The Strong Mama

Days 9-24: yes I'm still here and still truckin'

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 22:30:00 +0000

Hi world!

The family and I have been moving into our new home for the past two weeks. That means I am all consumed with our house, unpacking, and minor details important to an obsessive comparative person such as myself like decorated light switch covers. I have barely checked my Facebook, which really portrays the severity of the matter.

The past few weeks have been really hard. I have been abosultely exhausted and complete frazzled to have my life in a million pieces, nothing where it belongs, and trash and boxes everywhere. I know it's just things. Stuff. Possessions. I'm learning that those things are actually really really important to me and it bothers the hell out of me when they aren't in their designated places. I am a nester with a extremely strong need for a beautiful environment. The first week I stayed up til all hours with Eric unpacking. This week I am driving my self crazy with the precise placement of hanging pictures and fighting through bouts of exhaustion to get in tune with the feng shui of it all. I don't even know what that means.Yes, I have a bit of OCD and its a problem.

Remarkably I have not turned to booze and chocolate through it all. And lookie here, I only have a week left in my 30 days!I am very used to the routine now, and saying no to potatoes and corn chips and ice cream seems second nature. I am really looking forward to celebrating the end of the 30 days though. This isn't sustainable. I really miss wine at the end of the day. I can't pin down any changes in my body or mind. I don't weigh myself anymore so I have no idea if I have lost weight. It doesnt feel like I have. I didn't get into the gym once last week and I was feeling inhuman. I have made myself go in twice this week. Its been ages since I have run, I haven't searched out good places to go with the jogger near by. So normalcy is not quite where I am yet.But I am getting there.

I dont feel like eating super clean has cleared my mind much. Granted this is one of the most stressful times I could have chosen. My anxiety is through the roof and my back has been consistent causing me a ton of pain. Its very clear that I am ignoring the physical signs of my body in stress, not taking time to even stretch or do any mobility, Its so difficult for me to do anything that's not resulted to improving the state of this house. A regular yoga practice would save me. Add it to the to do list...

Finn is adjusting best all of, he makes it seem like no big thang. He has been enjoying the end of summer.

And hes walkin'!Yes he's Walkin'!

Some progression picture of the chaos... Its much better now, will have new pictures soon!

The first night we cooked.Check out my homemade chandelier!

no counters yet...

Days 6, 7, and 8- slow and steady and a cheat

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 03:46:00 +0000

I am settling into the routine but I would like for it to be day 28 instead of 8! Turns out I miss the booze the most instead dessert and chocolate, which is surprising. When I feel stressed, a cocktail is what I have been wanting most of all.

The past few days have been mostly very rewarding and fun. I have already ridden Robin twice which is an awesome development, considering I thought she might not be adjusted enough for 3 more weeks!. I got on and she was very relaxed and we settled into our routine.

Mihr and Sylas came to meet Robin!

We went to a crazy fun party for our friend's dad at their gorgeous estate. It was a scavenger hunt/surprise tractor ride, involving the birthday boy in a clown suit, a bee bee gun, and so much deliciousness...

I didn't cheat on any of the drool worthy gluten pictured above, but I had homemade cherry and sheep's milk (!!) ice cream. I'm not sorry. It was amazing.

PS Finn is rapidly becoming a walker...

Days 4 and 5 - looking up

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:18:00 +0000

Yesterday I felt better. I am settling into making good decisions about what to eat, and not feeling nearly as hungry- mostly because I just eat when I am! We took Eric to work, and spent the day doing fun stuff!

hiking with Finn in the woods.

And frustrating not fun stuff

Picking out counter tops and sinks with unhelpful Lowes staff.

Today was RAD because Robin arrived! After a 4 day journey on a big ol' semi, she stepped off looking confused and curious, and very healthy. She didn't lose much weight. She has to be quarantined, separated from the other horses for 10 days. We will be spending lots of time together and getting her acquainted with her awesome new home.

After getting up at 4am!!! (which is crazy town for me, usually requiring the birth of a child), I napped with Finn for 4 hours. I'm feeling a lot less angry and less of an urge to constantly smash things and cry. Hooray! And I finally made in into Charlottesville CrossFit, coached today by the 12 fittest women in the world, Gretchen K :)

Day 3- sleepless, painful, and losing my mind

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Wow not too promising for 3 days into this huh? Maybe I am detoxing, maybe I'm completely on the verge of a breakdown having not been settled for 5 weeks, maybe its the insomnia, maybe my awful back injury keeping me from proper exercise... I just feel like crap. I thought cutting out the bad foods would make me feel awesome- I guess its just taking this particular body some time.

I just had a huge dinner of roast chicken and every veg of the season and my stomach is cramping and revolting. I have to keep this short because I have to impose a no technology rule after 8pm in order to battle my insomnia. Let's hope tomorrow is a better day.

Hooray for these guys: Finn, cousin Sylas and Eric.

Day 2- hungry

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:44:00 +0000

2 days in and I would love a beer because we're at Beer Run. It's going ok, but I've been hungry all day.

Breakfast was almond flour pancakes, made with eggs and a banana, and chia seeds and whole milk yogurt with blueberries. That's a high sugar, high fat meal early on in the 30 days, could probably use a little more protein. I get tired of eggs, I eat them 85 percent of breakfasts.

I had a salad with homemade chorizo for lunch and then tuna with pesto a few hours later because I was starving.

Dinner was challenging since we went out. I had steak and sauteed veggies, but still feel hungry ! I'll eat when we get home.

I'm crippled from hurting my back deadlifting over a week ago, I can hardly pick Finn up. Thats really frustrating, because usually I'm working out hard when my eating is this clean. We moved back to Virginia 3 days and I haven't been able to get into our new Crossfit gym yet. Blah.

I'm trying to get to bed earlier, which should be easier without all the booze and junk clouding my brain. But last night I was kept awake by bats...

Mountain living is fun.

30 days

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:12:00 +0000

I started this blog as an outlet for my thoughts and ideas, and I'm going to revisit that intention now. I realize maybe 2 people that I don't know have stumbled on it other than my family, and that's just fine. I'm not disciplined enough to post every day, or even once a month. For the next 30 days I'm going to use The Strong Mama as my own record of a Paleo Challenge- if some new friend stumbles along, hey there , how are ya, welcome.

I have been very hypocritical when it comes to diet for a long while now. I expound the virtues of Paleo and primal eating, yet I have never fully embraced the lifestyle. I cheat all. the. time. Partially because I have had an eating disorder for 15 years and any kind of restrictive or even vaguely limiting kind of eating is very triggering and scary. Not being "allowed" to eat sugar or grains is sure way to set off binging.

However I really do believe in the Paleo lifestyle. As a human being and an athlete. My child eats a very clean paleo diet and I hope he will choose to continue it thoughout his life. I'm not going to define the diet and why the mass produced, highly processed food culture we live in is literally making us fat, diabetic, diseased, and into early graves.

This blog is an outlet for me right now and I don't have the energy to throw the science your way. I have to focus on getting healthy before I can explain the why and the how. The message I want our family to take away is that Eric I don't believe in carb counting and do not eat Paleo, or stay on a "diet" to lose or maintain weight or be beautiful. We do it because the alternative is terrifying and we want to live long, vibrant lives.

If you are my family or friend and want understand why sugar, ALL grains, corn fattened meat, soy, and processed foods (to name a few) are killing us, and why our family is choosing to avoid that fate, please do some research. Google paleo, primal eating, Mark Scisson, and Robb Wolf to start. There is a wealth of information at your finger tips.

I personally have never been judegmental or hyper vigilant in my conversations about nutrition. It's really hard for me to talk about given my distorted, disturbing, and life threatening relationship with food. If you want to talk more about it, I'm open, but I won't try to tell you how to eat. I do believe 99 percent of Americans and honestly most of our friends and family are playing Russian roullette with their health through their food choices. But I can't change anyone else, it's been a huge challenge just to change myself. It's important for those close to us to understand why Finn's nutrition in particular is of such crucial importance to me. I'm setting him up for a lifetime of health because he is going to know truths about food in America that I didn't know as a child.

Back to the hypocrisy part. I've never even done a strict Paleo challenge. A lot of new comers and cross fitters will do 30 day challenges, as an intro or to just periodically clean up their diet. Back in November I started researching what Paleo eating entails. I cut out gluten and most grains. We are a lacto- paleo family, because we believe the benefits of clean, grass fed, and when possible, raw dairy outweigh any risks and digestive dangers. So that won't be something I will cut out.

The offenders ? I consume A LOT of sugar, in the form or alcohol, chocolate, honey, maple syrup, and fruit. I will also get a corn tortilla at the Mexican joint and eat corn chips, pretending I'm being healthy not getting the flour version. Well the reality check is that the corn is wrecking my guts just as much as the wheat. The sugar ? It has to stop, especially the alcohol because when I drink, I get sloppy and make poor food choices. And it's just sugar in the end, which wreaks havoc on the body.

So to sum 'er all up, for the next 29 days, this is what's going into my body pretty exclusively but not without slight imperfections (Paleo purists would scoff, but guess what? I'm not a cave woman, I will never slaughter a mammoth, and I know my limitations around restrictive eating.)

Lots of this:

Some of this:

And a bit of :

Limited food to currently photograph and losing patience with this long post written on my phone , but hopefully you get the idea.

Ill try to check in everyday with progress. If you love me, please hold me accountable.

Thanks!

Home ?

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:55:00 +0000

I have fallen off the blogging face of the earth, yes, it is true ! We have been spending the past few months
preparing for this -

So we have arrived. I'm not sure if it's home or how I feel about being here. life to be continued...

Twelve months!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 05:58:00 +0000

Hi Moncheech!

This will be my last monthly post- now I will write to you on the blog every 6 months. It's already one frackin' month past your first birthday and I am out of numbered onesie stickers. Excuses, excuses...

Stats at 12 months:

29.25 inches long

20.7 lbs

Nicknames: Monchichi, munckin, munch, buddy, bug, pooper

Sleeping pattern: I gotta say it kid- you'll ruin us for future brat children! 13 hours a night, like clockwork.

Feeding schedule and foods you love to stuff in your face: You are starting to enjoy using a spoon or fork, you can even handle slightly clumpy yet not solid things like cottage cheese in a bowl all by yourself! I'm not brave enough to give you soup yet. New discovery this month- hot dogs, all beef all the time.

What you love the most: Pushing your cart with your lil' Frankenstein legs at top speed, going up down, up down, up down the stairs, pushing anything around the house like cars, boxes, or Styrofoam. Of course you still go nuts for your bath time.

What makes you mad/sad: being horizontal- changing table so torturous, must scream bloody murder!

Things I am loving most right now: That I don't have to carry you out the door or up and down the stairs because you love the adventure of doing on your own.

Sounds you are making: Some new words: book (boo) dog, and bubbles! It's still dada central around here. EVERYTHING is dada, dadeee, dadooo.

You are learning to: expand the teeth in your mouth,! Right before your birthday you had 4 come in at once on the top. You didn't get a fever or complain one bit. Cool motor skill developments include high and low fives, waving, and the sweetest clapping! You can do it while your standing independently on your own. We cue you with cheers of Yaaaaay Fiiiiiiin!

The birthday boy with a carrot cupcake at the Weasel on his actual bday

PARTAY!

Finn chowing his ice cream

What a glorious little being you have become over the course of one revolution around the sun. Happy BIRTHday Finn Henry!

Love you infinitely,

Mama

Festivaaaaaaaaaaal!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 22:09:00 +0000

It's Telluride Bluegrass time kids ! After a year off due to our mini Walden being 3 weeks old last June, the whole fam damily is raring to go! Joining us is Eric's mom, sister Sara, our Irish family, and a host of festival friends ! This is a grand tradition for the Waldos, Eric's 11th and my 6th, and of course Finn's inaugural year. Can't wait to see that monkey in his little sarong!

Just a few highlights from years past...

What a difference a year makes !

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:15:00 +0000

Our little man really is becoming a boy, and less of a baby. He's grown so independent over the last 365 days ! Just look at him all on his own- having the time of his life in the pool!

Then...

And now!

Check it out- Finn finds a new way to push the cart!

Sectionals 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:29:00 +0000

Remember that CrossFit thing I used to do? Well I still CrossFit, I just never write about it anymore. Here is a recap of Sectionals 2011, which is soooooooooo over and Regionals is the big to do now. I think I got somewhere around 100th in the region, top 60 men and women moved on in the competition.

WOD 1

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 10 minutes of:

30 Double-unders

15 Power snatches (55lbs)

result

6 rounds+8 DU

score: 278

WOD 2

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 15 minutes of:
9 Deadlifts (100lbs)
12 Push-ups
15 Box jumps (20")

result

8 rounds + 9DL + 12 push ups + 14 jums

score: 323

Notice this not actually recent. I'm pregnant in this pic.

WOD 3

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 5 minutes of:

110 pound Squat clean

110 pound Jerk

result

17 cleans + 17 jerks

score: 34

WOD 4

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 10 minutes of:

60 Bar-facing burpees

90 pound Overhead squat, 30 reps

10 Muscle-ups

result: 60 burpees, 30 squats = 90

WOD 5

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 20 minutes of:

5 Power cleans (145lbs / 65kg) 10 Toes to bar 15 Wall balls (20lbs to 10' target)

Post total rounds.

WOD 6

Complete as many reps as possible in 7

minutes following rep scheme below:

3 Barbell Thrusters @65 lbs

3 Chest to bar Pull-ups

6 Barbell Thrusters

6 Chest to bar Pull-ups

9 Barbell Thrusters

9 Chest to bar Pull-ups

12 Barbell Thrusters

12 Chest to bar Pull-ups

15 Barbell Thrusters

15 Chest to bar Pull-ups

18 Barbell Thrusters

18 Chest to bar Pull-ups

21 Barbell Thrusters

21 Chest to bar Pull-ups...

Eleven Months!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:21:00 +0000

Stats at 11 months:

29.5 inches long

20.3 lbs

Nicknames: Finn Henry, munckin, munch, pooper

Sleeping pattern: Nothing new to report, 12 hours+. You have had a this strange wet cough for over a month and you have coughing bouts at night. Your nap is pretty consistent now, every afternoon for about 3 hours.

Feeding schedule and foods you love to stuff in your face: I have a theory that you are not digesting some foods (because I see them again in a place I'd rather not) and that's why you're always hungry. Our affectionate name for you is our little anaconda. You are always devouring something, and you have no trouble swallowing things whole, especially berries and olives. Our obvious new tactic is to take a bit more care cutting food up for you. I still make tasty things for you and freeze them for easy meals. There are usually grain free pancakes, egg muffins, some kind of stew, and different variations meatloaf in the freezer for you.

What you love the most: Other than balls, playing ball with yourself, with anyone else who will play with you, and pointing to everything you see and saying ball? um, balls. It's very sweet actually, seeing you entertain by something so simple at this stage in your life. You don't know what an iPad is, or email, or Halo and we hope to enjoy your tech free existence as long as possible. However you love to get your grabby paws on technology and smash it.

You like your walker now, we take it out in the cul de sac and you cruise around at top speed. If I let you go, you would take yourself over to the park across the street. You are very content playing on your own, best of all when we put you in a laundry basket or cardboard box. 45 minutes of entrainment, easy. You also notice big kids around you and seem to be absorbing all of the cool things they can do, skills you are on your way to discovering and mastering like walking, ruining, and terrorizing all the adults.

What makes you mad/sad: you continue too rebel against your changing table and the prone position. I'm not sure why I included a sad category, because you are so rarely sad for longer than 12 seconds.

Things I’m loving most right now: Your signature Finn grin, sticking out your (only 2) bottom teeth and squinting your sparkling blue eyes. You are such a speedy crawler now, and I get a kick out of your determination to move quickly, by tucking your head down and slap slap slapping across the floor.

Sounds you are making: Ball, bah, da, dat, daaada, maa, mama. You get a kick out of imitate woo woo woo! like a little Indian but it comes out "aaaahhhhhh" while waving you're hand in front of your mouth. You often make all sorts of zerbert, spit-flying mouth noises when you're excited or a pissed little honey badger.

You are learning to: Open cabinets and doors with alarming dexterity, and turn the shower on by pulling up the plug in the bath. You are bear crawling a lot too, to avoid getting your knees full of little rocks and itchy things I imagine. You are interested in trying to stand on your own too.

Its springtime in Colorado, we are spending lots of time outside together.

This is in your friend Stella's super duper play thing, which we dont have at home, so you think its WEEEEEEE AWESOME!!!

Romey came all the way from Ireland to see you! Here you are at the park together with your friend Jackson.

At L and S

We took a March trip to Vail, and Romey watched your cute winter lil self while we snowboarded.

hiking up to drop in the back bowls

bonus Walden boarding video

anniversary dinner - 3 years!!

check out my boots

and my pony

Love you bugaroo. Almost one revolution around the sun...

Keep on thriving,

Mama

Ten months!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:16:00 +0000

Stats at 10 months:

28 inches long

18.7 lbs

Nicknames: Monkey, stinky, lil' man, Finn Bob.

Sleeping pattern: 12- 14 hours a night, and I am getting better about putting you down for one long nap a day.

Feeding schedule and foods you love to stuff in your face: Oh, all of it! You definitely prefer feeding yourself and I do too since it's less work for me. So lots of finger foods: homemade pancakes, breads, dried fruit and nut bars, cheese, meat, fruit, frozen peas corn, and carrots. You can have homemade peanut butter and cows milk now too. The cows isn't replacing nursing yet, you just have it once in a while but you seem to like it. I don't feel good about giving you pasteurized milk, we are exploring raw milk as an option. For now, I am giving you the best thing I can find in the grocery store, Kalona, non-homogenized, whole milk.

What you love the most: Playing with everything except your toys. The more random, dirty, and dangerous the object the better. That springy door stopper thing? SOOO Exciting! The little cap that comes off on the base of the toilet? Into the mouth! Daddy's mouse? click, click, click, click. Other favorites include the toilet, seeds from the garden, dog bowls, the remote control, toilet paper, and dirt from the potted plant. Oh yes, and balls. Bouncy, rolly balls.

You have figured out how to play ball with yourself.

What makes you mad/sad: You are HATING the changing table. Any time we put you horizontal for a diaper change or to change your clothes, you exert the surprising strength of an angry ninja in a very tiny body. I am not very good at restraining you, so it just take longer. Daddy is more efficient at the diaper changes. He is less patient with your antics :)

Things I’m loving most right now: Being with you.

Sounds you are making: mamama, dadada, and the beginnings of ball! ba ba ba, said in the right context!

You are learning to: Dare I say it? You are becoming a biped! I bought your this little walker. This was one of your first tries. You are much faster now.

You are getting close to standing up on your own unsupported too. We have seen you in the triangle position with your butt up in the air and you really want to push yourself up!

You had your first ER visit this month. On a Sunday afternoon you had a fever and it climbed up to 104. Lesson learned: you just get high fevers and I wont put you through the stress of a hospital visit again now that I know that. They did a flu test which was just awful. They stuck tubes all the way up both nostrils only to get the test back negative. Then the nurse said that test has a 20-50% accuracy rate. Then what was the point subjecting my baby to that? Thanks for nothing.

My sweet little dude, you still managed a smile.

In other news, you've been hitting the gym.

This is your first free hang all on your own on the pull up bar- a proud day!

You and Daddy came to CTRC to meet my favorite rider.

The

Tasty

Weasel :)

Finn and Jackson. I would say he is your first friend!

Your first St. Paddys Day. My wee Irish lad!

Your umimpressed face.

Thats's more like it!

My babies.

We took a little trip up to Estes Park. We had never seen the Stanley Hotel so we had to check that out. Creepy and fun. We bundled you up and went for a big hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. We had our snowshoes on and we were post holing, falling down, jumping off snow drifts and.... you slept through it. Amazing kid.

You are on Daddy's back, sound asleep through it all.

I cant believe in 2 more months we will be celebrating an entire year of your life. Knowing you has been nothing like I expected. You have brought me love and light unlike anything I have ever felt. And that's after only 10 months together. We have only just begun Finn Henry, how cool it that!

BIG love to you sweet boy,

Mama

a few typos

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 04:16:00 +0000

I have a confession to make. I dread blogging. I have a slew of ideas and things to blog about. But... I am a horrendously, hidously, spelling error riddled, painfuly slow typist. It's gotten out of hand. A blog post that dshoudl take 30 miutes takes me 3 HOURS. So how abiut a little goal of ten minutes a day leaning how to type? I have to tchat h up tp the rest of the world that learned this skill in 8th grade. Then witting blog post wont be akin to a trip t get cavities filled. any suuggetsins ofr a program, maybe one taht might make this task slight enterninating?

Thanks.

PS For demostartion purposes of how helpless I am, this post is what comes out AFTER one round of spell check. Half od the words are so mangles spell check had no suggetsions for me. Usually takes 3 or 4 reviions at least. OY frekin vey.

Nine months!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:22:00 +0000

Hi Duder! You have a had a very busy, very MOBILE month! Read on for your accomplishments between 8 and 9 months...

Stats at 9 months:

27 3/4 inches long

17.13 lbs

46cm head

Sleeping pattern: 8:30-8:30 ish. Still rock solid and consistent. We have yet to institute a nap schedule for you. I know that you're a happier little person if we make an effort to put you down in your crib for a nap in the middle of the day. Sometimes it happens, sometimes not so much. We aren't the type of family that would be able to function if we were tied down to the house for a 3 hour chunk of time every day, so we just roll with it.

Feeding schedule and foods you love to stuff in your face: We have breakfast, lunch, and dinner, at no particular time, whenever it works. You are eating all the same foods, some new additions including pineapple, and chicken off the bone! The Primal little beast in you loves it! We will not make the mistake of taking your bone away...

9 month stats:

17 lbs, 13 oz

27 3/4 inches

46 cm head

Nicknames: DUDE, buddy, little man, bug, monk, monkey, dudappotamous, stinky, rascalpants.

Temperament: You are so communicative and expressive. You have an unmistakable joyful reaction when you see me or daddy, and now Molly too. You get a huge grin on your face and flap your arms around wildly in the air. You definitely know who your people are. you have developed some really fun and endearing little facial expressions too.

Exhibit A: the throw your head back, open wide to show of your two little teeth and squint your eyes.

You are becoming more adventurous and outgoing in social situations too. You have always been a little ham around adults, but with kids you have been more reserved until recently. With your new found skills and independence , you are much more likely to go exploring on your own and play with the other babies at your play group and story hour at the library.

What you love the most: Feeding yourself, drinking water, your bath, Molly's bowls, and standing up.

What makes you mad/sad: You are getting squirmier by the day, especially we change your diaper. I have to strap you to the table because you'd fling yourself on the floor in a heartbeat. You don't like being confined on your back. Daddy thinks you will make a great wrestler. Sometimes as soon as I set you on the table for a change or your after bath spa mama treatment, you get pissed!

Things I’m loving most right now: I love your smiles, especially when I know they are just for me. I love seeing how strong and capable you are becoming. I love that you make me laugh all the time. You talk to us and to yourself constantly, having very detailed conversations that make perfect sense to you!

Sounds you are making: You are mimicking more and more, but I think mostly you are very original and I just mimic is you. You make your squealey, ooo, baa, mamam, dada, eee sounds and i just say them back to you. You think that's pretty funny :) You like to blow bubbles in the bath water too.

You are learning to: CRAWL! On February 10th you took your first real crawls. Of course you had been working up to it for few months, but we were sitting in Baby and Me class and there you went- front, back , front , back! You had a growth spurt in the beginning on the month, leading up to your big milestone. By the end of that week, you had it down and you were pulling up to standing just a few days later. It is still is a shocker to see you standing up in your crib in the morning! So off came the bumpers and down went the mattress to the lowest level. You look SO GROWN UP when you are standing all by yourself.

This is the first crawl we got on tape- you have come such a long way- now you are a speed crawler!

You have some new favorite tricks to go along with your new freedom. You make a bee line for Molly's water b0wl before I get to it to whisk it away. I let you bang on her empty metal food bowl. Bless her heart, Molly will actually let you push her out of the way and dig into her food, as she just sits there staring forlornly at this great injustice. You love to pull up on the coffee table to try to get your hands on anything you can, mainly technology. And of course the fire place it a source of intrigue for you, the hotter and harder the surface the better! We have been doing the sign for "danger" a lot lately.

You have really taken to feeding yourself these past few weeks. We put all sorts of food on your tray and you gobble it up. You went from mashing the food in your first and trying to figure out how to get it in your mouth while maintaining a death grip to perfecting your fine motor pincher grasp. You can pick up blueberries, and corn and peas!

YOU ARE GROWING!

We took another trip up to Vail, here are you and Daddy after a long day of riding :)

Look at that big kid!

You and your God father Wally. AKA Uncle Wally. Cause he is our brother :)

You like the whole tooth brushing thing. You like mama's tooth brush just as much as your little one.

Valentine's Day Baby and Me class. Doing a little yoga.

Love you always little one,

Your mama

My Funny Valentine

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:50:00 +0000

We celebrated a few days early because Eric is at work today. We had a babysitter and went to dinner and a movie (True Grit- rocked) for the first time since Finn was born. Thanks for watching the boy Uncle Wally!

Eric surprised me with the this awesome necklace and flowers. I love it. Thank you sweet husband!

It is called the Family Tree necklace, with an A, E, And F on the leaves. There is room for one more leaf :)

You can find it on Etsy.

I orchestrated a Valentine's Day photo shoot with my little sweethearts, Finn and Molly. Molly was a great sport as always, tolerating another holiday ribbon and me asking her to sit in one place. Finn loved the props, he especially enjoyed eating the fake flowers. The photos turned out adorably!

Eight months!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:32:00 +0000

8 month stats:

16 lbs, 1 oz

27.5 inches

Hi Bug!

It's been a busy month in Finn-town! Here are some of the leaps and bound you've made between month 7 and 8:

Sleeping pattern: You continue to be our rock star sleeper. We are pretty consistent now in putting you to bed at 8:30. If I had to guess and average wake up time? 8:30 for a nice rounded 12 hours:) Occasionally you wake up as early as 6:30 if you're not feeling great or you just have a weird morning. Sometime as late as 10am. I LOVE that you have inherited my love of sleep!

Feeding schedule and foods you love to stuff in your face: You are eating 2 solid meals a day, around 10am, and 5pm. As you know, we never did "baby food" per say. Nothing from a jar has passed through your lips. You are still getting purees, but you are also starting to have chunkier foods. For example, I give you pieces of raw cheese to chew on, banana chunks, soups that still have little bits of vegetable and meats. It is amazing and wonderful that you are so unafraid of food. You have not rejected anything so far. You take liquid (cinnamon flavored cod liver oil every day and you slurp it like its a treat! You have had about 30 different vegetables and 20 fruits. You regularly have beef, lamb, pork, chicken, salmon, shrimp. You are quite the little Primal baby:) You snack on soaked and dehydrated nuts of all kinds (no peanuts yet), you love my homemade yogurt with fruit and chia seeds. I cook your food in pastured butter, coconut ghee, bacon far, and olive oil- lots of fat for you. Oh, and you love my almond flour pancakes!

We breastfeed 3-4 times a day, always upon awakening and before bed.

Nicknames: DUDE, bug, monk, monkey, Finner, dudappotamous, stinky, rascalpants.

Temperament: Much of the same my boy! All those smiley pictures we are always sending all over creation to everyone we know? It's because YOU ARE ALWAYS SMILING! You are so excited to try new things and you make us so happy with your joyful expressions and exuberance when you see daddy and I! Sometimes you get frustrated when things don't happen fast enough (like when we don't shovel food in with enough speed!) You bounce back quickly though from every little trial and tribulation, scary noise, or fall.

What you love the most: It would have to be bath time above all else. This month you have started getting so spastically, whole body flailing, beating the tub, excited when we put you in that water. We figured out you are big enough to just sit in a shallow tub by yourself so I don't take a bath with you every night anymore. But night after night, you get your bath! You just have a few toys in there, but they keep you busy. You lunge after your duckies, go from sitting to all fours to sprawled on your stomach, flop to your back, and all over again. You like to make as much noise as you possibly can, creating a sound that echoes all over the house, by smashing your hard toys against the side of the tub.

What makes you mad/sad: On the other water front, you don't like it when its cold. We started a baby swim class this month and the first 3 times you cried when I put you in. I got you a long sleeve shirt and trunks but they don't help. You start chattering and turning blue as soon as you hit the water. Next session we are switching to a warmer pool. You also get mad when I reprimand you for biting me while nursing, Freaking OUCH kid. And you might be a tad scared of the vacuum cleaner.

Things I’m loving most right now: How cool it is to watch you learn to be independent, more mobile, more accurate in your hand eye coordination, and the hilarious sounds you are making.

Sounds you are making: You have added a growling, Vader-esque rumble to your repertoire. You have mastered mamamama and dadadadada. You definitely say ~~mama more~~ them both equally:)

You are learning to: army crawl, creep, inchworm, belly flop, all those pre-crawling movements! (remember this is not real time and you have made some HUGE accomplishments between 8 and 8.5 months!) You stand holding onto things for as long as 5 minutes by yourself when we help you up. We are still teaching your sign language, primarily around eating. We consistently do: eat, more, please, drink, thirsty, all done, and milk. Also: hot, dog, mama, and daddy. I think they are definitely sinking in and it will be so cool when you start communicating with signs!

Look at the strong boy! Amazing how fast you are growing...

You had a play day with your friends Stella and Carter. You are spending more time around other babies and it's so fun to watch you play!

We went to Yakima, WA for a short visit. You met your cousin Chase. He's 3 weeks older! He taught you a lot about the world.

Got some QT with Aunt Leen.

And your Annie- You were so happy to see each other!

Hey Buddha belly!

Kid- how did you get so stinkin' cute??

Did I mention you LOVE baths?

We visited the ol' Denver stock show. You had a little trepidation around being so close to a real cowboy and a real bull...

But you rose to the occasion! Classic picture. The bull is Max.

This onesie is a gift from Aunt Leen. Beach muscles baby.

Fix it Finn

We discovered you love pickles!

We went snowboarding with you for the first time! Daddy and I took turns. Cant wait to get you on the slopes! This is at A Basin.

Your God brother Isaac came too and was a great babysitter.

Ready for the trees! 2nd trip, Keystone

First gondola ride at Keystone. You were mesmerized!

I love you Monkey, more and more everyday. Three quarters of a year old. Whoa...

Love,

your mama

Seven Months!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:07:00 +0000

Stats:

15.5 lbs

27.5 inches

Dear monkey man,

Here is your mama, writing your 7 month update when you are almost 8 months old. I am the first to admit punctuality is not my best quality...

There are a few things I want to tell you bug.

My favorite song to sing to you is "You Are My Sunshine" with a twist.

You are my Finnshine my only Finnshine, you make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know Finn how much I love you, please don't take my Finnshine away.

When you look out into the world, your eyes emit light. When you wake up and look at me first thing in the morning and every fiber in your little being smiles, you radiate joy. When you laugh- I can hardly describe it- you are truly my sunshine. You are everything pure and right to me. You embody warmth and comfort with that sound. The simple delight and unabashed glee you express with your sweet laugh illuminates my world and sets my spirit free.

You were a complete stranger to me in those first few months. Much like I imagine an alien from a galaxy far far away would be like showing up at my front door. (An adorable blue eyed cooing alien of course.)

In my experience any truly great relationship suddenly one day just clicks.... and there you were. I could see you; all this beauty and depth and the most real and urgent love I have ever beheld all in such a tiny little body.

Yes Finn, I love you. I love you because you are my child and and I love you because you such a joy to be around. You charm me constantly Finn. You win me over and turn any mundane day into a day full of gratitude that I am your mama.

Now onto what you have been up to for the past month! (since I'm so late, this is an update from November-December)

first taste of lemon

You've become much more mobile. Your favorite thing to do is roll around the room, exploring and discovering. I looked over to where you were playing the other day, but I found you under the futon groping around in some of daddy's stuff under there! Good thing he keeps the sharp objects in the garage!

eating is exhausting

We introduced you to the exciting world of food this month too. I had your first meal very carefully planned out. I fed you avocado, with olive oil and salt, fried banana in coconut oil and cinnamon and egg yolk. I gave you your own plate and gave you your own spoon, and you took right to feeding yourself! But when you were done, it looked like the food had exploded all over you and the room, so now in the interest of cleanliness, I usually feed you. But you are very capable of getting the spoon in your mouth, sometimes you prefer to bang the food off it first and let Molly have it.

After that first meal, I realized that you would pretty much swallow anything that I gave you, and like it too! On the short list is: yogurt, squash, grass fed beef, lamb and pastured pork, pancakes, pumpkin, pastured eggs, coconut milk, BACON, fig pudding, almonds, pecans, mango, cauliflower, salmon, raw cheese, and even cod liver oil!

I am amazed by your adventurous palate, and the quantity that you manage to put away! I make all of your food, it's fun and easy.I usually just take whatever we are eating, mash it or blend it up and freeze it in ice cube trays. NO grains of any kind for you, we don't think its good for your little body or for ours either.

CrossFit baby

You had your first big encounter with snow this December. Daddy and I took you to Brainard Lakes to go snowshoeing, but a combination of cold temperatures, high winds, an ill-fitting snow suit and and poopie diaper did not combine to make for a happy Finn! You were a trooper though, and we had a good time tramping through the woods together.

Like father like son!

oooh shiny

We celebrated your first Christmas back in Colorado. You received more presents from generous friends and family than we did, but mostly you just wanted to play with the wrapping paper! Unfortunately you were not in a prime Christmas spirit because your first tooth arrived on Christmas Eve, and the pain and fever that resulted made for a Finn that was not his usual gleeful and care-free self. But it was great to have Daddy come home on Christmas Day to share it with us!

It is going to be an amazing New Year for you and Daddy and I, and I can't wait to see what new and amazing things you will learn to do!

Love,

your Mama

Welcome to a delicious world!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 07:04:00 +0000

On the menu so far: (in order of happy faces made when eating to yuck!)

Avocado, homemade yogurt, persimmon, egg yolk, butternut squash, grass fed ground beef with onion and mushroom, banana fried in coconut oil. We cook some things in a cast iron skillet for iron.

Finn can already put the spoon in his mouth and actually swallow some food without getting it all in his hair and on the floor:) We also offered him a sippy cup of water and he's all about it.

I really wanted to wait longer but the his pediatrician was concerned about his weight. Though I'm not worried, I think hes just perfect, my gut said to start offering him some food. I am in no hurry, its more about an experiment in textures and tastes and smells than nutrition now. There is still plenty of Mama milk flowing around here...

5 years ago

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 06:43:00 +0000

I was ~~hurtling down a hill on my butt~~ learning how to snowboard on an ice covered mountain in the Czech Republic. My body is still feeling the aftermath...

Six Months!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 06:19:00 +0000

Stats:
14 lbs, 11 oz
27.5 inches
44 3/4 inch head circumference

Hi Bug!

You are half a year old... 6 whole lunar cycles have passed since that morning in late May when you exited the world of my belly and entered the world of all of us! Time passage is funny when you have a baby. It's so ever present and real. At this stage in your life, we see changes in you every single day.

Your expressions are so charming and ever changing. Whether you're chewing away on some fascinating thing like your shirt, dressed up like an old Russian grandma, or drooling uncontrollably with a huge grin on your face, you are such fun to behold! I am just amazed by the complexity in that little six month old face, I swear you are much older and wiser...

Your Romey (my mama) came to visit you this month. She had not seen you since you were 2 weeks old! Needless to say she thinks you are kind of a big deal...

You really enjoyed your time in Virginia. You loved the cabin and being with your family. You are still happy almost all the time. You smile and laugh and talk. You have discovered your feet this month and you love to chew your toes.You are rolling all over the place, never staying in the same spot for long! You have also started sitting up this month. At first very tenuously and toppling over all, but now you are solid, sitting straight up for a minute or so. You make us laugh when you grab at everything in your sight- mama's glasses, the food on our plates, noses, and lips. You have also discovered how exciting it is to bang a spoon on the table in between shoving it on your drooly mouth.

Your favorite things are your Pyramid of Power, staring and grinning at that cute baby in the mirror, flying around the house with daddy, talking to your pacifier, and banging things on things.

You have started going to bed earlier, between 7-8, instead of 8-9. You snooze peacefully for 10-12 hours. You wake up talking to your self sometimes instead of crying. Your naps are still pretty unpredictable. Some days you catnap all day, and sometimes you'll nap for 3 hours in your crib.

Our plane ride home to Colorado was uneventful and you seem to have to have taken to flying like a natural. Wonder where that comes from... I think you were happy to be back in our nice warm house after getting your first taste of winter when we arrived out west.

We had a nice Thanksgiving with your Uncle Wally and you are getting ready to enjoy your first holiday season. I have your Christmas suits all ready, can't wait to see how sweet and handsome you look. We are so excited to watch you grow and thrive Finn. We are so proud to be your guides in the world.

I love you monkey,

Mama

Going home

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:19:00 +0000

A Strong Mama, a baby boy, and a wonder dog are getting on a plane today...

Five Months!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 19:03:00 +0000

Stats:
14 lbs, 1 oz
26.5 inches

Wow Finntastic! Happy belated 5 month birthday!!! Dudopotamus! Rascal pants!

You have had a busy month here in Virginia, getting to know this mew place and meeting new family and friends, who will be very special people to you when we move here. Just as its been a time a transition for your daddy and I, you have been making tons of changes too. I'm amazed by what an interesting, funny, animated little person you are becoming!

You have been spending time with your big cousin Sylas, and your Aunts Mihr and Eileen, and your Annie. You are still a very smiley dude, blessing just about anyone who picks you up with grins and laughs. You love to be tickled, rolled around, held up in the air, and any kind of Daddy's silliness makes you the happiest baby in the universe!

We moved up Daddy's cabin this month and you have settled right in. You are with our friend Christina on the porch here.

You just stare and stare out at the leaves and the sky from our bedroom window. I think you'll be quite the nature boy. We have gone on a few hikes around the property and switched you from front to back in your Ergo carrier. You watch the sky for a while before you fall asleep...

At the gym with mama

We took a trip, just the two of us (plus Molly!) to Baltimore to see your Grandpa Tom and lost of other friends. The four hour drive was easy for you, you just fussed once when you were hungry. You're such a doll Finn, and and adventurous traveler! You did entertain your Grandpa in the car one day when Molly joined in for a rousing chorus of screaming baby and howling dog (she is becoming famous for that!)

You met cousin Naya, 11 months

Your GREAT grandmom, Melva

Your cousin Caroline and Aunt Bonnie

Kathy and Grandpa at the farm

Your mama's dear friend Julie. She was great at carrying you around :)

You really love life Finn. You are always full of joy and curiosity for the world around you. You are either contemplative and concentrating very hard, or gleeful and excited to be held, talked to, and loved.

Your favorite toys are still your hands, shoving them as far as you can into your mouth, gurgling, and drooling, prompting everyone to say, "oh he's teething" for the past 3 months! No teeth peeking their way out yet!

You are still going to bed around 10 and sleeping about 10 hours. Thank you again little man for taking after Mama in that regard...

Mama's milk is still your sustenance of choice. We are holding off on real food as you seem perfectly content and thriving! You weigh over 15 pounds at 5 months and 10 days.

You are really exploring our faces now, grabbing our noses with great glee, brushing our cheeks, and pulling on our lips! I have to remember to keep your nails trimmed because you have a very firm grip young man.

It's amazing that I look at you know and I really see you looking back at me, seeing me, taking me in and recognizing that I am your mama and that we are family. You have a beautiful spirit Finn and your sweet face and touches and sounds make me so happy that you came to us.

Love love love

Mama

Mountain Living!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 03:49:00 +0000

We have been camping out at Eric's cabin for the last few weeks! I say "camping" because it's a little rustic, but still a beautifully crafted log home with a super effective wood stove and all the amenities. Eric built it over a decade ago. It's pretty spectacular up here and a very special place for our family.

Pretty sweet huh?

They are all around us! ! When I wake up on the morning and look out, it's like being in a tree house!

One of Eric's favorite activities is chopping wood. Turning this...

...into this!

This sucker gets blazing HOT!

The driveway is a mile long and steep ! I've been going down with Finn and then pushing him and his big old stroller back up the hill. Maybe someday soon we can run it :) He just passes out mostly.

Kitchen- the old tenants added some charm!

and built this shower for us!

I daresay Miss Molly is happiest of all with our relocation. She is diligently terrifying the squirrel population daily. The local critters know her as the fastest furry gray beast in the land...

Finn on the front porch with my friend Christina. That pumpkin makes being up here even more fun:)

Good night!

WOD of the week: Murph

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 02:23:00 +0000

I am going to start posting a WOD (workout of the day) every week, drawn from one of the highlights of my week. It could be a favorite, a victory, or maybe a workout at which I failed miserably and need to work on.

Today is a great first WOD to kick it off with:

Gretchen and Chris in the midst of push ups

MURPH 10/22
Run 1 mile
100 pull ups
200 push ups
300 squats
Run 1 mile

For time.
Partition the pull-ups, push-ups, and squats as needed. Start and finish with a mile run. If you've got a twenty pound vest* or body armor, wear it.
* my beast of a husband wore the weight vest- see below.

MURPH is what we call a Hero WOD in the CrossFit world. They are named and created in memory of fallen servicemen, usually from military branches, also fire and police.

In memory of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., who was killed in Afghanistan June 28th, 2005.

This workout was one of Mike's favorites and he'd named it 'Body Armor.' From here on it will be referred to as 'Murph' in honor of the focused warrior and great American who wanted nothing more in life than to serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is. (CrossFit main site )

G sprinting home

go baby go!

almost done Kyle! (fastest time today!)

My time: 41:41

I suck at push ups. I need to get better at them, I really have no excuse. They slowed down the whole operation enormously. Pull ups were easiest. That's odd to say. A year and a half ago I couldn't do one, and today I did 100.

Eric's time: 33:47 (with a 20 pound weight vest, yeah boyeeeeeee!) That's just freakin' amazing. Mr Walden consistently crushes workouts of this variety.

squats. Notice Molly cheering me on. She ran the first mile with me.

PS: cutest. baby. ever.