Sick Baby

Sabin has had a tummy bug for the past few days. Crankiness and a fever have kept me hopping and our house a little short on sleep, but we're doing ok. Just wanted to touch base.
Peacefully Buzzing,
Misty

Having Lunch

The window treatments had to be put on hold.... again... because neither Joann's nor Hobby Lobby had the rings I need. I'm anxious to finish them and have only about 15 minutes of work left before I hang them.
This a picture of the fish Joe caught last Saturday. He was very excited about it. No, we didn't eat fish for dinner. Joe enjoys fishing and catching; he also enjoys releasing. So the fish gets to live to be caught again.
A dear friend of mine came for lunch today. I had not seen her in almost three years and was only recently able to get back in touch with her. Catching her up reminded me that "Wow! A lot has happened during that short time. Three years ago, I was blissfully single and thought I would be staying that way for quite some time to come. Ha! I had no idea that in 36 months I would be a wife and mama to a toddler, have chickens, dogs (poodles nonetheless) not to mention no longer living in an apartment. I am truly thankful for the way God works. It's been a beautiful ride.
For lunch we had a delicious salad. I am so delighted to share the fresh lettuce from our garden. I especially enjoy adding various nuts and seeds to it along with fruit. Today it was sunflower seeds, crushed cashews, and bananas. We also had tuna fish salad with an array of orange, yellow, and red bell peppers on whole wheat bread and a bowl of cantaloupe.
I really enjoy playing the hostess. It is great fun for me to have company. I have a goal right now to have someone over at least once a month. I suppose that may not sound like a very big goal, but it is a great deal to me. Hostessing is still new to me, and at this point it does come with a good deal of stress. However, with each time company comes and goes I am more at ease. I used to think being a good hostess was a gift, but I am learning that it is a learned skill. And with practice I think I am learning. It's fun.
It is quite toasty out today. We are hiding inside while Sabin naps. We did spend some time outdoors in the shade before Sabin's nap. Him playing in his little tub and me with fudge-cicle in hand. No I did not share it. But I would have if Sabin had only asked. Fortunately for me he was blissfully happy trying to drink from the hose, so I was able to enjoy my chilly chocolate treat all to myself.
Peacefully Buzzing,
Misty

It's the Simple Things

As time allowed (while Sabin napped) I worked on curtains. This is a project that I began a couple of months ago, but then had to shelve it as other projects took precedence. I had only been able to finish the valence before setting it aside. We have a big window in the living room which looks out onto the street. From outside you can see into our whole main living area. This bothers me when it is dark outside. Currently we have makeshift curtains hanging. I have been anxious to get the new window treatments finished. The window is divided into three sections and so I am making three Roman Shades to hang below a five piece handkerchief valence. As I mentioned the valence has been complete and hanging. Today I finished the two smaller side shades. I plan to finish the large center shade this coming week.
This afternoon, Sabin and I went to the mall to pick up his pictures. (Absolutely adorable!) After leaving JC Penney we spent some time checking out the sites. We visited the pet store where Sabin ran back and forth in front of the windows calling "Puppy! Puppy! in his high pitched way." Sabin gets such a kick out of the escalator and before we left the mall we had ridden it eight, yes 8, times. But I really didn't mind. I love the way he is fascinated by the simple things. Long before I'm ready he won't ask. "One more time, mommy." Instead he'll be asking to go off without me. I thought of this as I was ready to tell him we were done, and we road one more time in honor of those thoughts. We stopped by the pet store for one last look before heading home.
This evening Joe and Jordan arrived home from fishing about the time we got there. We had hamburgers on the grill along with various fruits and veggies. Sabin enjoyed some avocado, tomato and cantaloupe.

A Sleeping Baby

The night before last Joe was night fishing and came in quite late. The dogs went crazy to protect our home before realizing who was pulling in. So at 2am I got quite the adrenaline rush that left me awake in the middle of the night long after my dear hubby and sweet baby (and the dogs) were sound asleep.
Having little to do in the quiet, I had plenty of time to read and reflect. This time of pondering made me quite thankful for my little family and all that God has blessed me with. As I snuck back to the bedroom I could hear the deep steady breathing of my husband echoed by the soft shorter breath of my peaceful baby. I climbed into bed as gently as I could, but Sabin stirred and began mumbling softly. This to me is like music in the night, so sweet and precious. I pulled him to me to nurse and he was drifting off before I finished arranging the covers.
For many minutes I laid there snuggling my naked little boy enjoying the smell of his soft downy head.  He is growing so fast. Not even truly a baby anymore, but a toddler. How quick time is going by. I am consciously trying to enjoy these moments; I know they are fleeting. In spite of my tight grip from day to day, time still sifts through my fingers. He now has games that he prefers to play without me, little games that mommy just doesn't understand. He puts food into his own mouth now, instead of needing me to do it.  He'll run by me for his daddy and it is bittersweet. I am keenly aware that each day my little one is growing further away from his dependence on me to become the man that God has already planned.  But in this moment, he snuggles tight against my tummy. He wraps his both his hands around my fingers and he is mine - my tiny child - completely dependent on his mama. I hang on to this moment, breathing it in along with the scent of his hair. Too soon I will not have this time with my precious Sabin. I want to enjoy it while it is mine to enjoy.
I am so thankful to have this little boy in my bed. Thankful that Joe too, would prefer this sleeping arrangement over any other.

Helping Mama

Because of our dry climate we water a lawn and garden frequently. Sabin enjoys helping. He loves to play in the water, but also does surprisingly well at actually watering. Funny how well our little ones learn to immitate.
Other times he errr... helps by digging in my tomatoes....sigh. I try to redirect him to his sandbox or the corner of the house where the grass doesn't grow, but alas.... yesterday I was too slow.
He really enjoyed his impromptu outdoor bath though and the tomato plant made it.






Mandy, our 5 year old poodle, also likes to get in on th e action. She loves to chase the water spray from the hose. This makes watering much more fun for the whole family.

The Beginnings of a Library

Sabin now has a huge interest in books. I've been building up a small collection of board books. His especially like the "First Words" series with all the simple photos. He will point to different pictures wanting to know what they are called. Another book he enjoys is Puppies Are Like That. It is a well illustrated book about the way puppies act, i.e. curious about turtles, race, bark at cows, dig in the dirt. Sabin points out all the different animals in the book. Currently he only reads board books. I purchase them at a consignment store near our home where they are great condition for much cheaper than buying new. We usually get a couple before going out to eat. Currently he has about ten. I buy only "good" books.
Already, I am careful about what he reads. I ask myself what each book will teach my child, including underlying messages. For example, I don't buy him dinosaur books, because I havn't found one that has Creation as the background. I don't want him to read Berentein Bears because the Bible teaches that the husband/father is to be honored. Sabin is such a sponge, learning more than even I realize. I try to choose books that are not without content. This is tough for my young tot at this point, but I want him to learn something from the books.
I am also particular about the art in the book. I want good illustrations. Our books have photographs, lifelike drawings and cartoon type illustrations, but in my opinion the pictures are clean and easy to look at. Sabin stares at these for a long time, turning the pages back and forth.
We read quite often now. Especially while on the potty and before going to bed. Last week I put the books down on a shelf where he can get to them on his own. He finally stopped trying to chew them apart, and will spend time quietly "reading" on his own. I am teaching him how to put them away when he is finished with them.

Introducing Food

On the third Monday of the month we go to our midwife's house for Mother's Circle. We take a dish to share and have a potluck lunch. Today we had so much fruit on hand that we took a pretty fruit plate of sliced banana, rasberries, blueberries, and nectarine. The plate was garnished with some lettuce from our garden. With the variety it looked bright and cheery and didn't even take much fruit to fill it. There was a bit left-over which made me feel that I had made enough.  We meet with other mama's and little ones to discuss raising our babies. There are anywhere from 10 to 20 mommies there. When weather permits we sit on blankets under a big tree on the lawn. I share a different world-view from most of them, but I learn a lot regarding healthcare, cloth-diapering, nursing into toddlerhood and many other things that are of great interest to me. We always have a fun time. I especially enjoy watching so many young women sitting around together, comfortably nursing babies.
Sabin still gets his primary source of nutrition through nursing and we are both happy about the situation. We have begun the transition toward "solid" food. But so far the trip is slow and easy. Once he turned a year old I introduced him to banana, avocado, carrots, and sweet potato - mashed of course - one at a time just like you would for a 6 month old. All of which he promptly spit out in disgust.  Funny how this same child has had no qualms about putting dirt, sticks, grass, or dog food into his mouth. We continued to offer these same foods.
About two or three weeks after the first introduction I was eating scrambled egg for breakfast while Sabin finger painted with his banana. He started pointing at my eggs and leaning toward them all in a fuss. I was a little uncertain. This was not on my list of safe foods. I figured he would just spit it out, so I gave him a small bite. To my surprise he gobbled it up and wanted more. He ate about half a teaspoon during our breakfast. I figured I may as well add eggs to my "safe list"...well.... actually... I added many foods to my safe list that day. And it seemed a door opened for my little boy who began trying lots of foods.
We stick with mostly fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. I also feed him breads of whole grains that I have made myself and long grain brown rice. We don't eat many sugary foods in our home. Our diet became even more healthy because Sabin eats what we eat. He has had a few tastes of ice cream over the past month, but prefers his bites to be very tiny. As a matter of fact, he prefers all his bites to be quite tiny and will spit them out if they are more than the size of half a pea.  I do not feed him meats yet, neither do I give him foods that are highly processed, or contain high fructose corn syrup.
Over the past few weeks he has built up quite an assortment of foods to enjoy including quite the va riety of vegetables (among them cooked spinach and green beans), legumes, and several fruits. Right now his favorites include scrambled egg, broccoli, and rasberries.






Tonight for dinner we had salad and pasta. We eat quite a few types of salad when it is really hot outside. Both Joe and I enjoyed this. Tonight we had greens from our garden. They were so full of flavor. I added starwberry, banana, sunflower seeds, and crushed cashew pieces with poppyseed dressing. Sabin tried his first veggie pasta, which he really liked. He also had some strawberry. We tried banana again, but he still will not eat it.