Sweet, sweet 6 months

Dear Anna Banana -

I write your 6-month update with overflowing love because you, sweet baby girl, slept for eleven straight hours last night. In the words of your Daddy: "sweet, glorious sleep". In the past week since you hit the 6-month mark, I've thought about this update numerous times and each time, it started something like this: "Your sleeping abilities are atrocious"... "We are exhausted"... "You turn into a demon at bedtime".... However on this day, I get to say to you: "We LOVE you and you did it! You slept, without a peep, from 8:30 pm to 7:30 am." On the night of your first Thanksgiving, we are thankful for YOU.

Stats: 12 lbs, 8 oz. and 25 inches long. You have slept through the night a total of 6 times in 6 months, 3 of those happening within the past 3 days (but nothing as amazing as last night). ;) You are fluently signing "milk" and we're pretty sure that both "dog" and "daddy" are emerging. You love to stick out your tongue and say "lalalalalala", followed by blowing raspberries and grinning. You've just entered the "Mommy phase" and are more weary of strangers and being left alone. That being said, you happily separate from me to see Abby, Elise, Daddy, and Gran. I started you on solids early because you're so tiny and it was a better alternative for me than supplementing with formula. You are clearly a product of our family as you. love. food. Without a gag or a wince, you took to eating like a rockstar and your meals include some combination of: butternut squash, sweet potato, avocado, egg yolk, pear, and mango (all organic and homemade, of course!). The past couple months of sleep issues have been rough but, those set aside (and maybe over and done?), you are damn near perfect. 

All that was October

Let's start with you, Anna Panna Cotta...

October marked 5 months for you, Baby Bear. We love you more this month than last... but we are so very, very tired. In the past month, you gave up naps. You gave up falling asleep easily at night. You gave up staying asleep at night. Hence the name "Baby Bear". No, sweet baby - I don't want to hang out with you from 1 am to 4 am.. awake. Daddy has been the secret weapon - many nights he has come to my rescue, stashing you down in the basement (with him as well, of course) and that's where I find you two - snuggled into the couch, you tucked into the crook of his arm. The last week or two seems better... or maybe I'm just finding peace with 4 hours of sleep a night and lots of baby holding. ;) 5 months... you are rolling from tummy to back, reaching and grabbing, squealing and gurgling. You've fallen a bit out of love with sucking on your fingers or a pacifier and, as I think about it, the drooling may have slowed? Or maybe that's wishful thinking. You have been described by a stranger on more than one occasion as "a little pixie!"... your relationship to us has also been questioned on more than one occasion as your looks continue to resemble you, and only you. After having two babies before you who mirrored each other's appearance in so many ways, I assumed number three would follow suit. You did not - your hair is getting lighter, your eyes are still blue, your complexion remains fair. You, my love, are beautiful. The past month also put you back onto the growth chart. Breastfeeding is oh-so important to me and we've had our struggles. This journey over the past month has included a lot of pumping to try and increase my supply as well as a trip to an ENT two weeks ago to have your upper lip tie and tongue tie clipped. We both cried during that procedure - you were crying your "mad" cry because of the swaddling and hands in your mouth. I was crying my "pitiful mom" cry. The whole procedure was quick and the recovery was practically nothing. You are up to 11 pounds, 14 ounces (2nd percentile) and almost 26 inches long (16th percentile). You have been in perfect health and that "tickled" look on your face tickles us everyday - Gran and I saw your first playful sense of humor: I was holding you and you kept leaning back, arching away from me. Each time, in a stern-ish voice, I would say "Anna" and you would move toward me, make and hold eye contact, then slowly start leaning back again, with a very, ornery grin. And guess what - the big sisters still ADORE you (which I attribute partly to the fact that they are very sound sleepers and have been unphased by your nightly shenanigans). I can only imagine what you're going to say back when the time comes...

Speaking of the big sisters...

These two. You ladies are into dolls and dress-up, Star Wars and Dolphin Tale, reading and writing, tree-climbing and bike-riding and playing in the mud. As important as our schoolwork is each day, you are both chomping at the bit to get outside from sun-up to sun-down. I cannot imagine the amount of time you've spent high up in the tree out front lately. In fact, every time we leave the house goes something like this: "Come on, Abby! Let's go out first!"... "Wait for me, Elise!"... "Abby and Elise! Please get out of the tree and into the car!". You girls have been unruly, obnoxious, impatient, and high maintenance. And I say that with love. But seriously - who cares what shoes you wear or if your hair won't lay down flat or who answers the phone first or who checked out which book from the library or if Daddy says it's almost 2:00 when it's 1:46. We have days with school that I throw in the towel and we head to the park. Granted, my lack of sleep might be a contributing factor but even on those days, we are learning. I am learning. This year of homeschooling, while it's proving to take more patience that I ever imagined, is going to teach me so much about your personalities, your learning styles... and about my parenting. You both LOVE activity - Abby, in dance class, your movements are graceful and coordinated; Elise - you climb trees with incredible confidence and strength. You both LOVE words - Abby, your little brain rhymes and has rhythm... you actually came up with the words to one of my new songs for Baby Sing and Sign. Elise, your little brain hears each sound in words so precisely, making you a strong speller. Right now, Abby - you're reading Ramona the Brave; Elise - you're reading Trumpet of the Swan. Our "together book" is The Long Winter. I bought two new books for you from the Wrenly series a couple of weeks ago - on the day they arrived, you finished reading them before dinner that night. You've made countless rainbow loom bracelets and paper-doll clothes galore. Seriously - at my prime in making cards, I thought I had a paper obsession. You two have paper EVERYWHERE! Scraps cut from magazines, drawings and sketches, notes and lists. Amidst all your madness, however, you two are still so incredibly sweet. Abby - you reprimand me every time I call Anna "rotten". Elise - just yesterday, you traded your piece of candy with Abby because she just really wanted the one you had. For art studio class last week, you dressed alike and decided to be "twins" for Halloween that day. Good thing you're both very jack-o-laternish with those missing front teeth. You girls are really something else. 

October 2014 also included our 29th annual pumpkin carving party and Halloween. The pictures from these events tell it all:

A wee 4 months

Dear Tiny Baby,

You are four months old. At your three month check-up, you weighed a whopping 9 pounds, 11 ounces. At your four month check-up, you managed to top the scales at 10 pounds, 2 ounces. While your 23 inches of amazing length has you on the growth chart around the 8th percentile, your weight has dropped below the curve. You. Are. Tiny. Last week, a woman said "Oh my goodness! Your baby looks just like a little pixie!". I love how little you are for so many reasons; I stress about how little you are because, as your food source, I can't help but worry that I'm the cause of your wee-ness. Your sisters were 2 pounds smaller than you at this age - those were our tiny babies. I guess that's what we make around here: teeny, tiny, girls. 

Here's what you should know about your four-month old self: You smile countless times a day. It is a "tickled with the world" kind of smile that makes you tuck your chin, turn your face, and burrow into whoever is holding you... only to peek back out, still smirking. Abby and Elise have both gotten you to giggle. And both times have been while you were lying on the bathroom counter, mid-diaper-change. You are currently a rotten napper, unless you're tucked away in a sling or pouch attached to me. You LOVE to be worn. Nights, however, are lovely - you're in bed anywhere between 7:30-8:30,  you wake around 3:00 and eat, and then sleep again until somewhere between 7:30-8:30 in the morning. Your 3:00 middle-of-the-night feeding often takes place back in my bed and then we just snuggle in for the rest of the night. You LOVE the sky. As soon as we walk outside, your eyes widen, your face softens, and you gaze. You've completed two full sessions of Baby Sing and Sign with Gran. The first month of classes, you slept through part of every class. The second month, you were awake the whole time, smiling and watching. I love teaching these classes - it takes my love to a whole new level to look up and see MY BABY grinning back at me. You mutter. Oh the muttering! If you're hungry or tired, with or without a pacifier in your mouth, you mumble and complain - not crying - just downright muttering. You and the pacifier are friends - it doesn't matter the brand or style, color or size. You'll take it. Although, in the past few days, you've discovered that two of your fingers work pretty well also - never your thumb - just two of your fingers. Abby and Elise have started carrying you around, just in the house and near an adult. They love to walk you to the window or their bedroom, all the while narrating what you might be seeing. Abby did almost drop you today when you spit up all over her. Luckily you don't spit up much or else we might have to put an end to the carrying. The carseat makes you mad sometimes, but if we all sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" you usually settle back down. Elise gets in your face all day long saying "Hello!" or "Hi!" and Abby catches your eye regularly with "Oh, hello doo-doo!". You can thank Daddy for being called "doo-doo", as well as "Anna pants". So far, the big girls have never asked if we can give you back. In fact, I think they grow more fond of you daily. Good thing something around here is growing... :)

Wordless Wednesday: Perfection

July 2014: 6 years..10 weeks

Dear Abby,

Six. years. old. You're going to eat us out of house and home, especially if it involves seafood or meat. You dance with confidence, passion, and madness - actually, you sort of live life that way. Your facial expressions absolutely say as much as your words - which often include phrases such as "I know!", "But, but, but...", "I'm going to miss you!", "C'mon, Elise!", "Anna, do you have a smile for me?", "But what about ME?", "I'm hungry!", just to name a few. Your artwork is better than mine - you become so focused when drawing and, in case you were wondering, your bottom jaw STILL juts out and to the side when you're concentrating (this has been one of your "looks" since you were barely walking). Your latest fictional characters to pretend to be include Elsa, from Frozen, Mulan, Robin Hood, and Princess Leia. When you read aloud, you go so fast that we can't even understand you. I'm pretty sure that's how fast you read in your head but you understand every bit. You've lost 2 teeth. You are your baby sister's biggest fan. The transition with a new baby was hard on you and, after a couple of weeks working through some heated emotions, you responded beautifully to disappointment one evening and when I asked if you knew why I was so proud of you, your response was "Because I didn't arch my back?". And you were right, because we'd determined that back-arching was not a calm behavior. I'm proud of you for so many reasons, Abby Rose. Our family of five is perfect because you're in it. 

Dear Elise,

Six. years. old. You cannot stop spelling. "Hey Mom: I...L.O.V.E...Y.O.U" or "I..A.M...G.O.O.D.", all spelled out letter by letter in the middle of a conversation. Couscous, orzo, "open noodles", ABC noodles - you are a carb-lover like your Daddy. Your artwork is also better than mine - I was just laying in your room and looking at a drawing that you taped to your wall of Ana, from Frozen. It's truly amazing. Your latest fictional characters to pretend to be include Ana, Maid Marian, Captain Li Shang (from Mulan), and Luke Skywalker. Or the lady who runs "Dessert Closet", the fine bakery that occasionally takes over our living room. Whenever you're distressed, your sentence always begins with "But Momma, let me tell you something" - it's a dead giveaway that you're having a conflict with Abby or you have a request that you assume I'm going to deny. You've lost 2 teeth.  You are swimming like a rockstar - crawl stroke and even starting to learn the butterfly. You also have no fear and you often hear me say things like: "Elise, are we in the living room or at the playground?, "Elise, are we in the kitchen or at the playground?", "Elise, are we at the store or at the playground" because if it could possibly be climbed, you're on it. You are incredibly compassionate and, more often than you should, you put Abby's wants above your own. I'm proud of you for so many reasons, Elise Autumn. Our family of five is perfect because you're in it. 

Dear Anna,

10. weeks. You weigh 9 pounds, 3 ounces and you are 21 inches long. You're a great night sleeper - last night you went to bed at 9:00, woke up to eat at 1:30am, and went back to sleep until 6:30. Your hands are always in your mouth and you drool like a fiend. You also smile, talk, coo, and gurgle at anyone who will give you the time of day. At Starlight last week, you were propped on my shoulder and, before I realized what was happening, a crowd of half a dozen had formed behind me and you were talking their ears off and smiling like a star. Needless to say, they thought you were the cutest baby they'd ever seen. ;) We've been known to call you Anna Banana, Anna Pants, and Little Tiny. Your eyes are still blue, your head has a fine layer of peach fuzz, and your arms and legs continue to move like you're training for a triathlon. I've left you for about 2 hours with Gran while I teach a class and, as of about 8 weeks, you're sleeping mostly in your crib at night instead of with me. Daddy described you as "a peach" on the day you were born - that label still fits you, Anna Michele. Our family of five is perfect because you're in it. 

Anna Michele

Sweet baby Anna Michele was born on Tuesday, May 20th at 11:42 a.m. She weighed 6 lbs, 15 oz and was 18 inches long. She is perfect. Here's her story...

Abby and Elise were an emergency c-section in July 2008. Five years later, one baby on the way, and with the support of my hubby, I made a very informed decision to pursue a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). I am woman, hear me roar! My body was meant to birth a baby and that experience is one I just needed to have, or at least try and have. The hospital here in town does not perform VBACs, so that meant switching doctors and opting to deliver in Overland Park. Enter our doulas. During my first trimester, I contacted two amazing women who I had connected with through Baby Sing and Sign: Stefanie and Lindsay. "Doula" from that point forward became an integral part of everyone in this household's vocabulary. 

Artwork by Abby: "Doolis" = "Doulas"

As I mentioned on the blog before, we hit our first hiccup around 28 weeks when Baby Lawrence developed a heart arrhythmia. After much monitoring, our fears lessened as the babe continued to develop beautifully and the arrhythmia faded. Our next hiccup came at 37 weeks when my blood pressure skyrocketed. Seriously? Blood pressure? All we could think was "how could that be my issue? I have the lowest blood pressure EVER!". I spent a week on modified bed rest, checking my BP too many times at home, and crossing my fingers that my pregnancy would continue. Here's the deal: with a VBAC, I was not a candidate for any type of medical induction. That's one of the caveats - to induce before the body is ready often leads to a longer, more strenuous labor which raises possible risks and complications for a VBAC. At my 38 week check-up, while my BP was within an acceptable range, the fluid around Baby L had dropped to a level that required delivery in the near future. It was go-time.

While I still was not dilated or feeling contractions, after checking into the hospital on Monday afternoon, the midwife on duty was able to insert a Cook's Catheter. For those that like details, this is essentially a catheter for your cervix. This does not require any drugs and was our only hope to get labor started. While contractions came on fairly strong after it was inserted, they lessened and we hunkered down for the night - best case scenario was that, by morning, the cook's catheter had done it's job and I would be dilated to a 5. 

Tuesday morning, the catheter was removed. I was indeed dilated to a 5. At 8:00, my midwife, Sarah, came and broke my water and, within a half an hour, contractions started. From there on out, it was a perfect VBAC. I was able be up and about, moving through the contractions as they intensified. My mom, John, and Stefanie were awesome - keeping me company, offering support, and chatting away the morning. By 11:00 I was fully dilated and Anna was born at 11:42 a.m. Everyone was expecting a boy, except for Stefanie! Although, before even asking if she was a girl or a boy, as I reached to hold her, out of my mouth popped "Oh, I'm so sorry about your head!"... poor little head looked as though it had been squished through a small opening. Oh wait... it had been. ;) I cut the cord myself, since it wasn't a task that either my mom or John wanted and we all soaked up that moment of holding, seeing, and loving a newborn baby. It was my perfect drug-free, all-natural, birth experience. 

Until... I'll make a very long story somewhat brief... Anna didn't rotate when she was born, so her shoulders came through square. I had third degree tears that were quickly attended to. While that procedure was taking place, concerns arose that my bleeding was not slowing. There was talk that part of the placenta had not detached from the uterus or that there was a blood clot issue... regardless, the looks on everyone's faces were changing. After the tears were repaired and the nurses were doing their post-procedure utensil/material count, they discovered a mis-count: one of the sponges used was missing. So... this led to intensely painful internal checks as well as a complete emptying, spreading out, and examining of the trash receptacles that contained far more blood than anyone should have to see. I also had to be x-rayed to make sure the sponge wasn't inside, all the while my blood pressure was plummeting. John, my mom, and Stefanie paced about the room, passing Anna back and forth as we wanted her kept with us at all times. She was a peach! But honestly, the room looked like a gory scene from a murder movie and, according to John, I wasn't looking much better than death. 

Throughout the afternoon, about every 30 minutes, the nurses would have to come and "massage" my stomach/uterus to determine if the bleeding was slowing. I would birth that baby all over again rather than experience hours of that. I remember passing Anna over to someone when they would come in because I had to brace myself on the sides of the bed - the pain was horrible. By early evening, I had lost too much blood to ignore and at 9:00 that night, they started a blood transfusion. The transfusion was the first event of the day that I couldn't handle - it sounded scary and serious and I didn't want someone else's blood. John had left to see Abby and Elise and head home for some sleep; my mom stayed with me. It was a phone call to John that helped calm me down. And, throughout the night, the company of my mom that took the fears away. The toll on my body from the blood loss showed itself in two ways: I had a raging headache for about five days and my milk didn't come in. We came home on Thursday; by Friday morning I had a hungry baby and I was completely stressed out. I texted Stefanie around 6:30... she was at our door 15 minutes later, following closely by my mom. The "hiccups" continued and, as we ventured out to have Anna checked by the pediatrician and acquire a breast pump, our car died and we spent a good portion of time stranded in a parking lot with a 4 day old baby. 

Here we are, six weeks later... Anna's arrival wasn't without it's fair share of stress and complications. I am so grateful to my "team" - I will never forget John bringing me home from the hospital and promptly preparing a steak, to up my iron count, while chanting "we're gonna make some milk!", in an effort to boost my spirits about my lack of lactation ... or my mom tearing up when we told her that her we had chosen her name for Anna's middle name, a choice that came easy for us after the love and support she provided during an exciting and terrifying time... or Stefanie's calm, kind voice saying "you're doing great, Erin" through each contraction... or Sarah sitting down on the edge of the bed in such a relaxed and compassionate manner, ready to hand our baby to us.

Anna Michele - you are so loved. I can't begin to count the number of times a day Abby and Elise kiss you on the head. You are six weeks old and still sleeping with me... partly because you only get up once during the night when you're there but also because it's the most wonderful thing in the world. You weigh over 8 pounds now, wearing up to 3-month size clothes and bigger than your sisters were at almost 4 months; you grunt, squirm, and stretch ALL the time; you cannot keep your hands away from your face, much like you were in every. single. ultrasound; you're holding your head up like a boss; and a week ago you started smiling at us - and I'm not talking about a little smirk... your mouth opens up as wide as possible, your tongue sticks out, and you SMILE! Yesterday, Gran, Abby, Elise, you, and I went to see The King and I at the theater. It was over 3 hours long - you slept for the first 2 hours, nursed for a bit, and slept through the rest. At one point, you started tooting, which wasn't quiet, and I was terrified of a full-on blow out during a very quiet scene. Thank you for resisting the urge, literally. Your first outing was to the pediatrician's office, followed by Gran and Grandpa's house. At 11 days old, you went with us to the farmer's market. The sling that I wear you in is like a baby sleeping pill and you've since slept through countless outings. Your hair looks lighter than your big sisters' and your eyes are still blue. Most importantly, you complete our family. After Abby and Elise were born, I wasn't even out of the hospital and was thinking about "the next time". You fulfilled my "next time" and this time, before leaving the hospital, I was thinking "family of 5...perfect". I love you.

Say, make, eat, paint, and play!

Over the past few weeks...

We've said this:

Abby to Elise: "Oh, your picture is EXQUISITIVE!"
Abby to me: "Mom, how do you spell "coronation"?"
Elise to me: "I love you more than $129!"
Elise to my belly, every night: "I love you baby!"
Abby's baby names: Peter or Carrie
Elise's baby names: Rosella, Violet, Daisy, or Tommy

We made these:

We ate this:

Quinoa Cookies

adapted from Loves Food Loves To Eat

• 1 1/2 C organic stone ground whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 tsp Himalayan pink salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 C organic unsalted butter
• 1/2 C organic coconut sugar
• 1/4 C local honey
• 2 local organic eggs
• 1 tsp homemade vanilla
• 1 C cooked organic quinoa
• 1/2 C unsweetened coconut
• 1 C chocolate chips (optional)
• Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes

Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

• Cooked organic quinoa
• Organic milk
• Cinnamon
• Local, raw honey
• Organic raw pumpkin seeds
• Organic banana
• Unsweetened coconut

We painted here:

And we played this way:

It has been wonderful to be outside... making mud pies, playing in the fairy garden, filling pots with herbs and flowers. We miss our chicken companions - the remaining two, Lavender and Pip, found a wonderful home a few weeks ago. As we prepared to drive them across town, Elise insisted that Pip not only kissed her but was also crying. When I said "Well girls, I think we found a great home for the chickens", Abby brought me to tears by responding with "those chickens will never have a better home than what they had with us". We decided that, with baby on the way, it would be nice to simplify the homestead - I'm sure it was the right thing to do and we found an organic, vegetarian home for the ladies - but I'm already looking forward to the next flock at some point down the road. 

Speaking of down the road... Baby L has 5 weeks left to cook. And I'm enjoying each and every day. I feel great, our weekly check-ups are looking awesome, we met with our doulas and have a wonderful birth plan in place, the babe's room is done, and the big sisters are excited! We still have no names picked out nor are we using the girls' suggestions. And the overall consensus thus far is that this baby has a penis. While I'm unsure of that detail, what I do know is that growing a baby rocks: hiccups, kicks, big sister belly kisses, nighttime bathroom breaks and all. 

The days keep MARCHing by!

Well, apparently March happened. While it's not a month well-documented in words, pictures will have to suffice for a recap:

Abby, aka Robin Hood, learned how to shoot a bow and arrow.

Trees were climbed to new heights.

Tank tops and bare toes returned. 

Charlie continues to have two modes: asleep or absurd (don't get me wrong - we love them both).

We sported our St. Patty's greens and our KU blues. Sadly the KU blues didn't have the kind of run that they had in 2008 - I was pregnant with the girls when we won the championship that year.

Speaking of 2008... on the left is what should have been my 32nd week of pregnancy in July 2008; on the right is my 32nd week of pregnancy this time. March brought us some stress as Baby Lawrence's heart had some struggles. After more visits with prenatal specialists than we had with A and E, a little maturity and extra love seem to be doing the trick - Baby's heart has been behaving and holding steady for the past couple of weeks. And, while my tiny 2008 preemies could easily conquer the world, I happily rub my belly and smile each and everyday that this one stays inside. 

Dynamic Duos

A & E had their second piano recital on Saturday and this one was twice as special as the last: it was a duet recital and, while the other students' partner was their private instructor, the girls had the special honor of inviting John to be their partner. It comes in handy having a Daddy who plays piano! 

Abby, Elise, and John - it has been such a treat watching the three of you work together. There were moments of frustration followed by moments of celebration! I have enjoyed taking a backseat while you tackle this project without me. And, on Saturday, your hard work more than paid off! It was a show of poise and dedication as well as teamwork and love. Definitely love.

Homemade Dog Treats

It is difficult for me to go a day without baking something, especially this time of year when we're inside quite often and keeping the thermostat turned down is a lovely excuse for turning on the oven. And I thought it should be made public that I bake for our animals (except the cat, Lucy, who is a butterball and needs no extra calories). Dog treats are a great baking activity for kids - it doesn't matter if the ingredients are out of whack, everything is edible (minus raw eggs), and they can be rolled, cut, carved into any shape. Go spoil your mutt - these treats are so good that Charlie is yet to have actually chewed one. Wait. Charlie doesn't chew any of her food. But I still believe that she finds these to be top-notch.

Homemade Dog Treats
adapted from A Kitchen Muse

• 2 1/2 C whole wheat flour (I can't remember, but I think we did 1 1/2 C organic whole wheat pastry flour and 1 C organic oats)
• 2 backyard eggs
• 1 C organic canned sweet potato
• 2 T organic peanut butter
• 1/2 tsp salt (can omit if your PB already has salt in it)
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Mix wet ingredients; add dry
• Roll out (using flour if sticky), cut into fun shapes, and bake for approximately 40 minutes (more or less depending on size)
• Spoil your dog... and everyone else's! This made a big batch - we shared them with at least 3 other puppy families and they lasted about 3 weeks. We also baked half of the dough and refrigerated the rest for a few days before baking the other half. 

And then there were 2...

In April 2013, we entered the world of backyard chickens... from raising the fluffy chicks in the house to building a coop to collecting eggs. Over that time, I've been the main chicken caregiver. The girls have been wonderful playmates for the flock and good egg retrievers and John is my reliable coop-closer at night. I've religiously cared for the ladies, building their humble abode, keeping them fed (well fed - I've learned that hens love warm oats, a nice bowl of yogurt, or a good helping of quinoa), watered, and clean, freeing them each morning to roam about the yard as chickens love to do. I've spent more time in the backyard, rain or snow or shine, tending to the flock. It hasn't bothered me one bit and, actually, I've quite enjoyed it (except during my first trimester, during which time the sight/smell/thought of the chickens made me wholeheartedly question my sanity in getting them - thank goodness that passed). I've only bought 6 eggs since July, and that's only because I dropped a carton of our girls' eggs. I had to tend to a dead chicken in the Fall when the neighbor's dog feasted upon Plum; I had to rescue a chicken from being pinned to the ground when a hawk attacked Lavender. No problem!

Last week, after dinner out, we got home around 8:30. John headed downstairs to let the dog out which was when he discovered Lavender on the patio. In the dark. Long past her roost-time. Strange? Yes. Worrisome? Not yet. I scooped her up, grabbed the flashlight, and headed to the coop. Hmmmm.... the fence was all closed up around their corner, so why was Lavender out and about? Strange? Yes. Worrisome? Not yet. I opened the fence, chicken still under my arm, and leaned in to stick her in the coop. I gave the doorway a quick shine of the flashlight and was met with two very large beady eyes. Strange? Yes. Worrisome? HELL YES! I screamed. Loud. Girly. Twice. And in that moment, for the first time, I thought "what have I done?".

We learned that night about opossums. Very large, ugly, chicken-eating opossums. Both Lavender and Pip had dug their way underneath the fence and escaped; sadly Peep was not so lucky. After a lot of pacing (with Lavender still under my arm, mind you), us non-farm-folk did the best thing we knew how to do: call someone who is. Within a 30 minutes, and sparing you a lot of details, one of John's co-workers came to our rescue and left with both the opossum and the dead chicken. And I'll tell you what - if you're a city-dweller who wants chickens, make sure in your network of contacts you have "that" person to call. Because I don't know a lot of others who would drop everything to wrastle a giant rodent.

Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever. Those are two words that I rarely use - I love being home and, much like my children, can easily occupy hours upon hours within the walls of our house. There is always something that can be crafted or baked, built or drawn, listened to or read. And still, in my second year away from the school system, I still eagerly await the announcement that it's going to be a snow day. I can't explain it but, if you're friends with me and work in the schools, you probably got a text, as usual, sharing my excitement over the cancellation. 

The snow days two weeks ago were different because they hit us at the very moment that we could either be devoured by or triumphantly overcome Cabin Fever. Within a week's time, Abby got sick, Elise got sick, I got sick, Abby got better, Elise seemed to be better, I got better, Elise got an ear infection, and we got snowed in. Cabin Fever clearly sunk it's claws into us.

The girls and I pick up a respiratory cold about once a year. In fact, I had Elise at the doctor on February 3rd this year and the last time I had been there with a sick child was on January 21st, 2013... one year ago. I don't dislike doctors; I believe in the power of healthy bodies to heal. I am not anti-medication; I believe in the power of healthy bodies to heal. It is hard holding steadfast to that kind of belief when I live in a world where people inundate their bodies with medication... pain relievers and cough syrups, antibiotics and antihistamines. Do the research: illnesses and diseases are smart - they learn to navigate drug-infested systems and grow bigger, stronger, and more resilient. And I can't help but wonder what it does to a healthy system to be attacked by these power-house germs? Stepping down from my soap box now. Just food for thought next time you reach for the medicine cabinet instead of a cup of tea.

We are all well... the snow has melted... and we kicked Cabin Fever's ugly face to the wayside. Enjoy some pics from our time together, both in and out of the house!

Making salt-dough Valentine magnets...

KU Women's basketball game...

From snow to shorts...

Foodie Friday

Food is always a priority around here. I will happily surrender whatever "wiggle room" there may be in our budget for groceries - I can happily go weeks at a time without purchasing anything else. I read recently that it costs an average of $191 a week to feed a family of four real, unprocessed, whole foods. We may not spend that much each week, but when push comes to shove, I'd rather buy a few extra organic food items than a new shirt. It's just worth it to me. Here's a look at what happened in our kitchen this week, not an all-inclusive menu - just a few highlights:

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

• I already shared this recipe, but wanted to put it back out here because it is so easy and makes such a good loaf of bread. I made this for John and the girls to enjoy for tuna sandwiches the night that I taught Baby Sing and Sign this week and we've been enjoying it toasted in the mornings with a shmear of coconut oil.

Lemon Chicken and Orzo Soup - Using egg yolks in soup may seem odd - it did to me at first. But I've made this soup several times and the egg yolks give it such a great creaminess and, combined with the lemon, a wonderful flavor. I don't add any extra salt or other seasonings - just the veggies, chicken, broth, egg yolks, and lemon.

adapted from Good Life eats

• 1 large organic chicken breast
• 1/2 organic onion
• 2 organic carrots
• 1 large organic garlic clove; pressed
• 2 backyard egg yolks
• 1/2 organic lemon; juiced
• 1 32-ounce box organic, low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 C whole wheat orzo
• 2 C organic kale; chopped
• Saute the chicken breasts until cooked through; shred and set aside
• Saute the onion and carrots for 5-10 minutes in olive oil; add garlic and saute 2-3 minutes more
• In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks and lemon juice
• After veggies are softened and fragrant, pour in chicken broth; bring to a boil
• Temper egg yolks slowly with 1 C hot broth; add all back into pot
• Keep heat at or below medium - do not boil again
• Add shredded chicken and orzo; simmer until orzo is cooked
• Add kale and simmer until kale is wilted

Simple Whole Wheat Muffins
adapted from Pastry Affair

• 3 T organic, unsalted butter; melted
• 2 T organic coconut oil; melted
• 1/2 C organic coconut sugar
• 1 backyard egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 C organic whole wheat flour
• 3/4 C organic whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt (I've started using pink Himalayan salt for all my baking)
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 - 3/4 C whole milk (add milk last as the quantity depends on your flours - whole wheat varieties need more liquid)
• Bake at 350 degrees in a greased muffin tin
• I made mini-muffins and I think they baked for 10 minutes, or so (but keep an eye if you make these as I'm not positive); made 24 mini muffins

Whole Wheat Brownies
adapted from Brown Eyed Baker

• 1 stick organic, unsalted butter; melted
• 1 C organic coconut sugar
• 1 1/8 oz organic, unsweetened cocoa powder (I weighed this on our kitchen scale because I was dividing a recipe in half)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp instant espresso powder
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 large, backyard eggs
• 3/4 C organic, whole wheat pastry flour
• 3/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 C homemade toffee chips (this is the result of the over-cooked batch of Christmas caramels that we're putting to good use!)
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees
• Combine melted butter and sugar in a heat-proof bowl; place bowl over a pot of simmering water and heat until fully combined
• Remove from heat and add cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, espresso powder, and vanilla
• Stir in eggs one at a time
• Add flour
• Mix in chocolate chips and toffee (or any other additions)
• Butter an 8x8 glass pan
• Bake for approximately 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean
• This batter was thick... but the brownies are soft and delish! As you can see, the 8x8 pan produces thick brownies - I might try the same recipe next time but a slightly larger dish with a decreased baking time, just to make some flatter treats. Not that we're complaining... these will be served up at our weekly group dinner tonight with Talenti vanilla bean gelato and Valentine's sprinkles, per the request of my lovely sous chefs. :)

My sweet little ogres...

One minute we're outside, riding bikes jacket-free. The next minute, we're bundled to the max, wearing boots and slurping soup. The cold weather has virtually no impact on the girls - they are in such a groove right now with one another... all day long, they move from playing Shrek and Fiona to coloring to the dollhouse to singing/dancing to legos to reading to pretending to be Maria and Liesel. I have always thought, in my back of my mind, that we should separate them occasionally - give each one some one-on-one time without the other. But we've just never seen it as a necessity - they get along so well the vast majority of the time that we just roll with it. Over the past couple of weeks, the tides have turned: if I'm running an errand, one might choose to go and one stay, which never happened before; they both always stuck together. However, during a split over the weekend, a song came on the car radio to which Elise commented "this would be much more fun to sing with Abby here". Upon returning home, John shared that, while playing "dizzy games", Abby commented "I wish Elise was here to play dizzy with me". 

Clearly, we think siblings are important (including the soon-to-be baby of the family who is currently kicking at about the same rate that I'm typing). But having the companionship of a twin is amazing and I love that we've kept them together - in so many families, especially when there are age differences, older ones head off to preschool when the babies are just becoming interactive. I feel like keeping the girls together has provided them with the time and the opportunities to learn how to navigate a truly intimate relationship, skills I have to believe will be powerful in future relationships. 

Toss A Toy

Ahhhh.... is there anything better than a little sunshine and fresh air? Why yes, yes there is: Sunshine and fresh air and a clean car and chickens! Perfect score!

Abby and Elise - you spent the afternoon outside yesterday, pretending to be Laura and Mary from Little House on the Prairie. As you can see in the pic, Abby, your pants are soaked from scooping and pouring the remaining snow/sludge/water. Elise, your hands were completely covered in mud, which you so proudly stated "made you look just like Laura", a fellow nature-lover. Abby, you made sure to give Pip some love because, according to you, "the chickens have not been held very much lately", which is entirely true. 

Some dirt, a few containers/pots, shovels to scoop with, fresh air, and a few chickens - those were the ingredients yesterday for happy kids. That's it. And the chickens are really an added bonus - this recipe could easily be pulled off without poultry. Sometimes I just have to sit back and watch the girls as they play as my reminder of how fulfilling the simplicity is. Peruse this blog entry: Why Fewer Toys Will Benefit Your Kids. Each and every bullet-point is an absolute "must" in my book-o-parenting. And if replacing a toy with an extra shovel or trading in the cute shoes for durable outdoor boots gets us one step closer, I'm all in! Yesterday was proof of how worthless toys can be and how much I love the continued influence of Laura and Mary Ingalls. 

Foodie Friday

Well, we learned today that, in this house, we do not indeed cry over spilt milk... we do cry over broken eggs. My morning started off with a half-full carton of backyard-fresh eggs hitting the kitchen floor. It was very traumatic; I can only imagine what poor Lavender will think when we tell her what I've done. The damn chicken survives a hawk attack (yes, you read that right - a few weeks ago, Peep set off the chicken war-cry and when I got out back, a Cooper's Hawk had Lavender pinned to the ground... never fear - with the help of my trusty dear dog, and a bit of shrieking and arm-flapping, the hawk left and Lavender's bloody wounds healed)... and all I can do to repay her hard work is splatter 6 of her eggs on the floor... ho-hum...

So, to satisfy your need for recipes on this blustery Friday, here are some breakfast staples that do not include eggs. *whimper, whimper*. You can see how our indoor animals are satisfying their needs on these cold, winter days:

Apple Ginger Scones
adapted from Cook's Illustrated, March/April 1994

• 2 C stone ground organic whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 T organic unsalted butter
• 2 T local honey
• 1/4 C fresh-squeezed organic orange juice
• 1/2 C local whole milk
• 2 small organic apples; peeled and chopped
• 1/4 C organic candied ginger pieces
• Combine dry ingredients; cut in cold butter with pastry cutter
• In a separate bowl, combine honey, milk, and OJ
• Stir apples and ginger into dry ingredients then mix in wet ingredients
• Drop on parchment paper lined baking sheet (makes  8-9 fist-sized scones)
• Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes

Everything-But-The-Kitchen-Sink Smoothie

• Frozen organic banana
• Frozen organic mango
• 2 organic navel oranges, peeled
• 2 C fresh organic kale
• 1/2 C organic plain whole milk yogurt
• Local elderberry juice
• Vitamin D3 drops (the girls take these; John and I take our extra D in pill form)

Carrot Fruit Smoothie

• 1 large organic carrot; peeled
• Frozen organic banana
• Frozen organic mango
• 2 organic navel oranges; peeled
• 1 C homemade almond milk
• 1 T organic unrefined coconut oil; melted