SULA'S FIRST FOOD

Sula tried her very first baby food and she loved it!


She has been hinting (not so suddly- try grunting and crying and screaming while we eat) that she is ready for "big girl" food. So today Sula and I visited New Season and purchased a box of Earth's Best Organic Rice Cereal. We also picked up a couple of Green Sprouts spoons since we don't have any baby spoons at the house. The spoons are made from corn, bpa-free, and the best part is they are pink and green. We also picked up a couple jars of baby food too- sweet potatoes, apples, and peas. Mmmm!


When Damien arrived home from work I held Sula while he attempted to open the box (a failed attempt...again!) Mama Sunny was able to open the box properly (I read the instructions on the box first...lol- I love you sweetie!). Damien prepared her very first "meal" of organic brown rice cereal mixed with breast milk. He also washed her new spoons. It was so sweet he held out both spoons and I asked her which one she wanted. She looked back and forth and then decided by reaching out for it. Her grasp was very tight as she was so happy to be able to have her very first spoon.


She has seen us eat for months and now was her turn. Sula was in my arms and Damien dipped the spoon into her cereal mix, brought it to her mouth and without hesitation she leaned in opened her mouth and ate the cereal. 5 month of observing us eat and her first time eating and she is a pro at it. It was remarkable how much she enjoyed eating. She ate the entire amount we prepared. We will see how she reacts and most likely give her more tomorrow.

 
The entire rest of the evening she was all laughter and smile and happy! She played in her swing while I ironed fabric and we talked and she laughed and laughed and was so genuinely excited! Our little girl will be 5 months old on Sunday and has already tried her first big girl food. I am happy for her that she is exploring her world but am also a little sad. Up until now she has solely relied on me, her mama to provide the nutrients necessary to grow. Today was her first adventure beyond that world. Today was a big day!


We ended the day as we did yesterday with her laying on me cuddled up on my chest and tummy sucking her thumb while I rocked her and rubbed her back. She has been getting gas in her tummy in the evening so it's been hard for her to relax and fall asleep without lots of grunting. As she layed on my chest falling asleep I couldn't help but think about how precious these moments are. One day too soon she will be 16 years old asking for the car keys and too cool to give her mama a kiss goodbye. One day my little girl will be independent and all grown up. For now, today, she is my sweet baby and I will enjoy each moment.

GLASS WATER BOTTLE

I got this water bottle for Damien for his birthday. With all the research on the dangers of using plastic for food items it seems like the obvious solution to search out alternatives. Many people have switched to metal water bottles but they tend to transfer a metalic flavor to the beverage. I scoured the internet in search of the "perfect" water bottle and found the company Life Factory on http://www.buygreen.com/. The bottle is 22oz in size and made from glass. The sleeve is made from silicone and the cap is however plastic but it is BPA-free and at least it has minimal contact with the liquid inside. I can't wait till they get more in so I can order one for me!

FABRIC

As a new full time mama it is important to maintain a certain level sanity, get in a little adult time, and a sense of self outside of being a mama. Sula is my number one priority and will always be but it's nice to have an activity outside taking care of her. Sewing is relaxing, rejuvinating, and fun! I have found such joy and peace in this simple hobby. While Sula plays next to me or sleeps I am able to create beautiful projects from yards of fabric.

Sula and I have made several long trips Joanns to select beautiful fabrics, notions, patterns, and other supplies necessary. The above photo includes all the fabric purchased this week. They are so lovely! I have also purchased many different patterns (since they have been on sale the past 2 weeks from $15-$19 to $0.99-$1.99. Pattern projects include: aprons, nursing covers, diaper bags, purses/bags, toys, baby clothes & hats. Since most items in Joanns have been on sale (big time on sale) I was able to stock up on supplies!

This weekend we are moving the bed out of the spare bedroom since we rarely have sleepover guests and creating a sewing space for me! YAY I can't wait. I have been chomping at the bit to start sewing a purse (I got the cutest patterns this week!).

As a way to make a little money, have fun, and stay busy I have decided to open an etsy shop online. It is called Laughing Baby and you can visit my shop at laughingbaby.etsy.com but there isn't anything up there yet but soon there will be! I will put the purses, aprons, nursing covers, diaper bags, baby toys, baby shoes, etc that I make on there. Hopefully people find something they like and purchase them. I just think it would be so nice to create things and have others use them. The diaper bag that I created for myself has been so wonderful and easy to use that I want to share that with others.

Look out for creations by me!

BABY SOCKS

How many socks does one baby need? Well if you ask Sula, the answer is 79! Thanks to everyone who loves her and thinks babies need lots of socks she has a massive supply! Sadly most are all too little for her now. Sula inherited the Ross & Mancuso big feet gene. I just purchased new socks in a size 12 months and they barely fit her. I need to return to the store to purchase size 12-24 months for my 4 month old daughter :)

URBAN CHICKENS

With year two of gardening Damien and I have been discussing improvements and enhancements. One thing both of us want to explore is keeping chickens. Chickens are an amazing compliment to any garden as they eat weeds and bugs, fertilize the yard, lay eggs almost every day (that would be great if you eat eggs), and are sweet animals to have in the yard.

Saturday Damien and I decided to stop in at Coastal Farm & Ranch and were so surprised at the extent of gardening supplies they carry. Damien was so happy and said he could spend all day in the store. We stopped and looked at the little chickie babies! Just by luck they were giving a class on raising chickens that afternoon. We went home ate lunch and then returned to to the store for the class. It was great and very informational! Damien and I are definitely interested in getting chickens.

While at home playing around on Facebook Saturday afternoon I heard about a chicken festival happening on Sunday in West Linn. Damien, Sula and I went to the festival today and it was fun, not great but we did get some useful information from the talks. We learned about basic chicken care as well as ways to create an edible chicken garden.

Our plan is to either get 3 grown chickens ready to put in the yard OR get 3 baby chickies and raise them from babies. I have been doing a lot of research on building a chicken coop. We are so excited about getting chickens for the yard :)

FRIENDS

It has always intrigued me that some people enter my life and continue to be involved in one way or another for life and others just leave as quickly as they enter. I have some friends who have been around since elementary or middle school. Though we don't see each other every day we still talk and connect from time to time. I have some friends who have been around for years and I am very close too. Then there are some people over the years who have entered my life and were very close to me for a period of time and then without notice were gone. This has always made me sad to think you share your life with someone and then one day it was as though they never even existed.

Friends- share common interest, enjoy spending time together, have something to give and take from one another, help make the other person's just a little bit happier.

You never know who will become your friend and what capacity they will be. As we go through our day we encounter thousands of people and randomly we only truly make connections with a tiny fraction of those people. You can share a conversation with someone while waiting in the grocery line and that may be the only time you see each other. You may visit with someone during work every day but never see each other outside of that common environment. Then there are those people who after the first conversation you know there is something special and you continue to spend time together. Interesting how some are aquaintances and others you completely click with. My mom once told me sometimes people are in our lives forever and other times people just enter to help us through a time in our life. Who knows why some people stay and others go.

I want to say thank you to all of my friends! New and old I enjoy every minute of our time together. Life is really wonderful right now!

SULA 18 WEEKS OLD

HANDMADE DIAPER BAG

I am so proud of myself for making this all by myself! I had purchased a diaper bag when I was pregnant and have not been fully satisfied with it. Sure it looks pretty but as far as functionality goes it is majorly lacking. The material on the purchased bag was too rigid and does not allow much flexibility. I decided to make my dream bag and after a trip to Joanns for the pattern and fabric and about a full day of work I have my bag! It turned out even better than I expected. It is a messenger style bag with two outside pockets, a full backside pocket, and two inside pockets. The outside material is very sturdy and the lining was reinforced with interfacing. Such a great looking and useful bag!

HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Today is my birthday, my very special day, happy birthday to me! 26 years ago I entered the world. I have a brand new appreciation for the term "birthday!" I think that day children should say thank you to their mamas as they did so much on that day :) Thank you mama!

What a fun day today. Stayed up until midnight- the official start of my birthday. Damien sang me happy birthday as soon as it was midnight. (what a sweetie) After going to sleep we woke up early in order to fully enjoy all hours of my birthday! Ate a delicious breakfast of pancakes, and tofu/asparagus/bell pepper scramble. Yum. After doing the dishes I walked back to our bedroom and found my birthday present on the bed. Damien got me the new Apple Ipad. He was so sweet and got it for me the day it came out! He stood in line for over an hour for a chance to purchase it. At first I didn't understand what all the hooha was about about but after playing with it all I have to say it...wow! The technology is amazing and definitely the future of computers. So compact and so easy to use! Thanks love!

After breakfast we packed up the diaper bag and headed to the coast. On the way there I swear we experienced every type of weather imaginable. It went from rain, to snow, to hail, to wind, to sun and back again the entire time! We drove to Cannon Beach and ate lunch at this lovely little hole in the wall all organic restaraunt. As we drove in the weather was nice and a full blue sky was overhead. We shared a split pea and a veggie soup and each ordered portabello, tomatoe, and roasted red bell pepper paninis. Oh they were delicious! After going to our car to change and feed Sula it started to hail like crazy! We sat in the car for about 15 minutes feeding Sula and waiting it out. Once the hail stopped that was it for the rest of the day. All three of us walked down to the water, walked along the beach, sat on some rocks to enjoy the view. It was however very windy so we walked back to the car. Once in the car we drove to our new favorite look out spot where we parked the car and spent several hours just relaxing, talking, looking at the ocean, and listening to the waves (we rolled the windows down). Before I knew it all three of us had fallen asleep. Then it was time to go home to a plate of beautiful pink and green coconut cupcakes that some sweet girl made (that would be me!) for my birthday! They were so tasty.

Thank you to everyone who wished me a very happy birthday. I could've have asked for anything more! It was lovely.

BABY BELLY TRACKER

What a neat view of the baby belly over the course of my pregnancy! Crazy to think just the week after Sula as born my tummy looked just the same as before I was pregnant. The body is so wonderful to stretch and change to grow our beautiful babies. I loved being pregnant and am very much looking forward to it again (in about 3 years).

DAMIEN'S FAVORITE DINNER

So I'm a little late in posting this but the above photo was the dinner I made for Damien the night before he left for the Netherlands. I wanted to make him his favorite meal before he boarded a plane for a 10 hour flight across the Atlantic Ocean to a foreign country. He was so happy and appreciated his meal. Though the seitan took about 3 hours to prepare and cook it was well worth it! Of course I also prepared our favorite veggies to go with the meal- Kale and Zucchini. (Sula's nickname was Zucchini while she was in the womb and we already have said the next one's nickname will be Kale!).

I love you sweetie and will always do my best to keep you well fed and happy! (I know the two for you are very much related!) I am glad you made it home safe and sound. It was so wonderful that while you were gone we were able to not only talk but see each other by using Skype. I think Sula was very confused as to why you looked so different. My mom called you "flat daddy" since for 2 weeks all she saw of you was you on the computer screen. We missed you terribly and are so happy you are home!

BATH TIME FACES

This post needs no words...

EASTER DRESS

Sula is wearing her new Easter dress from GM. Look how well she sits up now (of course she still needs a little help) and how expressive she is. I tried to get a couple with her big beautiful smile but of course as soon as the camera came out it was the deer in the headlights look. Still she is adorable as ever.

I have so many photos of Sula and was looking for ways to enhance and edit them. Photoshop is very expensive so I was looking online and found PhotoScape. It is a free program and is very user friendly with tons of awesome features. I have seen neat imaged before and wondered how to create them and well now I know how! Look for future photos with more pizzah!