Massage: What every mamma needs!

I had my monthly massage today and it reminded me how amazing and important my massage is to my health and well being. I am a new person after it is done and feel more recharged and able to face my children.....especially the sick, whiny children I currently have. I recommend therapeutic massage for one hour. It does wonders for a body that is constantly lifting kids, bending over, playing toys and all other kinds of "mom" stuff.

I also try and do stretching during the day to make sure my body can handle the day to day tightness that arises. Here are some examples of what I do:

1) The best is to lay your baby on the ground, bend at the waist and tickle your baby.

2) Another good one is to do downward dog over your baby.

3) Get into a table pose over your baby and raise one leg at a time straight behind you.

4) Lastly, I love to lay on my back with my knees bent in the air. I set my 4 month old on my knees and while holding his hands I lift and lower my legs.

What are some things you do to help your body out?

Colds: Really it is that time already??

So we woke up in the middle of the night to a choking 4 month old. He was having a hard time swallowing all his drainage. Then a 2 year old came into the room at 2 am asking for the boob since he didn't feel good. When morning rolled around I was exhausted and empty and it was obvious both boys had a cold. My husband was also complaining of a cold. So I told him to Netti pot and then take some homeopathic medicine for colds and throat soreness. For the boys I have been giving them the homeopathic Hylands Aconitum Napellus, lots of boob and orange juice as well as chicken soup. Julien is still draining but his mood has been really good and he seems to be dealing with the drainage better. I am very glad I can handle these sicknesses without running to a doctor and using prescription drugs. I am glad my boys still nurse which keeps up their immune system. Now I just have to drink non-stop to keep up with the demand!

Horses: I want to ride one!

I found a groupon for 2 horse riding lessons and I had my first yesterday. It has been something I have wanted to do for awhile. The boys got to see a horse up close and I got to experience the awe and wonder of grooming and riding a horse. I highly suggest it!

What is your dream to experience? I hope you make it happen!

Fall: Cozy by the fire

Today it was a high of 65, and boy did it feel chillier as the day went on. My son has been taking long naps this week which makes me wonder if it is the cooler air or if he is growing. We even put up the fall decorations around the house.

So today felt like the perfect day for some homemade bread and homemade chili. Here is a snapshot of what I made for dinner. My husband didn't get home until 7pm from work so we ate at 8pm by candle light. It was quite nice and relaxing and my tummy is really warm right now as I sit by the fire.

Chili to warm on cool evenings:

Start your crock pot 8 hours before the meal is to be served.

Turn the crock pot on low.

Pour a can of black beans and kidney beans in a strainer and wash (I always find there are soap suds on my beans that need to be washed off). Pour into the crock pot.

Dice up 3 tomatoes and put in crock pot.*

Dice up 3-4 medium sized potatoes.*

Add a packet of chili spices.

Add a small tomato soup (I like the V8 soups that are not in cans but in cartons).

Add a cup or two of water, depending on how watery you like it.

Add a couple sprigs of parsley, leaves of basil and some rosemary.

Cook on low for 7 hours and switch to high for the last hour. Serve.

*preferably from your garden or a local organic farm.

Fresh honey wheat bread with a touch of butter was a great compliment to the chili tonight. I cheat and use a bread maker. Some day I will make bread by hand but right now I still prefer the bread maker.

What are your cool night rituals? Enjoy the fall as it settles in!

Park Days and Bike Rides

We spent 3 hours at the park today with my mom's group. Julien played on the swings and the slides but mostly in the sand with some trucks another child brought. As soon as he got home the first thing out of his mouth was "Mom, can I play in the sand box at our house?" I was shocked. Seriously?? After almost 1-2 hours in the sand you want more? What is it about sand that results in endless imagination and play? I know we will have to have a sand box no mater where we live. I also noticed that it really wore him out. My mostly non-napper took a 2 hour nap as soon as he came inside. Sand is magic!

Later on we went for a walk with the dog and he rode his bike. I was thinking he might be too tired from the morning, but oh no. I think every 2, almost 3 year old, has an endless supply of energy. I now know that I should really be giving my child way more ways to burn this energy then he gets usually. I guess we will have to do more 3 hour park days while it is still nice out.

What are some fun ways your child burns energy?

Preschool: Not this Year

My son will be three in November, which is a tricky birthday. Last spring we were pleasantly surprised that he knew all his letters and numbers by sight and could spell words everywhere we went. His communication was very good and he wanted to be involved in all kinds of activities and he potty trained at 18 months so we thought, I guess it is time for pre-school. As a test we enrolled him in a gymnastics class and he would run around and be a fun loving boy the whole time until it was circle time. All of a sudden he was frozen. He would not participate in the group at all and just sat and starred, but he wanted his sticker at the end. We encouraged and cajoled but to no avail and we didn't want to push him to hard. Finally, at the last two classes, voila, he joined and participated. What had changed? I guess he was done analyzing and wanted to start participating. At that point we had already rejected the idea of sending him to pre-school. He is socially not there, he is very attached which makes sense since we follow attachment parenting principals. So instead, we have enrolled him in more group activities at the local community center and will wait until next year for pre-school.

Since we have made this decision, I have talked to countless people about it. Some I think are sending their two year old to pre-school to get a much needed brake. Others, I really think feel their kids are ready. I have also heard with boys it is a good idea to hold them back from starting school early since you don't want them to be the smallest boy in the class or the least social. Then I started wondering, how much would your child's personality depend on when you sent them to school? If I did send them early, would they be picked on and not confident because of it? Would they be shy or the last one picked in sports or the least favorite of the teachers because of it? If they were, would this give them more humility and make them a better person later in life? If I held them back and sent them late, would I be the one with the child that thinks they are the best at everything only to be greatly disappointed when they are older? What is the right decision? What is your thought process?

Moving isn't easy...

Our Wonderful Garden
The New Bathroom- The tub was a great craigslist find- tear

We have begun the process of moving and I am a mix of emotions. I am happy for my husband's new opportunity and happy to move to a town that I love, but quite sad that I am leaving this house and this area. I have spent 6 years in this house and have had both my boys here, one literally in the living room!! I have bought my furniture with this house in mind. I put up the clothes line in this house and we toiled in this garden for 6 years trying to perfect it. Now, just like that we get to start over. It is funny how life throws you these changes. I think it is a reflection of who you are if you can deal with them well and with grace. I of course, had a total melt down yesterday and balled like a baby. I have to admit that is was both cathartic and cleansing and I am now much better because of it. I just kept telling myself that these things around me are just that, things. True home is where your family is. I will miss the friends and neighbors we have become close to more than anything, but again, luckily we will not be that far away so we will be able to come back for visits. I am letting myself ride the wave of life while pausing to reflect on each moment as it crests and falls only to build again. I have loved my time here and know I will love my time in the future as well. I want to send love and giant hugs to anyone who has gone through a move lately. I now feel we are bonded through these emotions. Especially, when you have small kids and are trying to pick the best environment for them. Please fill me in on your coping methods for any large moves you have been through. I saw yesterday that a homeopathic remedy for distressed emotions is yling-yling or frankincense. I will be buying both of these this week and placing them in my diffusers!

No Power and I liked it!

Storm Clouds Building

We came home Sunday, to find ourselves the victims of a large storm that left multiple trees and limbs down in the neighborhood and no power. Last night we walked around with candles to get ready for bed. This morning we picked grapes from the garden, played trains in the sandbox, hung out clothes on the line and ate because of the ice I had put in the freezer and our gas powered stove. I have to say I enjoyed it! It is interesting how you have to shift your brain. When you don't have anything to do for a minute you find yourself drawn to the TV or the computer and then you have to say, "I can't use those items, time to find something else." I think it would do everyone good to slow down and experience no power in their lives once and awhile. We actually think we are going to get a cabin some day with no power so we can live like that when we want to. What do you think? Can you give up the modern conveniences and slow down? Would you like it?

2nd Language: Parlez vous francais?

I am a firm believer in knowing more then one language. I unfortunately, was not brought up with more then one language. My family was Polish but the language was forsaken for English so my mom knew more Latin from Catholic school then Polish. I was really drawn to French in High School but was not able to take more then one class due to the great number of math and science classes I was "told" would be better for me to take. I want to correct this for my kids and give them and their growing brains the opportunity to process more then one language. Fortunately, my neighbor is from Belgium and speaks French. Her grandson is close in age to my boys, so once or twice a week we go over there and learn french (mom learns too). Julien's attention span is not too long for learning but I get to try and talk and listen to french the whole time. She always has tea and cookies, which is an added bonus! In return we give her grapes from the garden and toys that Julien can part with for their grandson. This is true bartering at its best and I am grateful for it! I love having this opportunity for myself and my son. I highly recommend this relationship.

I met a woman at the park who was teaching her daughter and her neighbors son Spanish and her neighbor was teaching them Russian. So these kids will know 3 languages by the time they are ready for school!! Amazing!!

How about you, do you have any of these language relationships or desire too?