Golden Beets

I've made a start at keeping my resolutions to be more green, healthy and environmentally responsible. And did you know I found how I can keep my resolutions and be lazy. I signed us up for Farm Fresh Delivery.


Basically, its a service that delivers local, fresh, organic produce and groceries. How awesome is that?!? Well, in my first delivery I had a bunch of golden beets! My initial thoughts was WTF? After a bit to investigation and asking my mom, I decided to give cooking them a try.

I'm not so sure how healthy these are as there are 3 Tablespoons of butter in them, but they taste wonderful. Then again everything tastes wonderful with butter.

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Points of View

The second installment of how my views have changed now that I'm a mother.

1. My view of Motherhood. My view of motherhood is very different looking from the view of a mother. When I only had the other side, meaning from the view of child, I could never know how much my mother felt for me. She and I have always been great friends and close but until I had a child of my own I had no idea how much I could love and how vulnerable I could be. Who ever said motherhood is like having your heart walking around outside of your body, was so right.


2. My view of poopy diapers. Prior to Alyanna I had only changed a few poopy diapers and I can vividly remember every one of those. All, were "traumatic" experiences. Now I find myself not bothered by poopy diapers...they are what they are. I still would prefer someone else change them, but they really aren't that bad.


3. My view on what is and is not a necessity. Not too long ago getting my hair done, nails done, eyebrows waxed, etc. were necessities. Now, I'm lucky to get my teeth brushed. A necessity to me now, are things like my pump. Mine recently crapped out on me, I bought it used so what could I expect. This prompted an unexpected $379 expense for a new one that day. There was no way I could make it through the next day at work without it.

Stay tuned for more.

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A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch & a Thought

Today Alyanna is 7 months old and to celebrate we went to a local orchard (Adrian Orchard).

We had a wonderful time. While browsing, and buying organic apples and baking pumpkins to use in making Alyanna's food, I got to thinking about what more I can do to make environmentally friendly and healthy choices for my family. I truly believe we need to be doing more. I want Alyanna to start her life instinctively making healthy environmentally friendly choices.

So I have made some resolutions:

1. I have gotten a composter, so that kitchen waste can be composted and used in the garden I'm going to plant next year.

2. We are going to attempt to get our produce from local organic growers, or at least as much as we can.

3. I am resolving to cut excess packaging we purchase by 1/2.

4. (the biggest commitment) We are going to get a small wind turbine and a small solar panel to see if we can just run our laptops, cell phones, and ipods from carbonless energy sources.

I'm not sure if this will make a dent in our electric bill, but it can't hurt and if it works then we can always expand. I'm pretty sure we are going to have some funny moments trying to set all of this up so stay tuned...

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A Day in the Life

Wow...time gets away from me. It has been too long since I last posted. Here is just a glimps into where I've been.

The world of an elder law attorney revolves around the end of the month. It never fails the end of the month is the most busy time or at least it is usually that way. It can be all consuming and I find myself being consumed by the work to be done. I find that building a wall between myself and my clients to be almost impossible. (I could never be a doctor or nurse). In dealing with a client, usually the child or grandchild of an individual, who is recognizing or dealing with a true crisis in their family I find myself feeling their pain, worry and concern. I think about how I would feel in their situation.

BUT...

I find myself working more and spending less and less time at home. Or if I am at home I am taking phone calls, replying to emails or working on documents. I was supposed to be part-time, I was supposed to have my focus on my family. I guess things never turn out the way the were supposed to.

I really wish I could spend my day with this cuteness.

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She Bit Me...

TWICE!!!!

Need I say any more? Alyanna is really working hard on those top teeth, but if she doesn't stop this biting thing she will no longer be allowed to comfort nurse.

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The Tale of the Teeth

I had no idea we would have teeth so early. Alyanna has two shinny new bottom front teeth. She is super shy about showing them or I would have a picture.

What mother doesn't know her child is teething? Alyanna was just not quite her self, but still pretty happy. My only clue was that she hasn't been napping well, and she is wanting to comfort nurse all night long. Hence her ending up back in bed with me.

I am convinced she is now working on her top two teeth, I am just glad I know that she doesn't feel good and can at least give her some Tylenol so she can get some sleep. Oh! the poor baby loves her swing and takes most of her naps in the swing, but my mother's swing (my mom keeps her when I have to work) isn't powerful enough to swing my little fatty. :) Good thing my swing still works.

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Points of View

I have been thinking over the past several months about how my views on many issues have changed or been altered due to my new status as mother.

1. (I know this could open a can of worms) My view on abortion. I have never thought it was right, but I was somewhat ambivalent about it. I still don't think the government should be codifying morality (I feel very strongly about that aspect) but just the thought of abortion (even the word) effects me physically, in a way that it never has before.

2. My view on feminism. (Again another can of worms). At one point in my life I had no desire to be at home and thought any woman who did was selling herself short. Now, there is no place I would rather be, than at home raising my little girl. There are some very militant feminists who think that no woman should stay home with their children (and apparently I was one of those women) but now I see the feminist movement in a different light. I now see it as being about allowing women to make choices instead of being forced one way or the other. What gets me upset are the women who feel that they are entitled to something, that they don't have to choose because they can have it all. What some women forget is there are consequences for our choices. Personally I choose to work fewer hours (therefore making less money) so that I can spend more time with my child. That is my choice.

3. My view on sleep. While I used to think sleep was a necessity I have come to view it as more of a luxury. My baby girl is a great sleeper but I have found that doesn't really matter, I will never sleep as soundly as I did before she was born.

4. My view on breasts. It had always been my desire to breastfeed, but before I actually did it, I viewed my breasts as being my own. Now I no longer see them that way...they no longer belong to me they are now Alyanna's...at least until she is weaned. I don't think I will ever view them in a sexual way again, but that's okay with me...mine were never that great anyway.

I guess this is just the start of how my views have changed...I could go on and on...maybe I should make this a recurring post.

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