Bliss Beyond Naptime

This Moment ~ Goats and Buns

 

Happy Easter! Our friends find themselves with some fresh goat kids that we got to bottle  feed again like last year. Does the cuteness ever stop?!?? And speaking of kids, cute and not stopping, here's a bonus song from mine sung while wearing his 'motorcycle suit' :)

 

 

 

*********************************************************************

To make an even better Friday, be sure to enter my giveaway for a spot in my Backwoods Mama Spring Camp. Not feeling sew-sew? Sign up for my free ebook Handmade Time and score yourself a subscription to my weekly newsletter; The Mama Bliss Ezine here!

We Have Another Weaner

Here's a bit of a long winded (ha, ha) story. I mentioned a few posts past that I'd delve into my story of encountering a coyote on top of one our ladies (of the chicken variety). Basically I ran outside, screaming like a banshee to scare it away and ended up with a dead chicken, a sore throat for two days and finding myself behaving like the hugest cry baby for about a week afterward. Then (brace yourself, too much information coming at you) I got my moon so very soon after the last one. Like, a week after.

Upon holding an emergency meeting (code word: Operation Red Flag) with my ladies (of the non-chicken variety) some suggested maybe it's stress? Mmmm... nope, feeling as groovy as ever now that I assess my groove levels. Perhaps I may be going through the change? Mmmm... well...I suppose that that's technically a possibility, for I am in my (gulp) early forties now. But that didn't feel right either.

 

And then, thank God for Craig. He pointed out that I just recently weaned little Mr Kale this month. Totally forgot! This explains everything; my sloppy sentimentality over how fast the kids are growing up, my hair trigger tears in public places (I started crying at the fisherman's shop at the poster of him and his dad fishing together when he was little. Crazy lady!) and, of course, my way wonky menstruating rhythms.

Craig you're a genius! I'm not peri-pausal ~ Thank you, my lord! And then he says, in his classic barely can hear what he's saying but you can sense its profoundness whatever it is:

"it's systems analysis. It's what I do ".

Other than the temporary turn off that my husband sees my body akin to a blueprint of a compressor station, I felt a wave of relief from that insight. But then the thought rose up: whoa, I'm never going to nurse a baby again (other than if I decide to pull a Salma Hayek - love her!).

 

But what I'm especially feeling quite, oh what's the word... blissed out about? Is that this weaning business went so super smooth. I tried weaning Edie once when she was about two, after reading a Steiner-related writing about the recommended time to wean being around one and any longer and the child begins to tap into the mother's energetic baggage.

Yuck. Didn't want that to happen. But that attempt turned out to be such an upsetting disaster. I remember deciding then that for me, it didn't feel worth going down that road unless I felt with absolute conviction I was done with that relationship. I felt she picked up on my wishy washiness and that made all the difference. In the end, Edie pretty much weaned herself in the same manner as her brother. No tears or fanfare and, funny enough, around the same age-  though I have friends whose kid has decided on their own in a similar fashion at a much younger age.

With Kale I started with drawing up boundaries: first no more boob at the restaurant, then no more after we brush our teeth for bedtime.  Then he started to get more caught up in his play during the day and forgetting and then finally leading up to only asking before bed. Which brings us to today, which I didn't even notice until Craig drew up that line, bar then pie chart for me, he's done and didn't even bother to tell me (well, come to think of it he kind of did one day but I thought he was joking). Sniff. Now, next parenting milestone up: when is he going to wean himself off of that recorder he's got so solidly glued to his mouth these days?

SS Wednesday ~ The Christopher Robin

When Kale was first born (in our bathroom, on our old pink futon that was hastily tossed in there right before I flung myself off the toilet in mid-contraction) we thought we would treat ourselves to savouring his new born status as a non-gendered little being for about a half an hour. I remember when we finally released him from my tight hold, Craig was finally checking things out under the hood and I heard him say "you have a pee pee!". A boy! Oh, boy.

This might sound strange but for some reason my first thought upon hearing this was: What if he get's into hockey? And then my second thought: What am I going to do with his hair? And this is when there was a deep subconcious desire started whispering into my heart's ears; the boy will have a Christopher Robin (or Louise Brooks; whichever way you want to roll).

With Edie it was easy. I simply did to her hair what my mom did to mine when I was her age (though I spared her the super tight pigtails that could have triggered migraines in a weaker scalped child). I cut her baby bangs so she can see and keep it long everywhere elso so we can braid it up or ponytail it down.

With Kale I still wished for him unobscured vision though I loved the little wild child vibe that is pretty prevalent in these parts (either commune living all one length to the waist or Lord of the Flies, neo-Pixie, choppy with many leftover strands straggleing - so cute!) but I was smitten by the idea of a Christopher Robin so I pretty much gave him the Edie special with a cute wedge jutting out the back.

We have been reading Winnie the Pooh on the couch all winter long and I love the dreamy, nostalgic quality of the the boy's deep, deep play with his toys and his whole look kind of captures that whimsy. The vibe seems perfect for my mini-Sensitive New Age Guy.

So here's a little how to if you desire a little Pooh flavour in your home. Grab a roll of masking tape and begin the process by taking a piece about four inches long, stick on top of your head in front of your child and then rip it on and off several times while joyfully giggleling and saying "that tickles!". Do that a few times and be convincing because in all truthfullness it does smart a tinch but the tape is an essential component of this technique.

Then take a five inch piece of tape and tape to your child's forehead trying to capture all the hair that is combed down, wet, over the eyes. I aimed for temple to temple. Don't be afraid to cut them too short. Children's hair grows like weed not to mention their forheads are much shorther than adult's so there's less distance for it travel to cover any whoopsie daisies.

Cut along tape line. Gently remove tape.

This is the fun part. Take a long piece of tape and mark now from earlobe to earlobe from the back of the head. You want to aim for the bottom of the "brain case" to really emphasize that bulbous effect. Cut, remove tape and fluff up the whole hair do for optimum cute factor.

After whatever natural hair products you want to play with (I like to throw on a dab of coconut oil to give him that whiff of edibleness but it does attract flies in the summer) kick back and admire your self-sufficiency as your little Dutch Boy goes deep into his work of play with the perfect playtime hair do!

Ski Do and Ski Don't

 

We picked up a pair of second hand skiis for Edie from town this weekend (Not a purebred ;) Sorry. Couldn't resist. A silly nod to the mild daschund contraversy a couple of posts ago, which, by the way, has been put on hold due to Craig not totally (long) backing the idea at the moment). And what a chord it struck in me to see how she's really taken to it. I think its due to my growing up when it was the one outdooor activity my family participated in together. It's amazing how those moments can stick to the ribs.

And though I took a hiatus from cross country skiing between childhood and and moving out here five years ago, I'm surprised about how much I geniunely love it myself. I typically head out on my own when Craig comes in for lunch and eats with the kids and I head out with my ipod onto the rails to trails. Blissful mama time. And I come back feeling really glowy. It's not a streneous excersice (which, in the current newsletter I received from my accunpuncture suggests one should avoid in the colder months), at least at the pace I go,  but enough to stoke the inner fire and circulate icky toxins all around and out. At least that's what I'm imagining because I'm all about visuals when it comes to my health. And now that I see how Edie's digging it (Craig took her out on the trails shortly after these pics were taken and she loved it!)  I'm looking forward to our going out as our own family unit in which appears to be in the not too distant future by the looks of things.

Kale can't wait to join his sister on the fun. I found these cross country skiis for kids at an antique store about four years ago but Edie kept missing the necessary shoe size. Kale is just about there but not quite yet.

But that didn't stop him from trying. Or at least pretending.

And looking like such a cute at it! What a munchkin. This is a shorty today - just like my little man. I'm off to town this morning for some appointments. I hope this quickie inspired you to play in the snow if you can. Even if it's just pretend.

Seven Year Old Wonder

 I totally remember being seven. Six is still a bit hazey, my entire twenties are a complete blur, but seven – crystal clear. And here’s my little crystal child, with freshly lost front teeth, stretching out into a  graceful , shape shifting faced, thoughtful, smart, hilarious little girl entering into this year of many never to forget golden moments.

 

 This has also been the first time Edie has been pretty particular about birthday party details. Many pictures drawn of how she was hoping things would be; all the  friends she wanted to invite, the birthday crown in specific colours and even a to scale replication of her pink birthday cake; including interior shots. Done! With help from my infamous baker friend Peggy I concocted a super clean pink icing.In the food processor I blended:

1 can of coconut milk

1 tbls coconut powder

¼ cup honey

2 tbls beet root powder

Then I slowly drizzled in one cup of melted coconut oil and 2 tbsp of lemon juice. I stored it in an airtight container overnight and iced the cake right before the guests arrived. It was amazing; like pink, unrefined sugar heaven! Only one sweet little girl didn’t care for it much; she whispers her unfinished piece of cake apologetically to me “I don’t care much for coconut”. Cute! But if you care for such things as coconuts you'll love this recipe!

 

For the party favours we got caught up in a bit of a crafty roll. First I made Edie her birthday crown to spec and then thought it would be fun as an icebreaker to have her guests go on a treasure hunt leading them to monogramed crowns. Then, in their loot bag, a teeny weeny bunting was waiting to be hung on their bedroom wall so that Edie will be the last thing they think of before they fall asleep and the first thing they think of as they wake (I call this subliminal friend marketing).

Edie was so thrilled to help me make these. She picked out the fabric from my scrap collection and cut them out into little triangles which I then stitched right sides together, leaving one side open, turned right side out, top stitched and attached in to prefolded bias tape in no time at all.

And then came the request. I usually do a puppet show for Edie’s birthday of how she came over the rainbow bridge (complete with a puppet of Craig with the cargo pants and goatee he was sporting when Edie was sliding down said bridge) but this year she was hinting for a bit more of an elaborate production. I had to call in a professional.

This lovely lady runs a Waldorf homeschool enrichment program in town. She is magic and I notice lately I’m smitten by women with accents; Goddess Leonie, Dottie Angel, my Simplicity Parenting Training coach, Patsy from Ab Fab. Isn't that odd (imagine me saying that in the British accent I’ve been working)?

So there you have Edie’s birthday in a rainbow silk wrapped nutshell. And this is just the beginning of the birthday celebration season for us. This Sunday’s it’s Kale’s (Valentine Day kids!), then Craig’s two weeks after, then Sweet Baby Jesus’s and then finally mine in January. Then I can kick back and resume my sitting on the couch consuming bon bons position once again!

Pumpkin Fever

 

This is Edie.

 

This is Edie with soul fever. Luckily it doesn’t appear to be too contagious. Kale’s still in that happy go lucky baby phase immune to the emotional eruptions that seem to occur out of the blue around him at times but as you can read in his eyes the touch of concern; “What’s up with Edie?” And;  “We’re still getting a pumpkin, right?”

Soul fevers are topic at hand in my Simplicity Parenting Leader training this week. When Cheech and I did our intimate book club of two over the phone so long ago I  remember sharing that this chapter has been especially helpful to me because when I would be completely exasperated with my firey little Scorpio girl – What could possibly be the problem? Look around, we’re surrounded by glorious pumpkins! Think Cinderella. What’s there to be pouty about? – the concept of holding her close, just as if an actual  physical fever were present, has lent me a tool of compassion toward my big baby girl when soul fever erupts; which tend to occur during times of transition as was pointed out by our training leader.

 

Transition. Hmmm… she has been losing her teeth, we’re introducing new numbers or letters almost everyday and we’re definitely feeling a chill in the air, and dang, it’s dark when we wake up!

The suggestion for these times of less than savoury moments is to, of course, simplify. Such as with an illness, halt any outside activities, bring on the clean, simple foods, keep the kid close to home, cut down on screen time and maybe, just for kicks, stay in pajamas for the day.

 

Another tool that was introduced in the training that I found pretty profound was the Compassionate Resonse meditation. (From here on in I’m going to use a female reference to children everywhere because during this transitional period I can’t seem to get my female offspring out of my head as the ultimate example).  During the meditation you hold a dual image of your child; one with her experiencing a ‘golden moment’: with that deliciously silly, blissed out with childhood look on her face that would be snatched up by talent agents looking for little hams to star in TV commercials ( if they still had such things), and an image of your child in her more, what’s a delicate word here…, challenging moments. Holding these two opposing versions of your dear offspring, which in fact make up the whole gamut of who she is, begin to draw in the not so cute version closer to your heart as you release the “don’t you just want to eat her?” image away.  Yes, it seems backwards doesn’t it? But I typed this out correctly. Savoury out. Not so savoury in; closer to your heart. Closer to your centre it will be easier to carry her weight. Kind of like baby slinging again, no?

 

This practice I have to say was pretty powerful with many opportunities recently to put it to test. To be fair, the morning after these pictures were taken she fell sick. But with this image of holding pouty Edie closer, deep toward my heart, I feel like I have the leverage to attend to both the bug that’s been invading her tummy and the bug that has been challenging her spirits; reminding her that growing up can be at times hard but no matter what your mama will always be there to hold you close through it all.

 Kale's like; "You two just have your moment. Cuddle away. Take your sweet time. No rush. Halloween's just in a few days. Still need a pumpkin. No biggie."

And on that note:

Amber from Crappy Pictures wrote an article about being a rockstar mommy blogger. She's stinking hilarious! Thanks to Erin for introducing me to her :)

 

Lose Tooth and Loose Change

My little girl lost her first tooth! It's been woobley for a few weeks now and ridiculously wobbley on the weekend. So I pleaded with her to keep it in her head until I was done whipping up a loose tooth cozy to help the tooth fairy to find it (of course, the Tooth Fairy is pretty wiley at finding teeth under kids' pillows but let's make things a little easier for the busy lady!).

Edie told me she'd try her best and then that evening I was reading on the couch while I was waiting for her to get into bed so we can read the next chapter of Ramona the Pest  when I heard this sproing! And then the wail; "Maaaaa-maaa!". I knew by the sound effects what had happened. When I walked into her room I saw a mildly traumatized little girl, pointing at her face crying that her tooth flew out while she was flossing and it felt weird. Thank goodness for Rescue Remedy. I know it helps me with the trauma of things, namely children, come sproing-ing out of my body.

So we put the sweet, perfect tooth away in my studio buying me one more night to quickly needle felt away on the tooth pouch that will rest on the door handle, cradeling the first evidence of her shedding her child form. Crazy! I never cried when my kids were born like I thought I would but seeing the first tooth erupted I lost it. With the lost of this tooth I didn't bawl like I was imagining I would but I did get somewhat misty eyed.

As for the pouch, I used the instructions from this book I've had for eons. Edie was always enchanted by the picture of it in Complete Feltmaking which happens to be perhaps my favorite ever felting how to book. So sweet, the fairy's bag is where the tooth/goods transaction happens.

And the goods? Lady Tooth Fairy slipped in a looney, a tooney and a teeny weeny crystal angel (for internationals readers, a looney= $1; tooney=$2). What to do with all this hard, cold cash now? We haven't officially introduced the concept of money to her yet so I saw this a fitting opportunity to bring Miss Piggy the Bank into her life. I found her this weekend while having Momma time in an antique shop. While I was dusting her off when I brought her home I explained to Edie we will put these special gifts into Miss P the B until she is full, then we will undo the secret latch under her belly (aka as packing tape), count out the coins and she may spend the money as she wishes. Or put it away in a grown up bank for something uber special; whatever she wants. Pretty sweet, she ran off and grabbed the toonie that was tucked into a Halloween card from Grandpa and Grandma, and slipped it in too. And then placed Miss Piggy the Bank in the perfect spot on top of her dresser. Everything's magic like that in a little girl's world!

Baby Wipe That Smile Off Your Face

 

One of my best friends is having her blessingway this week. I wanted to make her something special so I sat and meditated on what was my favourite part of babies. Then it came to me: the butt! So I made her a whack of reusable baby butt wipes and wash. My second favourite baby part might be the head because once that makes an appearance the rest is easy squeezy so I knit her a hat too; the Pointy Elf hat from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I dyed and then spun some merino I had on hand into a super soft soft spun. It has greens, blues and just a splash of pink for good measure.

And this butt wash is the cat's baby butt. I received the recipe from a naturapath that was taking the same Birthing From Within course Craig and I took when I was pregnant with Edie. The recipe makes a big whack of wash that lasts for almost six months. The recipe is super clean and the smell reminds me of newborn. And toddler. And almost school-age kids (yes, boys seem to take longer to potty train; in this household anyway).

I had a few meters of terry cloth on hand to make Edie and Kale matchy match beach cover ups so I used a yard of that, cut it up into eight inch squares, sergered around all four corners, et voila, a basketful of reusable wipes. To use, we warm up a towel in hot, hot water and then cool it off with a spray of the butt wash, then throw soiled wipe into a bucket and just dump those in the wash when the bucket's full. The recipe is above (hope you can read it okay!) but sometimes I like to add a drop of German Chamomile in there because it leaves cool little blue drops in the wash and apparently is the best essential oil to chill out fussy babes. Now I'm all nostalgic. Think I'm going to wipe Kale's butt now!

Gleaning On Weaning

Still not convinced I'm the world's slowest knitter yet? Check out my ravelry page regarding this project. Two months to whip up a baby vest? Geesh. Lesson learned; do not pick a cable pattern knitting project for knitting whilst watching movies knitting. This photo shoot was carefully orchestrated to keep the blaring mistakes from hurting your eyes. See how much I love you?

How stoic my little man looks wearing his new vest.  I presented it to him and he says, "ooooo, pretty!". This guy is going to grow up to be the sweetest SNAG in town. I used leftover yarn from my Spring Oatmeal sweater to knit this up; both to be frugal and have something handy incase a Motherboy contest ala Arrested Development presents itself.

Looking at these pictures just makes me want to give him boob. We have commenced the process of nightweaning this week. Kale has been going through epic nursing bouts during the night that have been driving me and my hormones cuckoo.  I decided I needed to spend a night over at a girlfriend's to see how the boys would cope without me around so I wouldn't have to hear him cry and succumb, bringing us back to square one. Plus I was convinced he would be able to smell my ladies from a mile away (luckily my buddy lives two miles away).

Turned out pretty well after all that fretting. Now at bedtime I nurse him until he falls asleep (only takes about ten minutes) then I sneak out of the room and eventually crash myself in the spare room. Here I enjoy an uninterrupted, sweet slumber and have a taste test of new found night life freedom. I'm going out to knitting tonight with my ladies (my my ladies, not Kale's my ladies) and plan on staying out later than my usual curfew of 7:30. Maybe I'll even stay out until 9:00 tonight. CRAZY!

Doll House

Way back, like, six months ago, I made Kale a doll for Christmas. Whenever we asked him what his new doll's name was all he can say was "Baby". Now baby has a new name ~ thanks to a vastly extended vocabulary and a tiny wee bit of a man-crush. A couple of weeks ago our neighbour was over doing some work on our property with his bobcat. Our neighbour's name is Mickey and, well, a little man/boy crush later, Baby changed his name just like everyone else seems to do when they've been living in this little valley after a while.

Mickey likes to be carried around in the backpack just like Kale did not so long ago when he was a little man of little vocabulary. Luckily, we have the world's foremost leading expert on baby wearing living in the house. Edie's been studying the thirty paged Didymos sling instruction booklet and has been challenging herself to carry her baby, Clara, in every conceivable way possible as demonstrated by the step by step coloured photos. It's been her favourite pastimes for months now.

So cute, she stands there with the booklet on the ground following the photo steps until Clara's safe and sound in the carrier. Kale just throws Mickey in the backback. Then they take their babies for a walk, or just clean up around the house while I lounge on the couch eating my backwoods bonbons.

image

On the subject of bonbons and favourite pastimes; I came across and spent hours drooling on this last night: Grosgrain just wrapped up a month of free patterns. Not only are the projects super inspiring like the a-frame tent up there but the incredible sewing blogs these projects led me to were time suckers! Must find some time to get to the sewing machines and read more frome these wonderful ladies I found. It's too sketchy to garden at peak sun hours, right?