I’m not one to like fads and really kinda cringe at the thought of last year’s fashion fads that included plastic neon and black sunglasses that you’d see Tom Cruise or John Cusack wear in some 80’s movie.  I remember going to a David Bazaan concert in Cincinnati earlier this year and there was so much flannel paired with skinny jeans and oversized glasses that I was sick to my stomach.

But I have to say when a fad goes beyond ‘me’ and really is has a positive message, I drink the kool-aid and hop on the bandwagon.  So, that being said, here’s the next pair of shoes that I’m dying to get on my feet:

Toms states that for every pair of shoes that they sell, they will donate one to a child in need.   As I mentioned before, ‘No Shoes on April 8th’, I don’t know what it is like to really truly want and need shoes.  I cannot image the blessing that a pair of shoes will be to a child that has none.  And for that reason, and because the shoes are cute… I support Toms!

Here’s what I will reward myself with if I, in fact, can loose these last 10 pesky pounds from baby #2 born March 2009!!!  It’s about time to get exercising and spending time on my health and body… these cute jeans (or something similar) will help motivate me for sure!

I just had a delightful little conversation with E about the meat that we eat.  I try to teach her that we should be thankful for our food, especially for the meat which must shed blood so that we can eat.

Me: We’re going to have chicken for dinner.

E: I like chicken.

Me: We eat lots of chicken and meat. We eat cows…

E: Their milk.

Me: Yes, their milk and also their meat.  We eat birds too.  The farmer kills the cows and chickens and we get to eat them.  That’s why we thank God for our meals, because that animal had to die so we could get our vitamins and protein.

E: (Figuring it out) But we have to leave some birds so that we can say ‘Hi little birdie’.

Me: Exactly

I love teaching that our meat, that is packaged so neatly in plastic wrap and labeled so brightly comes from an animal that lived, breathed and loved.  I hope she understands that almost  impossible process that a farmer must go through in order to have dinner on their tables (and ours).  How else can I impart the respect for God’s creation and the gentle structure of our earth if I cannot teach her the basics of food?

Ahhhh, I love summer for the meaningful talks that arise over fresh produce and scribbles with chalk on the sidewalk.

I’ve posted before on the necessity for a pregnant woman to get 75-100 grams of protein a day but didn’t elaborate on how to count.  So, I decided that today I would make a running count of all the protein that I eat (as a non-pregnant lady) to give a fair example of just how to do it.

Breakfast:

2 fried eggs = 12 grams (about 6 grams each)

Lunch:

Annie’s Mac & Cheese with added cream cheese, milk  and canned salmon =26 grams

Mac and Cheese is about 10 grams a serving

Cream cheese is about 9 grams for the bar, I used 1/3 of the bar

Salmon is about 40 grams for the can, 10 grams a serving

Milk is about 8 grams for 1 cup, I used about 1/3 of a cup

This puts me at 38 grams of protein by noon and it wasn’t hard at all… and very tasty.

Stay tuned for my update later and how I finished my day out!

This is my 5th attempt to grow a garden.  I’ve told you about it before, Baby Worm Fiona and Conversations about Dirt.

Each year I put seeds in little pots with the hope that I might just manage to grow something edible.  Each year my plants die.  I usually have a ‘black thumb’.  But this year is different.  Maybe it is the soil at our new home, maybe it is the seeds, but maybe it is the extra loving attention that these plants receive from an excited little 3 year old!

So to all of you ‘nay’ sayers, eat your heart out… or eat my salad and kale! Woohoo!

Almost the right size for eating... and to think I started as a seed!

And here’s a picture of my entire ‘plot’ where I have loads of salad greens and kale planted. Yummy!

Salad and Kale from seeds but the tomato plant at the end was a gift and had already sprouted flowers.

While teaching my Hands on Baby Class yesterday we came up with a good mantra: “When in doubt, skin to skin”

Problem: Baby is cold.

Solution: Skin to skin regulates temperature for both mom and baby!

Problem: Baby won’t latch and nurse.

Solution: Skin to skin to familiarize baby with mom’s smell and let the mom’s body work with baby’s to promote health bacteria.

Problem: Baby doesn’t know how to breath air yet, only amniotic fluid.

Solution: Hold baby Skin to skin and rub on her to stimulate first breaths, keep cord attached (only long enough to put baby on mom’s belly skin to skin).

Problem: Baby is overwhelmed with new surrounding.

Solution: Skin to skin, baby’s head to your heart, to breast for comfort and sound of mom’s heart beat.

See… parenting is that easy!

I wanted to pass out the word on a great website for moms.  Check it out!!!

What do you get when you mix a rainy day and a girl that keeps discarded clothing for fabric?  Apron day!

It was going to be a cleaning the kitchen kind of afternoon but as soon as I began washing a pot I remembered (fortunately) watching Martha Stewart last year and her saying that if it is lightning outside that you shouldn’t wash dishes.  Something about the chance of the bolt traveling to the sink, out the water and hit you.  A smile crept across my face as I laid down that pan and ventured on to the sewing machine.  It was nap time and the sun was hiding and there was nothing better to do.

If I have a minute’s rest from work or raising kids, I almost always go to the sewing machine.  I’m not a precise sewer, but enjoy it nevertheless.  And so I would call sewing my ‘in the zone’ hobby .  The rush that I get from creating something from scraps is so similar to the rush that a laboring mom has when she is ‘in the zone’ and feels what her amazing body is capable of.

The BabyBodyBirth curriculum that I use for my birth classes at Baby Moon really uses this concept to help one understand what childbirth is like even if you’ve never had a baby or witnessed a birth.  What a high I get from wearing something or displaying something that I created… hmmm…

Yesterday I began the day with a tall stack of banana whole wheat pancakes drizzled with agave nectar and had a brownie for lunch.  If you’ve ever done this you know that this is a disasterous combination.  Or as my OB said when I was pregnant with my first, ‘Be sure to have a slice of bacon with your donut, Lauren.’  I’m constantly drawn to sweets that serve as a quick pick-me up and have to remind myself that it won’t last and to instead have a ‘power food’ that will get me through the day.

Around 3pm,  I torpedoed into a blood sugar nightmare and finally decided to do something about it.  Enter the black bean quesadilla.

Pregnant women need to have lots of ‘power foods’ such as: cheese and whole grain crackers, egg and toast, quacamole and whole grain tortillas, salmon salad (a favorite of mine) with rye.  Remember that you need 75-100 grams of protein during pregnancy.  One benefit being that your bag of waters will be stronger and will help you have a more comfortable birth!!

We love the black bean quesadilla in this house and I try to make it or a variation at least once every two weeks.  So I thought that I’d share with you my easy and delicious recipe so that when you’ve forgotten your daily protein, you can quickly remedy your sugary blues!

BLACK BEAN QUESADILLA

1. Saute a cut up onion in some oil with minced garlic (1 onion and about 4 cloves of garlic). If you want to add bell peppers do so now, too!

2. Add a can of black beans (the ones soaking in a can quick cooker than dry ones).

3. Add spices: salt, pepper, cumin, curry, cinnamon, coriander (pretty much anything spicy and savory that you think goes in a quesadilla.

4. On med-high, heat oil and lay down a tortilla.  I get these spicy tomato tortillas and they’re delicious!  Top with the bean mixture and a handful of shredded cheddar.

5. Top with another tortilla.  Cook for 2 minutes or so, then carefully flip to cook the other side. Make sure cheese has melted… yum!  Like a super duper grilled cheese sandwich!

6. Slide onto a plate and enjoy with sour cream, avacado, salsa, cilantro… yummmmmmmmm.

Thanks again for all of you that came to the Baby Moon booth at the maternity fair, where I had the gift basket displayed. And thanks to all of you that also made comments on the blog, I hope that you’ve had a chance to look around and get a good idea of what birth and mommyhood is like from my point of view.

Those that posted a comment received a second entry into the drawing… and it seems to have paid off for:

Stefanie who said:

‘The Maternity Fair was a blast, and it was great to meet you and see what all you have to offer! Most new parents are scared, so it’s good to know that we can go to one of your classes to learn things and meet other people like us!!!’

Stefanie please email me and I’ll tell you where to pick up your basket full of goodies! Congrats!!!!!

***** To everyone else… don’t be sad, I like to do giveaways randomly, so check back !!! ******