Yep going to have to make another one of these little bad boys! We had a blast making it and our oldest babe wants one now!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
The proof of the pudding...
**ADD IN...Ironic enough I just read a blog from "mamabirth" that talks about this a little as well...**
As I sat and read through several different "mama" blogs tonight I noticed something, something that had struck me before but for some reason I never put too much into it, moms, especially us "crunchy', "attached parenting" moms seem to really go overboard on stating exactly what "type" of mom we are. I always see this list of I...cloth diaper, wear my baby, breastfeed etc etc. Its like some sort of disclaimer. I'm not hating on moms for saying "this is who I am and what I'm about..." I've done this, I still do this (and probably have recently), I just don't understand why us moms feel that we have to constantly prove ourselves to the world. I know "mainstream" society seems to downplay the importance of the female role but has it affected us that much that we have to boast about trying to be the best parent to and for our babies. We end up fighting eachother or making the other parent feel bad when really all we all want is happy healthy babies that love us. I don't know if this has always been the case with mother to mother relationships or if the recent increase in "communication" such as blogs, facebook etc has played a role in this behavior but I'm tired of it. I feel crappy about this. Just be the best parent you can be...you don't have to prove it to me.
side note...
As I sat and read through several different "mama" blogs tonight I noticed something, something that had struck me before but for some reason I never put too much into it, moms, especially us "crunchy', "attached parenting" moms seem to really go overboard on stating exactly what "type" of mom we are. I always see this list of I...cloth diaper, wear my baby, breastfeed etc etc. Its like some sort of disclaimer. I'm not hating on moms for saying "this is who I am and what I'm about..." I've done this, I still do this (and probably have recently), I just don't understand why us moms feel that we have to constantly prove ourselves to the world. I know "mainstream" society seems to downplay the importance of the female role but has it affected us that much that we have to boast about trying to be the best parent to and for our babies. We end up fighting eachother or making the other parent feel bad when really all we all want is happy healthy babies that love us. I don't know if this has always been the case with mother to mother relationships or if the recent increase in "communication" such as blogs, facebook etc has played a role in this behavior but I'm tired of it. I feel crappy about this. Just be the best parent you can be...you don't have to prove it to me.
side note...
Origin
'The proof of the pudding' is just shorthand for 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating'. That longer version makes sense at least, whereas the shortened version really doesn't mean anything - nor does the often-quoted incorrect variation 'the proof is in the pudding'. The continued use of that meaningless version is no doubt bolstered by the fact that the correct version isn't at all easy to understand.
The meaning become clear when you know that 'proof' here is a verb meaning 'test'. The more common meaning of 'proof' in our day and age is the noun meaning 'the evidence that demonstrates a truth' - as in a mathematical or legal proof. The verb form meaning 'to test' is less often used these days, although it does survive in several commonly used phrases: 'the exception that proves the rule', 'proof-read', 'proving-ground', etc. When bakers 'prove' yeast they are letting it stand in warm water for a time, to determine that it is active. Clearly, the distinction between these two forms of the word was originally quite slight and the proof in a 'showing to be true' sense is merely the successful outcome of a test of whether a proposition is correct or not.
'The proof of the pudding is in the eating' is a very old proverb. The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations dates it back to the early 14th century, albeit without offering any supporting evidence for that assertion. The phrase is widely attributed to Cervantes in The History of Don Quixote. This appears to be by virtue of an early 18th century translation by Peter Motteux, which has been criticised by later scholars as 'a loose paraphrase' and 'Franco-Cockney'. Crucially the Spanish word for pudding - 'budín', doesn't appear in the original Spanish text. It is doubtful that 'the proof of the pudding' was a figurative phrase that was known to Cervantes.
The earliest printed example of the proverb that I can find is in William Camden's Remaines of a Greater Worke Concerning Britaine, 1605:
"All the proof of a pudding is in the eating."
It is worth remembering that, as the phrase is quite old, the pudding wouldn't have been a sticky toffee pudding from the sweet trolley, but a potentially fatal savoury dish. In Camden's listing of proverbs he also includes "If you eat a pudding at home, the dog may have the skin", which suggests that the pudding he had in mind was some form of sausage. THE OED describes the mediaeval pudding as 'the stomach or one of the entrails of a pig, sheep, or other animal, stuffed with a mixture of minced meat, suet, oatmeal, seasoning, etc., and boiled'. Those of you who have ventured north of the border on Burns Night will recognize this as a fair description of a haggis - "the great chieftain o' the pudding-race", as Burns called it in the poem Address to a Haggis, 1786. Mediaeval peasants, faced with a boiled up farmyard massacre, might have thought a taste test to have been a wise choice.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Slow down mama, you're moving too fast...
These last few months my list of things I want to learn, make, do has grown so quickly. For some reason I tend to overwhelm myself with things Id like to accomplish and then become very disappointed in myself when I dont acomplish them.
Im not sure why I do this, I guess I want to be supermom... Make their toys, grow their food, make their clothes, you know that sort of stuff. I guess the desire stems from a not so terrible place but unfortunately is has caused me to become exhausted, overwhelmed and then terribly bummed out because I dont feel like Im doing enough. Its a weird cycle I have found myself stuck in these last few weeks. I think the holidays kicked that up quite a bit. I cooked, I cleaned, I baked, I made presents...I just slowly overloaded myself with things to do. And let me tell you, Ive got plenty of "things to do" already, three dogs, a cat and two kids keeps me plenty busy.
So just when the holidays end...one of my babes turn 3. Third birthday, kind of a big deal so I can't be lazy on this! Well again I tried to take on too much and totally stressed myself out...so I asked for help. Something I have a hard time doing, even if Im asking my mister. I have a hard time admitting my short comings I suppose. I feel a lot better though. The mamas I asked for help have been more than amazing and an old friend even offered to come and help me bake all the cupcakes, the idea of frosting 30+ cupcakes really made me tired. In the end...thank you friends and mister for helping me get this done. Well almost done, the party is in two days and I think Im ready. No actually Im not, I still have several things to do. ha. There is another family birthday this month but I will not be hosting a party or anything of that nature, its my birthday. ;)
From here on out, Im slowing myself down and taking it easy. I feel like Im missing the important moments because Im trying to be a better mom. Im going to just take it one thing at a time. Ive accomplished a few of my little goals but Im going to slow down on the rest. Silly huh? I probably sound pretty crazy to those who don't have kids yet.
Oh life...
Just when you feel like you're about to explode...ask for help, itll make you feel better trust me.
Im not sure why I do this, I guess I want to be supermom... Make their toys, grow their food, make their clothes, you know that sort of stuff. I guess the desire stems from a not so terrible place but unfortunately is has caused me to become exhausted, overwhelmed and then terribly bummed out because I dont feel like Im doing enough. Its a weird cycle I have found myself stuck in these last few weeks. I think the holidays kicked that up quite a bit. I cooked, I cleaned, I baked, I made presents...I just slowly overloaded myself with things to do. And let me tell you, Ive got plenty of "things to do" already, three dogs, a cat and two kids keeps me plenty busy.
So just when the holidays end...one of my babes turn 3. Third birthday, kind of a big deal so I can't be lazy on this! Well again I tried to take on too much and totally stressed myself out...so I asked for help. Something I have a hard time doing, even if Im asking my mister. I have a hard time admitting my short comings I suppose. I feel a lot better though. The mamas I asked for help have been more than amazing and an old friend even offered to come and help me bake all the cupcakes, the idea of frosting 30+ cupcakes really made me tired. In the end...thank you friends and mister for helping me get this done. Well almost done, the party is in two days and I think Im ready. No actually Im not, I still have several things to do. ha. There is another family birthday this month but I will not be hosting a party or anything of that nature, its my birthday. ;)
From here on out, Im slowing myself down and taking it easy. I feel like Im missing the important moments because Im trying to be a better mom. Im going to just take it one thing at a time. Ive accomplished a few of my little goals but Im going to slow down on the rest. Silly huh? I probably sound pretty crazy to those who don't have kids yet.
Oh life...
Just when you feel like you're about to explode...ask for help, itll make you feel better trust me.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Hello me...
Five years ago I lost myself...I walked the walk, I talked the talk, but it was not me there pushing the buttons...
It took me two years to find myself again.
I am a goofball and not afraid to admit it.
I like to dance and sing and make crazy noises.
I have a variety of strange laughs that sort of come out of nowhere.
I am not perfect, I am stubborn, I am opionated, I sometimes get carried away...
Hey its me...I kind of like myself.
It took me two years to find myself again.
I am a goofball and not afraid to admit it.
I like to dance and sing and make crazy noises.
I have a variety of strange laughs that sort of come out of nowhere.
I am not perfect, I am stubborn, I am opionated, I sometimes get carried away...
Hey its me...I kind of like myself.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
1+1=2
Our situation is not exactly "normal". Normal to the American people, maybe, but not exactly the every day situation. I have two beautiful daughters with two different men...something I never expected myself to say, something that hurts every day for so many different reasons. I would not change the things that have happened in my life, I love both of my girls so much but I did not choose an easy path for anyone involved. I am reminded of this daily with the looks I get from people and the comments that friends and family make. The most hurtful from people who are near to us now. I don't think anyone could understand the levels of hurt in this situation, for everyone involved, unless they were living it themselves.
With the tip of the iceberg discussed I'm moving on...Xy lives full time with us and goes every other week to her fathers for three nights. Her father had a child a month before our child was born...makes for a very tough transition for Xy. She has handled it so well though. It is tough for a child to handle a new sibling period...no matter the age or situation but Xy had to deal with two children being born very close together. Of course we didn't know they were having a baby and they didn't know we were having a baby...if these things would have been shared I think both parties would have wanted a different situation for Xys's sake...although I don't know if it has helped having the same situation at both houses or made it harder...I don't really know. I do know that working with Xy's father's wife and being open about things has been tremendous, it has helped so much along the way. There are so many things to look at in this situation. But overall, no matter what happened along the way Xy has done amazing. She is such a strong little girl and she has handled these two years of changes so well. She is sassy, smart and very sweet.
So after Addie's birth when Xy woke up and ventured out into the living room (shockingly she slept through my birth howls) she saw her little sister. She climbed up and gently brushed her cheek. We whispered about her, she was a little overhwelmed by the presence of everyone being here but you could watch her fall in love. I've heard different stories of children being excited and children being sad or angry but Xy was just accepting and loving. She kissed her sister and hugged her. She has been such a wonderful big sister. She helps Addie, she sings to her, she plays with her...its so sweet. Yes there are moments that she struggles with it but those are rare and getting rarer by the days. Its unbelievable to watch such a transition in a child, she has gone from only child to having two siblings and handled it well. Of course there were bumps along the way, its to be expected but overall its been great.
The girls have such a sweet relationship right now...most of my pregnancy I thought I was having a boy (Not finding out what you are having is such a wonderful and beautiful experience, but that I'll discuss another day) until the very end when we all knew it was a girl...we just had a feeling. So in those last few weeks of preparing for two little girls, I was overwhelmed with fear of how it was going to go...I suppose I was a bit hormonal so that could explain some of the overwhelming feelings...and my MIL was here and well that relationship is anything but good, not to mention we just moved and Brian had just started a new job...but with all of that I never could have anticipated how smooth the transition would be. I knew the moment I met Addie's eyes that everything would be ok, with the release of the hormones and the worries and letting my body just take over and do its job and birth my baby for some reason my fears left, then her little eyes looking at me, so sweet, so gentle, she soothed me. Then when Xy came out and looked at her and I saw the love in her eyes my heart was completely settled.
Sisters...a truly wonderful relationship. Watching Xy sing to Addie, her baby sister and Addie stop crying and sit and smile at her big sister makes this mama so proud and overwhelmed with love.
With the tip of the iceberg discussed I'm moving on...Xy lives full time with us and goes every other week to her fathers for three nights. Her father had a child a month before our child was born...makes for a very tough transition for Xy. She has handled it so well though. It is tough for a child to handle a new sibling period...no matter the age or situation but Xy had to deal with two children being born very close together. Of course we didn't know they were having a baby and they didn't know we were having a baby...if these things would have been shared I think both parties would have wanted a different situation for Xys's sake...although I don't know if it has helped having the same situation at both houses or made it harder...I don't really know. I do know that working with Xy's father's wife and being open about things has been tremendous, it has helped so much along the way. There are so many things to look at in this situation. But overall, no matter what happened along the way Xy has done amazing. She is such a strong little girl and she has handled these two years of changes so well. She is sassy, smart and very sweet.
So after Addie's birth when Xy woke up and ventured out into the living room (shockingly she slept through my birth howls) she saw her little sister. She climbed up and gently brushed her cheek. We whispered about her, she was a little overhwelmed by the presence of everyone being here but you could watch her fall in love. I've heard different stories of children being excited and children being sad or angry but Xy was just accepting and loving. She kissed her sister and hugged her. She has been such a wonderful big sister. She helps Addie, she sings to her, she plays with her...its so sweet. Yes there are moments that she struggles with it but those are rare and getting rarer by the days. Its unbelievable to watch such a transition in a child, she has gone from only child to having two siblings and handled it well. Of course there were bumps along the way, its to be expected but overall its been great.
The girls have such a sweet relationship right now...most of my pregnancy I thought I was having a boy (Not finding out what you are having is such a wonderful and beautiful experience, but that I'll discuss another day) until the very end when we all knew it was a girl...we just had a feeling. So in those last few weeks of preparing for two little girls, I was overwhelmed with fear of how it was going to go...I suppose I was a bit hormonal so that could explain some of the overwhelming feelings...and my MIL was here and well that relationship is anything but good, not to mention we just moved and Brian had just started a new job...but with all of that I never could have anticipated how smooth the transition would be. I knew the moment I met Addie's eyes that everything would be ok, with the release of the hormones and the worries and letting my body just take over and do its job and birth my baby for some reason my fears left, then her little eyes looking at me, so sweet, so gentle, she soothed me. Then when Xy came out and looked at her and I saw the love in her eyes my heart was completely settled.
Sisters...a truly wonderful relationship. Watching Xy sing to Addie, her baby sister and Addie stop crying and sit and smile at her big sister makes this mama so proud and overwhelmed with love.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Bzzzzzzz
My list of things to do...
make vanilla extract
make peppermint extract
make a variety of different tinctures for sleep, stress, nursing...
bake several batches of christmas cookiesfor neighbors and family
bake two apple pies for B's coworkers
make a list of different christmas presents including crochet items
make christmas crafts with Xy
finish painting the living room and Xy's room
All the while taking care of my two babes, pumping for another babe, taking care of three dogs and taking care of a cat...
busy mama is me.
Some days I feel totally overwhelmed and exhausted but most days I don't stop long enough to feel that way...today I am slowing down but only for a bit of reflection which is always a good thing.
I've been teaching myself how to make more things in all realms. I've been doing crochet now for several months and I love it but I've also been teaching myself how to cook different things, bake different things from scratch, make my own ingredients, make my own herbal supplements among other little things...I enjoy making things and since I'm only doing online school, and Im not even sure if Im going to do that next term, its fun and makes me feel good. I enjoy my little world here with my cat, dogs, and babies. There are days I feel totally isolated but then I go out into the world and see how life is these days, the constant go go, the constant consumption, the disconnect and my little bubble is the warmest place I could imagine. I think our country is in a very instable spot these days, changes are being made from all sides of the country and I am prepared to take a stand and support my fellow citizens against our government but for now I just want to cuddle my babies and bake some cookies. Its a sad sad world we live in some days.
Another thing that seems to be a constant learning process is relationships. I don't mean partner relationships although I will say that that IS a constant learning process with ups and downs but that is to be expected, what I am referring to is friendships at this age. Some days I feel like my friends are all here for me, I have a group of friends that I adore and are so wonderful but there are days when I feel they are miles away. I have old relationships that although these people are not in my life every day I like to know how they are. I wish the best for people from my past even if the roads were rocky and I like to see them smiling and their babies smiling but the feelings are not returned. That is life though, some people can't seem to grow up and out of certain things. And as frustrating as it is to want to show them your love for them even if there were more bad times than good but them not allow it, is difficult. I have to remind myself that they are not genuine souls if they won't allow or invite love. Its just hard to accept sometimes. I am grateful for the experiences I've had, I have made many mistakes and I have also been treated poorly by others. No one is perfect and I guess its the true friends, the true people who understand that. Listen to me convince myself. In short it is frustrating to me when I try to reach out to an old friend and let her know I am sorry and that I forgive her and she shuts me out. One day I will learn to forget these people...I suppose I care too much though. Maybe one day she will learn to admit her past faults and accept my apologies.
So the 20 somethings...the years of mistakes, the years of learning, the years of the best little people joining your life...the ups and downs and twist and turns. The taking back what you said one day and finding the deepest loves you could ever imagine.
My 20 somethings...heartache, birth, rebirth, anger, frustations, lessons learned, falling in love with the most complicated and lovely man I've ever met, the birth of my babies, the struggles, the finding ones self.
and I'm only half way through them.
make vanilla extract
make peppermint extract
make a variety of different tinctures for sleep, stress, nursing...
bake several batches of christmas cookiesfor neighbors and family
bake two apple pies for B's coworkers
make a list of different christmas presents including crochet items
make christmas crafts with Xy
finish painting the living room and Xy's room
All the while taking care of my two babes, pumping for another babe, taking care of three dogs and taking care of a cat...
busy mama is me.
Some days I feel totally overwhelmed and exhausted but most days I don't stop long enough to feel that way...today I am slowing down but only for a bit of reflection which is always a good thing.
I've been teaching myself how to make more things in all realms. I've been doing crochet now for several months and I love it but I've also been teaching myself how to cook different things, bake different things from scratch, make my own ingredients, make my own herbal supplements among other little things...I enjoy making things and since I'm only doing online school, and Im not even sure if Im going to do that next term, its fun and makes me feel good. I enjoy my little world here with my cat, dogs, and babies. There are days I feel totally isolated but then I go out into the world and see how life is these days, the constant go go, the constant consumption, the disconnect and my little bubble is the warmest place I could imagine. I think our country is in a very instable spot these days, changes are being made from all sides of the country and I am prepared to take a stand and support my fellow citizens against our government but for now I just want to cuddle my babies and bake some cookies. Its a sad sad world we live in some days.
Another thing that seems to be a constant learning process is relationships. I don't mean partner relationships although I will say that that IS a constant learning process with ups and downs but that is to be expected, what I am referring to is friendships at this age. Some days I feel like my friends are all here for me, I have a group of friends that I adore and are so wonderful but there are days when I feel they are miles away. I have old relationships that although these people are not in my life every day I like to know how they are. I wish the best for people from my past even if the roads were rocky and I like to see them smiling and their babies smiling but the feelings are not returned. That is life though, some people can't seem to grow up and out of certain things. And as frustrating as it is to want to show them your love for them even if there were more bad times than good but them not allow it, is difficult. I have to remind myself that they are not genuine souls if they won't allow or invite love. Its just hard to accept sometimes. I am grateful for the experiences I've had, I have made many mistakes and I have also been treated poorly by others. No one is perfect and I guess its the true friends, the true people who understand that. Listen to me convince myself. In short it is frustrating to me when I try to reach out to an old friend and let her know I am sorry and that I forgive her and she shuts me out. One day I will learn to forget these people...I suppose I care too much though. Maybe one day she will learn to admit her past faults and accept my apologies.
So the 20 somethings...the years of mistakes, the years of learning, the years of the best little people joining your life...the ups and downs and twist and turns. The taking back what you said one day and finding the deepest loves you could ever imagine.
My 20 somethings...heartache, birth, rebirth, anger, frustations, lessons learned, falling in love with the most complicated and lovely man I've ever met, the birth of my babies, the struggles, the finding ones self.
and I'm only half way through them.
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