Deese Domestique

I'm BACK!

After a long and harrowing first trimester (aren't they all?) I am back with a vengance! Lots and lots of exciting things have been happening around here, and I will do a quick 'fill you in' today and then lots of posts with pictures later--Promise!

First and foremost, Pips is just The Cutest toddler anyone has ever seen. Trust me on this one. Her hair is long enough for pigtails now, and she is just running around like a crazy woman, into everything! Her lust for life and pure curiosity make me feel more alive every day. It is wonderful!

Secondly, baby #2 is doing perfectly well and good all snuggled in my belly. We have picked out names--Anna Louise if it is a girl, and William Robert Walter (we'll be calling him 'Will') if it is a boy. I'm feeling good--very energetic now that the first trimester is over!

On the 'baby' front---our kitten, yes kitten, had kittens! Four to be precise and they are all doing well! I will post a picture of them soon too---they are adorable!

Home front---we've recently put up a new 6 foot high privacy fence along our whole backyard, one that our wonderful chocolate lab, Mac, can actually CLIMB out of. Ugh! What to do? We also are going to be finally remodelling the downstairs bath and then putting the house on the market and moving! Yippee!

The weather has turned here and has me looking forward to things like going to the park, sitting on the porch and knitting, perusing vendors at the farmers market, and gardening. Looks like a lovely spring in Mtta!

Growing

Yes, we are all growing. I look at Pippa everyday and wonder, "where has the time gone? Stand still time!!". Today, we ventured out with Pippa for the first time in a week. Our first stop, Borders, proved to be unsuccessful in finding even one interesting book for Trent, me, or Pippa. It doesn't help that Pippa has every book known to toddlers (thank you grandparents, and us), that Trent only wants books that are hardcover (and oh too expensive for us to splurge on what with one child and another on the way), and for me, well I just couldn't find anything. Really. Don't you hate going to a bookstore and not finding anything? I mean, really how is that possible? It quite is. Do I get a nonfiction? Fiction? Ohhh what do I feel like reading? It doesn't help that I am desperately in search of a new favorite novel...I haven't read a good one in a while.

So after Borders we thought we could make it through a lunch at BW3's because I soooo wanted a yummy scrummy ranch buffalo wrap! Unfortunatly halfway through lunch we realized that we had overestimated Pips' recovery, and she was actually still feeling rather ill. Scarfing down the rest of our meals, we paid the tab and left. Not before the little one could pour out her entire sippy cup though.....

On the pregnancy front, I am also growing. When I was pregnant with Pippa, I started 'showing' pretty early for a first time pregnant mama. And I know that in subsequent pregnancies (2nd, 3rd) one 'shows' even sooner than they did in the first, because the body has already done it once before and you are already stretched out, etc.. But, come on! I am exactly 5wks 2days pregnant! And my belly is already sticking out! I was so proud I had lost all my baby weight from Pippa, then I got pregnant, and I am popping out all over again! At least I haven't gained any weight yet...just a popping belly.  But, on the other hand, how can I not love it? Being pregnant is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, and seeing the signs of pregnancy are one of the joys of being pregnant. Knowing that there is a little tiny, teensy, bean of a baby deep in my uterus is such an amazing thing to ponder. And, if you know me and saw me pregnant with Mallory, you know that when pregnant, I have the BIGGEST BELLY EVER. I know this. I get what we in mama land call 'all belly', as it looks like a giant belly has taken over a normal size body. 

The pregnancy symptoms have also already started to settle in. My #1 complaint thus far is fatigue--oh fatigue! Try chasing after a toddler, and dealing with that toddler sick, while being so tired that you actually fall asleep in the brief seconds between her cries. I am finding that the days of being pregnant and lounging and sleeping when tired (like I did when pregnant with Mallory) are gone. This pregnancy will have to be dealt with much differently. Is it fair that the time when I most need caffeine I cannot have any? Ah, such is life. So, I am combating my fatigue with the power foods of pregnancy: spinach, citrus, proteins, and herbal teas. Poor Trent, eating all his dinners with cooked spinach thrown in somewhere and having to constantly refill my teapot with raspberry leaf tea!

This pregnancy is also being met with a different mindset. When I was pregnant with Mallory I was a big ball of nerves. So anxious I was about every little thing. This time around I know that, what happens will happen, and in pregnancy there is really nothing you can do about it.  Eat healthy, take care of my body, and keep Pippa and Trent happy are top of my list. Not worry about the 'what ifs'. After having a bout of mild PPD after the birth of Mallory, I know that attitude during pregnancy has a lot to do with chances of having PPD. Because I was so anxious during my pregnancy with her, it probobly increased the feelings of PPD after she was born. Ah, live and learn! That is what it is all about.

My poor daughter is now sitting on my lap, crying, so sick. I need to go nurse her to sleep, and snuggle her good. That is the best medicine.

Finally we know!

Pippa has been sick for, oh I don't know, ALL WINTER. We have been desperatly trying to figure out what the heck is wrong with her, and we finally have it figured out---she has an 'Adeno' virus (whatever that is?) It is a virus that takes a looonnngg time to get through the system, but luckily she seems to be right on the tail end of it, so she should be well soon, and then maybe I can get a picture or two of her on here (right now the only pictures taken the past week or so are of her moaning on the couch or sucking at my breast)

Speaking of nursing, being pregnant and nursing a toddler is a whole new ballgame from nursing a baby. I mean, talk about exhaustion! I am still very early in this pregnancy, but I am to the point where fatigue has set in. So everyday at about 3pm when Pips is happily sucking away and I am thouroghly tired from growing her new brother or sister, I start thinking 'hmmmm, weaning sounds like such a good idea right now', and then I remember that no, I am a good, happy, attachment-parenting mama, and I love nursing, and am happy to keep doing it as long as Pippa needs me to. And now that Pips is walking (rather, walking INTO things) it is nice to be able to get her to sit still for a few and nurse, so that I can sit still! I just ordered "Adventures in Tandem Nursing (Nursing During Pregnancy and Beyond)" and I am excited to read that--sounds like a real thriller!

I have been baking bread a lot lately. My friend Tree says that this is because I am pregnant, and it is February, and something about being fertile...I don't know. But it all sounds very interesting, and would slightly explain why I've been into baking a lot lately. 4 loaves of white, 4 loaves of wheat, 2 specialties, and some French sweet bread have all come out of my kitchen over the past few days.

Well, I'm going to go back to taking care of Sicky. I'm really hoping that she will be on the mend here shortly. I feel like I have a raging case of 'cabin fever' going on. I miss my girls! I miss their babies! I miss my meetings! I miss the outside air!

Bonjour again!

So sorry to have been gone for so loooong! We have been very sick here in the household, passing a cold between Pippa, me, and Trent, and back again. Yick!

But, I do have fabulous news----I am pregnant with baby # 2! Yep, due sometime in October---not quite sure when yet.

Alright, I really promise to update tomorrow.

My Secret Hideout

I have a secret hideout.

It is the bathroom.

Pippa has started into her 'All mommy, all the time' phase (which is very common for toddlers) and so I have emense trouble getting time to myself. I actually kept track--from Wednesday morning, to Friday at 9:35pm, I did not have ONE minute to myself. Not even to use the restroom. No, I didn't hold it that entire time, but those who have children know that there are times when you just don't want to deal with the screaming, so you take the kids in to the bathroom with you. Now, I haven't had to do this since Pips was just a wee babe, but lately it seems the norm. Showering, using the restroom, putting on makeup (riiiight. like I ever do that anymore), making eggs, is all done with Pippa on my hip.  You might say, 'But what about Trent, can't Pippa be with her daddy?', and I would answer, yes, of course she can. But with Trent working long hours, and with Pips screaming whenever she is away from me, I often get Trent saying, 'but she wants you' when I pass her off.

But, last night, I found a way to remedy this situation. Usually, if Pippa can't see me, she is ok with whoever is holding/playing with her. So, I decided that I would finally use the restroom and shower by myself, went in and DID! No screaming, and Trent dare not bother me while I was in the bathroom doing 'girl stuff'. So, now, everytime I want to 'escape', I can just slip into the bathroom and claim to be plucking my eyebrows, shaving, etc. etc. Good thing nobody saw me with that pot of tea and new baking book this morning, sneaking into the bathroom.

Who knew that the seemingly most unpleasant room in the house has now become the most pleasant?

Frigid!

"China tea, the scent of hyacinths, wood fires and bowls of violets- that is my mental picture of an agreeable February afternoon."

-- Constance Spry

After an unseasonably warm January (lows in the 40's, highs in the 70's), we here in Ohio have an unseasonably cold start to February - it is literally 2 degrees outsite and with the cold chill it is -20. This is really hard on me. I am someone who REALLY does not like cold weather. When it started getting chilly in November, Pippa and I ran away to Key West for a month! That is how much I hate cold weather.

But, today, with the air so chilly, and the snow falling softly, it made for the perfect day of staying in wishing for spring, but relishing in the quiet of this frigid winter day. Pippa and I cuddled in the warm bed while she napped and nursed, I poured through seed catalogs with a mug of herbal tea in my hand trying to plan my garden and getting excited at the thought of forcing some hyacinth bulbs, and I made some yummy winter soup and a few other winter goodies. The one time I did venture outside I had a pleasant suprise waiting for me. The daffodils that had begun to come out of the ground last month due to said warm weather, were still trying so hard to make it! I hope they do....

Making soup is always something I want to do when the weather turns chilly. I love going into my cupboards and seeing what kind of canned goods I have available, and then pairing them with some fresh veggies, or some cured meats, or whatever I have in the fridge. Today, I had everything I needed to make some white winter stew. 

6 "B" sized yellow potatoes

2 cans of organic cannelli beans, no salt added

1 medium sized yellow onion

2 cloves of garlic

1 bay leaf

2 tbsp flour

7 cups of chicken stock

1 cup of heavy cream

3 tbsp of 'herbs de provence'

10 slices of good bacon

Boil the potatoes until they are soft. Drain, and mash up a little, keeping the skins on. Put into a big stock pot with the chicken stock, the onion (chopped), the garlic (minced), the cream, the herbs, and the beans. Bring to a boil and let simmer for a good 15 minutes. Whisk in the flour and fry up the bacon. Add the bacon and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for another 15 minutes, and voila! Easy white winter soup. I did add something upon serving it this evening that made it not so 'white' but added a nice dose of folic acid and other good healthy things--I put 2 handfuls or so of baby spinach in each bowl before ladling the hot soup over the spinach to wilt. And it was yummy!

I also found a few cans of garbonzo bean that looked like they needed to be used, so I decided to make roasted garbonzo beans. Just take a few cans of organic garbonzos, drain, put them into a big ziploc baggy, add a few tbsp of olive oil, some dried garlic, some sweet chili powder, and some salt and freshly ground pepper. Place on a cookie sheet and pop into a 400 degree oven for about 35 minutes. Out will come a yummy, crispy, healthy, salty snack.

After doing this little bit of cooking I noticed my hands getting so dried out from constant washing and of course the horribly frigid weather, so I made up a quick batch of winter balm. In a double boiler, heat 1 tbsp of beeswax, 1 tbsp of shea butter, and 1 tbsp of jojoba oil. Once all is melted, remove from heat, mix in 1 capsule of vitamin E, and 10 drops of your favorite frangrance oil, or 5 drops of essential oil (I used heliotrope--yum!) --All these ingredients can be found at your local organic/health food store--This balm will be your lips, hands, elbows, knees, heels, and any other rough spots best friend for the rest of the winter.

I am hearing that Trent has had success putting the babe to sleep (I think the key is reading her 'Goodnight Moon'--he thinks the trick is a binkytini (JUST KIDDING!) So I'm off to look at the snow out our front window, read a good book, and enjoy a cup of homemade hot chocolate (recipe in previous post). Although I don't enjoy the cold and the winter weather very much, I do like to try to be in tune and step with the seasons....so I will relax as the quiet of winter takes over...

Happy Birthday Pippa

"Perhaps loving something is the only starting place there is for making your life your own"

--Alice Koller

Today is Pippa's very 1st birthday. This picture is me and Pippa on her first day of life. I am so sentimental today! Looking back on this year I have found that the above quote is perfect in describing exactly how I feel. I have found my place in the world, and have found myself, by my love for my daughter. The moment I held her in my arms (after 24 hours of hard labor, I might add) I felt a love so deep and so true that it really could not be matched by anything. And she was the most beautiful newborn! Perfect lips, a full head of hair, and her tiny starfish hands just grasped for my finger to hold. The day Mallory was born was the day I found my purpose, and learned what instant, unconditional love so deep for another person felt like.

Today to celebrate her birthday, her daddy and I were planning on taking her to the zoo, but due to the frigidly low temperatures we opted for just a nice lunch and bookstore shopping.  We ate a a great place called Casa Nueva that is about an hour away from where we live. It is a fantastic little restaurant, all the food is locally grown, lots of organics, and just fantastic flavor. Trent and I both had enchiladas, and Pippa had some soup and veggies. After that we made our way to a great used bookstore called the 'Trans-Alleghany'. It is located in an old Carnegie library with glass floors and fantastic balconies--what a great place for inspiration! Upon finding a few good books (Peter Rabbit for Pips, Sci-Fi for Trent, and some gardening books for me), we made our way back home, where Pippa and daddy needed a nap, and mommy needed to do some cleaning.  Then a birthday dinner of chicken and rice, and some nice parmesan roasted asparagus. All ending with Pippa blowing out a candle on the hummingbird cake I made for her.

It was a wonderful, happy, nostalgic day.

1 haircut, 9 teeth, 10 inches, 15lbs, 4 words, 1 year and a dose of cute later, this is my darling today.

Just to get the ball rolling

On this cold, cold, wintery night, after the babe was nestled all snug in her bed,  I decided to whip up a little something for the husband and I. Scrummy Mayan Hot Chocolate it was:

In a large saucepan, add 1 chile pepper to boiling water (2 cups). Boil down to 1 cup, remove chile, and set aside.

Over medium heat in another saucepan, combine 4-5 cups whole milk (organic preferrably), 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, and 1 or 2 cinnamon sticks. Heat until it just starts to simmer, and then add 7 ounces semisweet chocolate chips and 3 tbsp. honey (to taste).  Heat until chocolate is melted and honey is combined. Remove vanilla bean and cinnamon stick. Add chile infused water a little at a time to taste (can become quite spicy in my experience!). Top with a few sliced, toasted almonds for garnish.

Yum!

--Just wanted to try out the picture formatting on this site---here is Pippa before going to bed this evening--silly girl! Playing in the dog's cage.... I think she thought of it as her own special little fort until Machiavelli started in with the obsessive licking and she had to evacuate!

Again, thanks for bearing with me while I work out the kinks of a new site:-)

Bonjour!

New blog here! If you are visiting from the old blogs- grumperina or apples- I appreciate your patience as I find a blog host that meets my needs. I think this is a winner!