Stay-at-home survival

BabyBird and I have much more time to ourselves since summer ended.  The first couple of weeks took a lot of adjusting.  BabyBird was going through the week of horror as she grew four molars.  I was so used to rushing around, I found myself bored and slightly down by 2pm.  I have since found grateful purpose in spending my days focused on her and am really enjoying being at home.  Also the weather is cooler and basically perfect so we can get outside more.  I'm always happiest when I can be out doors.

One of my favourite things that we do is our 'early'* morning walk. I have heard that sunshine before 10am gives the healthiest UV rays.  I'm also happy to do some light exercise regularly while I'm pregnant.  BabyBird has had her moments but she has become a very willing participant.

Every day we venture slightly further - the surrounding neighborhoods have some gorgeous houses and mansions - and today we found a book house.  What is this?  A small glass-doored cupboard with books to swap.  I took the Marquis of O' and am sure I can find some we have finished with here to add to it's shelves.  A wee hidden treasure.
 
*it's not so early - we never get out before 8:30!

Any ideas?

I wonder if any of you creative mums out there have some ideas for feeding toddlers? BabyBird is a fairly good eater but I want to make sure her diet remains varied so we don't become one of those mac 'n cheese meal families.  You know, the type that have one meal for the kids, like mac 'n cheese, and another for the adults? No offense if you are one of those families, that's just not for me! It's been a steep learning curve and our meals are definitely more kid-friendly than they were before we had a little eater in the house. At the moment her repertoire of meals is okay but I want it to become slightly more varied.  As you can see, vegetables are seriously lacking!  I don't mind a repetitive breakfast but lunch and dinner are getting really boring.  I try to vary it up with things we like to eat but she isn't big on saucey meals.  

Can you add any ideas to our menu?  What do your kids love to eat?


Breakfast
porridge with yoghurt, honey, and cinnamon
yoghurt with either honey and cinnamon or some kind of berry
banana/grapes
sourdough waffles with jam and yoghurt
pancakes 
zucchini or banana bread
muesli with yoghurt and milk
Daddy's cereal

Lunch
cheese and ham melted inside either a wheat or corn tortilla
sourdough bread with peanut butter or butter 
fruit
scrambled egg
hard boiled egg
anything her daddy is eating
cheese and crackers

Dinner
spaghetti  with either a white or red sauce and cheese (and I sneak in vegetables and tuna)
cheese cheese cheese cheese cheese please
roasted chicken leg
peas peas peas peas peas please and corn
roasted kumura (sweet potato) or potato chips (fries)
root beat (she used to love this but has recently gone off it)
rice noodles with stir fry 
rice
sushi

End of season blueberry picking

We headed south early this morning with some good friends to go blueberry picking.  It's really the end of the season so these blueberries are rather tart compared to last years' pickings (check out how tiny BabyBird was in those days!). 

We're leaving to go on holiday in a few days so those fresh blueberries were causing me a little bit of stress while they sat around on my kitchen table.  I finally got to them tonight after the little one went to bed.  Would you like to hear the list?  It really is a little bit of everything.  I made popsicles, blueberry lemonade, zucchini and blueberry bread, blueberry muffins, and a small sample of blueberry jam.  I only frozen about a punnet though Jbird helpfully informed me afterwards I could have just frozen them all.  I guess I was thinking about what I felt like eating and what we could take on the trip with us.  And I was in the mood for a cook up!

Our baby is one

It's barely believable that the tiny little squirmy thing that had a pterodactyl scream turned one this week.  I am sure every mother is in awe of this momentous occasion, how can they not be?  Every waking moment for the passed year has been concerned in same way with this little defenseless person.  The birthday reminds us of our pregnancies and the labour and delivery room; of life pre-baby.  Before this first child we could only guess at what kind of parents we would be and then she came and the trial and error began.    Every day since then has brought a new surprise and with it a new joy.  BabyBird's first birthday has helped me realise what a birthday really is. 

We didn't want to have a big party - there's nothing worse than a baby being put on the spotlight and finding it too overwhelming.  Instead we had four small celebrations.  I already shared about our trip to Michigan.  We also had a little party with some boys I look after, our own little present time here at home, and one with our bible study where she is the youngest member (and she sleeps through the studies).  These required three cakes and, as the American tradition required, three cake smashing ceremonies ensued.  Although normally there would only be one I assume.  Although she had been completely uninterested in her strawberry shortcake, she got the hang of things quickly and loved the other two cakes.

Off to the north for a weekend away

We snuck away for the weekend up to Kalamazoo, MI, to watch Jbird's teacher perform a solo recital.  Here's a review.  I recognised one of the Scarlatti Sonatas from a BBC Jane Austen mini-series, was fun to hear it in its entirety and live.  I loved the rest of the recital.  We have only heard him play concerti with different orchestras.  Although they are flashy and exciting, they always leave me wanting more.

The following day while Jbird was at a Master Class, my brother, sister-in-law, and I went for a 5 km meander through some farm land.  Their local farm-share is organising a fun run so we were checking out the track and looking for possible issues with it.  BabyBird slept happily on my back.  It's chillier up there, I was glad I had bundled up.  When she was awake she seemed to enjoy observing different farm animals.  

We had decided to celebrate BabyBird's birthday a few weeks early as we were staying with family.  It was a small affair.  We made it a party by having streamers, balloons, and party hats.  I was hoping for a good cake-smashing but she wasn't interested in her cake at all even though she loves strawberries and it was a strawberry shortcake.  I think the cream put her off.  There will be other opportunities to smash cake I guess.

She travelled well and slept well.  She also allowed others to hold her doesn't always happen.  I felt as though she might have recognised my brother.  We arrived home on Sunday afternoon feeling satisfied and happy after our short trip away.

  

Raising an American

I love watching the Colbert Report, he teaches me more about current events than the BBC, local, and national news I hear on the radio every day.  A guest on his show today was talking about how it's his mission to challenge all Americans to learn the Gettysburg Address.  This inspired me to think about BabyBird.  

I joke that she's our 'American brat' but always say she's a kiwi, despite her passport and birth certificate.  It's a bit confusing to me - at first I thought of her as similar to those children I taught in Bangladesh.  They're known as 'third culture kids'.  They're from one country, living in another country (and surrounded by the nationals of that country) yet they socialise with other expats from all over the world (this is the third culture) and live expat lives.  But BabyBird socialises primarily with Americans and international students.  Jbird and I don't view ourselves as 'expats'.  Perhaps because we haven't been sent by anyone in our country, rather we decided to come here ourselves.  

I don't think she'll have a Kiwi accent until we move home - not that accents define your culture.  I guess I want her to be a Kiwi but when you consider America and it's immigrant roots, maybe she's about as American as you can get.  Unless she spends the majority of her life in New Zealand which may or may not happen - that's yet to be decided.  Perhaps we'll end up in Istanbul.  Anyway, considering this I realise that I have a duty to teach her both sides of the story, in an unbiased/non-judgmental way.  I can't be disparaging about her country.  

I look forward to thinking about this more and incorporating it into our family values.  

A sublime moment

...happened tonight following a busy day.  We got home just a tiny bit late for BabyBird's bed time.  It was still light out after I had put her to bed so I grabbed a moment to myself 'on the stoop' as they say in Baltimore (and probably NYC).  Our 'stoop' - we had some bricks in front of our garden that I loved to sit on between activities - has been commandeered by the apartment management so I wasn't technically stooping but the light and the cooler-than-inside air made it feel authentic.  I made an affogato, grabbed my book, pulled out the garden chair, and I found my moment of peace.  

Have you enjoyed a similarly idyllic moment recently? 

Long distance marriage tips

I feel sad to be here without Jbird.  We are experiencing lovely late summer weather, reconnecting with friends and family, and enjoying the beauty of New Zealand.  Meanwhile, Jbird is going to school every day and experiencing some extreme cold temperatures that has even forced the city of Indianapolis (an hour north of Bloomington) to close for a day.  Every time we talk he has his jacket and hat on.  He told me that I have left him so much food, he may never need to go to the supermarket while we're away.  We'll see.

Though we were generally able to sleep at night time and stay awake during the day, BabyBird experienced her own form of jet-lag induced disorientation. She was very clingy, would wake up during the night for feeds, and was generally not the little girl I know and love.  It was hard for the grandparents who all want to shower her in cuddles as she was definitely a mummy's girl for a few days.  In a different world, I was her constant.  She seems to be settling down now and allows others to pick her up again, even exploring around the house without me.  What a relief.

As for missing Jbird, I have compiled a few tips after trying to connect with him long distance.

1. Skype every day.  

2. Don't skype non-stop - it becomes boring.  

3. During your conversation make sure to ask about the other person.  Let them share with you the ups and downs of their life.

4. Watch short videos together.  We watched this one this morning.  It was hilarious.  Make sure you start the video at the same time.

5. Have regular dance-offs.  We were supposed to dance to two songs but we chose the same song! (awww, mushy mushy).  Really go through with it, you will find the dancing exhilarating.

6. Check your online calendar to see what the other person is up to that day. This will help you know why they might seem absent and give you fuel for conversation when you do talk later.

7. Think of them during the day.  This has led to me sending some kiwi treats back across the waters with a friend who stayed with us for a few days and lives in Bloomington.  Jbird is really excited.

8. If you don't manage to catch each other online, make sure to email a sweet note or post a hello on their fb page.  

And that's it so far.  One week down, four to go.

Baked oatmeal deliciousness

Jbird and I just had this for breakfast.  It was delicious and I definitely recommend it.  Especially for you Northern readers and those currently enjoying 'the big freeze' in the US.  It's yummy enough to melt the snow.  You Kiwis might like to save it for the cooler months and rename it baked porridge.  That's a word that is beginning to feel foreign on my tongue.