Eat. More. Kale.

" Deck the plates with piles of kale... falalalalalalalalala

Tis the season for immunity to fail... falalalalalalalalala! "

It truly is the season when everyone gets something - gifts abound, stockings are filled, and germs invade. I don't get a flu shot. I don't give the girls a flu shot. But we do what we can to give our immune systems the fuel they need. Here are my top cold-season must haves:

1. Elderberry juice (local, of course)

• It's not the cheapest little serum, but a little goes a long way. I give the girls each 1/2 tsp per day, usually mixed into their smoothie but they'll down a spoonful if needed. High in vitamin C and touted as a good antioxidant.

2. Kale

• It's green and lovely. We eat it in soups... I loaded lasagna with it... it makes the best fresh salad... and we're pretty much green-smoothie-a-day folk.
• Smoothie:
• 2 C organic fresh kale
• 1 C organic whole milk plain yogurt
• 2-3 organic oranges; peeled
• 1-2 organic frozen bananas
• 1 C organic frozen mango or pineapple
• Kale Salad (which we fondly call "Kay's Kale Salad", as she introduced us to it)
• 1/2 bunch organic fresh kale
• 2 T toasted whole wheat bread crumbs
• 1/3 C finely grated parmesan
• Dressing:
• Juice of 1 organic lemon
• 1/4 C olive oil
• 1 garlic clove; pressed
• Pinch of kosher salt

3. Vitamin D

• John, the girls, and I all take Vitamin D supplements daily. We're getting less sunshine these days and a little boost can't hurt.

4. Sleep

• Non-negotiable. The girls are in bed by 7:30... usually asleep by 7:33. And if bedtime is bumped back, their daily rest often turns into a nap. If we know we're going to be up later than usual, we take a nap that afternoon as a proactive measure. I don't do tired - not me, not my kids. 

Knock on the Christmas tree, but we are doing good thus far! There has been a lot of coughing and sneezing at family gatherings the past couple of weeks and, while John got taken down for a few days, the rest of us are feeling a-okay, which is good because last Friday was a big deal: first piano recital! The girls are loving lessons and doing fantastic. They showed no signs of nerves or anxiety - marched up and played their two pieces each like pros. Elise, after seeing another student very nervously struggle to get started, turned to Gran and whispered "this must be her first recital". Yes, sweet child, just like it's your first one as well! And the day after, while riding in the car, Abby said "that piano recital was so much fun". 

Zzzzzz....

I guess we had a busy weekend, huh? I used the flash for this pic, just FYI - I do not make my children sleep with lights on, except on days like this when they are passed out long before dark. Yes, they are both asleep. And yes, they started out with heads on pillows. Sleep tight, lovely ladies! It was a wonderful fresh-air-filled spring weekend, complete with swings, sandbox, hammock, bare feet, friends, family, and baby chicks.

The final "bon voyage" of babyhood

Me: "Abby, will you always be my baby?"
Abby: "Yes, Momma! Even when I'm a grown-up, I'll be your baby."
Me: "Really?"
Abby: "Yes, Momma. I just love your schweet little face."
Me: "Elise, will you always be my baby?"
Elise: "Yes, even when I'm grown-up. Even when I'm sixteen."

We are officially through a full week of no-naps. That doesn't mean "rest time" has been eliminated - there is still a mandatory 1 1/2 hour rest every afternoon that consists of piles upon stacks upon heaps of books. But I've let the actual sleeping go. Finally. And guess what? My children are charming - maybe even more charming than before. Why? Let me tell you... 

Well, you know how babies, toddlers, little people wake up from naps refreshed and snuggly with those sleepy eyes and sweet smiles? You do? Hmmm... I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS LIKE!!! My children wake up from actual sleeping naps foul. Miserable. Crabby. Crying. Irritable. So why did I enforce sleeping until over 4 1/2 years? Because I worked so. damn. hard. to teach these girls to nap. Of their entire babyhood, establishing a napping routine probably had me in fits and tears more than anything else. Breastfeeding? Very difficult and painful but well established within a few months and a piece of cake for 14 months. Eating solids? Walk in the park. Sleeping through the night? Rockstars by 3-4 months. Potty-training? Done at 24 months with very few hiccups. Napping? EIGHTEEN MONTHS. It took me EIGHTEEN MONTHS to get those two little monsters to sleep regularly each day without a battle or tears (theirs or mine). When I finally won the battle, I assumed I'd enforce naps until the girls were sixteen. I bet they wouldn't love being my baby then, huh?

Sigh. I guess instead of forcing my babies to nap, I'll spend afternoons bike-riding, reading, playing, singing, and dancing with my big girls. They appear to enjoy this more than sleeping:

My current mantra...

According to Wikipedia, a mantra is " is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of "creating transformation". Currently, my "mom mantra" consists of : "head on your pillow, voices quiet, eyes closed... head on your pillow, voices quiet, eyes closed....head on your pillow, voices quiet, eyes closed...".

Anyone who has been closely involved with our journey as a family knows that naptime was a sore spot from day one. Battles over sleep are the number one trigger to push me over the edge- I can admit that and, there are times, when I don't handle it gracefully. The girls need sleep. I need them to sleep.  But Abby and Elise despised napping. The hours upon hours that were spent patting tiny tushies, in hopes that the rhythmic motion would lull them to sleep, continue to haunt me at times. People would say "just put them in their cribs and walk away". So I would try that tactic, to which the girls would reply with jumping, squealing, laughing, bouncing, and pooping. 

People would say "just put them in different rooms". So I would try that tactic, to which the girls would reply with jumping, squealing, crying, bouncing, and pooping. 

It was around 18-months that I finally conquered this nap monster that had been looming in my household. I exerted every last bit of energy and patience in establishing a calming, soothing, successful routine. I stayed calm. I spoke softly. I patted. When they pooped, I swiftly changed them and gently returned them to their crib. I let not a single feather get ruffled. 

The cribs are gone. The "era of containment" (I can't remember where I read this phrase) is over. And I have two very assertive, confident, and BUSY two-year olds. Last night, everyone was sound asleep at 8:00, so we're making progress back to our 7:30pm target. It is time to summon that energy and patience, yet again, so repeat with me: "head on your pillow... voices quiet... eyes closed" again.... and again... and... ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz.