Cooking skills

I am fortunate. My mom taught me how to cook. It was just something she included me in for as long as I can remember. It is one of those life skills that has served me well. While I am preparing food or reading through recipes I remember instances of making those foods together or watching her cook them. (thanks mom).

There have been others who taught me a lot too. Mary taught me how to make quiche. She used to make it in France all the time. Recently Margaret gave me a jar of herbs de Provence and I remembered Mary telling me how she used it in quiche all the time.

Quiche with herbs de Provence is now one of my go to meals when I have leftover bits of meats cheeses and veggies. (tonight we are having sausage and spinach quiche)

Even with all the wonderful culinary teachers in my life I am always learning and trying new things. Tonight I made the pie crust which I don't usually do. Lately I've been baking our bread and that has been fun to learn about yeast. I have also been brewing my own kombucha. Which is quite good and easy once you get it going. And that is my personal conclusion for most homemade foods. While they may seem intimidating at first, soon they are quite easy. And they taste amazing.

Mommy necklace

I just ordered this necklace to help with my fidgety feeder. I appreciate a good pinch or a wack in the face as much as anyone but every few hours by my sweet baby girl while she is eating is a little much. Hopefully this necklace will do the trick to help distract her. It is double wrapped in the photo but I used it single wrapped while feeding her just minutes ago. She loved the necklace and was rubbing her eyes with it.

Expired

Yesterday I went to put some holiday placemats away in my black hutch. It was a tight squeeze so I looked to see what was behind the holiday linens. It was an entire food storage kit sealed in #10 cans that we have had for 10 years. The expiration dates were years since past. I threw them all out and wondered about the rest of my pantry.

I cleaned that out today. The oldest thing I threw out (condensed milk) expired in 1999. That means I moved it from college with me. I only make one thing with condensed milk - fudge. And I only make fudge every few years. Which explains the two other expired cans that I also threw out.

Note to self: I do not need to store condensed milk. I can purchase it as needed. :)

Cloth Diapering

My sister Elena asked me about my cloth diaper system. As anyone who actually uses cloth diapers knows, it truly is a system - and it is constantly changing. Since I wanted to post write my thoughts on the various cloth diapers anyway, I will answer her question with this post.

With Audrey, I used fuzzibunz perfect size diapers. They work really well - they kept her dry and fit well. We never had blowouts and we rarely had leaks, when we did, it was our fault for leaving the diaper on too long. However, I *really* do not like the pockets for every diaper use - where you have to stuff an absorbent layer into the diaper and then pull it out to wash it. (I do still think they are good for night time, to be able to add an extra layer of absorbency and let the baby sleep dry all night long.)

Before Meredith was born, I decided that I was willing to do a two piece system (old school diaper and a cover) rather than stuffing. I went to the local diaper store (I am so glad we have one nearby), Abby's Lane (highly recommend using them online too - free shipping, fast processing, discounts/promos with email newsletter, points towards anything with every order), to see what my options were. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there are lots of options and that the covers now have snaps (or velcro (called aplex?)) and pins are not really needed. I bought a couple of newborn sized covers (which never fit my newborn who weighed over 10 lbs at birth) and a few hemp/cotton prefold diapers (think old school but better fabric) and considered myself ready. We ended up using disposables for her first few weeks instead because the newborn size did not fit her and the fuzzibunz we had did not accommodate her umbilical cord.

So I headed back to Abby's lane and found thirsties! I loved them. The diapers and the covers snap. The covers have gusseted legs that never blowout - so nice after having blowouts all the time with disposables. The diapers are so soft - a cotton velour on the outside and a soft micro fleece on the inside, are super absorbent, fit well, and they have this tunnel design that helps them dry quickly. Just awesome. However, having to snap both the diaper and the cover at every changing takes more time than my squirming baby will hold still for. I wished there was some sort of all in one option.

Lucky me, there are lots of all in one (AIO) diaper options. As Meredith started to grow out of her size 1 diapers at 3 months (that are supposed to last through 9 months, btw) I ordered two different AIOs to try - bumgenius freetime and grovia. The grovia is all cotton on the inside and that stays wet against the skin - I don't like that so much. The bumgenius freetime is awesome. It has the micro fleece against the skin, so it stays dry. It is possibly the perfect diaper. Thirsties just came out with an AIO of their own and I ordered one today. I have high hopes because I like the thirsties fit on Meredith better than the bumgenius fit (and they are cheaper than all the other AIOs on the market to boot!).

My system... I get a couple of thirsties wipes (love these guys) wet with water in the sink before I change Meredith. After I change her diaper, I put both the used diaper and wipe into a zip up bag (wet/dry type) that hangs on her changing table and put the new diaper on her - pretty standard stuff. I wash it all including the bag in hot water every morning. I never have to touch any messiness, I just turn the bag out into the washer and add 1 Tablespoon Rockin Green laundry soap. Then I do an additional hot rinse. I throw it all in the dryer and usually hang them (from a little octopus laundry dryer) until I use them, just to make sure every thing gets lots of air.

My system is always evolving with minor adjustments all the time. I plan to try homemade laundry soap rather than Rockin Green once I run out of it. I like the Rockin Green, but it is expensive. Also, I would like to line dry all of it - right now I do not have enough diapers to do that. I would also like to do the wash every other day, but again, that requires more diapers. I still like the diapers and cover system, and I use that to supplement the AIOs.

Finally

I did it! Almost three months after Meredith's birth and I finally went jogging for the first time. It felt awesome.

I have a new jogging stroller and I tried to use it last week but Meredith *hated* it do much that I had to turn around and bring her back. Today I went sans baby - just me and Audrey - because my mom is here for the holidays and was happy to watch her while I went. Also I got some great new gear that helped. I got a new pair of asics gel kayano 17 shoes, fancy compression socks and a muscle roller for afterwards. Those 3 things made a world of difference. Hopefully this is the first of many good runs to come.

Cool knitting project

Well I need a new project, like I need another hole in the head, so I am not starting this, but if I ever have a whole bunch of sock weight yarn around....

http://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/the-beekeepers-quilt/

What can I say, I love patchwork and I love hexagons and this is both in one - perfection!

Also, I am 36 and 1/2 weeks along...

32 weeks and counting...

I think we are past the point of no return, we are going to be surprised for this baby.

The pregnancy is moving along beautifully. Aside from it being hot and a bit miserable nearly every time I step outside, I feel good. I am eating well, drinking lots of water, milk and prenatal tea and trying to get lots of sleep.

I am going to have the baby at a birthcenter with midwives instead of at the hospital and I am super excited for that. I might even do a waterbirth, since each birth room has a huge and deep tub.

Also, we are planning on doing cloth diapers the whole time with this little one. And the cloth diapers these days are so cute. I am hesitant to get too gender specific just yet, but once I can, I am going to get some really cute covers. You can see my neutral favorites at: http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/31O8DXJU4ZZ3U

Oh, baby

I am due 8 September. Somewhere between 16 week and 20 is typical for a healthy baby ultra-sound check up. I was traveling then, so I went in at 21 weeks. The baby looked healthy, but was crossing his/her legs and was laying on its back, so the doctor could not see the spine. Three weeks later, I got my second chance to learn the sex. Today the baby had the umbilical cord between his/her legs, so again, the technician could not confirm boy or girl. "If I had to guess, I would say it is a girl," said the technician. Truly, not that helpful.

Triathalete

Today I did my first triathalon ever!! And it was in the snow, which is not the normal way to do a tri and my cheeks are wind/frost bitten from it. This one started with a run and I was in the last wave, which meant we saw the fast people on their bikes before we even got to the starting line. The run was my easiest most enjoyable part. I happened to match up with another lady who had the same pace as me and we stuck together for the run. We weren't super chatty, but it was still nice. Then the transition area, quick drink of water, put on the helmet, grab the bike and run the bike to the bike start line where you are allowed to mount. The bike part was hard, the wind was so cold and going fast mad it colder. It was basically flat though, so it was easy enough. However, bike seats and my butt do not get along. I was sore (like bruised sore) right away, luckily it was cold, so that helped numb the pain in my butt. After that it was back to the transition area where you put your bike, helmet and strip down to your swim suit, put on your swim cap and goggles and run (in bare feet) to the pool. In this case the pavement was so cold, I really did run. Then it was a snaked pool where each lane is only one direction and when you get to the end of the lane, you go under the lane divide and go down the next lane. I expected the swim to be my easiest/most comfortable event. I swim several times a week in the mornings and the distance of 10 laps is my standard distance before I stop and get a drink and then do 10 more laps. So I really thought this was going to be fairly easy. What I didn't count on was that my legs were not really functioning very well. They were tired, so I didn't notice that I was hardly kicking. I had to stop a couple of times at the end of the lane to rest. At one rest, a coach who had just finished helping one woman out of the water early (she had muscle cramps and just couldn't finish) walked over and asked me how it was going. I said, it was going, I was just catching my breath. He said, make sure you use your legs, they will make it easier, I noticed you were not kicking much. I thanked him for the solid advice and finished the rest of the swim without much incident. When I climbed out of the pool and walked across the finish line, boy was I tired, but you could not wipe the smile off my face. I was so proud of myself. I just finished my first triathalon, I did it in the snow and I did it four months pregnant. I had a banana, a cup of water and a couple of mandarin oranges before I hit the shower. I got to the car and had a cup of maple yogurt and coconut water (great electrolytes, not gross like gatorade). Now I am tired, and my poor butt hurts when I sit down, but I am so damn happy I did it.

Composting

Since I set my garden resolution I have been diligently saving all fruit and vegetable scraps and putting them into my new composter. Hopefully it will work well for this year, but if not, it will no doubt be extremely useful for next year.

Ryan has been less enthusiastic about the garden goal since he realized it includes a bowl of rotting produce on the counter (his words not mine). I think he will come around when we actually start harvesting gardeny deliciousness.

Goal for 2011

I have one goal for 2011 - to have a garden. In my neighborhood, you are supposed to either have a fence or get your "landscaping" approved. I have been putting off the garden for years due to lack of a fence, but now, I have decided that I am just going to try it anyway. The worst that can happen is they tell me to get approval from my neighbors and/or tell me to get a fence.

Audrey and I have been talking about our plans and what we want to grow. I am going to do a raised bed for our first garden. I already know my backyard soil is bad and this way it will be fairly simple to put up some chicken wire around the garden to protect it from furry friends who may want to taste test the goods. It should be a fun project!

Kitchen Antics

Recently, we have been eating out less and less. I love it. We eat better and healthier. Also, I have been shopping more at Wegmans because I can get a whole bunch of different veggies. The result is, our grocery bill is fairly high, but we have been eating so well.

Right now we have soup in the crockpot - white bean, sausage and kale.

Also, I am trying my hand at homemade ginger ale. It takes about 2 weeks before it is ready. Hopefully in time for New Year's Day.

swimming goals

The other day I was reading some blogs/fitness articles about new swimmers and a how to do a swimming training schedule. I have never given much thought to improving my swimming endurance. I have just been thinking along the lines of learning how to breath on each side, do the stroke correctly, etc. Now I do not mean to imply that I have even mastered these basics - I am still learning for sure. But the articles that I read made me think that I should focus my morning swims on distance as well as skills so that I can build my endurance.

With that in mind I went to the pool this morning and did 11 laps (down and back) total (550 yds or meters (I'm not sure of the what the pool length is measured in)). So this will be my baseline. It took me the whole 30 minutes, but I do rest between laps. For the last lap, I didn't stop at all on the down and back doing the freestyle - that is a first for me!

For those who may be worried that they will unknowingly break some pool rules, they are actually pretty easy (common sense, not like bowling etiquette). Stay in your own lane (assuming you have a whole lane to yourself); if you do have to share - try to pick the lane that has someone of a similar skill level as you to share with; if you share a lane, stay on your side the whole time (not like a race track); don't talk to people - nobody talks when they swim and if they are resting, they are probably about to start up again; when you go for the ladder and have to cross others lanes, try to be as minimally disruptive as possible, as in try to cross while they are at the other end of the pool. Anyone else know of any other pool rules?

i did it!

4 miles straight! running the whole time!!

if i am around at the end of september (ie not in beautiful baghdad), i may sign up for a local 10k - and run the whole damn thing!!!

honestly, it was nice and warm out (upper 90s today), but the sun had gone down a little and it wasn't as humid as it was last time we did the whole 4 mile loop (before the chicago 13.1), so it felt a little easier. and i sped it up on the last little bit and angie (my neighbor and running partner) and i talked on most of it (except the last part of the three biggest hills), which we couldn't do last time. thursday we are going to do that again, but this time, add in the extra little hills section (i think it is another 1/3 mile).

the neighborhood i live in is all hills, seriously almost nothing flat. that has actually turned out to be a good thing for me. i think running is a very mental sport. i can push myself to the top of a hill and then tell myself to let gravity do the work on the way down. if i make sure i take it easy on the way down, it really feels like a recovery and i can push myself up the next hill. we always walk 1/3 mile out of the neighborhood, then start our run and end with the 1/3 mile back to our houses. it is a great little loop. hopefully someday soon it can be a several times a week 5 mile loop - that is my life-style fitness goal (for running anyway).

Swimming (and running report)

This year at work, one of my co-workers talked about swimming all winter long. So, naturally I started wishing I knew how to swim for real. Don't get me wrong, I took swimming lessons as a kid. I feel extremely comfortable in the water, but I don't (didn't) know how to lap swim.

I found community rec center swim classes for Audrey and I at the same time on Saturday mornings and she and I just finished up our first round of classes and signed up for round two. I love it. It is an hour of Saturday morning working on the various swimming strokes, down the length of the pool and back. I finish completely exhausted and very happy.

Last week, I asked the teacher if there is some unwritten lap swimmers rules that I need to know. She gave me the basics and I went and did lap swimming for the first time last Wednesday morning. It was awesome. It was a great workout and a great way to start my day. I can definitely see what my co-worker was talking about and I am so glad I tried it.

Also, since I am clearly very bad at updating the blog, I did a 13.1 in Chicago with my sisters and it went well. I shaved 5 min off my time from the year before. I was still super sore the day of the 13.1 - my feet especially. But this time, after a nap and a good nights sleep, I was fine the next day - which is awesome.

I think my next one will be in Feb in Disney - the Disney Princess Half-Marathon awesomeness! That way we can fit in a trip to Disney for Audrey at the same time. Somehow, the 13.1 seems to be a good number for me. I have no desire to do a full 26.2 - that seems like more time for training than I am interested in committing and more pain than I am willing to inflict on myself. The 13.1 is tough enough, that I really do have to train for it, even though I walked most of the last two. It is a real challenge to complete. I hope I can shave off another five minutes this time too. That is the one good thing about starting at the bottom - no where to go but up.

And since we are at it, I made a new life goal - do a triathalon before I hit 50. I have a while to go, both in training and years. But I am making progress, I am now a short distance jogger and am starting to be a swimmer too.

Complicated

Life is complicated.

The other day, my FIL was playing the piano and he played this song, Humoresque by Dvorak, and it just spoke to me and nearly brought me to tears (so of course I went home and bought it on itunes, so I can torture myself at any point). It brought me to tears because it seemed to epitimize life to me. Moments of brightness and lightness intermixed with more powerful feels and undertones of reality and grounding.

For example, I love my job. But my job takes up so much time and energy away from the people I love the most. Complicated.

And that is the easiest of the complications life presents.

Color me crazy

Work is chaotic! right now.

Plus it is Easter and I have the cutest little girl who is so excited to do Easter things and decorate cookies and color eggs.

All this is to say, I am a little stressed, so naturally, I decided to add another 13.1 walk/run into the mix. Chicago Rock n' Roll here I come....

5K #2

This morning we left the house at 6am. In case you didn't know, that is early for a Sunday morning. We then drove 1.5 hours to participate in a small town's high school track and field fundraiser 5k.

Our intent was not to do two 5ks in sequential weekends, but March 5k pickings were slim for a Sunday mornings and I came up with the idea to do monthly 5ks at the end of February. Also, Audrey has dance class on Saturday mornings, so we must do all of our 5ks on Sunday morning.

Our time did not actually improve, it stayed just about the same. I am considering this a bit of a win for us. This course was much more difficult. It was advertised as having some "nice hills" - nice is not the word I would have picked for the hill on mile 3. It was darn near mountain climbing.

Also, we came up with a "training plan" which consists of going for a family run/walk every Sunday morning. In between Ryan and I will try to fit in a bit more exercise individually when we can. It is far from ideal, but it is much better than nothing. All things considered, from couch potato to 2 5ks in two weekends, I think we are doing pretty good.

Love the Run your with - 5K

Two weeks ago, I came up with the good idea of doing a 5k every month as a fitness plan this year. So today, Ryan and I did our first 5k. We mostly walked, but ran a little too. It felt great. Our goal is to beat our time every time. Progress thats the plan.

New Year's Resolutions

Last year I had some pretty lofty resolutions and I accomplished many of them.

This year however, I am hoping to just be more grateful for all that I have and in doing so to honor the present by fully enjoying it.

That's it, my one goal for the year.