It's A....

Looks like we'll be shopping for lots of stuff like this! (Picture from Pink Chalk Studio)

Poll Results & Baby Talk

The poll is drawing to a close, since we have our 20 week appointment today! Current poll results are close: 51% Girl (19 votes) and 49% Boy (18). I'll let you know tomorrow! Also, I wanted to share a frequent conversation that Ethan & I have. It always goes like this:

"Do you want a baby brother or baby sister?"

"Sister"

"You want a baby sister?!"

"No, Brother!"

"You want a baby brother?"

"No Thank You."

Foods Tots Love

If you haven't discovered these products yet, you've got to give them a try, particularly if you have a toddler. Snapea Crisps are made from sun-dried peas. Aside from the salt, they have lots of good vitamins in them! Also, Ethan LOVES Ian's Supertots. They are letter-shaped potatoes mixed with peas, carrots & cauliflower! Both of these are safe for E's allergies, too.

An Allergic Reaction

This weekend it happened. From 3 tiny bites of a Veggie Sausage. Mom & I went out to eat, and Ethan wouldn’t touch the food I brought him. So I let him have a few bites of sausage. I never do this. I only ever let Ethan eat food when I’ve read the ingredients. [Did you know that o’Soy yogurt has milk ingredients?!? Allergy moms always read ingredients.] But I thought maybe this once I’d make an exception. A few minutes later, he had hives on his face. An hour later, his nose had swollen up & he was having trouble breathing. A little children’s allergy Benedryl, and he started to feel better.

It was so sad, but I am glad my mom saw the reaction firsthand. Sometimes I feel like people think us Allergy Moms are just a bunch of paranoid freaks. Especially in those over 45, since this whole food allergy phenomenon just didn’t exist a generation ago. While no one has ever said anything, often when I tell someone (of a certain age) about E’s allergies, I feel like the thought going through their head is, “Oh, I bet a little bit wouldn’t hurt him.” I probably had thoughts like that myself before it happened to us.

Sometimes I've wondered if I’m just making myself crazy, making my job as a mother harder for no good reason. But this reminded me that this is a real problem. I am reminded that I have been doing the right thing by being so strict with the foods I give him. I hope this was the first & the last time that we experience this! It made for a sad day for us.

Whew, I'm Done!

This is my first attempt at lots of things - Making a Yoke, a French Seam, Pockets, adding a hidden zipper & Sewing with Bias Tape. It's finally finished!! The bear is only to show one of the pockets.

Goods for Girls

Have you seen the commercials that address the problem of young African girls who can’t go to school when they are having their period? Granted, I think it’s a bit too simplistic. There are LOTS of things preventing African children from getting an education.

But this is one thing that maybe you can do to make a big difference in a young girl’s life. Goods 4 Girls is donating handmade pads to areas where it is culturally appropriate. I've never made a reusable pad before, but they say it's really easy!! If you don't sew, they also take donations.

Read more about the problem here. Photo by Vince Cook

Traveling Update

We've decided not to take our toddler overseas, but we're leaving him at home and going ourselves! Anyway, thanks for all the advice.

I wanted to share some advice that I thought was great, thanks to Jennifer T's referral to the Fodor's website. Here it is: Take a ton of small, new toys. Keep them in packaging that can be opened w/o scissors on the plane. Wrap them all like presents, and bring them out in increments. We've done the new, cheap toy trick, but I hadn't thought to wrap them all up like presents! That buys some extra time, and every minute counts with a toddler on a plane! Anyway, I wanted to pass it along to you folks.

Web Baby Shower

My friend (and old boss) Hannah sent me a link to this cool website, WebBabyShower.com. It's perfect for a business colleague or out-of-state friend, who you can't throw an in-person shower for. You can post pictures, have a guest book, and more! And it's not just a one-day shower. You can keep it up for a while!

Playgroup Valentine's

McHaney and her mama treated our playgroup to a fun little Valentine's Party at Chuck E. Cheese last Friday. It was so much fun! Thanks again, Rachel!Notice, poor E can't share in the pizza-eating. Just a glimmer of the parties to come. :(Ethan just stood there most of the time, staring in wonderment at all the bright colors & flashing lights. That is, except for the time that he tried to steal Mc's game balls & run away.How they've all grown! Here's a picture of them, taken maybe a year ago. The mamas' hair has all changed too!

Handmade Valentines

Ethan "helped" me make Valentines for his little playgroup buddies & his daddy. The fortune cookies idea is from Martha. Hope y'all had a great Valentine's Day!

Twas the Night Before V-day

And all through the store,
Not a creature was stirring,...Except for last-minute shoppers.(Moment captured by Lance's phone.) Anyone else appreciate the humor in this?

It's That Time Again

I'm in trouble. It's Girl Scout Cookie time again, and I can eat a whole box of thin mints without flinching. No joke. Time to make my husband hide the cookies again. (No seriously, I make him hide them.) Is it just me? What's your favorite GS Cookie?

First (Real) Haircut

Last week, Ethan got his first professional haircut. He did great & sat still the whole time! Good job, little man.

Safe Plates & Bottles

I've been looking for these! I'm so excited to find these plates and these bottles on Ohdeedoh.com. Is there anyone else nervous about all this talk about harmful plastics? Anyway, I'm going to be looking into these options!

Bathroom - Before & After

Finally got the bathroom finished up. Last week, we painted, put in a new light fixture & I made a little cafe curtain. The cafe curtain is thanks to some free Cotwan & Tout fabric that my sis-in-law found on ebay, which was originally been priced at $200/yard. Pricey! Please excuse the non-color-coordinated soaps in the picture...

Calzones - Recipe

I've enjoyed making calzones lately. Tasty & easy. Although I have to make sure E doesn't stick his little fingers in any of the cheeses! Here's the recipe.

Ham Calzones

4 c. fresh spinach w/stems removed
1 16-oz loaf frozen white bread dough, thawed
1 ½ tsp bottled minced garlic (or fresh minced)
1 tsp Italian seasoning, crushed
1 c. ricotta or cottage cheese, drained
4 oz. thinly sliced cooked ham, chopped (1 c.)
4 oz. thinly sliced Swiss cheese
1 c. tomato & herb pasta sauce, heated

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, pour enough boiling water over spinach to cover. Let stand for 5 minutes. Drain well, squeezing out the excess liquid. Set aside.

Divide bread dough into 4 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a 7 inch circle. Sprinkle circles with garlic & Italian seasoning. Divide ricotta evenly among circles, spreading only on one half of each circle and to within ½ inch of edges. Layer spinach, ham & Swiss cheese over ricotta.

Moisten edges of dough with water. Fold dough in half over filling. Seal edges with fork. Prick tops 3 or 4 times. Place calzones on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven about 20 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack. Cover & chill overnight. To serve, place calzones on a baking sheet. Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for 12-15 minutes or until heated through. Serve with pasta sauce.

To serve immediately: Prepare as directed through step 3 (where you bake & cool overnight) Bake in a preheated oven about 20 minutes or until golden. Serve with warm pasta sauce.

(Note: I’ve always eaten these right away, so I’ve never followed the step where you cool it overnight.)

Rainy Days

E. loves puddles!

Please Vote for Martha Mag!

Martha Stewart is considering a magazine for those with food allergies and special dietary needs (YEAH!). I would be so excited if Martha Stewart put food allergies and special dietary needs into a mainstream publication.

She's taking votes to decide which publication to consider. PLEASE VOTE! Click here and click on "The Big Idea" in the righthand column. Then scroll down and find the poll in the middle. Thanks!

Never Buy Again

According to Co-op America, here are the top 5 things you should never buy again...

1. Styrofoam cups
 - Styrofoam is forever. It's not biodegradable.
 Alternative: Buy recyclable and compostable paper cups. 
Best option: Invest in some reusable mugs that you can take with you.

2. Paper towels - 
Paper towels waste forest resources, landfill space, and your money.
 Alternative: When you do buy paper towels, look for recycled, non-bleached products. Search for recycled paper products. Best option: Buy dishtowels or rags to wash and reuse.

3. Bleached coffee filters
 - Dioxins, chemicals formed during the chlorine bleaching process, contaminate groundwater and air and are linked to cancer in humans and animals.
 Alternative: Look for unbleached paper filters.
Best Option: Use reusable filters such as washable cloth filters.

4. Overpackaged foods and other products
 - Excess packaging wastes resources and costs you much more. Around thirty three percent of trash in the average American household comes from packaging.
Alternative: Buy products with minimal or reusable packaging.
Best Option: Buy in bulk and use your own containers when shopping.

5. Teak and mahogany
 - Every year, 27 million acres of tropical rainforest (an area the size of Ohio) are destroyed. Rainforests cover 6% of Earth’s surface and are home to over half of the world’s wild plant, animal, and insect species. The Amazon rainforest produces 40 percent of the world’s oxygen. 
Alternative: Look for Forest Stewardship Council certified wood.
Best Option: Reuse wood, and buy furniture and other products made from used or salvaged wood.

Here are some other things you should never buy again. Click here for reasons why & their alternatives.

-Chemical pesticides and herbicides

-Conventional household cleaners 

-Higher octane gas than you need

-Toys made with PVC plastic

-Plastic forks and spoons
-Farm raised salmon.
-Rayon.
-Beauty/Body Care with Phthalates and Parabens.
-Cling Wrap.
-High VOC Paints and Finishes.

Traveling with Baby

Anyone out there been on an overseas vacation with a small child? We might be crazy, but we're considering a vacation, but wonder how the flight would be. I would love to hear from anyone who has gone to Europe, or taken an equally long flight with a baby/toddler.