Improvised Sensory Play

We are moving!  More on that later...

Yesterday, Soren took Sensory Play into his own hands.  I couldn't have been prouder, in retrospect.  I walked in yesterday afternoon, keep in mind the past couple days have been super stressful.  A carriage house has just come up for rent in a really good part of Cincinnati.  Great schools - even better - neighborhood.  But Rick and I have been going on this yes/no roller coaster for 48 straight hours.  Is it cost effective? yes, is it more space? yes, can I fix up the kitchen and put a fresh coat of paint on all the walls? yes, can I do another move...? I thought this was a no...but we are working on it.  Can I still go back to school in the summer?  Rick said - YES!  

Ok, needless to say - both of us are a little wiped from the ride.  So I walk in to find this - 

I took some much needed Therese advice from our workshop this past weekend and reflected with 3 seconds of silence.  First second - breath, is it really that much of a mess?  Can it be cleaned up?  Of course - silly!  Soren will probably help (which he did).  Second - what is he learning from this experience, isn't this self initiated sensory play?  YES!  and the third second - proud momma.  There he is scooping and piling and dumping and then, as I bring out the vacuum, he pulls down the cord and gets ready to clean it up himself!

This is what I like to call self-initiated Sensory Play and I couldn't be prouder!

Hot Cocoa

I LOVE hot cocoa. 

Today it snowed.  Not just any snow.  Those big snow flakes that leave you staring out the window in wonder.  How are they SO big?  How do they make it to the ground in one fragile piece?

I guess it's almost like motherhood.  I flashed back to the workshop and the moment I saw my little man again after three intense days.  How did he get SO big?  How did this little fragile life make it into the world through my body?

So it was time to venture outside in the snow storm.  Soren had a blast!  And of course, when we came back in from the cold - it was time for some hot cocoa.  

With some Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa and Snowville Creamery milk - Soren and I made some cocoa with Noi Sirius dark chocolate shaved on top.  Happy Snow day!

Becoming a Doula

This weekend I am becoming a Doula. NOT:

a practitioner...

a partner...

a nurse...

or a family member.

Sorry - just practicing.  I am becoming an advocate for the baby and for mom.  For her partner and for the birth experience they would like to have.  I am opening myself up to work within our current medical system.  A system that is originally designed to aid in the birthing process but due to lack of research and inappropriately used tools has become a place of fear for birthing mothers.  I would like to share this quote from Rachel Swan Design:

“The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.” -Ben Okri

I saw this quote this morning; it resonated with me so strongly.  This weekend has been akin to laboring.  Our instructor warned of us this.  I feel as if I am re-experience parts of my labor with Soren and wondering, questioning, getting angry and then feeling calm with these empowering women around me.  I know, now - why labor's need doulas.  Doulas can be an essential part of the laboring process.

We are not designed to labor alone, in stirrups, legs wide open on our backs.  I could expound on this for days.  The pregnancy is something of joy and beauty - a time to educate, learn - feel safe.  Postpartum is about support, rest, recovery and discovery - of this little, precious life that was just brought into the world.  

I am bursting with positive birthing energy - there is so much to tell, but to avoid being long winded, I will post some photos instead.  Our workshop is taking place in a beautiful space designed for yoga practice.  There are hanging plants, positive energy and a circle of women I will never forget.

Much more to come.  Thank you Peyton for sharing your belly and baby with us for palpitating and fetoscope monitoring and allowing me to snap a couple photos of that beautiful belly!

Four Seasons

I am a four seasons type of gal.  I need them all.  Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.  For me the cold means snow (usually - since I moved to the midwest, this has been debatable), snuggles, blankets, knitting projects and tons, I mean TONS of hot soup!

Since we are reintroducing chicken into our diets, I was incredibly excited to try out this recipe on a particularly cold, Winter day.

I love Deb's Smitten Kitchen website and could spend several lines singing it's praises.  But instead - I will leave the discovery up to you.  Deb Perlman just released her cookbook last year, of which I highly recommend.  One of these days someone will fall victim to my hinting and snag one for me (Ahem... Rick, wink, wink).  For now, I will stalk the website.

Here is the link to her wonderful Lentil Soup with Chicken Sausage and Chard (I used purple kale, it was far too beautiful to pass up and we used a fantastic basil and pine nut chicken sausage).  We did a few variations of it which is the beauty of Deb's recipes, their versatility.  Enjoy - we did!