happy: the little guy cut his first tooth last week. I’d take a picture but it’s just barely through and you wouldn’t be able to see it.
sad: we lost a week’s sleep while that tooth came in. 
happy: mark planted a huge garden in my parents’ backyard.
sad: hail hit four times this past week. the garden was among the casualties. services to be announced.
photo from coloradoan. not our garden, ours looks worse than this but I didn’t get a picture while the hail was fresh.
happy: summer is truly finally here!
sad: and with summer comes summer storms. we’ve had lightning and hail and rain, way more than normal. multiple little tornadoes and funnel clouds. colorado is the new kansas.
community storm photos from recent colorado storms: i love the pic of the guy shoveling hail in his shorts
happy: we’ve been out walking or running or biking everyday. have had to duck under a few porches for shelter when the storms hit
sad: we’ve started packing for our move in two weeks. I’m happy Mark will be going to school, and happy to be closer to some family members we truly love, but I’m having a hard time moving away from Colorado. sad, sad, sad.
happy: just found some amazing tevas on ebay for Mark’s fathers day present, and won them for really, really cheap. Like under 30.00, and they’re new, and he’s wanted some for a long time but have you seen them at the stores? Not spending 100.00 on sandals. Also scored myself some new lucky’s jeans for 9.99, in a size smaller than what I wore before getting pregnant with Christian. Working out is paying off.
hanging out with my friend Gwen, after I showed her how to tie C onto her back in a tibetan rucksack with a german wrap
So. Life is good. I need to be better about posting and determine exactly what the purpose of this blog is. I follow a lot of blogs, some serious, some light and fluffy, that I catch in a few moments of downtime at the end of each day. I try to only spend time reading them if they are, in fact, worth reading. They give me lots of ideas as to how to blog, and ideas as well as to what I don’t want to do.
I actually don’t want to blog about cooking, or crafting, or home decorating, or how I made my home look like Martha Stewart’s while only spending 5.00. Even if I were an expert at any of those things (I’m not), blogs like that have positively overwhelmed the blogosphere. Overdone.
Also, I don’t want to blog ad nauseum about how lovely/cute/practically-perfect-in-every-way my child is. Also overdone. And yet, a mom has got to be able to gush a little bit, right?
Mainly, though, I’ve been thinking about how I don’t want to fall into the ubiquitous blogging trap of overshare. “The editors of Webster’s New World Dictionary chose the verb ‘overshare’ as their word of the year in 2008. Why are we increasingly compelled to share mundane details of our lives online?”
This is our family blog. It doesn’t need to be more than that. Keep me in line, k guys?
We did it.
We made the transition. We are now 100% cloth diapering in our house, using a combination of prefolds/covers and pocket diapers with inserts. It’s wonderful.
It’s a little more work, yes, and a little (but only a little) more laundry to haul to the laundromat each week,
but boy do we not miss having to plunk down 40.00 for diapers each month.
They will easily last through two babies, and probably more.
I love that I’m using soft cotton against his skin rather than . . . whatever is in disposables. I love that they’re soft, practical, frugal, and simple.
And really, is there anything cuter than a cloth-diapered baby bum? I submit there is not.
getting robust, isn’t he?
At his six mo. checkup this month, his weight was 38 percentile, height 72 percentile. the massive noggin comes in at a happy 93rd percentile.
So I wish I had the perfect whole grain bread recipe for all occasions – perfect for toast, perfect for sandwiches, perfect for serving alongside hearty soups, etc. But I don’t. I have breads that slice fabulously for sandwiches but aren’t as flavorful, and thick hearty breads with fantastic flavor that aren’t as great for sandwiches. This recipe is in the latter category. It is great for toast, with homemade jam, or sliced alongside a great soup. It always disappears quickly, so it’s a good thing it’s relatively easy to make. It originated as a seven grain bread recipe from Bob’s Red Mill Company, but I’ve changed it somewhat.
High Fiber Multigrain Bread
makes two loaves
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I love perusing the list of terms people googled to find my blog. tho’ it can be unsettling at times. it’s instructive to see not only how lacking in substance my blog is, but also how random people are and how people will google anything and everything, as though The Google is a great oracle, who also reads minds, and has ESP, and is all-knowing besides.
I’ve gotten an astonishing number of fetishists who are looking for pictures of painted toes. gross, go away.
a few highlights from the past 30 days of we’d rather be camping accidental visitors:
(I apologize if the commentary is lame, it’s the middle of the night and my normal self-censoring/maintain dignity instincts are in absentia)
what food family is the waffle in?
seriously?
consuming bad apple juice
currently? presently?
forever markandsarah
yes, yes we are.
markandsarah got married
why yes, yes we did.
camping refrigerated beans
if you can refrigerate your beans while you’re camping, that’s no kind of camping honey
“more about babys and free baby samples”
uh . . . did someone miss the sixth grade human development class?
toilet mark
i’m afraid to even contemplate how one might acquire such a mark
ode to clean the toilet
wow, zero motivation huh?
3d ultrasound and newborn baby
okay, back to sixth grade again people – if the baby is a newborn, then he/she is born. no ultrasound required
greg’s finest beans
finest? greg, why have you been holding out on us?
do wasps have toes
bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha . . .sadly, I doubt this person left my site any more (un)informed
gross waffles
tragic. and kind of pathetic. waffles are relatively idiot proof
beautyful painted toes
go away.
street toes
{i’ve got nothing}
my head feels funny dizzy buzzy like
mine too
It’s my favorite holiday. Off to enjoy and reflect. And change, hopefully for the better.
1. Mark was accepted! to BYU’s neuropsychology doctoral program. After two years of hard work and prayer, we’re so thrilled to have this opportunity. These past two years have been filled with many struggles and setbacks, and Mark and I have had to learn to truly trust in God together. We felt like our faith was tested and we are better off as a family for having had this experience. When Mark starts school this August, there will be no sense of entitlement, no taking it for granted. The opportunity to pursue one’s vocational dreams and receive advanced education to do so is a privilege and a rather rare one at that.
2. My maternal grandfather passed away on Mar 22 from pneumonia. I was able to fly to Utah with The Little Guy to attend the funeral with my family. I had a good relationship with my grandfather and was grateful to be able to reflect on his life and his legacy. We shared many common interests. He was a physician and I have always known that a lifetime of listening to his many stories shaped my academic interests. While at BYU, I would often visit him and we would talk about biochemistry, physiology, neurology, etc. We also often talked about politics and listened to classical music. My grandfather was a complex man with a very sensitive heart. He was acutely distressed by injustice and cruelty, and spent his lifetime trying to alleviate suffering in under-served populations. I’m grateful for his example. I will miss him.
3. The Little Guy is more of a delight each and every day. It’s so fun to watch his personality emerge, to watch him engage the world around him. You can almost see those mental gears spinning as he starts connecting the dots. Almost-six months is a fun age! I’m grateful to have a thriving healthy baby. Being his mother is a challenge that stretches me in new ways.
4. Spring is coming. Supposedly. That’s what the calendar says. Wind and snow persist outside my window, but spring is due. The promise of spring will hold me over for a few more days, and then I expect sunshine! I’m not a winter person. It’s hard to overstate the literal relief I feel each spring when the snows finally recede and bright warmth takes over. It can’t happen fast enough for me.
5. Mark got me a wonderful Pfaff sewing machine for my birthday. We found it on Craigslist and paid less than 25% of what it would cost to buy an equivalent machine new. I love it and have already used it quite a bit. I enjoy knowing that I can create clothing or upholster our furniture or repair items we already have. There’s something quite tangible and rewarding about creating something beautiful and contributing it somehow to your living space. I like that it separates me just a little from the mass produced textile industry. Of course I am not going to make all our clothes, but it’s nice to know I could if I had to.:) I can and have saved us money already by being able to obtain fabric for next to nothing and turn it into something we need. That’s a good feeling. I’m grateful my mother made me sit through sewing lessons every summer growing up, and grateful she persevered through my occasional bad attitude and obnoxious protests!
This is one of my all time favorite messages from any of the general authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This video of President Uchtdorf’s talk contains only a few excerpts, but is still moving. I have gone and rewatched and reread the original message many times. The concepts here are not new, but so profound and, in my opinion, too often glossed over. It’s very short, please watch it if you haven’t already seen it elsewhere.
Spent the day in Denver at the Children’s Hospital.
Verdict: Christian’s skull is indeed prematurely fused in some areas.
BUT
the neurosurgeon said today that the fusing isn’t happening in a way that will restrict normal brain growth. And his head is asymmetrical as it compensates for the fusion by growing in other areas, but the spectacular doctor said that once Christian has a full head of hair, it will likely not even be noticeable.
No surgery required!
It’s as though four tons of cement were lifted from my heart and shoulders.
Yah, we’re pretty happy ’round here tonight. And feeling very lucky blessed.
Going to go say some prayers of gratitude now. G’night.
who says you can’t go on a walk just because you’re too technically too young to sit up and besides it’s winter? what are blankets for anyway?
many thanks to everyone who was so supportive after I wrote the post about my neighbor. I really have had a hard time dealing with that situation, and everyone’s words of comfort and advice were a soothing salve. It comes and goes. Sometimes, when this guy has been particularly belligerent, I find myself really upset and frustrated over the sitution (that’s when the anxiety kicks in). Other (most?) days are better and without incident. Mark thinks it stresses me out so much simply because I’m home all the time without any real outlet; I think he’s right, but I also think it would be hard for most people to be harassed in their own homes and I’m not overreacting too much. It’s hard to quantify feelings of vulnerability, but every girl/woman I’ve talked to knows what I’m talking about. For now we’re going to try to ride it out and offer the olive branch. We’ll see. I am trying to avoid home as much as possible, which is okay for now I guess. But at least I’m not a basketcase all the time.
Mark is away at grad school interviews today. I’m so proud of how much he’s accomplished, and praying so hard that this will work out for him. I know he’s qualified, I know how hard he’s worked. But only half of the people interviewing today will be accepted. I have this sense of urgency. I really want it to be Mark, almost more for Mark’s sake than my own or for the wellbeing of our family. It would be nice for us to have a concrete plan for the future. But I mostly don’t want Mark to be disappointed when he’s been working towards this for so very long. When I really really want something, I don’t even want to insert “if it be thy will” into my prayers, I just want to demand things from God sometimes. I’m trying to work on building my faith so that I have confidence in how God is directing our lives and our path.
Our pediatrician is having us take Christian to a pediatric neurosurgeon because he thinks Christian’s skull may be prematurely fusing (craniosynostis). If that’s the case, he’ll need surgery to reopen the cranial sutures. Now, I personally know two children who have had to have this done, and they’re both healthy kids now. It’s not the end of the world, but the parents said it was certainly scary and difficult at the time. Bleh. So now I have another thing to petition God about.
at his last well-child checkup, his height and weight were 55th percentile. his head was in the 95th. of course, large heads are run of the mill in my family. that’s not really the concern. But the misshapen bulges are apparently something to get worked up about.
Or, he might be fine. That’s what I’m believing right now, and that better be what the neurosurgeon determines as well. (you’re listening, right God?)
Also, we are taking him to occupational therapy over at the hospital to deal with his worsening torticollis. This is more of a hassle than a real concern – it’s treatable, it’s not a huge deal as long as we’re proactive. I’m glad, though, for competent professionals and proactive measures.
It’s odd, I look at my baby and all I see is robust health. The bright eyes, strong color, and mental clarity. And he IS healthy. When you are part of an extended family that has seen everything from heart malformations to cancer to Alzheimers, aneurysms, and more, you can’t help but feel extremely grateful that your child is so supremely healthy and thriving. Yet every time I take him to the doctor we end up referred to a specialist for one thing or another. I have decided I don’t like specialists. You might wonder if its just our pediatrician going referral happy, but understand that this doctor is the very same one who is still the PCP for my family, and who I saw growing up on a regular basis. He delivered my two youngest siblings, and one of the reasons we’ve always loved him is precisely because he isn’t needlessly aggressive. When we were sick he was more inclined to prescribe rest, fluids, and the like than superflous drugs. Antibiotics were only prescribed when absolutely necessary. We were never sent to specialists. Nope, it’s just my baby. My baby with his beautiful face and supremely large, misshapen head. (Which sounds a lot less scary than the technical diagnosis of plagiocephaly.)
Meh. It’s Friday folks, and the sun is shining. I’m taking my sweet boy and we’re going out to feel the sunshine and breathe the clear Colorado air. I’m done with my venting/complaining/whining. Sorry for the heaviness. Thanks for humoring me, if you made it this far. I kind of feel better now.
1. Rinse the quinoa well in a sieve under cool running water. In a saucepan, bring water to boil, add quinoa, cover, and simmer on low heat until all of the water is absorbed and quinoa is tender, about 10-15 mins. Allow to cool for 15 mins
2. In small bowl, combine oil, lime juice, cumin, coriander, cilantro and scallions. Stir in beans, tomatoes, peppers and chiles. Add cooled quinoa, and salt and pepper and combine thoroughly. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with lemon or lime wedges.
Per 11-oz serving: 197 calories, 2.8g fat 0 chol, 389mg sodium
Another one from Moosewood Restaurants Low-Fat Favorites
It’s the perfect protein/veggie/grain combination, and the flavors pop. We really love this dish, not only for the flavor but also because it is hearty without leaving a heavy/too full feeling.
What would you do if you were a stay-at-home-mom, and you lived in a tiny one bedroom apt in a not-so-family-friendly apartment complex filled with young’n’single’n'partying college students who rock the night away drinking and smoking all sorts of substances, and you were the only people in the building with a child,
and the walls were really thin between your apartment and your neighbors,
and you had a four month old baby
who is not necessarily a fussy baby, but after all, babies do fuss,
and you had one neighbor in particular who really really hated your baby
and who was determined to make you miserable
and every time your baby cried for more than five minutes he would yell and swear at you through the walls for up to 30 minutes??????
and occasionally you would hear him crashing things and breaking things in his apartment while unleashing make-the-sailors-blush profanities
(he lives alone, if it matters)
and everytime he walked past your windows he peered in at you?
and you were home alone with baby all day everyday and he knew it?
and you are homebound b/c your spouse has taken your only vehicle to work, and it is winter and too cold to walk anywhere with an infant so you are kind of trapped
and you were unsure exactly if this neighbor posed any kind of real danger or if he was merely supremely obnoxious but you were chronically uneasy none the less?
because after all, have you ever tried to keep a baby silent 24/7?
I need to know, what would you do?
I’m suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for the first time in my life because of this guy, who lives six inches away on the other side of a thin wall.
we actually considered moving and talked to our landlord to break our lease and everything but it got complicated and expensive fast so its a no-go
help please.
Yet another meatless favorite around this house. Moosewood does it again. They hold together fabulously well. The texture reminds me somewhat of sloppy joes because the filling is a little soft. Easy to make and the flavor is fantastic. Add more chili powder if you want to kick up the heat. Mark LOVES these. Try them out next time you’re craving a hearty sandwich, and reap the benefits of this high fiber, high protein, low fat/low cholesterol inexpensive meal. As always, I sometimes substitute dried garlic or onion and the like depending on what I have on hand.
(my goal is to sell y’all on the health, ease, and thrift of a mostly plants based diet. is it working yet?)
