Grease Monkeys

Historical Museum

"Baby Carrier
Oglala Sioux, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, ca. 1900.

Women in the family made and decorated baby carriers to welcome the new member. Their beadwork was designed to help the baby have a long, healthy life. For example, the beading in the shape of webs on the back of this carrier and the four lines on the corners of the back tab were symbols of protection. A small wooden frame inside allowed the baby to be carried on someone's back; the square tab on back could be tied with rawhide thongs to hang the carrier from a tree or teepee."

Placentophagy

Sabbath came over today to start my Placenta Encapsulation. Way cool! I wish she was here back in May when Jax was born, as I would have loved to have it done immediately postpartum, but I was not really up for doing it myself a few hours after the birth. I'm really excited about the little family experiments we want to do with it ;) Right now it's drying and she'll come back tomorrow to finish up the process.



I've been fascinated with placentas since just before we knew we were going to start trying to get pregnant for the first time. It's just such an amazing organ. Of course we checked Lili's out after her birth. We saved it in our deep freezer and planted it with a tree on her first birthday. It was large and thick and beautiful :) She was a tiny thing though, at 6lbs 7oz- but perfect and born 12 hours before her due date. Her pregnancy was a breeze and I really enjoyed my time with her in my belly. My pregnancy with Jax was much more of a challenge. I was often sick and struggled with feeling healthy during his pregnancy. I felt as if I was battling a handful of mental/physical/emotional issues the entire time. When I delivered his placenta, which came out "Dirty Duncan", we noticed right away that it was much smaller and obviously more beat up looking than Lili's had been when it was delivered. He seemed so tiny when he was born that I thought for sure he was a runt with an unhealthy placenta but he was a completed average 7lbs 4 oz, and born on his due date. I guess I just forgot how tiny newborns really are...I'd love to learn so much more about the awesomeness of the placenta. Though, I'm sure I'll still have just as much respect, awe and interest in The Amazing Placenta no matter how much I continue to learn about it. I guess just as with so many things about pregnancy and birth- sometimes it just defies logic and our human understanding. And that's pretty cool.

*And for the record- yes I tasted it, and no it doesn't taste like chicken.*

And some days absolutely nothing happens...

Yet another car line up...This one was good, but

it was nothing compared to the gas shortage last week, reminiscent of the 1973 oil crisis...

Does anyone else find it odd that in a house with 3 bathrooms they all run out of toilet paper at the same time?

"Mama! Mama! Look! Am I soooo strong?"

"Mama! I think I need some help with my coat."

Lili and Jax were gifted about a trillion Beanie Babies from my step-mom, who had quite the collection back in the day. They NEEDED to have nappies. Absolutely NEEDED them.


Today was your run of the mill average day :)

Last Cake

I finally finished my cake class, woot! This cake is for Sabbath- nothing like early birthday treats :)

26.

If I was a flower growing wild and free
All I'd want is you to be my sweet honey bee.
And if I was a tree growing tall and greeen
All I'd want is you to shade me and be my leaves

All I want is you, will you be my bride
Take me by the hand and stand by my side
All I want is you, will you stay with me?
Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

If you were a river in the mountains tall,
The rumble of your water would be my call.
If you were the winter, I know I'd be the snow
Just as long as you were with me, when the cold winds blow.

All I want is you, will you be my bride
Take me by the hand and stand by my side
All I want is you, will you stay with me?
Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

If you were a wink, I'd be a nod
If you were a seed, well I'd be a pod.
If you were the floor, I'd wanna be the rug
And if you were a kiss, I know I'd be a hug

All I want is you, will you be my bride
Take me by the hand and stand by my side
All I want is you, will you stay with me?
Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

If you were the wood, I'd be the fire.
If you were the love, I'd be the desire.
If you were a castle, I'd be your moat,
And if you were an ocean, I'd learn to float.

All I want is you, will you be my bride
Take me by the hand and stand by my side
All I want is you, will you stay with me?
Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

Knit Bib

Playing Together

Lunch

Lunch can be a weird thing around here. For the past two days Lili has requested this- pancakes, an over easy egg and frozen green beans. Whatever, dude...

Morning at Jessica's

And the last photo of the morning before I ran out of memory...

Dancing to a Different Drummer

Lili has finished her 3rd ballet class now. She goes back and forth between being excited and refusing to go- which makes things interesting about an hour before class. She reads her ballet book, loves her shoes and leotard, and remembers most of the basic positions- she even asks me why they haven't been taught certain steps yet. Initially she asked me to dance with her, outside of the group. She absolutely did not want to be part of the circle but she wanted to do the steps. So, we stood in the back doing everything together. Anytime someone looked at her (myself included) she grinned then immediately acted shy, screaming, "No! Don't look at me!" So at the second class I tried to step back a bit, but she would either scoot back with me, or run across the room to be where I was standing. (And god forbid I actually sit down with the other parents...) She would do the trampoline and balance beam only if Scott held her hand AND we asked the teacher not to look at her. Uh huh. That's always a tricky one. We asked but of course, when she was close to the end of the balance beam the teacher looked at her to make sure that she didn't fall off which led to massive tears and running to mama. Oh dear. So last night I decided I wouldn't do it with her anymore- that she could make the choice to participate with the group, sit with me on the chair or do the steps in the back by my chair. It was really interesting just watching instead of coaxing and acting like a cheerleader- she much preferred acting like a race car or grasshoper rather than a ballerina for one. She also liked to do exactly what the teacher asked them NOT to do. It's her own little experiment, really. The teacher asked them to stay on the mat when they finished their turn, so she acted like a racecar and zoomed off the mat. (She had been sitting quietly on the mat until that point.) When they were asked to sit down, she immediately stood up, or if they are asked to stand up and walk to a circle, she immediately sat down. (Again, she was already sitting quietly when they were asked to sit down, and already standing up in the correct spot when they were asked to stand up.) All of the children were asked to be quiet because a few of the girls were running and yelling, and my daughter- who up until this point had been sitting quietly on the mat, proceeded to stand up and scream, "Mama!" then start laughing. Then she ran over to me and asked if she was not being quiet. Finally the teacher told the kids that whoever wasn't walking over to the group would not get a sticker at the end of class, and of course Lili sat down. I know that she is pushing boundaries and learning consequences, but it was very interesting to watch her little brain work it out and REFUSE to either be part of the group or follow the rest of the girls just because the teacher said so- instead of being on the RECEIVING end of a defiant 3 year old. :)

Trying not to be creepy clown cake

watching the 44th

Knitting Mamas

Yup, the world and my life are all better because of these amazing women who are, in addition to being wonderful and caring mamas, patiently teaching me to knit ;)

Sag Paneer

I'm obsessed with Indian food. I have lots of foods that I truly love, but something about Sag Paneer makes it my Island food. You know, if you were stranded on an island and could only eat one thing- most days I think I'd pick Sag Paneer. I guess if I had an extra wish I'd add raspberries as a dessert ;) Yum.

Baby Fuzz

Is my little baldie sprouting some new baby hair? I love his fresh from the bath goodness. :)

Friends

16.

8 months

Happy 8 months my darling little dude!

Up the Down Staircase

We have known for awhile now that Jax can climb the stairs. But, seeing as he is only just shy of eight months old, we have just spent the last month or two picking him up and putting him back near us after he gets to the second or third steps or trying to distract his interest in the stairs completely. Today I was making sandwiches with him on the kitchen floor with me. Easy sandwiches. Lay toasted bread on cookie sheet, 1-2-3 layers then pop in the broiler for 30 seconds. The sandwiches were in the broiler and Jax was crawling around into the dining room. No biggie, I figured he'd head for the living room where Lili stashes a great amount of her toys. So, I went ahead and waited the 30 seconds, got them out and set them on the stove. Pulled out 3 plates. Got the urge to check on the babe and...this is how I found him. I didn't tell Lili because I'm quite sure he was extra motivated by the toys she had put on the landing in order to keep them away from him. I'm sure she'd have a fit if she knew he was up there playing with them- it would mean NOTHING is safe. ;)

Our furball is 5!

Our fancy mutt is five years old today, and so is Grandma. Well, Grandma isn't five but it IS her birthday. :) Cooper is our beloved schnoodle. When we were first looking for a dog Scott wanted a bigger dog- he grew up with Keeshonds. I grew up with a mutt that I adored, but wanted a smaller dog. I wanted a lap cuddler and no shedding. So, after lots and lots of research and debates we decided on a schnoodle. They were scarce in NJ and I actually had picked out a little girl schnoodle pup but in the day that it took to convince Scott that we were really going to get a dog, she was gone. So, when our little Cooper became available we swiped him up about five minutes after he arrived on the East Coast. Fortunately, they are much easier to find now. :) He is an energetic, happy, well behaved, playful, snot licking, uber kissy, cuddly little member of our family.





And...I finished my first cake.

12.

While Scott and Lili were outside enjoying the perfect packing snow that was added to our yard today...

Jax and I were inside baking my cake, making icing and finishing the crumb layer.

NPFA

Before we left NJ my friend Karen and I decided to learn to knit. We found a fabulous yarn shop and signed up for lessons but for some reason the owner decided she couldn't teach us to knit so we learned to crochet- she couldn't teach me that either being a lefty, so I watched her teach Karen and attempted to figure it out on my own. I never made any of the classes after that because it was right when I hurt my shoulder then we moved and, well...
Once we started having kiddos I was desperate to learn to knit but never really found the time or anyone who was excited about the idea of teaching me (for free). Now that Sabbath has started the Natural Parenting Fiber Artists group I've got access to a great group of mamas to walk me through it. And as a bonus, I get to get out of the house on occasion. Now if only I could advance from stitching a blob to actually making something.

10.

Busy Day...

Yup, it's been a busy day so it's pictures only and I'm posting just before midnight to make my deadline ;)
At LLL this morning. Natalie just pointed out that ALL of these babies are little dudes! From 1 to 1 week, and all of them are of the twig and berries variety, what are the odds?

Anyone else notice the sign?

Ahhh, the Hessen Haus :)

I love the surprise snowstorm. Maybe I should start checking the weather before I leave the house.

Playing at Sarah's for a mama's (and babies) evening :)

Recycled Wool Longies

I made my first pair of recycled wool longies today. I have a few other patterns to try out before I decide which I like best, but I think Jax is a fan so far :)

Nina Nina Ballerina

Lili had her first dance class today. She was going back and forth on whether or not she even wanted to go, but once she had her new (purple!) leotard, dance shoes and Ballet Book from Mee Maw she was raring to go. In classic Lili form, however, she was not willing to join the group of 3 year olds and the instructors. She wanted to do all the positions, she even INSISTED on getting her Ballet Book and looking up what positions would be coming up next and how they were supposed to look while she was dancing, but they all had to be done right next to me. And I had to do them with her. I was snapping photos and every time I took a picture ("no mama! Don't take my picture!") I had to scoot back to get the shot- so she kept scooting back, too. I'm suprised we didn't end up in the parking lot... She also did great waiting her turn for the balance beam and trampoline (in ballet class?) but I think most of that was because she was a bit intimidated by all of the people. New, big groups always show a completely different side of her. The child walks "on the edge" of everything and can scale things you wouldn't believe, but when her turn came (she was last in both lines) she had to hold my hand on the balance beam and missed her turn altogether on the trampoline. She didn't need me for balance, just security :) She also tends to step back to the level of those around her- she did that with coloring at the library. Always naturally colored fantastically and shockingly in the lines but at the library the kids just scribble all over everything so she started doing that, like she didn't realize until she watched them that's how she was "supposed" to do it. It is so interesting. She's also been playing this back and forth game recently- I want that, no I don't, no I desperately need it- that kind of thing. That's how she missed her turn on the trampoline. She waited so patiently as she was last in line then her turn came and she turned around, looked at me, said she didn't want to do it, and then looked heartbroken when the instructor put it away. At least when she was putting her boots on she asked if after she was all dressed she could go to another dance class. I guess we can at least convince her to go again next week.