Playgroup Celebration

This year we decided against a birthday party for Ethan, opting to simply have a little cake at Playgroup at our house. We had some lunch together, topped off with a tasty egg/dairy-free cake from Whole Foods. The kids are entertaining, becoming more independent. There were two times when they were all too quiet - one time they found the lunch spread & were helping themselves, and the other time they had all gone upstairs to jump on a mattress that was on the floor!One kid can make a really good mess by themselves, but four kids can make a playroom look like this in minutes!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Child

Happy Birthday, little one. I can't believe it's been two years! You have been such a joy & blessing in my life. No one could have prepared me for how many smiles you'd bring me throughout a day. Although our first few months together were a challenge, we got through it and I'm so proud of you. You are such much fun to be around. I know you will be a great big brother next year. Thanks for joining our little family! Love, Mama.

Overview of a Year

This was an interesting year for sure. It's been a fun one, and I'm glad to get to know many of you folks out there! Let's see, In 2007, I...
..Started a blog
..Joined a Playgroup
..Moved 3 Times
..Joined a CSA
..Started Composting
..Witnessed a fatal car wreck
..Ran a Half Marathon
..Went from blonde to brown to blonde again
..Had some Fundraisers
..Learned to sew
..Had my 5-year anniversary
..Traveled to the beach
..and the mountains
..Got some stitches
..Took my boy in for 4 stitches
..Had a Miscarriage
..Got pregnant with a baby due in July!

Chickin Feed

Addie sent me a link to a great product, called Chickin Feed. The main product is this Tracking Board, which tells you how much protein, veggies, calcium, etc. your "little chickins" need every day. They also have a book coming out with meal ideas, along with some other cool products in their future. I'll take one!

Disappointing News

I am very discouraged. We just got back from Ethan's 2-year allergy checkup, and he is still allergic to dairy & eggs. I'm just so upset. Call me naive, but I just KNEW that I was going to be so great at feeding him for the past year, and we would be rewarded with the full disappearance of his allergies. Never for a moment did I doubt that they would be gone by now. So today is the first day that I've felt emotional about it. Previously, I was just so certain it would be just 1 challenging year.

To make things more frustrating, my once-awesome-eater has become terribly picky, even refusing to eat some of his most favorite foods. It's becoming a real challenge to get him the nutrients he needs.

And to further add to my anxiety, I've been told that I also cannot eat dairy/eggs/nuts when I'm nursing OR even in my third trimester of this pregnancy, so that the next child would (hopefully) not develop allergies.

I know, however, that things could be worse. We still have our overall good health, and a rich, full life. I'm also reminding myself that my upcoming restricted diet will just help me lose baby weight! If anyone has any advice/encouragement, or if you are a parent of a child with a restricted diet, I would love to hear from you. Thanks & Have a good weekend.

8 Things about Ethan

Sophie tagged us to share 8 things about Ethan. He's a funny kid, so this was easy! Here they are...

1. I love things that move, and can correctly identify a Jeep (“Yeep”), convertible (“Tah-bul”), Taxi, Fire Truck, Bus, Car, Train, Hummer, Tractor, Lawnmower, Mailman, Rally Car, Race Car & Plane.
2. I’m no good at playing by myself.
3. Even though I’ve been doing it every day for 2 years, I can’t stand to have my diaper changed. “No Diapey! No Diapey!!”
4. Every morning I eat “Oh-Meal” with “Ah ah Sauce” (oatmeal & applesauce)
5. My favorite hide-and-seek location is the dark closet, but I’m terribly unsneaky. This is how mom & I play…”I can’t find Ethan. Is Ethan in the Bathroom?!”….”No! (giggles follow).”
6. I love to peel all the paper off of crayons. I also like peeling onions.
7. I try to make my mom & dad get under the dining room table with me.
8. “Cars” is the only thing I’ll watch on TV or DVD.

So I'm supposed to tag 8 more. So your turn: The Stokes, Alys, Conleys, Blankenships, Avery T, Brooks, McHaney, and Will A. But I want all my BBFs to join in!

How are You Feeling?

Since this is the question of the hour, I'll answer by saying..."Medium." I never really got this morning sickness thing with E, and it's really a drag. Plus a whole month of colds/sinus infection/cough/strep did not ease the situation. My sleep quality is already declining. I'm very finicky about my food right now, which didn't happen to me before. Makes figuring out meals a bit difficult. But other than that, I'm having a baby & it doesn't get much better than that! Another thing I love about my first trimester...Appetite for Sweets? Totally Gone! And to answer another question, the due date is July 19 (I think. It's baby #2, so all the details are a bit foggier.)

I'm curious to see what pregnancy is like for this baby. It's so odd how they are all different. My first was pretty good, except for bad sleep, heartburn & middle of the night leg cramps.

Christmas Family Pics

This Christmas, we got to spend some great quality time with our families. Here we are with Lance's side of the family... and then mine...This is the most together my family has been since our wedding 5 years ago! We missed my brother David, though.

Juicing in '08

So one of my goals for 2008 is to actually use my Juicer. In 5 years of marriage, I've used the wedding gift once. It's a shame because it's such an awesome way to get in some good nutrients. So now that my hunger has kicked it up a notch, and Ethan is becoming pickier, I thought I'd give it another go...Ethan LOVED his Carrot/Apple/Cabbage/Kale Juice!! His nose was stuck in that cup for like 5 minutes. Victory! I'm very encouraged by all the possibilities & new ways to get some fruits & veggies in our tummies. Any of you have any good juicing recipes?

Engrish Train

Ethan had a great Christmas with lots of fun toys to play with. He loved this little train, but Lance & I found the box to be even more entertaining. Notice text that reads: "Let tear away in you fancy driveway the fond driveway doing yourself!" Hmm...Anyone know what that means? Anyway, it reminded me of a website that Genah sent me, full of "Engrish" translations. How yummy does this meal sound? And Beware the nuts here. Umm...Maybe I'll skip these tasty treats. Ahh...Engrish humor.

Kenyan Violence

Many of you have heard, but recent fraudulent elections in Nairobi, Kenya have fueled violence throughout the city. Anywhere from 150-300 people have been killed in recent days in a city that is near to our hearts. (You may remember that our cookbook is benefiting children who lived in the slums there. We also visited Nairobi in 2005.) Our friends there report that there is wide-spread rioting, and is at risk of becoming a large-scale tribal conflict if peace is not restored. 75,000 have already been forced to leave their homes. Please pray for peace & for our beloved friends in this country. You may read more at cnn.com, or other news outlets. (tony karubu photo)

Bridesmaid Dresses

Ever ordered a bridesmaid dress for what size you'll be at 7 months pregnant? Well, now I have and I'm worried! I'm so excited about being in Laura's wedding, and wearing this gorgeous Melissa Sweet number (in Sangria, minus the flower). But have NO idea what non-maternity size I'd wear at that point! Here's to hoping that I don't gain more weight than I did last time! And to hoping I can stand up there in heels! (And yes, I said it...I'm 12 Weeks!)

PS. Karina sent me this helpful article on pregnant bridesmaids. Be SURE to check it out, you won't want to miss this dress. Thank you, Laura, for not making me wear the same.

"Carrie"

For the last three days, this little guy has been calling me "Carrie." Pretty funny.

Holiday Tipping

If you, like me, have been wondering who to tip this Christmas season, I found this helpful guide. Here are the big two service folks: The trash guy, with a recommended $15-$30 each. And the mailman, a non-cash gift, value of up to $20 is recommended.

Cookbooks Finally Here!!!

Finally, the Climb Nashville cookbooks for Made in the Streets, in Nairobi, Kenya, are here! These 250 Vegetarian & Vegan Recipes are sure to please the tastebuds! Please stop by the gym if you would like to buy one. Or, there are several people who have mentioned on my blog that they would like one. If so, please leave some contact info and your desired quantity in the post.

Here are the Details:
Cost is $15
Checks & Cash accepted.
Checks can be made out to: Made in the Streets
Additional shipping charges based on the quantity. Due to holiday travel/etc., no guarantee can be made on shipping/delivery date.

Some highlights include:
Beth Rodden’s Veggie & Grain Soup
Summit GORP from Lightning 100’s Team Green
Italian Eggplant & Mozzarella Stacked Salad from Plumgood Food
Smoked Gouda Quesadillas, Oriental Baked Tofu, Newton's "No Meata" Fajitas, Jambalaya, Quinoa Salads, Chilis, Lasagnas, and so much more!
Plus other tasty meals suitable for camping & climbing trips!

Eric Volz to be Released!

A Nicaraguan court overturned Eric Volz's guilty verdict. He will hopefully be released very soon!!!

Click here for the clip from this morning's Today Show. Or check out last night's briefing on on CNN.com.

Sinus Infection

First Strep Throat, Then the WORST, Longest-Lasting cold ever on record, Now a Sinus Infection! I'm SO tired of being sick! I've gotten like 2 good nights of sleep in all of December.

Choc Chip Cookies – Egg/Dairy/Wheat-Free Recipe

Can these seriously be vegan cookies? They were very good! I was completely expecting them to be only half-good. Lance said they were about the best cookies he’s ever eaten. How 'bout that? Here's the recipe:

1¾ c. wheat-free flour mix (i used regular flour)
¾ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
¾ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. nutmeg
1 c. butter substitute, like Earth Balance
2 tbsp. vinegar
2 tbsp. water
2 tsp. baking powder
1½ c. brown sugar
¼ c. granulated sugar
2½ tsp. vanilla
1 c. chocolate chips (dairy-free)
3½ c. quick cooking oats

Preheat oven to 350° and grease baking pans. Sift flour, baking soda and powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, mix together 2 tbsp. water, the vinegar and 2 tsp. baking powder. On medium speed, beat butter substitute, brown sugar, vanilla and sugar until well blended. Stir the flour mixture into the “butter” mixture until smooth. Mix in chocolate chips and oats. Drop the dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto the sheets. With lightly greased hands, lightly press the cookies down to form ½-inch thick rounds. Bake 6 to 9 min., until cookies are lightly browned all over and almost firm when lightly pressed in the centre of the top. Remove cookies from oven & let stand about 2 min., until the cookies firm slightly. Transfer cookies to racks to cool. These cookies freeze well.

NOTES: I used regular flour, and a little less oats (about 3 c.) I think I also baked them a bit longer too. Also, the batter was a bit crumbly. I had to pat them out like hamburger patties. In the oven, however, they came together and were not crumbly.

Heirloom Children's Furniture

This wooden children's furniture from Heirloom beats the pants off my plastic hand-me-downs. I haven't seen the price tag, but I bet it's pricier than my living room furniture. Gorgeous to look at, though.

Birthday Cake

How amazing is this cake that my sister-in-law made for my dad's birthday? What a talent.

Bento Boxes

I'm very excited about my new Bento Box for E. These make it easy to take out certain sections and microwave them, or keep dips separate from other foods. I got mine from Laptop Lunches.

Mixed Tapes - A Tribute to '94

Yesterday marked an emotional turning point in my life. I retired the tape deck in my car & for a new cd player. I spent all weekend listening to mixed tapes that I’ve been enjoying for the past decade+. My high school years were full of mixed tapes shared with very cool friends. Many of the tapes I still like very much. As a tribute to this landmark moment, I've recounted the playlist from Joe's tape, from Christmas 1994. *Sniff Sniff.* Goodbye tape deck.

Side A
Panic – The Smiths
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want – The Smiths
Photograph – Natalie Merchant & REM
Bittersweet – Big Head Todd & The Monsters
Circle – Big Head Todd & The Monsters
Calling All Angels – Jane Siberry & KD Lang
Waiting for Somebody – Paul Westerberg
Cherub Rock - Smashing Pumpkins
Without a Trace – Soul Asylum
Soulflower - Pharcyde

Side B
Sweet Potato – Cracker
Mr. Wrong – Cracker
Packin’ .25 – Jane’s Addiction
Black Girlfriend - Jane’s Addiction
I Heard Ramona Sing – Frank Black
We are in Love – Harry Connick Jr.
Girlfriend – Matthew Sweet
Jane’s Says – Jane’s Addiction
Rosemary – Lenny Kravitz
San Francisco Days – Chris Isaak

Thanks, Ladies.

Do you ever get down on yourself and think “I have no friends, no one likes me. Woe is me!” Okay, maybe it’s just me. But that’s what I was going through this time last year. I was sad that certain relationships weren’t maturing the way I wanted, and I was missing depth in friendships that I really longed for.

Well, lately, I’ve been feeling truly blessed by friendships. I’m now surrounded by some great women who I know really care about me, and value my friendship. But what I do a terrible job of is telling people that I appreciate them. SO, to my friends…I’m going to take a turn towards the sappy and say that I love you & appreciate you so much!

Yes, I should say this in person. But I’m no good at being sappy, so it’s baby steps, y’all.

Fast Food & Allergies

Finally, I've done some homework on the ingredients of Fast Food restaurants. Not that I'm crazy about feeding my boy that stuff, but it's sometimes difficult to always have food on hand when I'm out. The plane ride home from California was tough, because I didn't know about the ingredients of the fast food restaurants. That day, E ate 2 bananas, 2 bags of corn chips, and 2 (e-safe, fake) pop tarts. Poor thing.

So, if you are egg/dairy/nut-free, you can eat a McDonald's hamburger on a regular bun!!! Exciting news! Anway, here are links to Ingredient Lists for some popular fast food chains, for your convenience.

Kentucky Fried Chicken
McDonald's
Wendy's
Burger King
Jack in the Box
Subway
Taco Bell
Hardee's
Arby's
Captain D's – Website says all foods may contain allergens.

A Crafty Childhood

Were you crafty growing up? Here's a journey down craft memory lane. Remember any of these? Did you make bracelets out of embroidery floss in 5th grade? What about safety pin bracelets in 6th grade? (I actually still wear mine.) Or Fimo Beads in 10th grade?

Snowflake Ornaments

Amanda C. posted a little how to on these cute little ornaments. Too cute not to share with you...

The Stockings are Hung

Between sickness, emergencies, regular holiday activities, & a wreck of a house, blogging has been on the backburner. Hopefully I'll get back into the swing soon. Anyway, we got our tree last week & it's looking like Christmas in our house! Here is Ethan helping to decorate the tree.

A Testiment to Toughness

Thanks for your sympathies for a crazy week. I'm on Day 3 of antibiotics & feeling MUCH better!!

On another crazy note, Ethan took it upon himself to take out his stitches today. How crazy is that? It seriously hurts me to think about it, but I got him up from his nap & his stitches were all out. He didn't even whimper in his bed when he did it. I guess he just yanked them out. This kid is tough.

Guess What I've Got?

Here are the symptoms:

Fever
Sweats
Chills
Pain when I swallow
Exhaustion
Headache
Lymph Nodes the size of Golf Balls
Loss of Voice

Can you guess?

It's Strep Throat! Yeah! Ding Ding Ding. You're the winner! (And I'm the loser.)

How Sad is THIS?

Here's how my poor little baby boy looked all day Wednesday. I've never seen him more sad & exhausted. This was after a full day of dr. visits & waiting when he busted his lip open (actually the coffee table went through his lip). He actually looks much better here, because he has 4 stitches holding his lip closed. It was terrible holding him down while they gave him stitches. It hurts so bad when they hurt. He did as well as can be expected though. 4 Stitches before 2? I hope it's not a sign of what's to come!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I'll be taking a break from blogging, so until next time, I wanted to leave you with this cute little photo! Have a great Thanksgiving!

Foot Rubbing

"Did I ever tell you about the time in 3rd grade when I helped my friend rub his dad's feet?" Lance asks me.

I thought this was hilarious. No, Lance. I hadn't heard that story.

Gift Bag Reuse

Do you have gift bags that are just collecting dust? I'm taking all my saved bags to the gym next week for free pickup to someone who will use them. If you, like me, have a big old closet full of gift bags you'll never use, please let me know! It's a good feeling to pass these along, without sending them to the dump. Thanks!

Recipe - Pumpkin Bread, Egg/Dairy-Free

Yum. Tried this recipe last week & it was super-tasty. From the Climb Nashville cookbook, coming out soon!

PUMPKIN BREAD

Sift together and set aside the following:
3½ c. whole wheat flour (or mixture of flours)
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. each cinnamon and allspice
2 c. sugar (or 1¼ c. fructose)

Mix together the following; then add to mixed dry ingredients above
½ c. honey
1¾ c. freshly cooked pureed pumpkin (or 15 oz. canned pumpkin)
1/3 c. canola oil
1 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/3 c. water

Mix wet and dry ingredients just till well blended. Then divide between two sprayed/greased loaf pans. Bake for 60 min. (or until done) at 350°. Let cool in pans for 10 min. before removing. Moist and tasty! You'd never guess it has no eggs and little fat.

Christmas Stockings

I finally ordered Ethan his own Christmas stocking. I've been looking for hand knitted woolen stockings for a year and a half now. They are actually quite hard to find, but I finally found a few I liked. My favorites are these above from Pottery Barn Kids, these below from Warm Biscuit Bedding.

I decided to go with these from these from Annie's Woolens. I like the size and designs. Plus, I spoke with the knitter herself on the phone! I love small businesses.

All His Idea

This was ALL his idea. I promise. He took my glasses & headband & this is the result.

Girly Outfit

I haven't had a ton of time for sewing lately, but I have been working on a few Christmas presents. Also, I have been learning a few new techniques in our sewing group which helped me make this little girly outfit!

I feel like Jessica Seinfeld.

All this talk about sneaking in vegetable purees got me thinking. Jessica Seinfeld and Missy Chase Lapine both recently authored cookbooks on the topic. So, if they can do it, why can't I?

So I decided to sneak in a little carrot puree in these vegan gingerbread men. (Molasses from ging. cookies is full of calcium!)

And I snuck in a little spinach puree into my Pumpkin Black Bean soup! Both were undetected! (And ethan has been walking around all day, saying "Man!...Man!" whenever he's hungry for a little gingerbread man.)

Both authors advocate still encouraging your child to eat vegetables on their own. Of course this is a great idea, and I'll still do that. But in the meantime, I feel like I have a few small victories under my belt today. I cannot get E to eat carrots for the life of me. Yeah!!

Julia Roberts, Modern Housewife

Julia Roberts wants my life. Go figure. She wants to cook & do needlepoint. And all these people want to be movie stars.

Fall Sweets

What's more terrible for your arteries than Krispy Kreme? How about Krispy Kreme bread pudding? Yum. Made it yesterday...weigh 5 more pounds today. We've also enjoyed homemade caramel corn. Yum again. First popping kernels.
Minutes later - Popcorn!Then, making caramel sauce & throwing it all together!

Halloween Festivities

I'm backed up on stuff to share, so here's an overview of some of what our last few weeks have been like. First, their was Ava's birthday partyThen, a "roaring" lion at Trunk or Treat!Check out that cute little tail!Then, trick-or-treating with friends (but we forgot the costume!! oh well, he wore it twice already anyway)

Changing of the Seasons

The changing of the seasons reminds me of the work of artist Andy Goldsworthy. His work is 100% natural. No dyes, no glues - all items from nature. Isn't it gorgeous?

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to us!

CSA - In Conclusion

Fortunately for the 3 people who are tired of my food posts, the CSA is over. (although I'm still not completely done with food posts!) But for those 9 of you who are considering joining a CSA next year, here’s my final thoughts from the last 5 months:

THE GOOD
1) Breaks you out of a cooking rut and forces you to be creative.
2) As a result of #1, you will become a much better cook
3) You learn about all sorts of fruits/vegetables that you never knew existed.
4) You discover things like “I like eggplant after all!” and other disappointing things, like “Turnips are as gross as I thought they’d be.”
5) You learn about your local agriculture and what grows when.
6) As a result of #5, you can buy produce in the grocery cheaper & fresher, because you are more keenly aware of when foods are at their height in taste & production.
7) You’re eating more fruits & veggies! Better for the planet and better for your body.
8) You’re supporting your local farmer.
9) If you play your cards right, the CSA can be much more convenient, since you just pick up your box right from the delivery truck.
10) You learn how to freeze foods. (And some attempt the canning route as well.)
11) Many CSAs are organic.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD: I recognize that a CSA is most certainly not for everyone. Here are a few of the down sides.
1) You’re in it for the long haul. Most (not all) CSAs require a full-season commitment.
2) Price – It may turn out to be cheaper than a grocery, but may not. You pay a per-week price regardless of how full or small your weekly share is. If there is very little rain (like this year), your baskets may be small for a while.
3) Repetition – I must say that I got very sick of okra and cucumbers. You might get a large load of a certain food for several weeks. In our society, we’re used to variety. I try to remind myself that farmers across the world for generations have dealt with this and been just fine.
4) Picky Eaters – Need not apply. There are things that I don’t like for certain, but I’m willing to give it a shot. If you are not interested in trying out some new foods, then you may need to pass on the CSA.

Food Sites of Interest:
Eating Organic on a Food Stamp Budget
Cook's Thesaurus
Slow Food USA
AllRecipes.com
100 Mile Diet

Here are a few of the Local CSAs:
Long Hungry Creek Farm
Delvin Farms
Fresh Harvest Co-op (You pick the vegetables of your choice as needed.)
Avalon Acres

For a CSA near you, click here.

Free Breakfast at Whole Foods

I'm not sure I want to add to the crowd, but Ms. Cheap says that breakfast is free at the grand opening of Whole Foods tomorrow. Check it out if you are in town!

Earl & Joy

I was planning to show you pictures of our costumes as the classy Joy & Earl, but our Halloween party plans didn't work out. Anyway, since Lance worked long & hard on this fabulous mustache, I wanted to show you anyway! I will keep my awesome blonde extensions handy for some other great costume in the future.

Etsy.com

Speaking of handmade items, do you know about Etsy.com? I could get lost on that website for hours. Like eBay, but they are all beautiful handmade products, made by folks like you. Here are just a few pretty items: framed initials for a little one's room, cute little onesie with vines on it, or a cute city bird print to show off in your house, or handmade cards to send off for Christmas.