Maple Syrup Mania

We like to eat french toast and oatmeal. You may agree that these items are especially tasty when accompanied by something sweet like sugar or syrup. I am however concerned about the impact of refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup on our bodies. So I bit the bullet and started spending $9 per bottle on pure maple syrup to use for sweetening instead. Not cheap! Well, yesterday at the store I saw that one brand of the pure (organic, nontheless!) maple syrup had a different price: $2.70. I bought 8 bottles!

Has anyone tried to reduce or eliminate sugar from their diet? How did you do it and what kind of results did you achieve? I'm pretty sure that pure maple syrup is more "ok" for our bodies than refined sugars, but just how much "better" is it? And is it possible to really enjoy life and food (and pancakes and oatmeal) without sugar?

Baby Signing

I don't remember exactly how or when I was first exposed to the idea of using sign language with babies. I do remember that it made complete sense to me, and I so I pursued it with my children.

When a pre-verbal child has a vocabulary of signs, there are a number of benefits. Frustration levels are reduced because the child has more tools to express him- or herself. Parent and child can actually have "conversations" about objects or concepts that interest the child. For instance, Micah may get really excited about something in the distance, pointing and squealing. Then he signs "balloon" and immediately I know exactly what has gotten him so worked up. It is a stepping stone to other concepts like colour and shape. And it helps to cement concepts. Micah knows the sign for "hot", and he often wants to touch the side of my coffee mug, and follows with the sign. Or he may point at a steaming pot and make the sign. He also knows the sign for "potty". This is a handy one. Especially effective when he is tired of riding in the cart at the supermarket. Knowledge of some sign language has proven useful with all members of my family, including Andrew. In lieu of yelling across a room, or in a milieu where we needed to keep our voices down, we can sign!

Of course, most toddlers and parents develop their own type of sign language, often involving much pointing and grunting, and this can be a highly effective form of communication. Working with actual American Sign Language (ASL) signs gives more structure and depth to this communication. I think it is an excellent base for language development, as the child learns from a very early age that there is more than one way to express a word or an idea. I believe that is an advantage in the case that a child is subsequently exposed to an additional language- for instance spanish, in our case.

How to start signing with your baby? As early as about six months you can start associating signs with objects and concepts. My two hour baby signing workshop instructor suggested choosing three concrete and three abstract signs. A concrete sign could be "milk", "ball", "car". Examples of abstract signs are "more", "hot", "sleep". Each time you offer the child milk, you would make the sign for milk. Before tickling them again, sign and say "more?" Etcetera. In that way the child begins to make the connections. Try to be consistent. In the neighborhood of about nine months of age (in my experience, anyway), the baby will begin signing back to you. Once they have mastered a couple of signs, you can begin adding more, according to the child's interests. For instance, if your child loves airplanes, you can look up the sign for airplane and begin using it whenever you see an airplane. In that way the vocabulary grows! You and your child can learn as many or as few signs as you like. How can I learn new signs, you may ask? There is an excellent online ASL dictionary which actually shows a very short Quicktime video of many signs: http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm

Some parents are worried that speech may be delayed as a result of using sign language. In my experience there was no noticable delay in speech development. I believe that use of sign language actually enhances speech development because the child is able to communicate and practice those language skills he or she learns through observation in daily life.


Micah, 16 months, demonstrates baby signing.

Little Andrew = Micah!

Here we were thinking that Eva looks like Andrew and Micah looks like me.... but check out Little Andrew! Same age as Micah is now. Even has the same scab on the nose. He is on the left, with his sister and brother.

Booted Buddies

The kids decided to put their rubber boots on. I don't think they've ever actually used them for puddles so this is a real novelty!

Watching Shrek together...

Cold Sock Treatment

I somehow got to reading the blog of a woman in Georgia. She has two kids about the same age as mine, and, I just learned, similar sleep challenges. So I read her blog regularly. Anyway she just posted about ear infections and someone commented about The Cold Sock Treatment as a remedy for congestion. Said she's tried it with good results. Veeery interesting. http://www.heartlandnaturopathic.com/coldsock.htm

Walk in the Park

I'm glad I'm not a full time parent. It is not a walk in the park. Wow, it's always complete mayhem when I'm at the parenting controls. My highlights included, Eva crying while watching Tigger, Micah peeing on the floor followed by a poo, Micah pouring the sugar bowl onto the table and no one eating anything I made. In conclusion, managing a manufacturing plant of 400 people is a walk in the park compared to parenting. Good on ya Dana and other mom's you are special.
To show you I'm not a complete moron with the kids, we did play in the park without any major injuries. Here are the pics to prove it....

Who the man?

Birthday Pampering!

Tomorrow morning I will enjoy my birthday gift from Andrew- a 90 minute hot stone massage! This following a chance to sleep in, and preceding lunch out. NICE!!!!!!! I'm very excited!

Here is a shot from last month: Eva post-braid removal.

People: do NOT rent License to Wed. What a waste of a Friday night. Geez.

The vet came over today to check Duna. He thinks/hopes she has an infection that's causing the breathing troubles. It could also be the cancer invading her lungs. He gave her a couple of shots that really hurt (poor girl!!!) and prescribed antibiotics. She seems a little better right now... hopefully she has a better night.

Queen Duna

Duna has been having a tough week in the breathing department. She has been coughing a lot and breathing has been very noisy. A couple of days ago Andrew had to carry Micah so Duna could take his place in the driver's seat of the stroller- she couldn't keep up on the walk. Last night she took Eva's spot. I am telling myself that this could be related to the weather- it is a particularly windy and dusty month. Many people are congested as a result. But I am realistic too- I realize that this could be a turn for the worse. Last night was particularly bad. At 4am I got up with her, sat and patted her for a while. Immediately she sounded better as she relaxed. The rest of the night was much better. My poor bubu.

Eva refused to be part of the group shot but insisted on this photo.

Pizza from Scratch

We love pizza. Our local grocery store carries delicious, cheap frozen pizza and we usually have it on Fridays. I feel somewhat bad though about this indulgence because it is a white crust and the meat is so highly processed. So I found a recipe for whole wheat crust and a sauce that I hoped would rival the one we have been enjoying so much.

It was quite a successful venture! We had fun making it, it wasn't too hard plus we have two crusts worth of dough waiting in the freezer (and enough sauce for a dozen pizzas) and Andrew was enthusiastic about it. Yippee!

Wednesday Walk

Yesterday we tried walking sans stroller. It went pretty well! We did it again today. No problems with wandering children. However Eva tripped and skinned her knees and it really set her off. We ended up aborting the walk partway through and coming home. Ah well. It was kind of chilly anyway. We'll get some more exercise on the trampoline later today.

Sprinkler System

When we moved in here almost two years ago, the landlord told us she was going to get the underground sprinkler system going. It's finally happening! This is great news for our grass. We are not the most consistent waterers out there. Ricardo Sr and Jr have been here the last couple of days preparing the front yard for installation. Later this week I guess they'll take care of the back yard.

This is how Ricardo Jr plugged in his grinder. Do you suppose this is to code?

I Miss You, Chocolate

I gave up chocolate for Lent. The evenings are rough. Nothing quite satisfies like chocolate. It does mean that my snacking has been less and healthier (I'm currently eating an apple) which is one excellent side benefit. But I miss it dearly.

I have snuck a little into my diet however. The first time was totally inadvertent, and was the day after Ash Wednesday! It was at a Circle of Friends meeting, and when I saw chocolate square I naturally chose it. I was half way done when it hit me! When I made the commitment to give up chocolate, what I mainly had in mind was to give up the daily chocolate bar/dish of chocolate chips, and I had toyed with the idea of making exceptions for 'hospitality chocolate'. So I finished my dessert, and this week when a friend came over with tiny chocolate cheesecakes I had one and stopped at that. So far so good in the evenings, but it's tough!

Daddy's Home!!

Andrew is home safe and sound. Yippeee!! We had a fun afternoon of presents and Shrek and playing outside. Shrek is Eva's new favorite movie. For some reason her favorite part is the dragon. Eva is wearing her new purple shirt and skirt to bed. If she ever goes to bed. She fell asleep during Family Walk at 5:00 and now has the dread second wind.

Eva in her new bathing suit. Thanks Nana!

Officially a Sleeper!

I think I can make an official announcement now: Micah sleeps through the night! He's been consistently enough sleeping until at least 5:30. He then usually goes back to sleep or at least doesn't put up too much of a fuss until 7ish. It's so hugely better than the situation up to a few weeks ago. I am thrilled!!

Oh, Micah is 16 months today! Happy birthday buddy.

Skip to my Loo

The kids dancing up a storm

Valentine Party Day

We partied today! For lunch we went to a tea hosted by a couple of ladies from COF. Very nice. A little tough to chat while managing the 2 little ones, but nice. The kids didn't eat much but cake. This in addition to the m&m's I gave them this morning. Micah wouldn't nap while we were there, and wouldn't nap in the car, and then it was time to go to Heide's for a valentine's play date. They had a great back yard with lots of fun toys but my kids preferred to play inside which meant that I didn't get much 'ladies' time with the other moms who were out on the patio. Kids ate cupcakes. By the time we left I was exhausted and so was Micah. Eva was quite energetic and in pretty good spirits though, which I appreciated. The last couple of days we've all been sleeping later than usual which is marvellous!

While we were at the playdate my cleaning lady called. I have told her again and again to close the door behind her when she leaves the house, and obviously take her key along. But she insists on leaving the door unlatched. So Duna escapes. This morning, case in point. Gah! And this afternoon, while I was way across town, she took the garbage out and left her key inside. And the door blew shut behind her. She was locked out of the house for 2 hours before she went to the neighbors' and called me. I told her to go to the other neighbor's and ask her son to jump into our yard. I guess she did because she was gone when we got home. Wow.

Micah slept for 20 minutes during the ride home, ate lots of chicken, then started throwing stuff around. Had to take a break from supper to put him to bed. Eva and I finished eating then had some good times reading counting books.

I was interested to note today she called the letter D "duh". We have been talking about what letter a word starts with by matching that sound with the sound of the letters of the alphabet (which she knows because of an awesome video by Leapfrog, called The Letter Factory). Anyway I find it extremely interesting that she called a letter by its sound, not its name. That is how the Montessori method does it. Speaking of that, they also teach cursive writing before reading. Fascinating! And here I thought I was mixing it up by putting only the lower case magnets on the fridge.

Officially Through the Night!!!!

Micah slept from 7 to 6!!

Big Kids

Here are the kids having some lunch together. Micah often jumps up into a chair at mealtime now, and is eating maybe half of his meals and snacks in a 'big chair'. It is cute but I think I prefer knowing he'll stay put in the booster seat so I can relax and enjoy my meal. It is nice to know that he'll do fine if we're out somewhere that doesn't have a high chair or booster seat.

Time for Preschool?

I went to a talk tonight at the school I have in mind for Eva. I was even more impressed. And wondering if I should enroll her sooner than next fall.

I have been thinking a lot about whether it's time to send her or not. I wonder if now she truly needs more than I can give. (That might answer a few behavioural questions too, heheh) A little voice in my head asks wouldn't her life be more enriched if she were cared for more by people other than Andrew and myself? Of course the answer is yes. But I haven't found a person or place with which I feel totally comfortable leaving her. Partly it's a sense of responsibility- being her caregiver is my job and I feel like I'd be taking an easy way out by finding a childcare arrangement with someone who isn't family or a very close friend, and who therefore would honestly and genuinely want to spend the time with her. And because 3 year olds can be quite a lot of work to care for, I don't want to put that responsibility on someone I'm not as close with. Now then, I don't factor in the fact that 3 year olds can be a lot of fun, too.

When we visited the school a few weeks ago, the director told me that Eva was obviously very ready. Eva loved going there and told me I could go home and do laundry while she is there. The director told me she could start anytime.

Tomorrow I will talk with Eva more about it. And I will talk to Andrew.

I am so excited by the Montessori method. It makes such sense to me and matches my parenting style so perfectly. I want to get into a Montessori classroom and get my hands on the materials, especially the math materials. So cool.

A Treasure

Andrew's flight was rescheduled for this morning at 6:45. So we got a whole bunch of extra hours with him, which we treasured. One less sleep with Daddy away!

The day was pretty good. The kids played quite well while I did the mountain of dishes. Eva and I baked cookies while Micah was sleeping. I pulled the cookie and icing recipe off the net and WOW are they sickly sweet. I am planning to bring them to Bible Study tomorrow to share but I don't know if anyone will eat them!

I made fajitas for supper and the kids were less than impressed.

Eva's gymnastics teacher was sick today so her class joined the bigger kids downstairs. Eva was a little hesitant to go out, but didn't cry or anything, and in the end she quite enjoyed herself. Eva's classmate Rachel got special recognition for good work and got to ring the bell! When we got home we went for a walk and it was a bit of a disaster. Eva was quite defiant and it taxed my patience. Both kids did go to sleep very well which I really appreciated. Now for a little bit of Mommy Time!

Claudia Update

I did call that woman who teaches natural childbirth classes. I found out some very interesting information! For instance she has actually attended some home births here in Torreon. That surprised me a little. However she is not overly inclined to continue to do so, since there are so many opposed to it. If something did go really wrong she would get whisked off to jail.

She told me she has a small team of OB/GYN, pediatricians and childbirth educators. She has only three OB/GYNs, one of whom she said is very close to retirement. They support just the kind of birth many women are able to choose in Canada or the US- the ability to move around unrestricted, without unnecessary interventions, and give birth in any position. I spoke to one of these doctors and was impressed. He was very gentle, soft spoken, kind, and without arrogance. Anyway he also offered to see Claudia for half his normal consult fee. I think that is great, but I'm not sure that means he would give her enough discount on the fees to attend her birth to make it affordable for her. From what he said, even if you find a hospital with affordable fees, it's the doctor fees that cost upwards of $1,000, which is beyond her means.

Tomorrow Claudia is going to spend the day here. She will help with the kids during Bible Study and then do some light cleaning. I asked her to babysit in the evening while I go to a presentation for the school we found for Eva, and she will just stay here rather than heading all the way home and back. I will have some time to talk to her more about the birth process. Hopefully I can support and encourage her with information! There is so much, pray for me that I choose just the right topics and can communicate well.

Straight Haired Girl

Eva asked me to straighten her hair. She looks like a different girl!

Daddy's Going on a Plane.... Or Is He?

We dropped Andrew at the airport a couple of hours ago. He had a 12:10 flight which is such a welcome change from the usual 6:50am flight! We actually got some great family time this morning. The disadvantage of course, is that he arrives in Winnipeg at nearly midnight. Anyway he just called and he is waiting for a new schedule as his plane won't fly. Maybe he won't leave until tomorrow! That would be soooo fantastic. Unexpected special time with Daddy, whoohoo!

Testing Video

I want to test the video feature of Blogger. This is a clip of Eva saying Thank You for the Christmas gifts she received.

A Friend in Me

Babies and pregnancy have been the subject of conversation with Eva recently (not for any particular reason; we have no announcements to make). We rented Toy Story this weekend and were watching it again today. The song "You Have a Friend In Me" came on, and Eva piped up, "I don't have a friend in me! There's no friend growing in my tummy!"

Oh, sweet Eva. SO cute.

Productive Day

I finally had the kind of day I've been telling myself I should be having. Minimal time spent at the computer, a walk, healthy snacks, time spent playing with the kids. Claudia came today and she folded and put away laundry for me as well as cleaning the floors and bathrooms- sweeet. I did some rearranging too. Moved almost all of the kids' toys out of the living room and into their rooms. Moved my computer into the office beside Andrew's computer. This has done wonders for me- it's not so easy to get sucked into hanging out on the computer anymore. And now I get to hang out next to my hubby in the evenings, instead of being in a separate room.

I want to really work on teaching the kids to put away one activity before they begin another, and hopefully this new arrangement will help. They can bring one or two things into the living room to play with, then put them back before they bring more toys out. This will work until they decide to just stay in their rooms to play. But then the nice thing is that the mess will be contained. We will see how it goes!

Sleeper!

Micah officically slept through the night for the first time!!!!!!!!!! It was magnificent. It was actually the dogs that got us out of bed this morning, at 6:45. Whoohoo!

Birthing in Mexico

I took Claudia to a hospital today to get information about giving birth there. Her sources tell her that this particular hospital is the best of the cheap ones. We entered a dingy, rundown, dark building and spoke to a woman in an office. Claudia can choose a "Normal Birth Package" for $2,500MXN or a "Cesarean Package" for $4,500MXN (~$450CAD). We inquired about how things would go once she was admitted and my heart sunk deeper with each piece of information. I dreamed that Claudia would have a beautiful birth experience, but based on what I heard this will just be something she has to get through, like having wisdom teeth out or something. Relaxation is a key element to reducing pain in childbirth but I don't see how she can possibly relax. She will be admitted, checked for dilation, shaved, given an iv and a catheter. I suspect she will receive an enema as well, and possibly denied food and liquids. She will then be installed in a room with 3 other labouring women, and be with only strangers for the rest of her labour and delivery. After the baby is born, she will get a peek before the baby is whisked away to be suctioned, bathed, medicated, and given formula. She will not be allowed to hold or nurse her baby right after it is born!!! Several hours postpartum, if she is up to it, she may walk to the nursery to breastfeed. She must stay in the hospital for 24 hours, but not beyond unless she wants to incur additional charges.

I didn't know what to say to Claudia. I didn't want to make it worse for her by telling her all the ways it could be better. I couldn't think of any way to safely circumvent any or all these crazy protocols. I don't know if Claudia feels very strongly about any of it, enough for me to fight on her behalf. And even if she did, I couldn't be counted upon to be there fighting every step of the way, because I have to take care of my own family. What to do, what to do. My heart aches just thinking about it.

We also checked out one of the expensive hospitals. This one was much brighter and nicer. The lady at the desk we spoke with had crazy eye makeup. The hospital fees for a "Normal Birth Package" are $10,000-$12,000 MXN ($1,000-$1,200CAD). That is completely out of reach for Claudia's family.

Last year I met a woman who teaches natural childbirth classes. I am going to contact her to find out if there are other options. We'll see where we go from there.

Long Weekend

I'm excited to be only a third of the way through the weekend!

We had a good family day. Andrew slept in after being in charge of nighttime parenting. Micah didn't need me until 6am! It was wonderful for me and would have been marvellous indeed if we hadn't been awake until 1am because of a sad and squeaky guest doggie. Samson really really wanted to be closer to us than the kitchen. Well, we'll see what happens tonite! We will close all the bedroom doors and give him the run of the rest of the house. Maybe that will be good enough for him. He'd better not scratch at my bedroom door. That could get him a ticket to the vet for boarding!

I'm so proud of Eva. She got a age 4+ puzzle for Christmas and this morning she did it herself. Over and over again. I love it!

We had Family Walk before bed. I love doing that; we don't get to do it often enough because we usually only have time to eat and get ready for bed once Andrew gets home from work. We are talking about changing it up so that we eat earlier and Andrew eats after the kids are in bed, so we can have a Family Walk.

I bought some fabric today and intend to do a little sewing this weekend. My first project will be to make a fabric tube to hold grocery bags. Wish me luck!

Trying This Out

I'm testing Blogger to see if I might want to move over from msn spaces. I am tempted, to be honest. Though it will cause trouble for some of my dedicated readers, who will now have to sign up for yet another account. Unless I leave it unsecured. Hm.

And then there's the problem of all my old posts.

A Pretty Good Night

I feel good! Micah was up at 2 and 6. Not too bad! Great beginning for a long weekend! So excited that Andrew has Monday off. It'll be fun family time!