SULA'S FIRST PUMPKIN PATCH

Today was a perfect fall day in Oregon. Beautiful blue sky, warm yet cool weather, orange, red, yellow leaves on trees and the ground everywhere. We went to brunch at Proper Eats an all vegan grocery and restaurant in the St. Johns area of Portland. I had a delicious tempeh, potatoe, spinach, black bean breakfast burrito and Damien enjoyed fresh shepherds pie.  After brunch we were heading to Sauvie Island for the pumpkin patch but decided to forgo that idea when the line to cross the bridge was several miles long.  No need to take Sula into that madness. We instead decided to try Roloff Farms which was probably equally as crazy! It was amazing how many people were there! Sula however loved the bright orange pumpkins, all the other people, the baby tiger, etc. Check out some of the cute photos at at the pumpkin patch!

2010 GARDEN

This year our garden definitely had challenges.  We started 3 rounds of seeds just to have each die due to the very late frosts in our area.  So Damien and I decided to use organic veggie starts purchased at New Seasons and at the Beaverton Farmers Market. Once again the dirt in the garden box from last year killed all the new plants this year which made me very sad.  Next year we will have to remove all of the dirt and replace it. The second garden box that we built  however (and by we I mean Damien) thrived.  I planted zucchini, cucumbers and corn all of which produced many wonderful veggies.   We just harvested the last round of veggies from the garden. Crazy how many cucumbers we had this year!  We harvested about 30 large cucumbers from just one plant and it's still producing.  Almost every stock of corn produced an ear totalling about 28 ears. Today I blanched and froze 16 ears of corn to preserve the tastie treats for this when the weather is cooler and fresh veggies are limited.

HOMEMADE PICKLES

With cucumbers from our garden I made fresh homemade refridgerator pickles! Super simple and so delish.  Here is the recipe:
4 c. water
2 c. vinegar
1/2 c. salt
1 bunch of fresh dill
1 bulb of garlic chopped
1/2 an onion chopped
2 tsp celery seed
2 tsp mustard seed

In a sauce pot on low heat warm the water, vinegar, and salt until desolved. Poor solution into a gallon size glass jar and add dill, garlic, onion, celery seed, and mustard seed.  Slice cucmber into slices, spears, or leave whole and add to the jar.  Place in the fridge and let soak for 3 days.  Open and enjoy!

I MADE CLOTH DIAPERS

There is nothing more adorable than a little sweet little baby in a cloth diaper, except when that diaper is handmade by mama! We have been using the gdiaper system but since the covers are not waterproof we have had months of frustration due to leaking.  So I decided to do something about it.  I purchased a couple Fuzzibunz and Bum Genius cloth diapers at the local cloth diaper store.  I bought 5 diapers and they cost me about $100.  I made a my own pattern for and purchased PUL, cotton, suede cloth, and velcro to make my own.  I made two different kinds of diapers- one is a cover to go over the gdiaper inserts and one is a pocket style diaper.  Both work great and only cost me about $3 in material costs to make.  Not only did it save me money but I enjoyed creating somthing useful for my baby.

BUSINESS LOGO

I have been looking for ways to better Laughing Baby Designs and thought it was about time for a facelift. That may seem silly since it's a brand new business but it really needed something and that something was a logo. I reached out to the Etsy community and found a graphic artist who also happens to be a stay at home mom. She designed a beautiful and professional logo for me. I couldn't be happier with it. I have made tags for all of my items, new business cards, a new banner for my website using the new logo.

SULA LEARNED TO CLAP

Story time finally started back up again after a 5 month break. We are so excited about this! At Friday’s story time we sang the song “If you’re happy and your know it clap your hands…” Well I took Sula’s hands and made the clapping motion. She was resistant at first because she didn’t really understand what I was doing. The next day, October 2nd when we were home she was sitting in the floor of the living room and started clapping! I am so proud of my little girl. Yesterday I showed her how to wave and today, October 5th she started waving all by herself.

SULA 9 MONTHS- SEPTEMBER

17 lbs 28 inches
September was another big month for her! It’s amazing how you think one month is just so big in terms of amount of new accomplishment and there is no way the next can out do it and yet it does! Every time without fail.

Sula learned to follow mama around the house on September 16th! Up until this point she has remained in one room even if I go to another. Well one day she decided she didn’t want to stay in the room and followed me. Now she thinks it funny! If I go into the garage to put laundry in the washing machine and leave her in the family room she will crawl into the living room and hide between the couch and the window. Freaks me out, I call for her and she is quiet. Then when I find her she laughs and laughs as to say “gotcha mama!” It really is hilarious. She is not little anymore.

She finally said “dada” on September 19th and that made Damien so happy! She said it while I was feeding her in the highchair while visiting my parents in Madras. My mom noticed it first and Damien said he heard it too. His little bear now says dada so proudly all the time now.

The little miss started walking on September 21st! That's correct, you heard me...walking! She has been super active and walking while holding on to people and furniture but two weeks ago she decided to venture out into the world unassisted. We were watching the tv and playing with Sula and Damien was laying down to the side of the ottoman and I was sitting on the couch. Sula was standing holding on to the ottoman and wanted to see her daddy. He was far enough away that she couldn't just reach for him but too close for her to drop down and crawl so without hesitation she moved her little foot forward and put it down, got her balanced and then moved her other little foot forward. We totally freaked and praised Sula! She was so proud of herself and as always smiled and laughed. From that moment on she has been taking a few more steps each day. She can now walk a good 4 feet before she loses her balance. How did our little girl go from just laying in one spot and sleeping all day to happy go lucky energetic walking big girl.

ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND 2010

For our anniversary weekend we went to the coast and spent the night in Cannon Beach at a hotel right on the water. It was so much fun. This was the first time Sula spent the night in a hotel. We brought lots of toys and snacks to keep her occupied and happy. When we checked in to the hotel room we decided to take a walk on the beach. We walked to Haystack rock and since the tide was out we were able to see the tide pools up close. It was amazing to see all the sea eurchants, crabs, and starfish. I carried Sula in the sling and she couldn’t have been happier on her mama out in the fresh ocean air.

SULA 8 MONTHS- AUGUST

16 lbs 28 inches

August has been a fun month. Sula has really become quite the little market baby. Each week we go all the vendors are there waiting to see Sula. She loves all the attention she receives and everyone loves holding her and playing with her. It’s amazing how much joy being around a baby can bring someone.

Puffs and lots of them! I took Sula to a new mom group and the other moms were all feeding their little ones (who were actually younger than Sula) puffs. I had heard of them when Keegan was little but never really looked that much into them. The moms told me they dissolve very quickly and the babies love. After the group I took Sula to New Seasons but they didn’t have them. So we went to Fred Meyers but they didn’t have them either. So I called Misty and she looked them up on her computer and found out they sell them at Whole Foods. Sula and I went there and bought green apple flavored puffs and a greens flavored one that included kale, swiss chard, spinach, and collard greens. I opened them up in the car and gave her one. I was a little nervous at first just because I wasn’t sure if she would know how to chew them. She took to it like fish to water. She chewed it right up and wanted more! She absolutely loves puffs. We can’t go anywhere without them. Damien said we should buy stock in them because of how many she consumes.

Learned to crawl a real crawl on August 25th. Up until now she has been doing the army crawl, which works great and she is so fast at it. Then one day we put her down and she started crawling. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly she learns a new skill.

Sula is going through a growth spurt and eating like crazy! In addition to all the puffs she has been eating 2 to 3 jars at one meal. WOW! She eats so much and is still so super skinny! I have also started making her baby food which she loves. Her favorite right now is Quinoa Kitchari which is just quinoa, red lentils, water, and lots of veggies (kale, zucchini, bell pepper, peas, bok choy, onion, garlic…). It’s so creamy and flavorful and packed full of vitamins and nutrients. Yumm…

Stood all by herself without holding on to anything on August 31st . She just stands, it’s so cute. We go places and people are shocked that she can stand since she is so little but she does and is so proud.

BEAVERTON FARMERS MARKET

I now have a booth at the farmers market! My little business has decided to branch out and have a booth at the market. I was nervous about how I would be received by the public but it turns out my little venture was success! We are regulars at the market. I work all week to prepare items for the market and then on market day we wake up early pack the car and truck and all travel to downtown Beaverton. I set up shop and talk with customers throughout the day while Damien watches Sula and takes her all around the market. It’s my favorite day of the week.

SULA 7 MONTHS- JULY

15 lbs 27.5 inches

July, holy moly have you been good to the little miss Sula Rain! Let’s just start at the start of the month and go from there because there is so much to tell!

Since the weather has been so nice Sula and I have gone for walks every day. Even on days when it’s really hot we just wake up early and go out before the heat. Sula is a total nature baby which I just love. If she is tired or fussy or upset all I have to do is put her in the swing and she becomes the happy baby I know and love. She could not be happier in her stroller outside.

TEETH!!! That’s right, Sula now has 2 little chompers. The bottom 2 teeth came in July 15th. I had just picked up some fabric and Mill End Fabric store and was putting Sula in the carseat when I noticed two little teeth.

I was beginning to think Sula would never sit up by herself. This morning I had put Sula in her crib so I could take a shower. I sat her up and she of course leaned over. I said to her, “use your stomach muscles baby and when you feel like you are going to fall over just hold yourself up”. Now I didn’t really expect her to understand me, I just talk to her all the time! So I went in to take a shower and then when I was done I picked her up and brought her out to the family room to play. I put down with her toys in the sitting position and she sat up! She started to lean over and totally caught herself and pulled herself up. It was as if she heard what I said. This is big! Just an hour later we went to the Beaverton City Park for a play day with Chelsea and her beautiful daughters Amelia and Beatrix and Sula showed off her new found skill. Sula was so proud of herself! She really likes the view.

Eating fresh whole food. You love to eat peaches, watermelon, carrots, bell peppers, bananas…. It’s funny because if you try to mash it up she refuses to eat it but give it to her whole and she will eat the entire thing! She absolutely loves to suck the fresh juice and chew on the cold fruit and veggies. We started out giving it to her in a chewy ring with a net around it (safety thing so she wouldn’t choke) however she prefers to just eat it whole. She does a great job chewing a taking little bites. She might only have two little teeth but she is efficient.

Mama made a dress, well actually two because the little miss was way too small for the size small pattern I use so I made my own pattern and it turned out so well. She will wear it in the family photos this weekend. I am so happy that we will always have the memory of her in the dress I made since she wore it in our very first professional family photo.

Mama’s group met at Jenn’s house this month. We enjoyed a lovely afternoon of snacks and drinks on her huge back patio under the covered tent. I am so glad that Sula has so many friends her age. Jenn’s son Sammy J was born in March, Tricia’s twins Henry and Juliana were also born in March, and Michelle’s son Diego was born in May. That means they will all be in the same grade growing up.

4TH OF JULY

This was Sula’s very first 4th of July so we decided to take her a very special place because she deserved the very best! In the morning we took her to her first parade. The 4th of July parade in downtown Hillsboro was so much fun. Over 2 hours of constant floats, marching bands, and more. We even saw our friend Stephanie from the Hillsboro Library. She stopped the library van she was driving in the middle of the road and called for us to bring Sula over to her. She just loves Sula. This also happened to be Damien’s first 4th of July parade too.

After the parade we loaded up the car and drove to Rockaway Beach for the day/evening. They have a spectacular fireworks show. We found a little “cave” if you will and made a little fort for the evening. Everyone who walked past us commented on our great spot. It was a really a trail off the beach that was no longer in use but provided nice shelter on the sides from the wind. We had blankets, toys, coats, and each other and that made for an amazing day. Sula took a small nap before the show so she was well rested. She sat on my lap and layed against my chest and looked up at the show. I covered her ears because I was afraid the noise would bother her. Turns out she was fine with the noise. She LOVED watching the fireworks. Didn’t move or make a fuss the entire time, just enjoyed watching the colors fill the sky.

 The next day, July 5th I took Sula for a walk to the neighborhood park. Since Sula has outgrown her baby swing I thought it would be fun to put her in the baby swing at the park. Oh man was I right, she loved it! She thinks the swing is the greatest thing and had so much fun. Smart mama took the camera with us to document this fun! We got some great shots of the extremely happy baby in the swing. I think this will become a traditional stop on our walk. Sula also learned to say mama today! Guess she was so happy that I put her in the swing that she decided to say “mom”. She says “mom mom mom mom” It’s so flippin cute!