Bountiful Harvest

I am at my dad's house in Hemet this week, Eric is working in Korea so I took this opportunity to pay a visit to Papa D and my friends and their kids. As much as I dread the drive, which it only took little over 3 hours, most of those hours were spent trying to coax Ruby into sleeping. She finally conked out in the last 15 minutes. Milo found a second wind once we got arrived, he saw all the familiar toys and just couldn't wait to start playing with them. By the time we were all peacefully sleeping it was around midnight

Sleeping with Milo is never easy, he isn't one to cuddle and doesn't want you in his bed, the problem with this is that he and I are sharing a bed and Ruby is in a pack n play in Donnell's room. All in all Milo did ok, he allowed me to sleep in the bed with him but he did wake up a few times. Tonight I have him sleeping in his sleeping bag on the floor, what kid doesn't like camping out right? I will let you know how it goes. I thought that maybe just maybe that we would all sleep in just a little due to such a late evening. No luck, Milo pops up at 7, not bad I know but early considering the late night drive and play session. Oh well. I feed them breakfast and put them into the stroller for a long walk in hopes that they would both catch a little snooze. They didn't sleep but they barely made a peep. Thanks to the pretty scenery and crazy dogs running all around.

The walk was wonderful, very crisp, cool and clear out. The sky was beautifully blue and I walked along the aqueduct and groves so that the dogs could run free and I didn't have to worry about any cars. Along this walk there is a small stretch of pomegranate trees that have been there since Donnell and I were wee little girls. I just could resist taking a few home. There were so many just hanging there on the trees that looked so neglected. I didn't think anyone was even taking care of these trees so I kind of helped myself. Once I got home and saw the quantity in which I picked I asked myself what in the heck am I going to do with all these beautiful pomegranates? I cracked one open and sampled it, yummy and tart just the way I remember them. Guess who else liked them? RUBY, she thoroughly enjoyed these little tart seeds. I had no idea a 1 year old would enjoy them as much as she did. Now to research some recipes so that these beautiful fruits wont go to waste.

This or That?

Last night was an interesting evening. I put Ruby down at her usual bed time, she went down easy like she typically does. I did however say to myself she better sleep all night.
The night before was an awful night. Ruby's top tooth is cutting in and nothing I did could help ease the pain. I tried cuddling, holding her, sleeping with her, singing, orajel. Like I said, nothing worked. We just had to endure the pain together. My pain was watching my little girl cry and scream which hurts my heart more than anything, but also I was in pain from still being sick and majorly sleep deprived. I was tense, angry, frustrated, confused, I felt that I was lacking a valuable tool to help my daughter escape the pain and to help her get some sleep.
Like I said above, as I put her down I hoped with all my might that it wasn't going to be a repeat evening. As Eric and I put our heads on our pillows, closed our heavy eyes and took a deep breath I heard her squawk. It wasn't the same kind of painful shriek like the night before. So we laid there asking the same ol questions. What should we do? Do we go in there and risk her getting more worked up or do we see if she will drift back into sleep? This is the most asked question in our house. WHAT DO WE DO? SHOULD WE DO THIS OR DO THAT? I decided that I needed to go in and hold her, love her, and make sure she knows that I am there when she is in discomfort, that's what I would want if I was in her shoes. I picked her up, she immediately put her head down and wanted to go to sleep, so we laid down in bed and we tried to go to sleep together. WE are both not use to sleeping together, she rolls and thrashes and I am just the target for her whipping limbs. She sat up and started crying & crawling around. It was obvious she didn't want to be in bed with me. I decided to go out into the living room and kitchen and just walk around singing to her. Her eyes were open and she was some what calm. Then all of a sudden she was awake and wanted to play like it was 10 in the morning. Instead of trying to control what she should be doing (sleeping) I went ahead and followed her lead. We hung out with Bodhi, she was talking saying Da Da Da. She crawled all around the house, she was totally content and having a good time. I didn't think this could go on for too long..........Right? It was 11pm. She's tired right???
NOPE, she wasn't tired, she was playful and happy. Instead of getting frustrated with the fact that I wasn't acquiring my much needed sleep, I changed my mind frame and went along with her playfulness. I liked how I didn't get upset or frustrated or angry, I was smiling with her, talking with her and just being a supportive mommy during this hour of quiet exploration. Eric came out to see what was going on. We rolled out my thai massage/rumpus pad brought out the pillows and blankets and thought a good old fashioned slumber party would be fun. We laid down thinking that she would curl up like a little pup with her parents to go to sleep. NOPE, she wanted nothing to do with us, she was still on the go. So where is this all going you ask????????
Fast forward, I noticed she started rubbing her eyes and slowing down, I picked her up, sang her a song, told her how much fun I had with her and that I will always be here for her but now it is time to go to sleep. I put her in her crib and walked out of the room. NO CRYS! NO TEARS!, SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP Baby Ruby. She didn't make a peep till 7:20 this morning. Still no tooth but a much smoother and calmer evening for all of us.
I learned a very valuable lesson last night and I have Ruby to thank for it. Thank you for teaching me to let go, to go with the flow and to find acceptance in the moment. As much as I feel that I decide what we eat, when we sleep where we go, sometimes the little people of the house have just as much if not more say than I do and I appreciate my 1 year old teaching me about this. Thank you Ruby for this valuable lesson.

Sickies

When it rains it pours as the saying goes. First it was Milo, he wasn't really feeling himself on Monday. He had a pretty restless sleep on Monday night. As I watched his body language through the day I saw a very sluggish, unresponsive, rosy cheeked, glossy red eyed boy. All that Milo wanted to do is cuddle on the couch with his friends, not his mommy but his friends. As i checked on him through the day his body temp began to rise and rise. I picked him up and he basically went limp in my arms and his body was so hot that I knew that his body was fighting off some sort of nasty invader.

I consulted my Doctor Mom's Natural Healthcare for Children book and it confirmed to keep his body warm. If he sweats it's a good sign of his body properly cooling itself down while at the same time it's cooking the bug and getting rid of it. I knew it was time for bed when I looked over at him on the couch and he was nodding off and on. Mind you it was only 7:15pm when I put him down without a peep. Usually Milo goes to bed b/w 7:30-8:30. So our night was pretty bad. Milo was up crying almost every hour. Sometimes he was up as many as 4 times in an hour. Needing to go pee pee, or thirsty, or he lost puppy. Sometimes it was nothing at all other than feeling icky and sick. I felt horrible for him, he didn't want to come cuddle in my bed, he didn't want me to come into his bed, I was at a loss of what to do for him. I wish he liked cuddling with me.

Milo and I had our deepest rest from 5:30-7:30am. Then he woke with his typical cries. Here we go again. He was still sluggish and hot with a slight temperature but I was able to see that the worst was behind. YAHOO!!!!!!!! Not so fast Mom.

Ruby didn't escape the bug that got hold of Milo. Ruby woke up this morning around 8:30. Ruby is always standing up with a beautiful smile and very content and quiet. Today was a different story. She wasn't even standing up, she was lying down making cute talking noises. I felt the back of her neck and sure enough she was warmer than usual.

So as Milo was feeling better than he did yesterday it was Ruby's turn to fight off her intruder. A few very unnerving sights that I experienced today. There were a handful of times that I would turn a corner and see Ruby lying on her belly with her head resting on the cold wood floor. Wow, so tired and icky that she was just taking a little rest on the floor, witnessing her just lying in her crib after her 3 hour nap burning up with rosy cheeks, pooping in the bath at the very end was the topper of my evening. I swept her up as quick as I could, plopped her on the potty and she had a fit, as she was crying more squirts, at least we were ready this time. Poor lil babies.

Ruby is 1 years old now and this is her first fever. Milo is almost 3 years old and this might have been his first big fever. I feel so fortunate that this type of thing doesn't happen very often. I am ekping my fingers crossed that my body escapes this bug, the last thing I need is to get sick especially while Eric is away on business.

Feel better little sickies, I miss my happy smiling kids.
XO
Mom

Big Boy

I know it's been a long time since my last post and I have been trying to think of something to write about. It dawned on me last night as Milo made a huge speech improvement. Milo can now say Airplane. He use to pronounce it Airmachine. As the 4 of us were playing in the backyard last night Milo looks up at the beautiful pink sky and says, "look airplane." I look at Eric with this expression of amazement and asked Milo to say it again, "airplane" Milo says. I will ask him this morning to see if it is official.


Not only am I seeing big developments in Milo's speech, I have also noticed that Milo has the ability to push his undies down and take them off. He can also take his shorts or pants off too. After his undies and pants come off he carries the step stool over to the potty, he climbs onto the stool turns himself around and sits on the big boy potty all by himself. When milo has to go pee pee he can now stand like a big boy at the potty all by himself. Most of the time he is high onto his tippy toes but none the less he is doing it all by himself. Congratulations Milo, you no longer need your small training potty or the small cushy seat that sits on top of the big potty. You can do it all by yourself. Although I am close behind so that I can clean up any messes that most likely will occur.

One last item to report on Big Boy Milo, he can open all the doors in the house. His hands have grown just enough so that he can get his little palm around the knob, turn it and then push the door open. I now need to remind myself to lock the front door. Although Milo reminds me of Bodhi, he doesn't stray to far off. He likes being right by us so I don't have a fear of Milo leaving out the front door which is nice but I like being safe. As we tell our kids, Safety First!!!!!!!!

Strider

Milo has grown a great deal of interest in his bike. He received the bike from Poppi & Papa (Dena & Matt) & the Coulehans for his 2nd birthday. I am happy to see that he is having a lot of fun on it. A neighbors driveway is short but steep and last night on our bike ride Milo rode up the driveway and around to a side walkway that has a slight downward angle in which he would zoom down with great enthusiasm & excellent caution.

I remember learning how to ride a bike, it must've been when I was around 5 or 6, it was white with a yellow banana seat. Milo is learning far earlier than me, I don't think he will even remember this bike, who know's it'll be interesting. His bike is a no pedals bikes. You use your legs to peddle you forward, stop, coast. The concept is that children are learning the balance and coordination it takes to ride a bike so they transition quickly onto a regular kids bike. Pretty cool, I loved love loved riding bikes. I still love riding bikes. Who doesn't like to ride bikes?

Field Trip - Sunday Funday

For the past couple weekends Eric, Milo and I have been working hard in our garden. We have been researching what to plant, where to plant it, will it fit in with Eric's legume - leaf - fruit - root crop rotation theory which I honestly support honey. So on Sunday we went on a self guided tour of Fairview Gardens. As we walked around we saw chickens & goats. Milo is very brave around these animals, he seems to have a good gardening/farm gene in him. There were 3 different seed fields, many fruit orchards, all that grew something in between the rows, and the green house. We all enjoyed the field trip to the farm.

When we got home it was nap time for the kids and that is when Eric and I got a lot accomplished in the backyard. The garlic & onion are in, 3 different beets, 2 carrot varieties, spinach, and herbs.

Let-us eat

The kale was turned into Kale chips. Milo didn't go for it but Eric and I sure enjoyed them. Olive oil, sea salt, fresh thyme, rosemary & sage. Bake 30 min @ 300. So easy.




Yellow Pear Tomatoes, grown by front door, a head of lettuce in a raised bed in backyard, heirloom tomato grown in backyard. Extra toppings included; onion sprouts, pepetas, feta chesse & a basil vinaigrette dressing.