Progressive Pioneer

The Friday Make and Do

Try making your own granola bars (or granola!) to have some healthy snacks on hand. Make your own deodorant. 
Have an outdoor movie night com complete with kids, quilts and popcorn. Sign up for the International Postcard Swap (today's the last day!)

Learn the art of storytelling and have a storytelling night (perhaps around a fire?) for young and old.  

Have a wonderful weekend!  And check in tomorrow for a giveaway from one of my favorite sponsors!

New Illustrations in the Shop

Clayton recently sat down and did some wonderful illustrations that we've put up in the shop.  We promise to try and keep it stocked a bit more regularly from now on:)

We're running a promotion where you can get $5 off if you post about your purchase on your blog with a link back to the shop.  All the illustrations are original watercolors.  The plan is to continue using this color palette for awhile so if you wanted to purchase several they would look great grouped together on the wall.  Keep your eyes out for more!

Birth Stories: Katrina and Asher

Katrina and Asher are friends of mine and Sam's.  Asher is only a little younger than Sam and Katrina was in the Hypnobabies class I just took.  She did the home study course the first time around and wanted to take the actual class this time to really get into it.  She also happens to be a very talented photographer and just started an exciting project photographing nursing moms!

Labor with my son Asher began at 38 weeks. Well that's when the REAL labor began. I had two bouts of preterm labor earlier in the third trimester which dilated me 3-4 cm and then two weeks of prodromal labor that always petered out after several hours. I knew it was real this time because the contractions woke me up from my sleep at 2 in the morning. I spent a couple of hours in bed listening to my Hypnobabies tracts on my ipod and letting my husband sleep. As things got more intense, I decided to wake Jared. I then spent a couple of hours in the bathtub--my favorite place during pregnancy and during all my prodromal labor.

At the hospital, the midwife checked me and I was a 6! Everyone seemed to think my labor would go pretty quickly, but it ended up being a rather long day on only 2 hours of sleep. My labor was definitely labor! It was hard mental work to stay focused and relaxed. And I certainly had that moment during transition where I said I couldn't do it anymore. My birth plan insisted on no drugs and that wish was respected. I was never offered any drugs and didn't have an IV or even a heplock. Other than intermittent monitoring of the baby's heart beat, I was left alone for the most part to do my thing. I was definitely in my own zone. I was mostly very quiet and didn't even want my husband to touch me. It was very internal work. I was so connected to my body that it almost felt like an out of body experience, if that makes any sense.

It was about 2 pm when I started feeling pushy and had the midwife confirm that I was fully dilated. I pushed for awhile sitting on the birth stool and then moved up on the bed. They set up the squat bar but I was much too tired at this point to actually squat. They tied a sheet to the top of the bar which I pulled with my arms as I pushed with my feet against the sides of the bar. It took 3 hours to push my baby out. Pushing was not at all painful for me, but it was exhausting! His head was basically crowning for much of that three hours. Thankfully, the midwife was wonderful and spent those hours massaging me with oil and helping me stretch. (I only had a very small tear with one stitch!)

When Asher finally made his appearance he started screaming as soon as hit head was out. I remember reaching down and holding him under his armpits but I was too tired and he was too slippery for me to lift him. Jared lifted him to my chest where I cradled him and breathed a huge sigh of relief. I had done it! I was tired and exhausted but so thrilled that I had persevered and had the birth I wanted.  I had my baby in my arms. He was healthy and beautiful despite being rather smooshed after being in the birth canal so long.  I held him for long time before they took him and weighed him. He was 8 pounds even--bigger than I was expecting my early baby to be.

I don't think there is anything more empowering than birthing a baby. It is a transformative experience like no other. It is so good to know that our bodies can create these perfect little humans and get them out! I am now expecting my second baby and planning a home birth. I am really looking forward to staying in my comfortable home where I can stay better focused. I have confidence in my body to birth. I am preparing once again with Hypnobabies and am excited to experience the miracle of natural birth again.

A Time Drawing to a Close

Sam had been nursing less and less.  And then without me even realizing, he just gradually stopped.  There are still days here and there when he's feeling a bit under the weather or gets a major boo-boo and wants to nurse.  But they're getting fewer and farther between.  
This is a good thing, I know.  Babies grow up and turn into little boys that know the names of dozens of bugs, wear big boy underwear and say things like, "No problem!"  I'm certainly glad there's a new baby on the way though, so I don't miss those sweet, snugly moments too much.  Now I have to settle for quick hugs and kisses and he flies past from one exciting thing to the next.  And I treasure our early morning snuggles more than ever; he sneaks into our bed early in the morning and we snuggle and chat when we wake up. 
I'm glad that he was able to let go of nursing on his own.  The only time I really made him cut back was when I was first pregnant (you get kind of sore!), so we laid down some rules about how often he could nurse.  But since then it's been his own schedule.  I knew the end was in sight when he would ask to nurse, but once we'd sit down in the chair he would change his mind and want a book instead.  Nursing became much less about food and almost entirely about spending time with mom.  Luckily, we can spend time together, reading books and snuggling for as long as he wants!  I sometimes miss that downy-headed little nurser, but the little boy he's turning into is so delightful and exciting that I wouldn't change a thing!

Toddler Thank You Cards

I saw this idea somewhere, though now I can't remember where, but someone deserves credit for the idea of turning your toddler's artwork into thank you cards.  I trimmed off the bottoms of his paintings (that's really the only part with paint anyway, as he can't reach much higher on the easel!) and we wrote thank you letters for his birthday presents. 
It was a lot of fun to involve him in the process.  He decorated the backs of the envelopes and I asked him questions and wrote his answers in the letters.  Most of the letters followed the same format.  I wrote a thank you and told what Sam liked about the present, as if it were coming straight from him.  Then I added "I also want to tell you..." and put the direct quotes there.  Sometimes they were about the present or the person we were writing to, sometimes they were more along the lines of "I found a bug!" or "I like cupcakes!"  But I like that he's learning about writing letters and I'm sure people will enjoy hearing what he wanted to share with them, no matter what it is. Today we'll take a field trip to the post office and pick up some stamps, which I'll probably let Sam put on and drop in the mail slot.  It will likely be a highlight of his day:)

Homemade Cheese

We've recently added some dairy to our diet.  Previously we shunned it, preferring to make our own nut milk, but I've been reading some interesting stuff and so we're trying it out for awhile.  The jury is still out; I'm still not sure if dairy is good for us or bad for us, but we're just going to see how we feel.  We're only using raw, grass fed milk and cheese and I've started experimenting with making some dairy products, as it's quite hard to find raw, grass fed products.  Plus, cheese making is a whole new frontier for me!

I purchased some soft cheese culture, and without really knowing what I was doing, jumped right in!  The directions were simple; just have your milk at a certain temperature (76 degrees, I think), stir in the culture and let it sit for 12-15 hours.  The next morning it was just thick milk, so I decided to try straining it. 

I used our nut milk bag (sort of ironic, really) and suspended it over a bowl using a high-tech combination of lemon zester and chip clip.  After all the juice drained out (is that called the whey?) I had a nice mascarpone-type cheese, which I used in a sauce to go on some broccoli, as well as spread on some yummy homemade bread with tomatoes and chives. The New England Cheesemaking Company has classes you can take and I have this daydream of some day taking a long weekend to Upstate New York and learning the secrets of French cheese making...

Forgot Two Goodies in the Sponsor Post...

Rebecca and Susan over at Hand Full have some fun discounts and promotions for you:

• $5 back with every $50 you purchase (just mention this post)
• $5 credit for referrals; just have your friend mention in a convo that they were sent there by you!
• Any purchases made before Mother's Day will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate!!

Such a good time to be investing in some sweet, handmade clothes for your little ones!
PS They also have a new blog that's a fun read; full of cute clothes, yummy recipes and adorable kids.

PPS Just had to mention ONE more thing!  Remember those wonderful shoes I raved about?  I'm not sure if it's too late, but Alyssa is giving away a pair on her Keep it Real blog.  Pop over and see if there's still time to enter!

Giveaway: ReBinder Green School Supply Kit

 


Today's giveaway is from ReBinder, the first company to make an only FSC Certified line of binders. It's also assembled by a local, AbilityOne certified disabled workforce.  Their binders, CD sleeves, journals and presentation/event materials are all made from the highest post-consumer recycled materials.  In addition to being uber-green and so much more sustainable than those old vinyl binders, they're also pretty cool looking!  I love the simple, sleek look of products that aren't overly decorated.  Of course, if you're into the middle school aesthetic they also provide a wonderful blank canvas to cover with your own decorations and doodles.  They also have some great looking notebooks that are 100% recycled.

 

You can buy their stuff by the case and it's a lot cheaper (especially with the special 20% discount for Progressive Pioneer Readers!), which is perfect for home schooling families, or anyone really.  How pleased will you be with yourself if you stock up on supplies now and have it all taken care of when school rolls around again?  The Green School Supply Kit will cover all your bases: pens made from plants, not plastic; binders with all sorts of cool inserts and accessories; and green composition books.  You could even go in with a couple other families to buy in bulk, challenging each other to an entirely green school year (or to greening your office)!

 

The code PIONEERSROCK will get you 20% off through the end of the month!  Lots of their products (including the Green School Supply Kit) come with free shipping as well.  This weekend they're giving away one Green School Supply Kit, so get your comments in before Monday for a chance to win!

To be entered to win, leave a comment.  You can gain SIX additional entries in the following ways, but remember to leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY.  1) add PP to your blog roll (1st timers only) 2) become a fan on facebook (1st timers only) 3) become a friend (1st timers) 4) add a button (1st timers) 5) mention the giveaway on your blog, or 6) on facebook.  Good luck!

***************************************************************

Congratulations to Hannah who said, "Fantastic! It'll be a great way to organise all of my paperwork, and maybe get the husband to organise his too"

The Friday Make and Do

Make some sweet grocery totes from vintage pillow cases.  She claims it takes all of fifteen minutes! Make your own custom rug (this is a great way to reuse old carpet, otherwise destined for the dump).

Try your hand at cheesemaking (I've started dabbling; I'm excited to share my culturing adventures next week!)

Help your kiddos make some tissue paper "stained glass" to catch the spring sunshine. Gather some frog eggs and watch them turn into frogs!  This has got to be one of the most exciting things to witness as a kid (or an adult!).  

Hope your weekend is full of wonderful discoveries and plenty of time for playing; see you Monday!

PS Clayton's 13 year old little brother submitted this design, called "Forgot My Lunch" to Threadless (it's an illustration of Clay's that Henry colored in photoshop).  It would totally make his day if you gave it a score on Threadless!

Bug Box

A week or two ago, Clay and Sam started building a bug box one day after work.  It only got about halfway finished before it was time to come inside, so Clay ended up finishing (and redesigning) it as a birthday present.  Of course, he can never make anything ordinary, so this one has more of a Gothic shaped peak on the ends and a little door set into rails that slides up.  It's pretty rad.  But, for those of us with less ambition, it would be so easy to just cut two "U" shaped pieces (or house shapes) and nail them onto the ends of a rectangle.  You'd want to cut out a round hole in one first and you could just cut out another round piece of wood, slightly bigger than the hole, and nail it over the hole such that it could be swung in either direction to open the door.  Then staple screen around the top.  Ta-da! A bug box!  I like it because Sam loves it, but also because it keeps the bugs a little safer from his eager fingers, although he is getting much better and being gentle and not squishing now.

We took the bug box (and the new wagon) out for a test run Sunday morning before church.  We kept our eyes peeled for bugs and Sam looked fearlessly in all places, including reaching elbow deep into a hollow tree.

We found two Box Elder Beetles, his favorite, and saw some flying bugs that were too quick to catch.  We even saw a bird's nest!  After admiring them for awhile we let them go; Sam thought the shaking them out of the box part was quite exciting as well.

I love sharing and exploring with Sam.  He's at an age where he teaches us just as much as we teach him.  This hike he taught us not to be in a hurry:)  We travel significantly slower when accompanied by a toddler on foot, but you know, I probably would've missed the bird's nest if I'd been cruising along at my regular pace.

Birth Stories: Olivia's Twin Homebirth

My sweet twin babies were born on their estimated due date, 7 lb. 14 oz and 7 lb. 10 oz., at home in our bed. They were healthy, alert and started nursing minutes after birth. I could not have been a happier!

Never did we imagine that we would be the parents to twins. I had discovered I was pregnant for the fourth time and scheduled a routine 20 week anatomy ultrasound. The technician surprised us when she announced there were TWO babies! Baby A and Baby B!

This news did not change our minds on continuing with my midwife and planning a home birth. However, it did alter our original plan and I knew I needed to prepare for the alternative in case of complications. My husband and I discussed certain terms under which we would be comfortable having our babies at home. We wanted to be sure both babies were a healthy weight and 36+ weeks. I ultimately had 3 ultrasounds to measure their progress and the results were positive and encouraging.

I scoured the internet. I read forums on home birth, free birth, breech births, twin births and twin HBAC. I also read the other side. I gathered knowledge on birthing twins in a hospital or whether a birthing center could be an option. I read about inductions, c-sections, epidurals, and more.  On both sides, there were some favorable and unfavorable results. I had to drink in all that information and let it swirl inside my heart. It was an important decision that would ultimately effect our lives and everyone around us. More importantly, I wanted what was best for the twins.

I researched the standard of care for twin births at our local hospitals. The twins would most likely be induced at 37 weeks gestation, earlier if any problems arose. I would need to have a mandatory epidural, just in case of complications. If I wished to attempt a vaginal birth with Isabella then Grace would most likely be delivered by c-section due to her breech positioning. Also, only my husband would be allowed to be present during the birth. The end result was that we should pre-schedule a c-section and be done with any more decision making. I was greatly discouraged by this news.

Women prepare for their babies for three-quarters of a year, sometimes starting even before their pregnancies! They take their pre-natal vitamins, eat healthy, drink plenty of water, diligently go to doctor visits and rest as often as possible. They avoid certain chemicals while cleaning and stop their daily doses of caffeine to then be told to throw their convictions to the wind and succumb to “hospital procedures”? It felt like I was studying hard for that big final exam that I would end up cheating on at the last minute! I wasn’t convinced this was the best way.

Our ultimate decision was that we would plan for a twin home birth with the option that if either one of us ever felt uncomfortable or any testing came back unfavorable we would pursue a hospital birth with our midwife attending as a doula.

My three older daughters, Madelyn, Lana and Sophia were a flurry of excitement each day, kissing my belly and feeling for each individual babies’ kicks! They drew us pictures and stories and chatted to their friends and teachers about meeting their new sisters! Their anticipation was incredible!

We waited and waited. 40 weeks hit and I was still shuffling to pick up my two oldest from school. I walked as much as I could to start labor but it was rough and I was tired. I went into labor the night of my estimated due date, April 30th.

I recall murmurs and whispers, the smell of tea and a warm room, the window was open and my mother and sister were cooling me with makeshift fans. I could hear my husband making sure things were in place and I was taken care of. The waves of contractions coming closer together and the babies shifting, ready.

Isabella was first and it seemed like forever until I heard her cries but how sweet they were. I patted Gracie’s body, still inside, whispering to her to be patient for she was next. Grace's birth was quick, and 18 minutes on the heels of her sister, she arrived safely. She had turned from her breech position to a full vertex and all was well.

In those wee hours on May 1st, I shared a birthday cake with 3 wonderful midwives and 14 family members. They had just witnessed an event some may never experience in a lifetime... and then they were blessed enough to see it twice!

Simple Birthdays

I'm really trying to create a culture of celebration in our home that doesn't revolve around getting oodles of stuff.  I think we did pretty well not going overboard with the presents this year, although Sam did still make out with quite a haul, I think!  He's really good about examining and enjoying each present as he opens it, before moving on to the next.  I think these presents could've been enough for two birthdays though!  We'll try to simplify a bit more for next year... 

Here's what his second birthday brought him: Three books about animals from the thrift store.  I got "grown up" books, because he seems to enjoy them more.  But paying upwards of $25 a book for the really nice ones, doesn't make a lot of sense when they're intended for someone who may or may not color on the pages.

A bug box made by his dad (I'll show more about this one later).

A "shoot the moon" game made by his uncle Christopher.

A little red wagon from his grandma and grandpa.

Some wooden kitchen toys.  These are the ones I accepted in exchange for a review.  I must admit that we love the toys, though I don't think I'll do reviews for such big companies anymore.  Not that this one did anything to inspire that, they were perfectly lovely, but my gut tells me I should support smaller shops.  But we do certainly love these toys!  Sam had so much fun pulling each one out of the brown paper packaging when they came in the mail (it was a slightly belated present, which I always kind of enjoy as they draw out the celebration).  I cleared out a low cabinet for him in the kitchen so he would have his very own spot to store them in.  So, far his favorite thing is "cutting" the fruits and veggies in half.  They're stuck together with velcro and come with a little wooden knife.  Plan Toys, the manufacturer, makes all their toys out of "green" material (rubberwood trees that haven't had fertilizer used on them) and the toys are chemical-free, with non-toxic dyes, which is very reassuring.

A boy from church who sometimes babysits Sam carved his name in woodshop (top).  Isn't it rad?  I'm going to hang it in his new room; we're doing a little room switcharoo soon due to Ms. Vivian's impending arrival.  And at the party he got a whole bunch of wonderful, handmade cards.  I requested no presents, but suggested that cards made by his friends would be much appreciated, and they were.  Most of them came with toddler artwork and even a few portraits of Sam.  One came with some photos of Sam and his friend from last fall that were so cute.  I loved it, and Sam loves looking at them.

April Sponsors

Where did the month go?!  It's almost the end and I haven't introduced you to our wonderful sponsors yet!  And there are so many wonderful sales, giveaways and discounts (see below) in honor of Earth Day, too!  Without further ado, here they are:

I'm so excited to have Bella Luna Toys as a sponsor, not only because they offer the loveliest Waldorf- inspired toys, but because they're based in Maine, only minutes from where we used to live!  I learned this after discovering her wonderful shop online.  Small world!  And through the end of the month you can enter the code PIONEER10 for 10% off any order, anything in their shop!

Hazelnut Kids is also offering 10% off with the code PP10 and will be doing a giveaway soon!  You can join Hazelnut Kids on facebook for exclusive offers and discounts (I recently saw a 40% off code for some Plan Toys dolls...)  Sam has the toys above and loves them!

Handfull is one of our newest sponsors and makes the loveliest, handmade children's clothes.  I could easily dress our little Vivian head to toe in these sweet creations!  And until April 29th, when you purchase something from their shop you get a free eco-gift in celebration of Earth Day!

And if you didn't win the Kids Konserve giveaway, don't fret, you can still get 15% off any order with the code EARTH15, and you can get a free 20oz. stainless steel bottle with any order placed in April!  Happy Earth Day indeed!

Ivory Bill is also a new "sponsor," though you may already know them:)

Hip Mountain Mama is having a huge Earth Day sale until this Friday.  Check out their shop for some fantastic deals on everything from clothes to toys to cloth diapers.  You can also get a free reusable tote with the code "Earth Day" on any order over $30. 

And don't forget the oldies, but goodies, the faithful wonderful sponsors that have been with us for a few months:

• doTERRA Oils
• Horizon Structures (have you taken the plunge and gotten your own chickies yet...?)
• the Holistic LDS Living Conference (registration is still $13 off until June 1st)
• No Plastic!* for all your stainless steel and reusable needs (including my favorite straws!)
• EC Wear (spring and summer are the perfect time to take the plunge with EC or potty training...)
• Boomerang!  (Download a few of their audio adventures for your next road trip)
• Hypnobabies (we are in love with our hypnobabies class!)

Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsors who are creating lovely things in an ethical and Earth-conscious way.  Show them a little love this month!

*This just in!  No Plastic has created a code where you can get 12% off any order over $100 until April 30th.  Use the code "progressive" and stock up on sustainable supplies!  January isn't the only time of year to make green resolutions:)

Sugar-Free Party Food

Every since I used m&ms to encourage Sam to use the potty, we've been trying to avoid sugar altogether.  I got the "good" kind (cane sugar, food-based coloring etc.), but they were still a steady dose of sweet throughout the whole day and it made him kind of crazy.  He's so much happier and more pleasant to be around when his blood sugar isn't going like a roller coaster.  So, for his birthday party, I thought it would be decidedly more festive to have him in a happy mood at the end of it, and not coming off a sugar high, crashed and cranky. Because the party was at 2:00 in the afternoon, we really only needed to provide snacks.  So the menu included carrot cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, juice and strawberries with a creamy dip (left over frosting actually).  The dip was a last-minute stroke of genius; the strawberries were originally entended to be plain.  I was also planning on doing popcorn with butter, olive oil, salt and a little nutritional yeast, but I just ran out of time. 
Here's how I kept the sugar to a minimum.  The cookies and cupcakes are the tricky part, but both were made with 100% whole wheat flour and only honey and molasses to sweeten them.  I don't think anyone even knew the difference.  The frosting was even honey-sweetened.  We try and limit even honey and natural sweeteners for ourselves and for Sam, but for a festive occasion it was fun to feel like we were having treats without the negative effects of highly processed white sugar and flour.  We're mostly water or fresh juice drinkers, so to get bottled juice was a "treat" as well, and definitely more healthy than soda or some of the other alternatives.

Here's the cupcake recipe (another treasure from Clay's mom!):

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 cup oil
• 3/4 cup honey
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups grated carrot
• 1 cup unsweetened, crushed pineapple, drained
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I used pecans)

Mix the dry together, and the wet together, then combine them.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes (less for cupcakes) or until a skewer comes out clean.  For the frosting you can combine cream cheese, butter, vanilla and honey and it's delicious.  You can also skip the butter, I was just feeling indulgent. 

Recovering from Some Crazy Toddler Partying

We're still recovering from a weekend of second birthday festivities.  We'll be with you later today or tomorrow morning to report all the goodness of the weekend.  Who knew toddler parties could be so fun?  Sam's first birthday party was really for me, let's be honest, but this one was definitely all for Sam and it was so fun because this year he could actually tell us how much he loved it!  I've got some fun recipes for sugarless party food (still festive, but minus the sugar crash!), some great homemade present ideas to share and of course, a new picture of Sam in the birthday hat (the above is from last year) looking a year older and wiser.

Earth Day Giveaway: Etsy's NaturalKids Team

Etsy's NaturalKids Team is doing a giveaway/sale bonanza for Earth Day and Progressive Pioneer is just a small part of it.  Fiftysix different shops with natural goodies for little people are having a sale, giveaway or promotion of some sort (comprehensive list here).  Visit their blog or search "NaturalKids Team" on etsy.

For our giveaway this weekend you've got a shot at winning:

• A five color set of MamaK's Play Clay
• A mini baby doll from Polar Bear Creations
• A handknit, newborn wool soaker from The Sitting Tree
• A pocket doll from German Dolls

 

To be entered to win, leave a comment before Monday.  You can gain SIX additional entries in the following ways, but remember to leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY.  1) add PP to your blog roll (1st timers only) 2) become a fan on facebook (1st timers only) 3) become a friend (1st timers) 4) add a button (1st timers) 5) mention the giveaway on your blog, or 6) on facebook.  Good luck!

************************************************************

Congratulations to Carolina who said, "Awesome- possum! Hope I win :-)"

Earth Day Giveaway: Kids Konserve

In anticipation of Earth Day, Kids Konserve has some great things going on (including this giveaway!).  Their school Waste-Free Challenge gives a percentage of every sale back to your school, and for the month of April they'll be giving 25% back!  It's a super fun way to raise awareness, reduce waste and tote your lunch in style.

With every order you place with Kids Konserve this month you'll also get a FREE 20oz. stainless steel Kids Konserve bottle, as long as supplies last (so hurry, hurry!), plus 15% off your whole order with the coupon code "earth15."  You would be hard pressed to find an excuse not to go green this month!

And if you enter this giveaway before the weekend's out you'll have a shot at winning one of their great Snak Paks!  Each kit comes with a drawstring bag, napkin, leak-proof stainless steel container and a reusable food wrap.
 

To be entered to win, leave a comment.  You can gain SIX additional entries in the following ways, but remember to leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY.  1) add PP to your blog roll (1st timers only) 2) become a fan on facebook (1st timers only) 3) become a friend (1st timers) 4) add a button (1st timers) 5) mention the giveaway on your blog, or 6) on facebook.  Good luck!

*******************************************************

Congratulations to Liz who said, "Lovin the stainless steel containers! Thanks for the chance to win!"

The Friday Make and Do

Paint some fancy bread.

Turn all those plastic grocery bags into reusable bags!

Make some surprise balls!  Some day I'm going to host a party and hand these out; they're so fun.

Is your local farmers' market open yet?  Find out and stop on by!  Or consider joining a CSA; I loved the surprise of what vegetables I would get each week when I was in one.
Take advantage of this blustery spring weather and fly a kite.

Have a beautiful, creative, happy weekend; see you next week!

PS There are a few different giveaways happening this weekend to celebrate Earth Day, so make sure to get in on them before the weekend's out! 

Making Your Own Herbal Remedies

Last weekend I went to this wonderful class (from the same woman that did Herbs 101 and is organizing the Holistic Living Conference) about how to make your own herbal remedies.  It was so empowering to learn about doing something that I've previously relied on other people to do for me.  I'll use single herbs here and there, and certainly essential oils.  But I've never gone full out and made my own salves or tinctures.  It just seemed a bit too involved and overwhelming.  But watching the teacher demonstrate as she talked about the process, it just seemed so doable! 

She first demonstrated making a salve.  She used a Dr. Christopher (a Utah herbalist that practiced in the 50s) formula called Bone, Flesh and Cartilage that's for all sorts of problems with any of those things; sprains, burns, breaks, rashes, bruises etc.  She'd had the combination of herbs soaking in olive oil for two weeks.  Then she just strained it, squeezing out the extra oil, and mixed it with some beeswax in a crock pot and poured it into cute little tubs.  She added a few drops of lavender essential oil at the end too.  So easy though, right?  She sent us each home with a little jar of the BF&C salve, which I've been using on a  scar on Sam's hand (he got a chemical burn from a faulty IV at the hospital and still has quite the scar).  But as soon as it's gone I think I'll try my hand at mixing some up myself!

She also showed us how to make tinctures and encapsulate dried herbs.  Encapsulation was also amazingly simple, so much so that you wonder why you would ever buy herbal supplements when it's so easy and cheap to make them yourself and you can know exactly what goes into them.  You basically just have this little box with the capsules in it, pack in the powdered herbs, snap on the top and then pop out your perfect little herb pills- genius!  And making tinctures was about the same as making a salve, except that you soak the herbs in glycerin, alcohol or vinegar for two weeks instead of olive oil, then strain it and put it in little dropper jars.  She sent us home with a blend of herbs designed to balance your hormones, perfect for the pregnant mama!  I'd totally recommend taking her classes (they're free!) if you're local, or finding someone to teach you if you're not.  You could also just get some books at the library if you learn well that way.  I just love seeing someone demonstrate, it's so easy for me to absorb the information that way.  Keep your eyes out for some homemade remedies showing up here in the next few months as I try my hand at my own lotions and potions!

Birth Stories: Mariana's Natural Birth After TWO Cesareans

I had my last appointment with the residents on Friday, July 31st in which they scheduled c-section at 41 weeks (August 5th, 2009). I naturally panicked and tried a lot of natural induction techniques that day. Something worked... Pressure waves (contractions) started at 1 am Saturday. They were pretty intense but spaced apart every 10 minutes. My doula Becky, arrived at 7:30 am. I had my headphones on listening to my hypnobabies tracks while I sat on a birthing ball and leaned against the bed.

We had some breakfast... eggs and toast. Then my husband went to take a nap...lucky him. Becky and I started a walk around the block at 2pm to try to get things moving. The pressure waves were still spaced 10 min apart and within minutes of starting our walk, the pressure waves were coming every 3-4 minutes. I had to lean on her or the fence. We walked around the block about 5 times. I asked her how far along I might be and she said she believed I was still in early labor. When I heard that, I thought to myself, "What?!!!" How can I still be in early labor when everything felt sooo intense? How was active labor going to feel?!!!

When we got back home I managed to heat up some veggie burgers. I went upstairs and the pressure waves were still every 3-4 minutes, however they were really intense. After an hour or so, I went in the hot shower and lost my mucus plug almost immediately. I called Becky over and she had a surprised look on her face and said something like, "Wow, that hot water seemed to get things started." Again I thought to myself, "What?!!" Could I barely be entering Active Labor?"
I reached down again and something told me to self examine myself... I did and felt her head! I told Becky and she decided to check me as well. She turned to me and said,"We have to go now!" I freaked out and lost complete focus. There was no way I could make it to my hospital that was 30 min away. We had to go to the VBAC-banned hospital a few minutes away.

Whole ride there I was involuntarily pushing and then holding her in. We finally got there and they were ready for me. I started pushing and it felt good to push. On the fourth push, I let out a primal scream that my husband still imitates and reenacts, and my daughter Olivia Grace was born. We arrived there at 5:00pm and I had her at 5:30. She weighed 8lbs 3oz, much larger than my first two.

The greatest experience ever. I still can't believe it happened. Well I can... I prepared so much and was completely confident. I think that was key. If only I started that walk earlier on. 16 hours total from the time the first pressure wave started. But maybe that was only early labor the first couple of hours. The walk is what got things started. From the time of my walk to the time she was born was 3.5 hours.

I couldn't have done it without the help of my doula, hypnobabies, ICAN and my family. Thanks to you all!

Mariana
Mommy to Benjamin (9-11-04)c-section, Amelia (2-23-06) c-section, and Olivia (8-1-09) VBA2C

Time for Painting

Unfortunately, finding time to paint is a near supernatural feat for Clay.  He works so hard with the furniture business and odd jobs (web design, logo design etc.) here and there.  And then when he's home he's mowing the lawn, painting the garage, or spending time with Sam.  But in the last month we've squeezed in some time so that he could create some paintings (and frames!) to enter in a local art competition.  I wish he had the time to paint whenever the urge struck, hopefully someday we'll get to that point.  Wouldn't it be lovely to simply pursue all the creative things you love to do and leave the bread-winning and house cleaning to someone else?
The one at the top he painted while we were in Maine.  And this one he painted just recently, although he's had the idea for over a year!  The frames are even Clayton-made.  I love this wood (it might be called lace wood, but I'm really not sure).  It's so warm and rich.  He's made a similar frame for a Minerva Teichert print we have in the living room, but I'm already jonesing for some more.  It's crazy that we have stacks and stacks of his wonderful art, but it's just packed away not doing anyone any good!  One of my goals in the upcoming weeks is to stockpile secondhand frames, paint them all a uniform color and get some of Clay's art up on the walls! 

Choosing a Name for Baby

For some reason I always get stressed out picking baby names; it's just so IMPORTANT!  I always want a name that comes to me like a thunderbolt and I just know it's the one.  But, so far that hasn't happened.  Instead we have a list of about half a dozen names where I think, "Yeah, that one could work..."  So we decided to just pick our top one and try it on for size for a little while. 

Sam was instrumental in deciding which name was #1.  He has very strong opinions on baby names.  In fact, he hasn't liked a single one we've suggested.  I often ask him, "Do you like this name?  How about this one?"  And the answer is always "No!"  Until we suggested Vivian.  And he is adamant that the baby's name is Vivian.  We were driving home from Idaho, talking about baby names and asking Sam for his input. Vivian was the first name he's ever answered "Yes!" to.  We asked him several times, in various ways and he always insisted on Vivian.  Now if you ask him what the baby's name is, he will tell you unequivocally, "it's Vivian!"  I'm open to the idea that perhaps he has more insight than we do into the baby's preferences, and so we're trying out Vivian (Vivi for short) for awhile.  What do you think?

Have you tried out Name Voyager?  Even if you're not shopping around for a baby name, it's fun to see the stats on your own name.  Another source for name inspiration that I've been turning to is the Social Security Index.  You can search by decade to find the top names all the way back to the late 1800s. 

For a good giggle, check out Utah Baby Namer, especially the "best of" page, or the book Bad Baby Names .

Felt Boards for Wee Folks

Some days I find myself dropping everything to become completely absorbed in a project.  Although Sam is a little young for the creation of a felt board and figures, he loved the finished product.  And he was perfectly happy to "work" alongside me with felt scraps and glue, constructing his own little project.

This felt-covered dining room table is about how my kitchen counters looked at the end of the day, only covered in dishes.  But we created a wonderful board with all sorts of fun figures to stick on and rearrange.  I love getting up to my elbows in a project. 

I was hoping this would be a good quiet toy for church, and it works to some extent, but I found that I was worrying too much about all the little pieces getting scattered under the pews more than paying attentions to the speakers.  And a few board books seems to keep him just as occupied.  But for playing at home, it's perfect to pull out every now and again, letting him strew the pieces all over the floor and work out his own stories.  I love eavesdropping as he keeps up a running dialogue of what he's creating.

All you need for a project like this is plenty of wool felt in various colors; scraps are just fine and this is actually a perfect way to use them up, craft glue and a piece of sturdy cardboard.  Glue a piece of felt to the front of your cardboard and trim it to fit.  Then go to town cutting out whatever your imagination comes up with!  I just free-handed everything, but I bet you could find some cute images online and use them as templates if you were so inclined.  And get creative about reusing your scraps and about what sorts of things you can make with very simple shapes.  The snake was inspired by all the little green shards I made when creating the grass.  They were perfect snake stripes!  You could also make felt "paper dolls," cutting out clothing and various outfits.  We later made a baby with removable diapers that Sam can "change" and we also made a little Sam with changeable clothes. 

Giveaway: No Plastic!

The greener things get around here, the "greener" I feel like being.  No Plastic has such great options for plastic-free living.  Check out these great reusable, hemp food storage bags.  And I know I've mentioned these stainless steel straws before, but seriously, how rad are they?!

I love this portable cutlery set (with chopsticks!).  So much nicer than having the fork stabbing a hole through the bag, or getting lost in the bottom of the backpack.  Perfect for picnics or hiking, too.
They've got a whole assortment of stainless steel containers.  And, I'd never thought of this, but they suggest writing on them with a dry erase-type marker with the contents, or date or who's lunch it is, etc.  Clever!  A few goodies from No Plastic would be the perfect Earth Day present, don't you think?

To be entered to win an airtight, watertight, stainless steel food storage container, leave a comment.  You can gain SIX additional entries (there's a new one in there) in the following ways, but remember to leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY.  1) add PP to your blog roll (1st timers only) 2) become a fan on facebook (1st timers only) 3) become a friend (1st timers) 4) add a button (1st timers) 5) mention the giveaway on your blog, or 6) on facebook.  Good luck!

***********************************************************************

Congratulationsto Nancy from Mass who said, "I would love the opportunity to win anything from them. Great idea about the dry erase markers...I'll have to start using that idea"

The Friday Make and Do

Visit your library, stock up on some spring reading, and take a literary day trip.

Create your own garden pots.

 

Have a board game night, complete with popcorn and treats! Learn how to juggle. Become a genius!  MIT's open courseware has free lectures, notes and exams.  Here are their most visited classes, and here are some from the anthropology,  history, and political science departments that look pretty interesting to me!

Have a fun weekend!