life and times

Too much time, too little to do

2011-12-09T10:36:00.000-08:00

Wait. Strike that. Reverse it.

Between vacations, baby raising, company, holidays, summer, fall, and now winter, I've realized that my girls are growing right up on me. Three and one; crazy, beautiful, and clever.

Because....of summer!

2011-08-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

Why have I been so slack in posting the last (egads!) couple months?

Because of: chocolate gelato, right now, for absolutely no special reason.

Because of: Both my children going on a sleep strike, simultaneously.

Because of: this....oh my word was that fun.

Becuase of: painting the house...and the deck...taking for-ev-er.

Because of: Watching my container garden grow (which is all I have this year; next year however, raised beds! a green house! and chickens!) and Bodi grabbing whatever is ripe and eating it still covered in dirt.

Because of: These lovely people and their busy days.

It's here!!

2011-06-22T15:04:00.000-07:00

Summer! It has arrived in Reno.....finally. Today was our first day at the lake, and oh my goodness, did Nieve love the water. For example, it was freezing, and she was covered in sand, so I was going to quickly splash her off. It ended up with her being doused, nudie, and her screaming when I took her OUT...SHIVERING and covered with goosebumps! She wanted back in! Her and Bodi are little fish. B starts swim lessons on Monday, and now I'm wondering if I shouldn't start NieNie too.

And, just a few gratuitous cutie-pie shots....

My mud-fairy!

(I don't know why all my photos are pixelated! Any ideas?)

2011-05-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

I don't have any new pics or much to blog about right now. This is all I got.

For Ma and Pa

2011-05-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Suid-Afrika deel 2

2011-03-06T14:02:00.000-08:00

And the rest of the trip........

Cousin number 1: Lisa, sweetie pie aged 4.

Cousin numer 2: Daniel, also a sweetie pie (obviously!) age 2.

Ilse (new Aunti) and I and Bodi (after I took my camera away from her).

The lovely sister's in law, the Ilse's.

One of the pics Bodi took with my camera. The only good one. Daniel with his little brother Hendrik.

An afternoon at the Cape Town aquarium.

Nieve watching sharks swim above her.

Clown fish!

Bodi's Oom Schalk.

Keeping their eyes peeled for carnivorous squirrels.

This trip was so much fun. I'm still debating whether or not it was worth the flight.....

Long overdue: South Africa part 1

2011-03-01T17:11:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the Africa pics. We sure enjoyed making them.

Feeding elephants!

Mossel Bay

The view from our porch at the beach house!

At Ouma and Oupa's house.

One night at a little game park. Not much game to be seen

Oh my goodness, this girl LOVES the water.

At the beach (no good pics of the ocean here...)

baby NieNie

2011-01-11T13:50:00.000-08:00

First giggles

3months

2011-01-08T13:32:00.001-08:00

So, as I've not slept much in the last few days, this post will be yet another with less words-more pics. Enjoy.

Bodi's serious face.

And because I can't get enough of her big brown eyes...

On to Thing 2. The sleeping angle. Check out those lips!

Surprise face!

Cheeks, chins, and more dimples....trust me, they're there in all that pudge somewhere.

1000 words

2010-12-04T22:04:00.000-08:00

Je suis arrive!

2010-10-19T10:11:00.001-07:00

Nieve Arum de Waal
8lbs 10oz
Born at 10:20pm on her Daddy's birthday, October 12, 2010

D-day

2010-10-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today is D-day. The day this baby was advised to come and meet her new family. She hasn't made much of a showing as of yet, however. We have high hopes for the end of the week. No real reason, just positive thinking and a session of acupuncture. Bodi has been telling my belly "come soon baby!" I figure if that doesn't work, we start with the bribery. Daniel has suggested a pony.

Enjoy.

Waiting

2010-09-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

That's right. Any day now, would be nice.

In the meantime, we've been doing a bit of this...

And a little bit of this...

And this...

With these people...

Oh, and we now have enough hair for a faux-hawk...

a rose by any other

2010-08-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

We've finally decided...

Nieve Arum de Waal

long boring time

2010-07-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

I need to blog about something. It's been over a month, and it's not that things haven't happened, it's that I'm not motivated to spend too much time writing about them. So, without further ado...

This silly little pumpkin. I made her a winter hat and she insisted on modeling it for me all day. I'm sure her head got hot, but as I cannot keep clothes on her (new trick: getting nekked), I'm sure she didn't overheat.

She enjoys helping fold the laundry. Confining her is the only way the laundry actually stays folded until I can put it away...

Hitting the beach. Lake Tahoe is absolutely gorgeous. B is way too brave though, and attempts to drown herself every time we're near water.

Signing off....

Milestones

2010-06-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

This baby is talking. And she's not a baby. I've been trying to get a video of her saying all her new words, but each time I try, she clams up...of course. She also counts, up to three, sometimes 4. And says her ABC's, up to C, then the rest of the alphabet song is all C's. It's hilarious. Also, I know it's a bit late, but she has finally started saying "Mama." We were in a store the other day, and she and Daniel were off looking for something else, when I heard her yelling across the store, "MAMA!, MAMA!" It was awesome.

Baby Bun

2010-05-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

A 3D pic of Bun......and Bodi being a hooligan.

One photo

2010-05-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

Because she is the sweetest, most beautiful thing I've ever seen.....and she is getting to be such a big girl.

Howdy

2010-04-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

A lot can happen in two months....

2010-04-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

I recently got a nasty post, complaining of my lack of current blog activity (by the one person who reads it....ok, this is now edited to read "by one of the two people who read my blog...the nasty one"). Well, I've had a good excuse. I have recently discovered that almost constant nausea really puts a damper on one's interest in, well, all but the essentials of life; eating (occasionally), sleeping (sporadically), bathing (bathing?), etc.

Yep, I'm pregnant. 14 weeks. And it appears to be a girl, but we'll find out for sure in a few weeks. I would post a sweet ultrasound pic, but I've lost them.

Nothing like having a toddler to distract you and change your priorities.

This little girl, just now, without my prompting, told me "no thank you" when I offered her something to drink.....holy cow.

Yesterday she found a tree limb that is low enough for her to grab and hang from. My little monkey.

She is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Ever.

She's almost a year and a half old and has finally taken to solid food. I've discovered that she'll eat anything if I cover it in a peanut curry sauce. Handy, no?

We've done a bit of traveling (which we won't do again for as long as I can put it off). We were in Vegas about a week ago and, although it was too cold to swim, it wasn't too cold to walk around the shallows in her crocs. Of course she also decided to sit down...

Lastly, since it's been so cold here in Reno (it snowed a couple days ago...) we spend a bit of time at the gymnastics gym, running around the mats, hanging from the rings, balancing.

Also, if you want to see a cute video of Bodi making our favorite faces, go to beancollins.blogspot.com

Pac NW :: a week in review

2010-02-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

Bodi and I just got home from a week visiting Oregon. We have missed it. Porland was lovely and rainy, but that didn't stop our trips to the park!

That handsome, little man on the left is Alex.

B had a lot of fun with Auntie Bean's pugs....

They were very long suffering. I think they'll be best friends soon.

Fish face and fun with Polaroid

2010-01-12T14:49:00.001-08:00

This is Bodi's newest face. She loves making it.

Sometimes she laughs so much, she can't do it anymore.

This is Bodi's Tie-Chair. My sis-in-law, Ilse, and I were trying to figure out how to make one after we saw a couple with their twins tied up in these things at a restaurant. We thought it was a great idea.

Bodi thinks so too.

This New Year

2010-01-01T09:21:00.000-08:00

Bodi learned to walk about a week before we left for South Africa. She had a speed wobble and a very cute thing she did with her left arm for balance.

Since we've been home she has learned to run.

It was a big day...November 21st, 2008

2009-12-01T19:39:00.000-08:00

Bodicea turned one. She is a year old. It's been a wonderful, crazy, hard, sleepless, amazing, breathtaking year. And it's flown by. I've talked to some moms about their baby's birthdays, and how it makes them sad. I'm glad that's not how I felt. I'm so excited to see all the new things she learns, to watch how she interprets her world. I definitely don't want to keep her a baby forever, but I think that is inevitably how moms think of their children, deep down. It's not that I don't see the beautiful, precocious toddler in front of me; it's just that she has the same face I saw in her first few seconds in this world. I remember everything and nothing at the same time.

She's walking now. She still crawls but it's less every day. She only has a handful of words, but nonetheless, can get her point across. She has her own mind and has no problem with letting you know what's on it. She has started giving kisses in the last couple weeks; before that, it was really hit or miss. This morning she woke up around 6am, sat up, looked around, crawled over to me and gave me a kiss goodmorning, saying "mamamammamam."

I don't think it can really get any better than this.

Do's and Don'ts

2009-11-11T10:13:00.000-08:00

What I DO feel like today....

New sock yarn

What I DON'T feel like today.......

DO...babies in animal costumes

DON'T...Liver and onions (I was going to put a picture of Glenn Beck, but I would rather have a pic of fried internal organ on my blog)

LOVE....Well, it was going to be a video of Bodi, but I can't get it to work. So it's another DON'T.

Chilly fall days

2009-11-09T14:38:00.000-08:00

Mmmmmm.... Rooibos tea, pumpkin bread, and sock knitting. Heaven.

Smile! It's picture time!

2009-11-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

We have found our new favorite toy.....

The sun was in her eyes, but she was so happy!!

I love the face she makes when she startles herself!

My little tree, er, hugger? Biter?

Autumn

2009-10-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

Autumn is here. And we're busy planning, scheming, organizing, and daydreaming. I love this time of year....love it. My favorite. It snowed for a little while this last weekend (yes, here...right outside my window) and now the hills around town are dusted white.

We've been slow getting this house organized. Renting just doesn't engender the same sense of "home" the way that having your own house does. Nonetheless, we still love where we live and seem to have lucked into the nicest neighborhood in the area.

The California town of Truckee is 25min from our house and we met up with an old school friend a couple weekends ago. My friend and I hiked with Bodi while Daniel mountain biked. We came home with this....

It's a Specialized "Kicky bike" and Bodi loooooooves it. Her feet don't quite reach the ground but she hangs on to the handle bars and squeals while we roll her around. It doesn't have pedals so the kids are supposed to kick themselves around....Apparently they learn to ride faster this way, without training wheels. You can imagine how excited this makes Daniel!

We just started getting cold weather so it was time to get out the hand-knits!!

Yay for Pumpkin hats!!!

settling in

2009-09-01T16:26:00.001-07:00

We're here....Reno, NV. And I love it. My house is in shambles and I'm wearing the same couple outfits because I can't find the rest of my clothes. So short blog post.

Behold. My first farmer's market haul.

My wonderful husband and insomniac baby.

Seriously. This is not her natural state.

2/3 of a year

2009-07-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

Today, this baby is eight months old.

Drink Milk!

2009-06-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

Justine thinks this looks like an ad for milk....an ad for milk in China. A country where, according to her, people don't drink milk. Hmmm. What does that say?

Milestones

2009-06-25T07:20:00.001-07:00

It has been a big week around here.

One of us has learned that she can cover a lot more ground on her hands and knees than on her tummy. Look out kitties! Also, for the last few nights, that same brave girl has also endured the irritation of a couple nasty teeth trying to poke there way through her poor gums. Tuesday, one of them succeeded! We now have a tooth (or the beginning of one). She has also been trying to figure out how to sleep without being wrapped up like a burrito. Very grown up, indeed.

In garden news, I have a tomato. I actually have three. This is a pic of the nicest one. You wouldn't know it to look, but my fruit/veggie garden is quite extensive for the desert. It consists of one plum tree, one fig tree, one pomegranate tree, five tomato plants, one habenero, two chives, one thyme, one oregano, and more rosemary and mint than I could ever use. How nice is that?? The plums were delicious and I've picked them all already (it's a small tree).

Now that I think about it, I will be sad to leave my house when we move. My house and my garden have been an oasis in this city. But leave we must, and soon. Plans are underway to move to Reno, forthwith. We're looking at houses next week, and can move as soon as we find something suitable. Cool, no?

Mi vida loca

2009-06-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

It has been crazy! I love summer in Vegas....we're never here! The week before last was spent all over the west coast, visit family and friends. Then this last weekend took my little family to the central valley of California for a wedding, some serious baby time, a plan to return very soon for the beach......

Prepare for gratuitous family photo-ing.

The Poppa and his new bride!...

Dad and Deb...

AB and Uncle Ray...

The siblings...

Yay! A nice pic of my family!...

My wonderful husband...

My ephemeral sisters....

Babies!!!

Bodi with Uncle Mikal...

Cousin Cairo...

Kisses!

Baby Mama, Sara!

And just to keep it real....

my wee peanut

2009-05-21T19:47:00.001-07:00

is 6mo old today....

She has been very busy feeling grass

riding on her daddy's shoulders

sitting all by herself

and walking on her Daddy's feet.

So many new things for a little one to learn in such a short period of time. She even has a word. Already. She has ONE WHOLE word. This baby talks. She tells us when she has to go potty. Can you believe it? It took us a week of her saying her word, for us to figure out what she meant. Not so quick on the uptake, these sleep deprived parents of hers. I am every day in awe of how incredibly smart this girl is. She is absorbing so much about her world, so many new experiences, it would make an adults head spin. She handles all this newness with so much confidence; as if she expects to learn and is pleased it is all working out to her plan. She is cheerful and interested most of the day, patient with her parents who are still learning how to talk to her. What would Daniel and I do without her?

(besides sleep)....

mwa-ah-ha

2009-05-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

Sock craziness. Let it begin.

couldn't get the scanner working.....

2009-05-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

For people who have seen the originals, these photos will look a lot better.

Happy Mother's Day, mama.

Back to knitting

2009-05-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh. This, my pretties, is the fiber for a project I have had in mind for a long time. As you may surmise, it requires prodigious quantities of yarn. The yarn in question went on sale at a favorite online shop the other day, and I snatched it up! So, as I knit about two rows every 3-4 days, I have enough knitting in this one project to keep me busy for the next 3o years. That is a cake of two skeins of yarn, wound together...and this project will take almost 5 of those cakes. Holy guacamole.

What is this project you say? I first saw it on brookly ntweed. A designer named Jared Flood added some lovely touches to a wonderfully simple pattern by Elizabeth Zimmermann. He knits amazing stuff and his photos are incredible. Behold! The Garter Stitch Blanket. Go look at it!

I can't wait to get started! (Although I think summer in Vegas is not the time...for health reasons).

Cheers!

Family photo

2009-04-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

These are the only known photographs of the United States species of deWaals. While extremely difficult to capture together in the wild, they can sometimes be lured into 19th century Dutch colonial manors with offers of food and family. Their natural desert habitat, being bereft of the latter, makes photographic evidence of their existence most difficult to acquire. In fact, due the the rarity of this group, these photos are more than 2months old (the smallest of the US deWaal's does not even fit on the largest of the deWaal's lap anymore). It is the hope of this ethnographer that by sheding light on this sad situation, we may be able to entice the South African species of deWaals to migrate through North America sometime in the next year.

no more bashed-blogging

2009-04-17T09:25:00.000-07:00

i.e. No more blogging when I'm super tired. It's kind of like tispsy-texting, drunk-dialing, etc. in that you trend toward the mellow dramatic.

That is Bodi's new chair. It's a crazy piece of hard-but squashy foam type substance that keeps her sitting upright so that she can see what's going on (she gets tired of laying).

That's all.

Mommy-ing

2009-04-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I'm so overwhelmed by how tired I am, the littlest things seem insurmountable. Like cooking. I love to cook, but when Bodi has refused to take even one nice long nap all day, giving me a short respite from the 24/7 job of being her mom (not that it's really a break, it just feels like it), I am in no shape to clean and then re-mess the kitchen; think about a menu; shop for the groceries. That is why I'm so fortunate to have the easiest to please husband in the world. He really is. If I'm tired and I say "I'm sorry you've been busting your butt all day in the salt mine, but there is no way you're getting a decent, homemade meal tonight. I'm ordering pizza," he says "sounds great." And then the next morning he gets up early and takes the baby when she wakes up and gives me another hour of sleep by myself, with no kicking baby toes in my tummy, and the whole bed to myself...AND he brings me coffee, then unbegrudgingly heads off to work. I must remember to take better care of that man.

This post was supposed to be about Bodi and being her mom, but I guess it's also about Daniel and being his wife. I'm so lucky.

Back to Bodi. For the history of people, babies have been cared for. Numerous babies all in the same family. People have managed to live through caring for twins, infants and toddlers, infants, toddlers and older children... I know they did it and survived, and sometimes that is the only thing that keeps me from crying when I wake up in the middle of the night for the 6th time in as many hours. It's only in the middle of the night when it feels impossible. When the morning comes, everything starts over and I'm optimistic. Like right now, typing while watching my baby sleep on my lap, is just the best reminder that she is only going to be little for such a short time.

In the middle of the night I must remember that she really is the best little baby in the world. That she has only been alive for four months! Sure, I could get her to sleep through the night if I wanted to sleep train her, let her cry-it-out in a room all by herself. Eventually she would sleep all night from exhaustion. Eventually she would sleep all night after realizing that no one is going to come when she calls for them. But that isn't how Daniel and I have decided to raise her. One day she will sleep all night, and it will be me lying there awake wondering if she's breathing; one day she will want her own bed, own room, and I'll be the one waking her up for school, for a snuggle. And one day she won't be a silly, little toe eater anymore.....

Enough maundering.

Farm Life

2009-04-08T08:24:00.001-07:00

Our trip to Hick-tucky last weekend was absolutely lovely. We had beautiful weather (which was nice since we've been out there when the weather has been horrendous!). And virtually no catastrophes! We did get stuck in the mud trying to get out, but our neighbor has about a dozen tractors, all of which are capable of towing a cement truck.

See that spout at the roof? That's our woodstove! Cozy....

My handsome farmer Dan, with his walking stick, whilst tromping across one of our fields.

Bodi looooveed riding the four-wheeler. We snugged her all up and drove really slow. She just looked around and chatted with us the entire ride.

This baby loved the farm. She had so much fun seeing all our neighbors farm animals, walking in the woods, watching the river; it was amazing seeing how she responded to all the new experiences. I think she must get bored with me at home!

Moo

2009-04-02T10:00:00.001-07:00

Alright peeps, we're off to the farm this afternoon. We'll be checking on tree planting (Bodi's college fund), planting some fruit trees, playing in them mud, and trying to stay dry. Our little cabin is all snug with a woodstove and lots of blankets, so we should be good.....I'm taking lots of knitting and books.

Oh, and that little thing with the huge cheeks.

P.S. I found the cow. Apparently she hadn't eaten it.

weekend adventures

2009-03-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

I guess I was a bit confused about where we were going this last weekend. Turns out Daniel was taking us to Zion, UT for a little mountain biking. The farm is this weekend....

This is my baby eating her cow...I just thought it was funny. Speaking of which, I haven't seen that cow since the picture was taken.

The Springdale Bench, for a little ride. Bodi and I went for a walk while D rode. Then he hung out with her while I, well, tried to ride. It was a pretty sad effort. My lungs started burning almost within the first 10yards. But sooo fun and nice to get out again!

fun Stuff!

2009-03-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

My, oh, my but there is a lot of fun to be had with your baby. Daniel and Bodi and I are heading to the farm next weekend and it has just got me thinking about growing up in the country and being a little kid. And then laying in the backyard in the spring sun with Bodi the other day, I realized how long it's been since I really smelled the grass and dirt and watched bugs. Everything is so immediate and new when you're small. The days last forever and every experience is so fresh. I think that is partly what drew me to climbing...playing in the dirt, getting sweaty and tired. But I digress.

Things to do with your baby. It's almost as if having a child gives you the opportunity to relive, or remember what it was like, to be a little one. You get to introduce them to all the things you loved when you were small, but haven't thought about in years because you've been so involved in school, work, bills, house stuff, the future. The most beautiful part of being a child is there is no future to worry about; they just have the "now."

Case in point...this wagon. http://mountainboysleds.com/butterfly_wagon.htm It's AmAzInG! And I want it. For me. Bodi can get her own. Think how much fun it would be gathering wood for a fort; careening down a grass hill (although, I'm not sure you could steer as well with the handle on this one as the old radio flyers...and it definitely wouldn't fill with water as well); hauling tired babies home from the farmers market. How fun! I'm looking forward to making her a rope swing over our river, inner-tubing, water fights in the house, summer grass-hill tobogganing, wearing the same pair of cut-offs all summer long, forgetting to eat lunch because you're too full of blackberries.....

And that's just the summer. There are three other seasons I'm excited about showing her.

newness

2009-03-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

Bodi met her great-grandpa this last weekend. I think they have something in common...

Also big news, my Bodi-bug has found her toes and is learning to roll over and sit....(sounds like a puppy).

(a millisecond before she crashed)

ack!

2009-03-04T11:16:00.001-08:00

No time to blog. We're moving in a couple months and the house needs to be overhauled in order for us to put it on the market (just in case it matters). And I started working a couple days a week. And I have a baby that has decided not to let me sleep at night anymore. To sum, my brain is fried and I have no time to blog.

Pretty baby pic

Bodi and Daddy, 6days old.

for lack of youtube

2009-02-19T07:20:00.000-08:00

I have been trying for two days to upload a couple videos of Bodi so that I can post them on my blog. No luck. I will try again when my patience for technology returns.

In the meantime......some of my favorite things from this morning.

Morning Edition with the smell of my first cup of coffee

Waking up at 6:30 with this beautiful person

Home again with a big sigh of relief

2009-02-15T09:44:00.000-08:00

We are home! And this is Bodi's "I have jetlag and that is why I'm awake at 5am" face. She was the best baby ever. Amazing. She negotiated flying, layovers, 1am plane changes in Senegal, and overly friendly flight attendts like a seasoned globe trotter. I had my reservations about how much fun Daniel and I were going to have with a screaming baby for 26hrs trapped on a plane, but, wait for it....

Bodi ate and slept. That's it. For most of the flight, with intermittent playing in between, there was no serious crying. None.

That's why, it's totally okay with her parents if she is awake at 5am. We're just relieved.

More about the trip later.

Chocolate (to the third power) Cookies

2009-01-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

Ah ha! Last summer PPP2, her bff, and I made some spectacular chocolate-chocolate chip cookies. They were super rich, chewy, and better after refrigeration. Sadly, I haven't been able to find the recipe we used! So, I kind of made up my own...

Ingredients:
4oz baking chocolate
1/2 c butter
3/4 c white sugar
3/4 c brn sugar
1/2 c sour cream (full fat)
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 bag bittersweet chocolate chips

The Test Kitchen:
Melt the chocolate and the butter together on the stove. Let it cool a bit and then add it to the sugar, vanilla, sour cream, and eggs. Cream together. In a separate bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and then add to the wet, along with the chocolate chips. Refrigerate the dough until cool and slightly hard, an hour or two. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350F. Drop by spoonfuls onto a foil covered cookie sheet and bake for 8-10min. Remove from oven and allow to continue cooking on cookie sheet for another few min then remove to wire rack to cool.

I both under and over baked them, trying to find the right time. It will probably vary based on your oven, etc. And seriously, don't eat them warm. They are sooo much better after a night in the fridge.

Enjoy!

The smartest baby in the world

2009-01-19T08:31:00.000-08:00

Okay, so everyone knows they have the brightest, most beautiful baby that every graced this world. I totally agreee; they do. I just have to mention the spectacular accomplishments of this baby. Since we started ECing yesterday, we have caught all the poops. I repeat, all the poops. I haven't changed a poopy diaper since day before yesterday. Today, we have been "dry" since 7am; almost two hours, catching three potties so far. I have absolutely no special skill in this, whatsoever. This auspicious beginning is all due to Bodi. She knows exactly what is going on and when she goes, gives me a look of relief, like "thank you for finally getting with the program. I had almost given up on you!."

This is another awesome website I found yesterday, surfing for inspiration. It's an Australian woman's site about her family's take on all sorts of fun, natural-family stuff.
http://www.tribalbaby.org/index.html

I am going to be blogging about this ECing so I can see how things are going, keep track of what cues she gives me, etc.

Missed:
- squirming after partially waking up from a nap (went back to sleep after she peed in her diaper)
- fussing/squirming first this morning, before we woke up

Caught:
- grunting
- squirming and not staying on the boob while nursing

Also, the Peanut has started sucking her thumb. Not just her fist, but specifically her thumb. Yeah! Maybe she will feel better now that she has something she can do for herself?

Gratuitous beautiful baby pic.

wahoo! for infant pottying!

2009-01-18T08:49:00.000-08:00

Holy moley, it works! Elimination communication or EC; natural infant hygiene; baby potty training (although it's not "training"); whatever you want to call it. I caught three of Bodi's pottys this morning. Actually caught it, before she was required to go in her diaper. She actually smiled at me before and after she peed. It was awesome. To actually be able to read your child and listen to when they tell you they need something! It's like a little bit of light in the very murky world of taking care of this baby. Most of the time I'm just guessing, running down the list of what she could possibly need or want.

We listen when they tell us they are hungry, cold/hot, sad, uncomfortable, but for some reason, in this country, we don't listen when they tell us they need to relieve themselves. Even our pets are allowed to be more hygienic. True, babies can't do for themselves the way that puppies and kittens can, but if helped, they sure will try not to soil themselves. From everything I've read, they truly do know when they are going to go and they DO try to tell us. We just have to pay attention. Isn't it odd that in many third world countries, people, especially the parents in poor and rural areas, potty their infants this way? It is as if being able to afford the luxury of disposables or the water to wash cloth diapers causes people to socially regress. Kind of like the formula vs breastfeeding issue; how much more difficult has technology made the simple task of feeding a baby? Ask Beani about the split pants in China!

It's not as if we don't use diapers anymore, I'm just trying to minimize. We'll see how this adventure goes!

There are numerous online information resources:
http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/
http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com/elimination-communication.html

Forums where you can chat with other ECing parents:
http://www.mothering.com/

And whole stores devoted to items to help EC your baby:
http://www.theecstore.com/

Can you just imagine how much cleaner and more comfortable for your baby it is to take it to a potty than make it go on itself?

I'm out of eeenteresting things

2009-01-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

Yup, dried up. Nothing else interesting. But as the only person who reads this blog is Justine, and she already know just about everything I put up here, it's not really too terrible a loss. I'll have loads to post when we get back from SA, but until then...more Baby Bodi. Daniel is on the farm this weekend so we're taking the opportunity to work on our elimination communication and nap while nursing! Yeah for us!

la troisième chose intéressante

2009-01-14T08:44:00.000-08:00

Knitting!!!

Embroidery on a hat....

Felted bowls (don't laugh Daniel)...

A cashmere cowl....

Malabrigo fingerless mitts....

mittens.....

Baby blanket (obviously not made by me as I can't crochet) and hat....

Baby hat #487.....

Kung fu fighting....

Fin!

interesting things #2

2009-01-12T14:17:00.000-08:00

I live in Vegas...the place where the sun never goes away. Originally from the NW, you can imagine what this does to my psyche. So, with it was with a serious amount of incredulity that I watched it snow the other day, all day long. In fact, there was a snowman in my yard, and snow on my little cactus garden. Interesting.

Oh, and again, the other thing I find interesting.

interesting things...

2009-01-08T11:15:00.000-08:00

So my sister (hereafter known as PPP2) has been on my case, scratch that, advising me that I should post more. I want to, I really do. It's just a bit of a time crunch around here....to the tune of " should I shower (always a good option), or should I do something about that smell in the kitchen?" She suggested I carry my camera around with me to take pictures of things I find interesting and blog about them. This post will be the first in a short series on "What I find interesting."

This is currently what I find the most interesting....

I think she is going to suck her thumb!

I've also been contemplating how that right there can go from this

and this
to this

and this
in just a few short weeks.

oh my

2008-12-22T11:05:00.001-08:00

My baby has started to smile at me. Intentionally, I think...

Be still my heart.

it was the best of times

2008-12-20T15:44:00.000-08:00

This is a morning baby!

Auntie Beani was just visiting us, for a whole week! She didn't get to do much besides play with the baby, and wait on me hand and foot (so kind of her!), but I think she still had a nice time. She turned out to be a champ at calming the little peanut too (thank you thank you thank you, as I mostly just turn into a bawling mess whenever Bodi goes nuclear). Sadly, there is no evidence as all the pictures we took of the three of us turned out positively dreadful. I suppose first thing in the morning after very little sleep is probably not the best time for a photo shoot; except for Bodi-baby...she looks beautiful all the time (even with dried milk all over her face!).

Today we had a short outing to get some essentials and a few groceries. She performed marvelously. She navigated Target (christmas shoppers!ack!) amazingly, and then we smiled and sang songs while Daniel ran into TraderJoes.

Is there a more beautiful baby anywhere?

It was a big day and now she's trucked!

Bodi makes her grand entrance

2008-12-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

The baby has arrived! She is already 4wks old. Time has flown. It's been such an adjustment, I've only now gotten the chance to download pics off the camera and get them up here. Bodi is already showing us her fantastic personality. We can't wait to get to know her better...

She is the most darling, perfect little girl ever....and I think we're going to keep her.

bah!

2008-11-13T09:12:00.001-08:00

Bodi's room is done. Well, excepting having a baby in it (and, hopefully soon, there will be a mobile over the crib). I'm still unsure about how much time she will actually spend in this space, at least for a while, so it may be that this entire exercise was solely for me. Regardless, I am quite happy with the end result. It's snug and sweet, and not overly pastel.

I found a little folding shelf that will work perfectly for her books (as soon as they arrive).

The prints above her dresser are another etsy find. They appear to be little, abstract bubble-trees

So, I'm through with taking tummy pictures. This last one is 40 (actually 40+) weeks and that's it. NO more.

The next time you see this baby, it will be from the outside!

exhale

2008-11-04T20:40:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness.......

choose your own adventure

2008-11-03T15:05:00.000-08:00

I am now ____ weeks _____. This _____ is going to _____ before she ever shows up. Her mother and father are _____. At this point, we expect _____ to happen before _____.

We're in a holding pattern. Daniel is trying to limit his out of town business trips, and I'm trying to convince myself that tomorrow should be my last day of work. We haven't gone anywhere over the weekend in forever (even Zion, which would be so beautiful this time of year!), although Daniel keeps hinting about heading to the farm as soon as possible after D-day. So I have very little to report. Except Daniel just bought me a set of BBC adapted classics on DVD! So excited. I think he's banking on me having some time to sit and do nothing...hmmm, we'll see.

Below, the belly. 'Nuff said.

The recent additions to her room (in a blatant effort to bribe her into showing up): I found some fantastic alphabet prints on etsy. The color is not very representative as the walls are actually green and the colors of the prints are a lot more vibrant.

I also found (on etsy) the sweetest crib quilt. It is shades of pink, orange, and green. I know she won't need it for a while, but it was too perfect. It's too bad I don't know how to sew; this would have been so much fun to make!

In knitting news, Pan is shown here modeling Bodi's Pixie hat. Or elf hat. He was surprisingly patient with the photo shoot.

Additionally:
Do you pay taxes? Drive on roads? Live in the U.S.? Do you know what is going to happen tomorrow??? Let's cross our fingers that people come to their senses and as Thomas Friedman said "not vote for the candidate you most want to have a beer with (unless it’s to get stone cold drunk so you don’t have to think about this mess we’re in). Vote for the person you’d most like at your side when you ask your bank manager for an extension on your mortgage."

1st: Any takers? 2nd: an announcement...

2008-10-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

First: I've opened up the table to new bets. Anybody want to put money on this baby coming tomorrow? The 31st? Two weeks past my due date of Nov 10th? Not that I have a choice, of course, but I'm thinking next week. Don't know when, but sometime next week. How fun would that be if I was right??

It's gotten hard to breath, finish a meal, and tie my shoes. That being said, I'm going to miss her wiggling around in there.

Alright, second: We have a name.

Bodicea Lily deWaal

Daniel and I decided we had to have consensus on the first name, but if the baby was a girl, I got to pick her middle name, if a boy, he did. He actually came up with Bodicea. Google it; she has a great story.

So, a couple weekends ago we got a bunch of plaster gauze and made a cast of my belly. It was a bit chilly, but super fun! We got the idea from a couple we're friends with who did this for both her pregnancies. It looks super cool when it's all done. I'll post the final product when we get around to actually finishing it.

Ahhhh, stealth knitting. This is a sneak peak of two separate projects. They're both done, but sitting quietly in my knitting bag........

the perfect cake

2008-10-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

This really was the Perfect Cheesecake. I don't know how it happened, but I managed to NOT forget to add half the cheese (like last time...oddly, when I added the errant package of cream cheese after I realized it wasn't setting up right in the oven, it was still edible), I managed to NOT over or under cook both the filling and the crust, and I managed to NOT add crushed garlic to the topping (I was multitasking making a tomato sauce for the veggie lasagna).

May I present "Daniel's Perfect Cheesecake"!

We broke into it last night, sharing with our friend Chris, who was also a big fan. I had also made up a crazy delicious lemon curd, of which only I partook. I men were content to consume the Perfect Cheesecake unaccompanied.

(I had already bitten it before I realized I should take a photo for posterity. It was just so pretty!)

I can finally reveal the STEALTH KNITTING project that has been so long in the coming. It is a dense and toasty scarf to keep Daniel warm on his various business trips this winter. He picked out the yarn (without knowing it) and I found this Celtic inspired pattern on KnitingDaily. I think it turned out lovely.

So, it was a nice, homey weekend for us. It is finally getting cold here, thank goodness. Daniel said it actually snowed on him yesterday, during his mountain bike ride up in the hills. It's still sunny (maniacally so), but the chill in the air gives me energy. We haven't turned on the heater, but the gas fireplace is warming up the livingroom nicely.

I'm waiting for the trees to lose their leaves!

November can't come soon enough

2008-10-08T18:32:00.000-07:00

Wow, this baby is about to take over my entire body. At this point she is growing at an alarmingly exponential rate. By the time she's born, she'll be wrestling in Daniel's weight classs. They tell me there is plenty of room for both her and me in there, but I have my doubts. I guess well see.

For proof, I have exhibit A: me, 3wks ago.

Exhibit B: me, yesterday.

As you can see, the baby has finally filled out and will arriving as a large, semi aquatic mammal.

if you order the pea soup

2008-10-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

Week 35....theoretically only 5 to go before D-day. Although, since the average length of gestation is 40weeks, there are a significant portion of pregnancies that go beyond to 42weeks. Here's hoping I'm not one of them. Not that I couldn't use the time....

Our nursery is, for the most part, adequate (and it's green, greengreengreen. I like the shade, but it isn't what I had originally thought. Also, it's not organized yet, so there is stuff just piled everywhere). So, really, what does a person that small truly need? Does she need wall art? Little alphabet animals spelling her name? Curtains? Nope. We've got a bassinet, some blankets, some onsies, and diapers. I think we're good. That being said, I am trying to get a room nice and tidy for her (me).

We have a crib. A quilt that a friend made for us for our wedding (on right of crib). A blankie another friend knit for the baby (on left)

We have a dresser with changing table. It's been a long time since I've changed a baby's diaper, but I remember that I usually used the floor, so we'll see how much the table gets used.

And the bassinet. This will actually go in our room. It has these little straps that secure it next to our bed so we can just scoop her out without getting up.

Finally, the knitting. I was tired of slaving away at the never-ending-garter-stitch-baby sweater (which really should be done by now...it's not very big). So, I made a quick little stuffed animal for her! Isn't it cute? I love it!

old McDonald....

2008-09-28T08:29:00.001-07:00

This has been a quiet weekend here in Las Vegas, primarily because the Man is here:

racing around on the 4-wheeler, finding projects that involve him using a chainsaw and a hatchet, then sitting on the porch:

with this (hopefully sometime after noon-thirty and when he's done riding the quad):

My weekend has been quite productive in a much less active way. I've been trying to get rid of a cold for the last couple weeks, and sitting on the couch all day (along with a hefty dose of tea and Pride and Prejudice) just may have done it. Unfortunately, I also need to sleep. For that depend on the goodwill of Thing-One

and Thing-Two.......

Neither of whom were predisposed to allow me to sleep beyond 6:30am. I explained how it was weekend and that meant I did not have to go to work, but they assumed since the sun was up, so should we be. Pushing them off the bed only confirmed their idea that I was awake.

Oh yes, another reason sleep has been somewhat elusive....

All 34weeks of her. Can you believe she can fit in there? This is all preparation for waking up every 2 hours once she gets here, I think. Lest you all think I walk around about to tip over, the picture below is one I took after flexing my stomach. Makes movement much easier when she's not just hanging out there in space. (that sharp and pointy thing in the upper right of the photos is my elbow).

Stealth knitting has been much more successful this weekend. But, no pics for a while. At least until after I can give the recipient their gift (they do occasionally check this blog). I'm multitasking with a baby sweater, as well as a couple hats and hope to be finished before she arrives.

It's fall here in Vegas. Technically, this means the high temp for the day is no longer in the triple digits. So, yesterday was only 97. I'm looking forward to next month, and a true beginning to Autumn....my favorite time of year!

like a ninja

2008-09-22T19:12:00.001-07:00

I've been meaning to post, honestly....and then I get distracted. Either by cooking, chores, work, knitting, you name it. I've been stealth knitting for a couple weeks now. Sneaky me. Unfortunately, not much knitting gets accomplished. I don't recommend this method of gift making, it's very slow.

News update: Baby girl is growing nicely. She's right on track for a hopefully uneventful water birth.

more later.....

casting a shadow

2008-09-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

We have nine weeks to go, and this kid is about to go through a growth spurt. The next few weeks, she'll gain about 1/2lb each week. That just amazes me. I'm already attracting small planets and asteroids, I can't imagine what this will look like in November. Well, actually, I can as I see it every day. Actually, I'm small for the average gal and will probably go for a growth ultrasound next week. This little girl is laying transverse (sideways instead of head down)...and babies can't come out that way (they're bendy, but not that bendy) so we may have some maneuvering to do.

In less astronomic news, I have new knitting pics. This little sweater is about 12mo size, as is the flower hat to go with.

I found these fantastic little hand made ceramic buttons at the yarn shop in Reno and thought they'd be perfect!

This little hat was a tiny single skein of the softest handspun cashmere I've ever felt. I made up the pattern and had just barely enough to make a newborn cap.

And now I'm officially done with the purple! I like it, but really, in moderation. Now, as far as girly colors go, I have only one pink hat that I've made. It's a white cotton held double with a laceweight pink mohair...and it's so soft and pink and I love it!!

My next knitting projects are all secrets (ie gifts), so, no posts. I have a lot to get done before this kid arrives! As my sister reminded me the other day, my free time may be somewhat limited after that.

whew!

2008-08-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

Boy, have the last few weeks been busy!

Weekend before last, my friend Jenny and her fantastic son, Alex, came to visit me. This is Alex when we were playing at the pool (in the morning, as the afternoons were stroke-inducing hot).

Another of the cutie pie...chilling in his own lounge chair.

And just because it was terribly cute....

Alex reorganizing my tupperware cupboard. It needed it, and he did in fact, put them all away in his own little organized way.

Finally, my lovely friend Jenny. Apparently, in the presence of a 2year old, I am incapable of taking more than one picture of my beautiful friend.

You might have noticed the said 2year old was in that pic as well.....

RENO! (don't knock it)
We spent last weekend in Reno. Just exploring and seeing if we like the place for a possible alternative to Vegas. While it's not Portland (no comparison really), but still, given my current point of reference, it's won-der-ful! Trees, a river right through town, independent coffee shops, AND (can you hear the choir sing?) a fabulous little breakfast place. All this is within walking distance of the neighborhood we will look for a house in. Another bonus, the high all weekend was low 90's. Can't emphasize enough how lovely it was to be able to wear jeans in the evening. Love it!

In knitting news,
I have a few more things to add. A bunny hat, a flower hat, and a teeny bolero. As slow as I knit, the photos of my knitting seem to arrive even slower.

I missed a tummy pic week, but this one, 29 weeks, is the latest and has been added to the slideshow. If it looks like I all of a sudden started showing, that's because I did. And I feel like it. And apparently, I am going to get bigger.

I really do have a job....

2008-08-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

This, my lovlies, is a swift. This contraption holds a hank of yarn so that the ball-winder, attached to the table behind, can wind a very unwieldy hank into a nice, tidy, ball. Daniel surprised me with this last winter (entirely because he was tired of having to hold the hank in his hands whilst I laboriously hand wound the ball). I love it. It's so much fun to use I've already wound all the loose hanks of yarn hanging around the house. Guess I'll have to buy more!

This is a hat I just finished (after a long hiatus) for Daniel's older brother, Schalk. I made up the pattern, which is why it looks sort of bell shaped. It's really not, however, and looks quite dashing as a nice, smooth cap.

Finally, Bean suggested I add a pic that shows the other side of the little red sweater. It's a wrap around. I like it, but it turned out so much smaller that I had planned, I hope it fits the peanut for longer than 15min.

Lastly, I added another tummy shot. The last one is 27weeks. I haven't figured out how to add the weeks description to the actual picture, or to add it under as a caption, so I guess I'll have to beg the help of my geek-in-residence, again.

knitterly type things

2008-08-05T07:31:00.000-07:00

So, today we have two new tummy photos. They should be scrolling in sequence, but who knows if I really managed it that well. The latest are 25 and 26weeks (and feeling gimongous).

Also we have pics of recent knits! I am quite proud as this is the first sweater I've ever completed. I realize it's not saying much when the sweater is as tiny as it is, but nevertheless, it is finished and I am excited. I've actually knit quite a few more things, but they are in varying stages of completion and are not post-worthy as of yet.

More to come!

random monday

2008-07-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! I am still working on the China photos, so in the meantime, this is a photo meme with simple questions that you answer as Flickr image search. There is a mosaic maker tool (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php) you create it with then, voila! Fun! And time consuming.....

The Questions:

What is your first name?
What is your favorite food?
What high school did you go to?
What is your favorite color?
Who is your celebrity crush?
What is your favorite drink?
Dream vacation?
Favorite dessert?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What do you love most in life?
One word to describe you?
What is your flickr name?

my darling husband

2008-07-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

I don't believe I've mentioned what a wonderful husband I have. I firmly believe I'm the most fortunate woman in the world. Additionally, he is a genius. Behold, on the right of your screen, a TUMMY SLIDESHOW. Ah hA! Not a terribly exciting feat to the casual observer, but given my previous difficulties, one of gigantic proportions. Alas, the tummy is only just now getting interesting. There will be additions weekly to assess the progress of my stretch marks.

Also, my ultimate plan is to make this a baby-blog. As much as I have the time and interest for anyhow. I just don't seem to be a "journal writer," which, in this day and age, translates to "blogger." I really prefer paper. In fact, I am somewhat a collector of blank books. Trouble is I like them so much better blank, then when I fill them with drivel. i.e. what I've been typing so far.....

I can't believe I forgot this. I had my mid-pregnancy ultrasound right before I went to China (more about that later). This one was to look for any anatomical abnormalities. Baby girl received a clean bill of health.

The most recent (and last) pic of the wee-peanut (until she finally arrives to meet us). How can you not be amazed?

Argh!

2008-05-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

I have just spent the last hour and a half trying to add specific page elements to this blog page, and failing miserably. I am so frustrated at this point, I could just erase the entire thing and forget about it! Why, oh why, can't it just be intuitive?? I cannot fathom why, when an error message pops up, it doesn't have a link to tell you WHAT that error was! Argh!

In the mean time, here are some pictures of New Orleans......

This was just some random architecture...

We went to one day of the Jazz Fest. It was absolutely the best part of the trip. This was a band called the Lost Bayou Ramblers. And yes, that is the base player balancing on his upright, while playing. I didn't get my camera out in time to get a shot of the fiddle player standing on the bass, while they BOTH played. So cool.

This was the venue for that band. There were about a dozen or so stages going at any given time.

Daniel and I wandering around Jackson Square and heading to the Faulkner House bookstore in Pirates Alley.

More random architecture....

2008-05-14T07:42:00.001-07:00

How cool is that? It actually has a profile now. And a neck, thank goodness!

And FINGERS! I can't believe how much the baby grew in the few short weeks between the first ultrasound and this one. They tell me the baby measured 8cm. But even though it was wiggling like a little frog, I still can't feel a thing. And, I'm not showing. I haven't gained any weight and my pants still fit.... Without the pictures, I'm not sure I'd believe I was pregnant. Especially now that I'm not so sick anymore.

I'm afraid this baby is going to make up for all this in the last two months, where I will defy all medical odds and my weight gain will resemble something akin to that of a baby beluga whale.

In other news, Daniel is still in South Africa. This has been a rather long trip, but I imagine he's been enjoying seeing his family. Also, I leave for CHINA in just a few short weeks! Wahoo! Beani will be finished with her school work, so we'll be able to just hang out, relax, and see the sights!

Can't wait.

what this blog is....

2008-04-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

This blog is about pictures. It's more of a photo-documentary than a journalistic commentary on life. It's for friends and family who we haven't seen us in so long, they may just have forgotten what we look like (in which case, here....)

This is the adorable husband.

And this, for those of you who may not know already, is what they tell me is our baby. (It is not, as I assumed based on how I've been feeling, some kind of gastrointestinal parasite).

I think it already has Daniel's nose.