Bon Voygage and Two Good Blog Reads

We are headed to Colorado tomorrow for a reunion with all the Mountain Man relations. I am simultaneously excited to see the his family and the Rocky Mountains again and fairly strung out about traveling with both babes, even though it's only one flight. Wish us luck!

Meanwhile, two fun posts from blogs I read on the reg.

A Cup of Jo's review of natural deodorants (!):

Dinner, A Love Story's slick trick for getting young children to try more vegetables: 

Bon voyage!

Ford, Almost Three

May 2013

Growth and change in our little ones mostly sneaks up on us bit by bit. But sometimes they have huge developmental leaps seemingly overnight. About this time last year, Ford went from only saying a half-dozen words to chatting up a storm in the space of a week or two. It was like a dam of fussiness breaking--once he made up his mind to talk, he was so relieved. We were too!

Easter 2014

The same thing happened again last weekend. After very sporadic pottying and lukewarm interest, Ford woke up on Saturday morning and announced that he wanted to wear big boy underpants and use the potty. There has been no looking back and he's hardly had an accident. In hindsight, a few weeks of squirrely, frustrating behavior preceded his leap into "big boy-hood." Was he acting out because of some subconscious anxiety about it? I'm no developmental psychologist, (just his mommy) but that's my theory.

He also utterly adores his baby sister. He brings her toys and blankets and wants nothing more than to lean in close and kiss her cheeks. He tells us when she's fussing and says "It's ok, Eleanor," and "Mama, I love her so much." I hope it lasts!

We have been talking about clothes that match (stripes! Blue pants!), words that rhyme, what day of the week it is and favorite colors. It's so fun to see him constructing his understanding of relationships, space and time. Despairing over how to get him to wear sandals without socks, I offered to paint his toenails his favorite color. He was beyond excited. So sweet that he is not yet locked into set notions of gender.

Summer is upon us, we're slowly coming out of the sleep deprivation fog and our little guy is very excited for all the world to know that his is a big boy. It's an exciting time!

Spring Beauties

One of the realities of new motherhood is how quickly the "pregnant glow" fades to dark under eye circles, dull skin and thinning hair. Going through that during a long, cold, dry winter made my skin look even more tired. There's no substitute for getting enough sleep, especially uninterrupted (5 hours straight would feel amazing), but since that's not how new babies roll, here are two new items I've been using to fake looking well-rested:

When J. Crew sent out an email touting RMS Beauty in order to "glow like a J. Crew model," you can bet I was intrigued. The Living Luminizer and Lip Shine in Sacred are now my new go-tos, even if I don't have time for anything else except mascara. They're easy to apply and feel good on. Order from the RMS Beauty website and you'll get free shipping.

Since I also want to feel good (and fit into my pants), I've been switching between these two green smoothies in the morning. Being well-nourished lends a certain glow too!

BLUEBERRY, ALMOND & GINGER SMOOTHIE (From Camille Styles:)

• 1/3 cup frozen blueberries, preferably organic

• handful of spinach or kale

• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

• 2 tablespoons coconut or goats milk yogurt

• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

• 2 teaspoons raw honey

• 2-3 ice cubes

• fresh mint, for garnish

(I skip the yogurt and add a whole banana. Jarred minced ginger makes it way easier)

GREEN PEANUT BUTTER SMOOTHIE (Bon Appetit)

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 banana
• 1 cup torn kale
• 2  tablespoons peanut butter
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

My sweet night owl and her adoring big brother:

Mom Jeans and Mantras

Eleanor is seven weeks old now, growing fast and just smiled at me for the first time today. Quite a reward after a wakeful night as we all coped with her stuffy nose.  For being born one month early, it's great that she smiled only a week later than when a full-term baby normally would. Good work, baby girl!

I am in that awkward postpartum stage where I've shrunk out of the maternity clothes, but only one pair of pants (other than the proverbial yoga pants) fit.  To bridge the gap between now and warmer weather when I can wear skirts and tunic tops to hide the empty baby oven, I just ordered these from Madewell. They're having a big 30% off + free shipping sale this weekend.

So they may literally be my mom jeans, since they're two sizes bigger than my pre-pregnancy clothes, but at least I'll feel cool. As cool as I can be while smelling like eau d'breast milk and sporting dark circles under my eyes that are probably not hot this spring.

Last week while I was checking in on the world of work and transportation planning, I came across a blog post about a contemporary who has shot to urban planner stardom between stints with the Virginia Department of Transportation and a national advocacy group. Since two of my former bosses have worked with him, I forwarded them the post and in turn received some well-meant words about how "yes, this guy is quite a hotshot these days and we want to see you wowing the urban planning world with more of your ideas too." After feeling like I had accomplished a great deal because I got dressed by 8 AM and wrote three thank you notes for baby presents, this was totally defeating. Not just because I'm home on maternity leave (and loving it, I might add), but because instead of aspiring to be something of a big deal, I have walked back my work obligations and ambitions in the last year in order to still have the physical and emotional energy to be mama as well. 

Most days I am happy with that choice, but whatever is left of the competitive pre-mama me still feels a twinge of regret when I see someone in my age bracket really knocking it out of the park, career-wise. So it was such a blessing later in the day to come across this little mantra in my Pinterest feed (another #momjeans cliche, I know!) I'm choosing to be happy with a calm(er) life, at work at least, because life at home is often anything but.  At least the sources of the domestic crazy are really cute:

Amazing New Baby Gear

Figuring out what you need for the first bebe can be a daunting task. It's also depressing for your bank account, even with generous presents from family and friends. When I was pregnant with Ford, I poured over the Baby Bargains book for hours trying to figure our what we needed vs. was a total baby gear industry hoax, and where to find the best bargains. It was a huge relief not to have the same task ahead of me with bebe deux. Although that mental energy was just consumed by Ford instead. Anyway!

The parent authors of Baby Bargains put out a new edition every single year because new items are introduced so quickly. So while Eleanor's gear is much the same as her brother's, in the short 2 and 1/2 years between them, here are four items we've added to our collection that seem like pure genius to this second-time mama.

1. Ergo Baby Swaddler

By far the easiest swaddling blanket we've used, and the leg pouch is totally brilliant. Our babies like being swaddled, but really don't like the process. So the fewer unwrapping and rewrapping sessions, the better.

2. FridaBaby Windi

Yes, this does exactly what you are afraid it does. Our girl suffers from gas of the lower GI-type, so simethicone drops don't help at all. This crazy device literally took a grimacing, screaming child to cooing in seconds.  (I don't think I ever dreamed that I'd be blogging about baby rectal sphincter release when I started this seven years ago)

3. Gerber Soothe Drops

This is a baby probiotic. Thankfully, we're not coping with colic, but it can't hurt. She's been on it nearly a week and does seem to be digesting better than she was.  That or it's a $35 dollar mommy placebo.

4. Puj Tub

Made of soft, foldable foam that won't mildew, it fits in any sink and hangs flat to dry. The Puj isn't new to the market, but new to us and I love it so far. Eleanor has not come around to loving baths yet!

Another week for me and a few more ounces for Eleanor and we'll be able to test-drive the Infant Insert for our all-time favorite item of baby gear, the Ergo Carrier. I wish we'd had one of these when Ford was tiny:

Fordo at that squishy, adorable 9-10 month old phase. I miss it/look forward to it again!

Snippets and Such

Y'all I've been silent for nearly a month.  We were out of town for almost two weeks straight and then all hell broke loose at work and I've been single-parenting all week while the MM trains some new Wildland Trekking staff in Flagstaff, AZ.  You know that bumper sticker that says "All mothers are working mothers."  Does that make me a working working mother? Because keeping your child fed, clothed, bathed, safe and happy while also working a crazy full day at work is hard.  I have the utmost respect for single parents.

So we had a blast in Lander, WY for Thanksgiving, but my camera stopped working, so I only have iPhone photos. 

 

 Naturally the Lander Children's museum has a U.S. Forest Service "Jeep."

Ford with his cousin, Seddona

 

We were home for two days and then flew to Portland, OR for a workshop for me and then some fun for all.  Portland was great, especially for the MM and Ford.  They went to the zoo! Remember that YouTube video that circulated of the lion trying to eat the baby through the glass at the zoo? That's the Oregon Zoo in Portland:

Here's the Ford photo still version with cheetahs:

He also loved:

The penguins

 Our hotel windows

The giant light-bright at the mega Children's Museum (true story: I just typed "killer Children's Museum, but realized that's just wrong)

In other kiddo-related news, here are three things I'm completely enamored of these days:

1.  Toddler Bogs.  Best winter boots ever. Easier to put on that Sorels and Ford loves them because of the monkeys (I think, he doesn't really explain these things to us)

 2. Carhartt Overalls

3. Any and all Loud Crow Interactive iPad apps.  They've taken all the best children's board books and stories and made them better. Seriously--great narration, fun, but not over-the-top interactive touchpad stuff.  I just bought their re-creation of a very old pop-up book version of The Night Before Christmas and was blown away by how charming it was.  Almost as good as being 5 again and hearing my Papa read it to us.  Almost. 

Tomorrow I'm going to wrangle two dogs and a toddler out to the new kennel for a canine meet and greet and then hope I can pull something together for the first of several office-related holiday parties. It would almost be comical if it wasn't so completely nuts.

My Kid is Going to Eat Paté

Actually not because paté is expensive and the only kind I've ever liked (foie gras, of course) is inhumane for the goose, so.....where was I? Oh, this:

I have been waiting patiently for the library to receive its copy of French Kids Eat Everything. I know that title sounds a little stuck-up, but I want a child who eats everything--or at least more than mac n' cheese and crustless pb&j.  So these are the French food rules for children in brief and I can't wait to read the rest of the book.  A CUP OF JO gave a quick run-down yesterday and the piece I took most to heart was not to show much emotion around Ford's choices to eat, spit out or throw food on the floor and chuckle while the dogs eat it. Otherwise he learns that I'm emotionally invested in what he eats and he can get a reaction out of me based on that.  So no more big smiles and clapping when he tries something new or cleans his plate.  And once he's staying up later, he will eat at the table with us and we all share the same meal.

I tried this out this morning by offering blueberries that didn't interest Ford last night and just walked away to keep getting ready for the day.  Without someone watching expectantly as he took a bite (and really, would anyone want to eat like that?), he ploughed through the whole bowl! So they must be on to something, the French. 

A Smart Phone is a Parent's Best Friend

Sometimes I put together mental pinboards of the baby items that have been totally indispensable for Ford like..

The Baby Deedee sleepsack, which is quilted and warm and snaps over the shoulders instead of having to stuff your tired, fussy child's arms through armholes--brilliant.  And no, this isn't Ford, but looks oddly like him, non?

California Baby Shampoo/Body Wash, which is very gentle and truly doesn't sting the eyes

Oxo Tot Sprout High Chair

plain old Gerber white onesies

 I could go on, but really, the tools I have come to depend on most live on my iPhone. 

If the calendar didn't send me reminders, I'd forget everything. If Instagram wasn't so easy I'd be worse about documenting Ford's first year.

And if Cartolina Postale didn't exist, I'd be turning around thank you notes much more slowly.

About this last one.  This is an app that lets you drop a photo from your phone into one of about two dozen different postcards with really charming old-fashioned themes (like those in the image above), write a little note, add an address from your iPhone address book and for about $2, they'll mail it for you.  I have literally sent a thank you note from Ford with a cute picture of him in under 5 minutes while he happily chucked his stacking cups around the room.  Stacking cups!

Another indispensable item.  But really, I love my iPhone more than ever.  It makes capturing silliness like this possible:

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend!