Friday, May 29, 2009

Really? Already?

The book.
The chair.
The step stool for handwashing.
And so we have embarked on the issue of toilet training. North is telling us when he has to poop. If we ask him if he has gone poop or has a wet diaper, he usually is able to tell us a yes or no correctly most of the time. So the window of opportunity is open.
But I feel hesitant with all this. I don't feel that it is right to potty train such a young child. He has so many other things to do during his day, why should we disturb the play with the endless "North do you have to go potty?" And how long exactly will this process take? Will we be locked up a home for a week so that we are close to a toilet and can go at a moments notice?
I had all these concerns and more as I talked with my friend who has a son the same age as North. This child being her third, she often has a laid back approach that is both refreshing and reassuring. Her son has started giving notice of his need to eliminate and so she will also be getting out her potty chair. We talked about family expectations, the reality of the developmental abilities of 20 month-olds, and the importance of letting the child take the lead. My biggest concerns were getting frustrated with North "not getting it" and also embarking on such a big change right before bringing a newborn into the house. I really don't want any further complications during this time. But North is showing me a window....I don't want to ignore him.
So for now the potty book will be just another book we read. The chair will sit in the bathroom and will be referred to as needed if an opportunity arises. If it grows dusty, then so be it. I will encourage, but not push. He has many years ahead of him to use the toilet, sleep alone, use his words, etc.
Why do we ask our kids to grow up so fast?

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

CSA veggie day

Today was the first day of this summer's weekly vegetable pick up. Our share from the local farmer should give us fresh veggies into October. Into our bag North and I put: five salad turnips (eaten raw, my first time trying them, they were delicious), three zucchini, one bunch of cilantro, 2 bok choy, one bunch of carrots, two lettuce heads, and a basket of strawberries. Our portion also included 1/2 pound of spinach, but I had already bought a lot of this from the store, so I left the CSA spinach to be donated to the food bank.

Eddie (the farmer) also included a recipe that incorporates most of the vegetables. When I first saw all the lettuce, I knew that I would be making lettuce wraps for tonight's dinner, so I didn't use the provided recipe right away, but I will try it out in the next few days. For dinner tonight we ate: lentils and rice (carrots and cilantro added) wrapped in lettuce, sliced turnips and carrots with a little sprinkle of salt, and sliced strawberries and mango for dessert. It was all very fresh and tasty.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Kinetic race conclusion

North and I drove to Ferndale to see the racers cross the finish line. The sculptures showed a little wear and tear, but still were fantastic to look at.


North calls this sculpture "babies". After the sculptures crossed the finish line, we walked through them all to see everything from a closer perspective. The babies looked a little tired from their race.






A kinetic groupie


The hippo swung around in a large circle right on front of us. Did I mention that its' mouth opens and closes? North just stared. For as much as he had talked about the hippo in the last few days, I thought he would have had more to say when we actually saw it again. I think he might have been in awe.


Two women in chicken costumes (affiliated with the large silver rooster shown earlier) walked up and down the street clucking. I asked North if he wanted to go over and say hi. We walked over and he reached right up to touch her beak. I asked him if he wanted to hug the chicken, but his bravery didn't extend that far.


Before the race we walked through a few of the shops. I liked the old fashioned mercantile shop.


We also looked through the Kinetic Sculpture museum. North liked this sculpture. It was called "the Enchanted Slipper".


We had a great time watching the race today. I didn't intend for us to stay out all afternoon but the sculptures just kept arriving! And we had to stay to see the dragon. It was one of the last to arrive. North was really patient during the wait. Earlier in the afternoon, we met a family that I know through Reed's dad, so North had some playmates to distract him.
As it was we didn't arrive home until 5:30. North had snacked throughout the afternoon but hadn't taken a nap. I thought for sure he would be going to bed early, but I was wrong! Now it is 8:30 and he is still running around with Reed enjoying the remaining sunshine and warm weather. Meanwhile, I am ready for bed!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Kinetic sculpture race 2009

North and I went to the start of the Kinetic Sculpture race today. Every Memorial weekend weird and wacky but insanely creative people get together to race. This has been going on for 40 years! Some contestants have raced for many years and there are many second generation racers.

The race starts on Saturday on the Arcata plaza with the noon whistle. Racers must use sculptures that are people powered only. The sculptures must also be able to travel on road, sand, mud and float across the bay. All equipment including camping gear, must be stowed on board. There are also other silly rules like carrying a teddy bear and toothbrushes. After leaving the Plaza, the sculptures ride to the dunes where they travel down a beach and must navigate "Deadman's Drop". Reed and I watched this particular part of the race a few years ago. It was very hilarious to see these huge, sometimes cumbersome machines crash into the sand (many don't make it!)

Sunday is the water entry. The racers gather on a dock where they enter the water one by one. For many of the entries, everyone watching holds their breath in anticipation. Some sculptures look as if they will sink right away, but then miraculously right themselves and paddle off.

After the bay entry, race followers have to tune in to the coverage on the local radio station. The sculptures exit the bay and travel across some mud and more roads and dirt. Monday is the conclusion of the race on the main street of Ferndale. Winning the race is not always about being first. Some contestants are just in it for the fun while others follow the ACE rules (listed in the official grand championship rulebook ) So while one crew may come in first, other sculptures still qualify for a variety of wacky awards.

Singing pirates ( Excessive pageantry is encouraged. Contestants are encouraged to woo the crowd and bribe the judges during their pre-race safety and brake check.)


The Octo-mom sculpture. The blue hands waved babies around as the whole contraption moved.
North loved the dragon.

You can see why. This dragon was entered in the race last year, but flipped into the bay when entering the water during the second day. It continued through the race, but was disqualified from winning because it had to be rescued.

I can't remember what this sculpture was called, but I do know that they sprinkled twinkle dust on the judges and gave them Twinkies as bribes.
I wasn't planning on watching any more of the race, but North loved the sculptures. He talked about the "Hippy-potamus" and the fire dragon all the way home. The water entry always draws a large crowd, but we might brave it tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Sunday (edited to include photographer's name)


This past Sunday I cleaned up the house and Reed mowed the lawn. We dropped North off at a friend's house then headed to the beach.

....to get married!



Just the officiant and a photographer was to be present. We walked down to the beach and found a location under a beautiful cliff near the water. A friend of Reed's, Jenny G. looked for the best lighting for the pictures as the rest of us moved into place.


The rings


Although family and friends have been a part of the development of our relationship, it was important to us that our marriage ceremony be a private expression of our promises. Reed had talked with my dad a few weeks ago, but no one else was in the know. However, my cousin called on Saturday to say she was in town for a graduation and "what was I doing on Sunday?" I had to invite her!



Reed and I have been a couple for seven years. We have worked hard in the building of our relationship and have overcome differences in personality and upbringing. Through the many experiences we have shared together, we have brought common ground and joy into our lives. Here's to many more years of shared happiness!

Friday, May 15, 2009

A story

I like reading a blog written by a woman from the southern end of the county because she writes of rural living and posts beautiful photos. She is a regular poster, but had not written in the last few days.

Until she posted this story.

Which explained everything. And proves that we all are mortally human, not gods. Yet in times of need we are surrounded by all kinds of heroes waiting to help each other.

Homemade sushi rolls!


Thursday, May 14, 2009

Summer Garden 2009

Last fall, I covered the middle garden terrace in the front yard with homemade compost, newspaper, and straw. Starting in March, I turned over the lovely, no longer clay-y soil with a pitchfork. Then, about a month ago, Reed hauled in two yards of ceder mulch. Finally I could plant my flowers! I took some pictures of a few of the plants and labeled them. Some plants I no longer remember the names of. I will have to wait until these flower so I can look them up in a book. I have sweet peas and climbing roses planted next to the driftwood fence, but when I take pictures, they don't look like much so I also left those out.


North was a big help in spreading the mulch. I had to convince him not to cover my perennials.



However once the mulch was in, I worried that the dogs would run over the little plants. So I talked Reed into gathering driftwood from the beach to build a fence with.

The unknown variable with gardening so close to the coast is having consistent sun. I feel like in some years the summers don't really get started until early August. I hope my plants grow regardless! They are all so little right now.

Yarrow.
I had to dig this one out of the mulch. The chickens had covered it up when they were looking for bugs.



Front to back: pink poppy, purple iris, unknown plant, catnip, and a big old artichoke plant!


I have had this tea tree plant for three years and I always forget to water it over the winter. It has survived in the past, but I am wondering about it this year. When I peel back a branch, I can see green deep inside and the plant has sent out a few new growths, but I still wonder. It looks pretty dead. I will keep it around for a while longer to see what happens.



Licorice Hyssop



Something else that I can't remember the name of (it doesn't help that North likes to pull the plant tags out of the soil) and peppermint.



Borage.
This plant is a bi-annual and will reseed itself. The one pictured is an offspring from the original that I planted two years ago.



Dahilas.
Only four have sprouted so far.

Poached egg plant.
This plant was a gift from my neighbor. I had gone over to his house to dig up raspberry canes and he gave me some of the poached eggs. I think they are so cute! They should spread into a nice ground cover.


Separating the driveway from the lawn is a small kitchen herb garden with cilantro, oregano, sage, and chives. I have more oregano and thyme growing in a pot on the back deck. The blue circle is a snail made of a rock and some wire. North is into snails.


Black cherry nasturtium.
My hope is that nasturtiums will grow down the side of the terrace and cover the hill between the flowering plants and the lower lawn.



I added three strawberry plants to fill a hole in the grouping that had developed after last year's season. We have a problem with mold (don't laugh, Leslie!) so I also put mulch in this bed. I think I am going to thin the leaves of the strawberries to allow for more sunlight penetration. It will help with the mold and will help them darken their color faster.

North loves strawberries. He reaches through the netting to grab the green strawberries if I don't stop him. We talk about his brother growing inside my belly while we wait; I am trying to use the same concept with the strawberries. That boy is a fruit monster!
I still need to plant the raspberry patch. I want to set out two poles with wire supports to help the berries grow upwards. My neighbor says we will get fruit in the first year; I think they have a lot of growing to do yet. Certainly we will get some raspberries next year.

Monday, May 11, 2009

31 weeks

Today I went in for a doctor's appointment to check out the status of the pregnancy. I had some pretty noticeable cervical cramping last Thursday evening. It scared me pretty bad; I really don't want to get put on bed rest again. My midwife is in France right now. However even if things progress too quickly she wouldn't be able to offer more then bedside support in the hospital as home births are not recommend before 37 weeks. So off to the doctor's office we headed.

I saw a nurse-midwife who had moved from my old doctors office (now closed) to the current office. It was nice to talk with someone who had the experience of knowing North during his gestation. However, she felt a little concerned about the placement of the placenta (she thinks based upon the ultrasound report it might be placed over the cervix, yikes!) and so would not check for any dilation of my cervix. But she did feel around and had to reach way back (a good sign!). She said that the back of baby's head was laying against one side of my cervix thus causing that side to recede a little bit. I know she was being pretty cautious while she was checking as she didn't want to set off any contractions, but how does part of a cervix recede while the rest stays in place? I wasn't really clear about the meaning of that. Anyway, I am to start the same preterm labor herbal tincture I took last time and to take it really easy. But no bed rest thank you, thank you!

There is still the matter of the placenta placement. Even if it moves, I get the feeling from the medical staff and from my midwife the the delivery will be bloody and fast. Bloody from the placenta, and fast from the rate things are progressing. But then again, Kate also feels that fast births are a good thing because then there is less time for blood loss before the placenta comes out. I have been taking Floradix off and on in addition to fish oil and prenatals. The Floradix (iron) will become a more important supplement in the upcoming weeks in order to shore up my body's strength.

I feel pretty positive through all this. For me, a Cesarean because of unsafe placenta placement would be awful, but manageable. Until things are determined for certain, I will stay positive and focus on my uterine walls stretching and moving that placenta upwards! As for the baby's head pushing down, I feel OK about that too.

I accept that I carry my children low and deep inside my body cavity. When they reach a certain gestational milestone, I will slow down my pace and respect their influence upon my body. I really resist the idea of quarantined bed rest, yet I know I can find a compromise in my daily activities that allow for rest and peacefulness while the baby finishes its growth.

I hope it all works.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Mother's Day

First gift: North slept in!

Second gift: eating a pancake breakfast brunch at the Grange that also benefits a local women's shelter. North devours watermelon and dances/runs around the room with other kids as music plays from the stage.

Third gift: Flowers from Reed and a new plant for my flower garden! Once home, we all dig in the dirt and finish the planting the flowering plants I have collected from various farmer's markets and plant sales.


Fourth gift: Barbecue at Porter Street! ... Except the restaurant is closed. So we get hamburgers from Star's and play at the playground. Much better alternative.