant band.

No direction was necessary for any of the children. The toys are very straight forward and child friendly. They picked them up, heard the music, and started strumming.

The strap helped them better stabilize the instrument it seemed.

I thought is gave them more rockstar credibility :)

Our little band was so sweet. We even had backup balloon dancers.

This little lady snuck away for a solo performance.

Moms getting a chance to sit and talk while the kids are entertained?

An awesome plus to these instruments.

Our littlest band member rocking out.

The bus was perfect for the younger children and the older ones too! It has so many great elements to it from music making to letter and phonics practice.

Leapfrog was so amazing to send me a packet full of extra goodies like these coloring papers. When the kids weren't rocking, they were coloring.

I loved watching little man and his momma playing together.

He's 4 and really seemed like the best age to enjoy this toy. He was a pro at strumming that guitar!

Isla June served as back up percussion.

She was so excited to have all of these people at her house, this is the only photo I was able to capture of her all day! Little lady couldn't sit still!

(please note her rockstar hairdo)

After all that performing, we worked up an appetite.

It was such a fun party and I'm so glad LeapFrog was a part of it!

Want to get a Rockn' Learn guitar of your own?????

Since LeapFrog was kind enough to send me two rockn' learn guitars, I want to share some of the love with you. Leave a comment to win a Rock'n Learn guitar.

Go and like us on Facebook for a second entry (leave a second comment letting me know)

Like LeapFrog on Facebook for a third entry (with a third separate comment)

P.S. I also have some $5.00 off coupons so if you don't win the guitar, you could get one for yourself at a good price!

Once you win (or get a coupon for) your own guitar, go HERE to submit a video of your rockstar for a chance to win a $500 gift card (hosted by LeapFrog)

I received free LeapFrog products in order to host the LeapFrog sponsored Rock'n Learn Party. The opinions expressed here are my own.