Mouthful

" Did you swallow your food?", I asked.
He nods.
I smile.
He smiles, revealing his first fib.

The University of Washington found that kids who ate organic foods had a pesticide level six times lower than those who didn't. Check out the study here!






Satchel's First Painting.
Medium: Yam, Watermelon, and tofu!

Health

As some of you know, I've been dealing with some health issues since the birth of my son. It is as if I left the hospital with a different body...I left the hospital with abnormal bowel function (chronic diarrhea) and awake with severe pain and stiffness in my hands and feet each morning.
I have tingling, muscle twitches and pin prick sensations in my left leg when horizontal. My feet get so cold they burn (more so on the left) and I have to wear socks to bed (Grover socks because Satch likes him) and cover my legs with a blanket. That's in the summer, in the winter it's 3 pairs of socks and a blanket. These are all new sensations to me...I came home from the hospital with a beautiful baby boy and a new wonky body.

I've been through a battery of tests with more on the way. Stool studies came back normal as did my blood work. We had one scare with an abnormal lab pointing to a hideous and rare form of vasculitis, but repeat studies thankfully proved it a false positive.

Yesterday I had a colonoscopy. The prep was hard for me to tolerate and I awoke the next morning severely dehydrated, with extreme nausea and a violent headache. When I walked into the office at 10 AM for the colonoscopy, the nurse took one look at me and went to go find a stretcher. The procedure itself was a breeze. The last thing I remember was the nurse asking me if the cute boy in the waiting room was my son...I smiled and said, "Yes and he's ammmaaaaazzzziiiiing", and I fell asleep. The rest was a blur. I don't remember the trip to the car or the ride home or asking my husband the same questions over and over again. The colonoscopy was normal, but they took a biopsy to rule out "microscopic colitis" which can cause both the diarrhea and the arthralgia.

I'm trying to find the humor in it all. After the "pump & dump" to rid my breast milk of the wacky narcotic, I asked my husband, "how much do you think this demerol-milk would be worth on the street?" and then, "do you want to make some chocolate milk with this and trip out tonight?"

All in all, if it weren't for the fact that the prep made me so ill, I would be willing to give it another go because it was the best dang sleep I've had in at least 15 months. (I slept ALL day)

The next step is a nerve conduction test to look for possible nerve damage.

In spite of all this wonkiness, there remains an abundance of beauty and love in my life. My husband took such good care of Satch and kept him entertained so I could rest. When I was finally awake, Satch came to the sofa. I picked him up and he cuddled on top of me, his head resting on my chest and our bodies fitting together so perfectly in a moment so tender and sweet, I wish I had a photo of it. AND the above card was presented to me by Julie's son Payton for giving him a gigantic dead cicada. It took all of my strength to pick that big, ugly insect up and put it in a clear top tin. (It's practice for Satch, I told myself) AND if that isn't wonderful enough, I received another card from my beloved Pixie containing tea and her healing words. Pixie, I adore you. You are so magic!!!

Where's Max?

I wanted to do a little work in the studio so I dug out box of toys to occupy Satch. There were toys from my own childhood: miniature pots, pans and dishes from my playhouse; a toy sink (the stove and refrigerator had sharp edges so I kept them hidden). I keep my childhood toys in my studio to ground me when I'm creating.

Also inside the box were other toys that I had collected over the years in hopeful anticipation of having my own child: Gumby, Pokie, Blockheads, Scooby, and Sendak dolls. Satch fell in love with a Max toy (Where the Wild Things Are) and is completely indifferent to poor Bernard, the wild thing. When I handed him the doll I said, "This is Max". He examined the toy and kissed it. Later, when I asked Satch where Max was, he pointed to him. I was shocked! If only my mind were that sharp. I immediately grabbed my camera and asked him the question again. (Click photo to see video)

More Kindred Spirits

"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music" - Nietzsche

More kindred spirits! This is Jeff's film...Keri's Husband. Jeff led me to Strunz & Farah! He recommended listening to them by candle light. Brilliant!!!

Robert and I took Satchel to the park last Sunday and we discovered a drumming circle. We followed the music until we reached the circle and Satch began his dance. I'm so proud of my boy! I want my baby surrounded by a tribe of cool "grown-ups"...fearless and playful!

Dream Vessel

pollyanna
Originally uploaded by annwood."and an ocean tumbled by with a private boat for Max and he sailed off through the night and day" -Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are)

I dream of having one of Ann's ships to hang in Satchel's room one day.

Ann is a fellow New Yorker and gifted artist!

Kitchen Renovation Week: It's over and it doesn't look much different than when we started. Due to the ceiling collapse, we can not sand the floors, repair and paint walls, or rebuild the the last cabinet. For me this is very depressing. I'm a visual person, an artist, and I like things to be aesthetically pleasing. I thrive in harmony and wither in discord. We are now scrambling to find money to repair the unexpected ceiling collapse. Every penny is accounted for. I'm going to have to take the money out of my IRA, penalties and all. Thankfully, we've finally found someone we could trust to do the repair. Julie's husband (of self-definition fame) is our man.

I had a bad day yesterday. I was preparing lunch and had Satchel's food diced and ready on his tray...I went to the kitchen to grab my plate and in that VERY brief span of time, Robert's cat was on the table with her head over Satchel's high chair eating (more like inhaling) his food!
So I had to start all over and when I was finished my lunch was cold.

Later as I was making dinner, I sat Satch on the floor with some toys next to his dada in the dining room while dada was reviewing his case for monday. Suddenly I heard a strange, nervous giggle coming from Satch. The kind of giggle that nudges your motherly instincts and tells you trouble's brewing. I went to see what was going on and there was Satch standing next to a puddle of cat vomit. If that wasn't horrible enough, he opened his mouth wide which is what he usually does to show me he's eating. I felt like vomiting myself, though I didn't see anything in his mouth.

What upset me so much was that he was no more than two feet from his daddy. I lost my temper and gave Robert a piece of my mind and his reply was, "well, I'm working". This only made it worse. OK, cats vomit and you can't control when or where it happens and you ARE working, but I'M in another room making dinner and Satchel is two feet away from you. You mean to tell me that you can't keep an eye on him while reviewing documents?!?!

I'm still angry!

I wish I could sail off in one Ann's ships (above) with Satchel and an unlimited supply of Ben & Jerry's!

The Word on the Street

The word is out!

There is going to be a new female puppet on Sesame Street. Her name is Abby Cadabby and she's a pink fairy. Her catch phrase is, "That's so Magic!" (which I've borrowed for my own). The new season begins August 14th.

In other news: I've recently discovered Veronica's blog. I've added it to my list of mama blogs. I figure that anyone who loves Neruda as much as I do is entitled to a cozy spot on my blog roll.










Satch & vintage Ernie puppet

Goldmine

I just found out about this site via the lovely marytree. A virtual goldmine for nostalgic types like me.

Kiddie Records Weekly celebrates the golden age of children's recordings from the 1940's - 1950's and has transferred the original 78's, including cover art, to MP3s for easy download.

*Due to the era in which these were made, there are some recordings that are not politically correct, but you don't have to download those.

Neighborly

An elderly gentleman who lives on our street by the name of Rolando dropped by. He brought an illustration that he made for Satch and a zucchini from his garden. I was so touched by the gesture that I printed one of my own illustrations and gave it to him (pictured above) along with a recipe for stuffed zucchini blossoms. He returned later in the day with a bag of zucchini blossoms, fresh basil and mint. He sat on the glider with me while Satch played in the pool at our feet. We exchanged stories about our days as native New Yorkers. As it turns out, we both lived in Greenwich Village for a spell. Rolando knows six languages; has lived all over the world; and studied architecture. He claims he hasn't bought a tomato in 40 years. Maybe he'll come back again with some tomatoes!

I'll have to make zucchini bread tomorrow. It's the only way I'll be able to get my husband to eat it. He's an antisquashite. Perhaps, I'll be able to get him to try the blossoms...

Tissues

How to entertain your 1 year old son during a kitchen renovation - For hours of fun, just give him a box of tissues... (Lauren gave me the idea several years ago)

Day 4 of kitchen renovation: Robert was taking down the hideous drop ceiling when a portion of the original ceiling fell on top of him. There is now a hole in the northeast section and we can see clear through to the attic...more neglect from the previous owners. We will have to repair the damaged lathe before hanging plasterboard. Tomorrow we will remove the last scrap of lineoleum and sand the original pine plank floors. Saturday we'll get an estimate on the ceiling repair.

Afternoon Dip

An afternoon dip in the pool and the cutest little booty I ever did see!

There's homemade lemon popsicles in the freezer and the evening sun is casting gorgeous golden light.

(Day 2 of kitchen renovation)

Satch is walking!!!

Five Vignettes & One Recipe

1. Early morning wagon ride before the heat set in.
2. The sound of the last two kitchen cabinets being installed.
3. Preparing heat wave smackerels while Satch took a mid-morning nap
   
   • White Bean Hummus (recipe below)
   • Salsa Fresca
     
4. Lunching on organic egg salad sandwiches and cantaloupe.
5. Satch playing in his pool on the front porch (he likes to splash and stick his whole face in the water).

White Bean Hummus:

• 1 can of cannelinni beans
• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 2 rounded Tbsp fresh parsley chopped (or 1 Tbsp dry)
  
• 1 Tbsp Braggs
  
• 1/8 c water + 1/8 c apple cider vinegar (or substitute 1/4 c lemon juice)
• 1/4 c tahini
• 1/2 tsp cumin
  

Saute onion in olive oil until tender. Lower heat, add garlic and beans. Stir for a few minutes then pour into food processor. Add the remaining ingredients and process until smooth.
*For traditional hummus, use chickpeas in place of the cannelinni beans!

MILK

And now a word or two on breast milk bags. Originally I used Medela CSF bags, but I saw that the Gerber bags were $4.00 cheaper so I gave them a go. Twice I've purchased faulty product. The first time, the seams in the bag weren't sealed completely and the breast milk leaked from the bottom as I pumped. I called Gerber and they were quite apologetic. They sent me coupons for a new box. A few months later I came upon another bad batch of bags. These bags burst in the freezer. It should be noted that I am not producing mass quantities of milk since Satch has started solids so the bags weren't even close to full. I called Gerber and asked for a refund. I'm switching back to Medela. They may be more expensive, but I've never had a problem with them.

"It is only in the act of nursing that a woman realizes her motherhood in visible and tangible fashion; it is a joy of every moment." - Honoré De Balzac (1799–1850), French novelist

Napping, Gliding, Dancing, Fixing

Satch fell asleep in the stroller on the way home from our jaunt.....














So I took the opportunity to put my feet up and relax on the glider until he woke up.



















Earlier in the day, a family stopped their SUV in front of our house and got out and started dancing next to their car. Satch and I clapped our hands and cheered........"Hooray, Hooray for the spontaneous interpretive dance"!

This week, Robert and I will begin the kitchen renovation in our historic house (Fuller House) ...anyone want to come over and help? I can barter art, photography or a yummy meal....

Every Day New

One of Satchel's new favorite activities is taking all the books within reach off the shelves. Of course he has his own books, but Mama has so many...and with thin pages too! When he finds the Isabella Rossellini autobiography, he kisses her face on the cover.
Amidst the rubble:

• The Little Zen Companion
  
• The Woman who lives in the Earth
• Book of Questions - Pablo Neruda
  
• I Promise Myself - Patricia Lynn Reilly
• Be Full of Yourself - Patricial Lynn Reilly
  
• Portable Thoreau
  
• An Anthology of Love Poems
• Fred Babb Poster Book
  
• Shakespeare Sonnets
• In Praise of Beauty - John Keats
• Living Serendipitously - Madeleine Kay
• Inner Simplicity - Elaine St. James
• 2 Pocket Nutrition Books (protein/calories)
  

Later...I was just about ready to start making lunch when Satch grabbed my finger and walked me to his high chair to let me know he was hungry. The way he communicates sometimes is astounding!

One Summer Day

When I was a little girl, my dad took me for walks in the woods near our home on Gibbons Street. We walked in icy cold steams looking for interesting stones. My dad dug up a root and held it under my nose. "What does this smell like?", he asked. "ROOT BEER!", I squealed. It wasn't long before I began recognizing the sassafras root by the mitten shaped leaves on the tree.

Satchel has learned where the wild spearmint grows and now motions me to stop when we pass the plants. I pick two leaves for us to nibble.

Yesterday, while Satch and his Dada went for a drive and the cicadas began their round of music, I sat on the sun mottled lawn painting an antique metal porch glider that we purchased some years ago.


(I am obsessed with old metal gliders)





This morning I noticed the glistening web of a little orb weaver. I counted five small spiders that will soon grow to enormous proportions and must be encouraged to move to a new location 'else I'll be too creeped out to tend to my garden. Tiny nondescript moths flit about in the grass. (and still no fire flies)















The sunflowers are almost four feet tall, and the day lillies are blooming! There are sugar cookies cooling in the kitchen and the wee boy is napping on crisp cotton sheets.

A Visit From the Connors

The Connors visited us this morning.








Three boys, grape scented bubbles and a wagon...
what could be better?!?!

















(click here to view slide show - resize video to small or it will be blurry)

*My favorite bubbles are grape scented by Super Miracle Bubble and Pustefix Rainbow Bubbles.

Late July

At a BBQ last Sunday, Satch spotted a tray of crackers and wanted to taste one. I let him try it and he really enjoyed it. (Click on photo for video link)

So off we went to the food co-op in search of a healthy, easy to chew cracker for our boy. I discovered the "Classic Rich" by "Late July". The ingredients are organic and there are no trans fats. The package design is gorgeous too and has a nostalgic, vintage quality. The crackers will be a special treat because I don't like to over do the wheat products.

What makes 'em so edible:

• NO genetic modification
  
• NO synthetic pesticides
  
• NO chemical fertilizers
  
• NO trans fats,
  
• NO hydrogenated oils,
  
• NO corn syrup
  
• NO artificial flavors
• NO artificial colors
  
• NO preservatives
  
• NO cholesterol

...AND they're vegan. What a treat!

Animal Husbandry

Caught up on some reading during Satchel's nap and I stumbled upon this article and roared with laughter.

What Shamu Taught me about a Happy Marriage by Amy Sutherland

It got me thinking about my own husband (whom I love madly), the things about him that irk me, and if the Shamu technique might work on him. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I like a good experiment almost as much as a spontaneous interpretive dance.

I wonder if it will modify:

• slurping (soup, chocolate milk, coffee, etc.)
  
• wearing clothes until they disintegrate
  
• chocolate milk stains slurped every night...with a spoon.
  
• soap on the ceiling (he showers like a wet dog)
• hair clippings in the bathroom sink
• losing things like....
  

1. Satchel's winter coat
2. Satchel's toy/binky chain
3. Satchel's cloth book (Satch loved the bunny in his underpants)
   
4. Satchel's teething beads

*Please note that my husband is a wonderful man. He does the grocery shopping and brings me things like funky sponges and grapefruit scented dish washing liquid. I wasn't sure I should post this because I didn't want to embarrass him or make him angry.

My husband claims to be a feminist and states that it is not my job to clean up after him so here are a few things I don't understand:

• Why does he not wash the splattered oil off the stove from the fried eggs he made four days ago for lunch because he didn't want the egg salad that I made?
• Why does he waste energy running the dish washer for 5-6 items rather than hand wash his favorite coffee mug for the next morning?
• Why does he leave the hedge clippings where they fall on the front porch for me to pick up?

I think I now know why he never invited me to his apartment while we were dating.....

A Stand for Children

Magisterial, Seccion 22
Originally uploaded by cooper bates.

My friend and kindred spirit, Cooper Bates, has been doing a remarkable job of covering the unrest in Oaxaca.

Please see his amazing photos here. "In the early morning hours of June 14, armed federal and state police accompanied by helicopters dropping tear-gas grenades attacked an encampment of teachers in the center of Oaxaca, Mexico. According to news reports, after first being driven out of the town center, teachers armed themselves with rocks and sticks and fought back against the ferocious police assault. Conflicting reports of casualties range from 3 to 11 persons dead, including one child, with many injured or detained. About 70,000 teachers Oaxaca state have been on strike since May 22 and thousands of them have been camping in the city center to press their demands for a pay raise, greater resources for poor schools, for school supplies and free school breakfasts, and for scholarships for children. The strike is taking place amid increasing state repression against workers and popular activists. On June 16, thousands of teachers reportedly have retaken the zocalo, or central square, of Oaxaca, and have re-occupied their encampment. Apparently the police attacks have sparked a massive popular mobilization. According to one unconfirmed eyewitness report, “In the face of this barbaric repression, more protests have [been] sparked:10 Municipal Presidencies have been taken over, among which are Juchitán, Zimatlán, Huautla de Jiménez, Teotitlán de Flores Magón, Matías Romero, Huajuapan of Leon, Port Angel and Puerto Escondido. Farmers are marching in from Tuxtepec. Inhabitants of San Salvador Atenco make their way towards the State Capital. The future seems uncertain, but hope grows.” The values and aspirations of teachers and families everywhere are the same: to see the healthy, secure, peaceful development of their students and children to the fullest of their abilities in an environment of mutual support and respect. " - excerpt from New Democracy

Baby Feast

Satchel no longer likes baby food and wants to try whatever we're eating. I don't give Satchel a dish to eat from yet because he still likes to dump things. I make little mounds of finely chopped foods on his tray. His high chair came with two extra trays and the trays snap off for cleaning. He likes to explore the textures and flavors. He touches the stacks with his index finger to see if they are cool or warm.


Last night we had vegetarian fajitas so I made Satch a sampler:

• Watermelon
• Avocado
• Soy "chicken" (we call it tricken)
  
• Organic Monterey Jack Cheese

You can tell when he likes the taste of a particular food because he makes a "nnyum-nnyum" sound while he's chewing.















Some other cool features of this chair:

• It comes with TWO washable seat covers: one vinyl and one reversible cloth cover.
  
• It's very sturdy!
• It has four casters with breaks.
  
• It folds up small enough to throw in the trunk and take to a gathering.
• It has six height adjustments
• It has four position recline (which came in handy during a spontaneous, much needed nap)
• It has 2 removable food trays
  
• It's comparable to the chic Italian imports, but much less expensive!

The Joys of Co-Sleeping

"This generation of mothers labors under [the] dubious pronouncement that babies sleep best in isolation. Every infant knows better. His protest at nocturnal solitude contains the wisdom of millennia."- Thomas Lewis, M.D., (A General Theory of Love)

What I love about co-sleeping is that Satch goes to bed without protest and that he does not wake up crying, but what I love most about sleeping with my baby are the things I wouldn't have experienced otherwise:

• he laughs in his sleep
• the way his eyelids get heavy before he dozes
  
• the way he tucks his hand under my chin while nursing
  
• the way he rolls over when he's finished nursing, satisfied and sleepy
  
• the way he uses my thigh as a footrest
• the breathy sounds of his waking
• the way he stretches before sitting up
• the smell of his hair
• the way he points to the clock, the light, the belly cast, the fan, his toy dog and bunny as if doing inventory
• the way he sinks his hands into my hair and scratches my head
• the silliness
  
• the giggles
• the cuddles

My bloody, bruised, swollen lip from Satchel's hard noggin notwithstanding....

The Many Faces of Satch

Wednesday afternoon Satch played his first joke on me. We were sitting in the grass playing and he wanted my shoe. I usually don't let him play with my shoes because he will put them in his mouth. Nevertheless, I gave it to him and said, "Now, don't eat it". He looked at me with a totally deadpan expression and pretended to pinch a piece off my shoe and eat it.

Thank you, Satch, for your wonderful sense of humor!