the crud

Regardless of what the calendar says, it officially became fall at house this weekend. Little G-man got his first cold of the season and he lovingly shared it with momma! We are both boogery and stuffy. He started feeling crummy Friday midday so when I got home from work we called our acupuncturist and got an appointment for Saturday am. He is a *great* acupuncture patient and we have a fab. acupuncturist! (here he is in case you are looking for one) I am thinking I need to get in to get needled some time soon too. We are hydrating, I am taking extra vitamins (since they also pass thru breast milk) and we are both taking some Chinese herbs too. Hopefully this will pass soon.

Lil G was feeling a bit better by Sunday so we hit the Farmer's Market in St. Paul to stock up on more fresh local produce so I can make more of his baby food. So far, it's working out well and I have made all of his baby food. I hope I can keep it up! Here's to a healthy and well autumn to you all!

My little boy is alredy 8 months old!

I cannot believe how fast the past 8 months have flown by! My little man is 8 months old and I never could have imagined how crazy in love I could be. I also never imagined how scared, petrified, worried, anxious I could be at the same time! I have never been an anxious person but having a sweet little guy who depends on me had changed me in so many ways. All of them for the better. I do find myself getting worked up and fearful of so many of the "what ifs" that surround us. There is so much to fear in the world. I don't want my son to be raised by a fearful mom though or in an environment of fear. I want him to explore, play, search, learn, be joyful, successful, to love and be loved. So, each nite as I nurse him to sleep I pray out loud. I give thanks to the Lord for our wonderful day, for our health and family and friends. I pray for wisdom as a mom and wife. I pray that I can teach our son about God's love and be a good role model for him. I pray that he grows healthy, well, strong and happy. I pray for guidance thru all of the scary parts of life and then I drop that bag of burdens at the foot of the cross and I kiss my beautiful, sleeping boy goodnight. I am blessed beyond words!

Have you had your daily dose of radiation today?

The hubby and I are searching for new cell phones. One of the things we take most seriously (after cost) is the SAR rating. It stands for Specific Absorption Rate of the radio frequency (radiation) given off by your cell phone. You did know that your cell phone gives off radiation, right? To minimize the radiation don't wear your cell phone, if you do, make sure it's in a case. Try using a headset instead of holding the phone to your ear. And when it's time, refer back to this list when you are in the market for a new cell phone. The research isn't conclusive, but why radiate your body any more than necessary? Here is one link to help you out:
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phone-radiation-levels/

the end of summer

We spent the last official weekend of summer camping, it was G's third camping trip and he is a FABULOUS camper! More fun discussions later this week. Have a great start to fall everyone!

Ya, we're still alive!

It's just been a terribly busy end to August and start of September. Rather than bore you with the details (or my thoughts about Socailist Health Care in the USA) I thought you may enjoy some pictures of the gorgeous G-Man.

G-man and Gramma at the Minnesota Zoo Butterfly Garden. Gramma brought him to the zoo for the first time and he loved the butterfly garden. (of course I had to tag along!)

Eating sweet potatoes at the dinner table with the whole family. Yum! No, he doesn't feed himself already, he was just doing great with the spoon and it's the first time I let him hold it. So smart!

Really, he loves beets, really!

Grampa Don souped up the old walker that he and Gramma Nancy found in their basement. Now it sports Nascar stuff. G-Man takes it seriously zooming (albeit only in reverse and laterally) around the deck; so many fun things to see in the backyard! We try to spend at least 30 minutes each evening out here. Yes, he zoomed over to the railing all on his own to see.

Every morning when I get G-Man dressed I can't help but tickle and kiss his tummy and toes. We giggle and laugh and he pulls my hair and ears. Lately, I have been getting lots of full belly laughs from him. It is truly the sound of angels!

G-man is so curious and loves to explore. This little Haba toy was studied for a good 10 seconds before he popped it into his mouth to taste test for further analysis!

I just took this one tonite (9-9-09) and yes that is an oak tree in the background that is already turning colors...however, more importantly...i don't think it's possible to love 2 people more than I love my boys. I am so blessed it leaves me speechless.

Do you text while driving?

This is a PSA, a very well done PSA. Please watch it then continue reading. Thanks...



The whole thing is pretty gripping. I lost it when the little girl was asking Mommy & Daddy to wake up and then again, when there was a shot of a baby (close to G-Man's age) and the voice over was saying that the baby is unresponsive. Please, if you have young drivers (or even 20-something drivers) in your life, watch this video with them. Please implore them not to text and drive, we are all at risk...sigh, I have to go dry my tears now. THIS is why I pray for safety everytime I am in the car with my baby and why I pray fervently when I know someone else is driving with him.

Has it really been four years?

Four years ago today my sweet hubby and I were married in our backyard. It was the wedding of my dreams, and now I am living in the marriage of my dreams. I am so blessed to have a husband who is my partner, best friend, lover, champion ~ my everything. It's cheesy and sounds so trite, but words truly cannot explain the depth of love I have for K. And since he's become the father of my son, that love which was so deep and unending has grown even stronger. The way K holds and comforts little G-Man, sings to him, reads books to him, snuggles me when I am so tired I cannot find the energy to roll over and kiss him goodnight...oh I am so blessed! Happy fourth anniversary my love, you are my Prince Charming! I love you!!!! XOXOXO!

Avocado Part II

I think it went much better the second time around! My little G-Man actually ate at least 6 small spoons of the fresh mashed (and slightly watered down) avocado this morning. He has been coughing a lot more than normal this afternoon, I am wondering if it's a more dramatic cough for fun or if his throat feels funny and there is a food sensitivity there. I had a brief period of my life where eating an avocado would cause my throat to swell and my lips too. It was funny until it got to be hard to breathe. So, we'll be carefully watching for any other food sensitivity signs.

The dear hubby and I were talking about food sensitivities, how the body reacts by engaging your immune system and things like that. Going by the list of physical symptoms of food sensitivities, and looking at childhood pictures of my hubby he had A LOT of food sensitivity issues. He says that looking back, he completely believes it too. Then, when K was 12 or 13 years old he was diagnosed with type I diabetes. Unlike Type II, type I is an autoimmune disorder. Basically, your body's immune system decides to attack the body and for him, the pancreas (which produces insulin) was attacked and killed. We were speculating about the relation to food sensitivities and how his immune system was already freaking out, then he got the flu and right after that, type I diabetes. The docs have thought for years that it was something related to the flu that caused his immune system to flip out and attack the pancreas. Now we are wondering if the food sensitivities contributed to that. For those reasons we are following a naturopathic doctor recommended hypoallergenic food introduction method. We are optimistic that G-Man will have a healthy relationship with food (soooo important!) and that his body will work optimally, providing him with a long, healthy life!

If you are wondering about food sensitivities, check out the Alcat test.

Avocado is NOT a hit.

My little G-Man tried his first food today. He is not thrilled with it, there was some gagging and spitting, but we did get him to at least try a few spoonfulls of pureed, fresh avocado. We'll try again on Tuesday. One food at a time, for a few days just to be sure there are no food sensitivities. Even gagging my baby is sooo cute!

Yes, I am alive!

Sorry, after I started to recover I started reading the 3rd book in the Twilight series, then I had to finish it and read the fourth and final book in the series. I am like a bulldog that way with books, NOTHING else happens until I get done reading. My days belong to my baby and the evenings with the books. Sigh, now that I am finally done with that series (and OH. MY. GOODNESS. was it great!) I can get on with life!

G-Man turned 7 months old yesterday! I cannot believe how fast this is flying by. I just want to reach out and stop time. I spent the day at work looking at the clock and reliving his birthday each hour. It was wonderful!!! I am thinking we'll start him on his first food tomorrow. Avocado pureed with breast milk. Yum! I picked up two books that will help us along the way with healthful eating: Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron and Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. Between those two and the handouts from our Naturopath doctor I think we will do great. Of course, I won't be "following" each book exclusively, but I will be picking out the parts I feel are important and incorporating the information into what K and I have already researched for a healthy start to food for G-Man's growing little body. Speaking of which...here are some pictures I took last week. The last step G-Man had to achieve before starting on food was to be able to sit without assistance. Whaddya think?