born.in.japan

A Switch

Something has happened, something has changed with the babe. Over the past few weeks there has been a shift. He has moved from being the observer, watching life patiently and attentively as it happened to him, to being a participant, making decisions and choices (sometimes very very tiny) about his world and what happens in it.

He decides what he wants to play with and get it himself. He flits from thing to thing, spending no more than a few minutes with each, but he is in control. He makes the choices. He has the power.

When he wants cuddles, he crawls over to get them. It isn’t just me initiating anymore, he initiates too. It is reciprocal and warms my heart to know that he wants it just as much as I do.

When we are funny, he laughs. Wholehearted belly laughs that make us laugh too. When we are not so funny, or we’re trying to hard, he fake laughs. The fake laugh is almost as funny as the real one.

He makes choices about food. When dinner is put on the table before him he always eats his favorites first. Banana is king.

And there are smooches. Given freely. Loud, slobbery, tongue filled smooches. Sometimes on the cheek, usually on the chin, and occasionally on the lips. I know it won’t last forever, so I’ll take it now, all of it.

It’s a nice shift, it’s a good change, it’s one that reminds me of the zest for life that he has, that I aspire to. It reminds me to keep things simple. Find the joy in life, everyday. Even if it is just banging a metal lid with a maraca. There is joy.

And on that note, I wish everyone a joy-filled new year, especially my little man on his very first new year’s. I hope that as we reflect on the past year and make plans for the upcoming one, we remember to keep it simple and keep it joyful. I’ll be back tomorrow with some of the plans I have for the next year. It is going to be a good one.

Wordless Wednesday

One Small Change

A while back, I believe it was through Shivaya Naturals, I heard about a new challenge going on for this new year. It’s called One Small Change. The basic premise of the project is that each month, between now and Earth Day, participants choose one small change they’d like to make in order to be more green.

This is actually a difficult one for me. I already feel that we do so many things. Looking through the list of ideas on the site made that even more obvious.

Recycle (do it), use cloth napkins (yup), try cloth diapering (already there), replace your bulbs with LED or CFL bulbs (one to go), turn off your lights (pretty good about this), use natural cleaning products or make your own (done and done), drive your car less (don’t on a vehicle), buy a hybrid, turn your thermostat down (don’t control our heat), use the sun to warm your home through passive solar heat, bring your own bags to the store (usually, although we frequently reuse the paper sacks for things like wrapping), install a low flow shower head, stop buying bottled water (never started), unplug it (could be better), bring more plants into your home (current count – 0), always print double sided (hubby brings home scrap from work), when getting rid of things consider freecycle, craigslist or ebay (do not throw out as someone else is surely able to get some use out of it), support local farms and try to eat local (meat csa members, eagerly anticipating spring csa season), purchase wind power if it is available in your area, purchase products made with natural materials and that can be reused, purchase recycled paper products, use rags instead of paper towels to clean up messes (got that), use reusable lunch sacks, buy organic (already do), landscape responsibly by reducing the use of water needed (landscaping, what landscaping), donate time and/or money to green efforts, elimate the use of toilet paper by using family cloths (hmmmm….), don’t flush every time (already do, or is it don’t), put a brick or something heavy it he back of your toilet so it uses less water when flushed (our toilet has no tank).

As you can see from my annotations, there are already so many things we do. So many efforts we make to reduce our footprint on this precious earth of ours. So many ways that we go above and beyond, not even because we necessarily think about it, but because it is the way we are.

That being said, there is more to do. There is more that can be done. There is more that will be done.

For starters, this year I would like to reduce the number of disposable plastic ziploc-style bags that we use, and pitch, around here. During the month of January I would like to make a few reusable, washable, bags to use for lunches and snacks (maybe like this or this). Additionally, I would like to make a bigger effort to wash (hate doing this) the plastic bags that we do use.

It is a small change, but that’s the point isn’t it? I’ll let you know how it goes.

Want Need Wear Read

A few months before Christmas I happened upon this post. Ever since, I’ve been excited about Christmas in our house and excited by the way that this simple guideline would help us keep the holiday simple and meaningful.

Gift giving has always been the most stressful part of the holiday for me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love giving, I love making, but it has never been that simple. I have always found myself filled with doubt. Will they like it? Is it enough?

It’s the second part that really bothers me. The way the culture of gift giving seems to have changed. Instead of being about generosity, selflessly giving, without expectation, it seems that it is more about measuring up. And, in many ways I never have.

Well, now with the babe celebrating his first Christmas, I didn’t want to perpetuate that cycle in him and in our home. So, we decided to give the want.need.wear.read a try.

Something he wants – A plush alphabet for him to chew on.

Something he needs – A little green potty ready when he is.

Something to wear – A sweater of my own designing, knit with handspun.

Something to read – A mama-made book, a la Brown Bear, with all of his family members.

I did the same four categories with Aaron, and for both of them it seemed to be a hit. For me, it made everything so simple. Just what I was looking for. The best thing about it all, it made answering the question, is it enough, so easy. Yes. There is a want, need, wear and read. It is enough.

It’s Going to be White

Christmas, that is.

And I am so, beyond, excited.

After two Christmases away, neither of them white, I feel like I’m a kid again.

Walking along, filled with wonderment, watching the flakes fall from the sky.

Indeed, it is going to be a wonderful white Christmas.

We are mere hours away from the first of our Christmas guests arrival. And there is so very much left to do. A kitchen to clean, a few last gifts to finish, wrapping, and food to make.

I’ll be back here after the holidays with tales to share, gifts to reveal, and a new year to plan for.

While I am a little sad that this years holiday won’t involve any KFC, I’m sure it will be wonderful. I hope yours will too.

It’s Been Awhile

since I’ve been up at 2am knitting.

But last night, a hurting, teething, little man, wouldn’t sleep. He wouldn’t calm. Until he was set free to play, that is.

So there we were at 2am. Ewan playing and exploring his world. Me, doing my very best to curb my frustration, stay awake, and enjoy the moment. I took the opportunity to sit down on the floor, drink a cup of warm tea, work on some knitting, and watch him. Watch how play and exploration, melted all of his troubles away. All of his pain disappeared with the distraction.

And, as my project grew nearer to completion with each passing minute, some of my frustration melted away as well. This morning I woke, a bit weary and tired, but so pleased to find a completed diaper soaker waiting on the table. It wasn’t a dream after all.

I used a pattern called Vanilla, which I found over on another blog, and knit with some of my handspun.

This is our first foray into wool. I’m excited to give it a try and hopeful that I’ll get to knit even more of these cozy covers. I think his little bum will be super cute with one of these on, and we all know I already have trouble resisting his uber-cute little bum.

An Ode

Mod Podge,
O Mod Podge,
You’re so sticky and thick.
You help make my projects come together quite quick.

With a brush over here
and a stroke over there.
You add to the gifts just a little bit of flair.

With the help of my mod podge
I’m making these

and those.

I bought the big one.
Will it be enough?
Do you suppose?

Once the holidays arrive,
the gifts will be done,
and my affair with the mod podge will unfortunately come
to an end
I’m quite certain it has to be so,
this just can’t go on.
It’s unhealthy, I know.

(I’m not quite sure what got into me. I’m tired – the babe has been sleeping like CRAP, a little sick, and it is entirely possible that the mod podge fumes have gone to my head.)

Right Now

visiting – warm, indoor places.

sampling – favorite holiday recipes.

watching – steam rising from the chimney, as temperatures dip lower and lower.

testing – new recipes to see if they make the cut.

making – christmas gifts for the little ones and big ones.

scattering – other projects around the house, so I am ready whenever/wherever downtime hits.

reading – this book, far too late each night.

listing – and planning, getting ready to host our very first Christmas in our home.

A Space of His Own

We are happy cosleepers. We have been cosleeping with Ewan since shortly after his birth. We want to continue cosleeping with him, but we also know that sometimes things have to change. Sometimes routines need to be modified a bit to keep everyone happy. The littlest one, especially.

Enter, Ewan’s own sleeping space.

For awhile now we have been ruminating over what kind of space Ewan needs. It has been clear, for awhile, that he was ready, and so were we, for a bit of a change. Ewan goes to bed early now, somewhere between 7 and 8 each night. When we’ve been coming to join him in bed, we’ve been waking him. It seemed like he would sleep better, longer, and more peacefully, if he had a space of his own to start his sleep each night.

We considered many different options. The idea of a crib never really jived with us. Something about the bars, and the lack of control for the child never sat right. Also, a crib doesn’t allow for cuddles from a parent, something that we aren’t willing to give up yet.

A toddler bed seemed a bit unsafe still. Ewan is more mobile now and it will be a bit of time still before he can learn how to safely get himself in and out of bed. One of the goals of getting him his own space was to reduce our worry about his safety when sleeping solo.

As I was searching and reading around the internet, finding countless articles and message boards looking for the perfect option, I happened upon a concept that was, previously, foreign to me. The Montessori floor bed.

After more thought and exploration, it seemed perfect. It is a safe space for him to sleep with no possibility of rolling off and hurting himself. It fits within our small bedroom without making us feel cramped and uncomfortable. And, with a bit of manuevering, Aaron and I can still lay with him, parenting him, until he drifts off into peaceful slumber.

And best of all, Ewan seems to be a fan.

On the first night, he slept there peacefully and happily until about 1:15am. When he woke, we scooped him up and brought him to bed, to nurse and cuddle, just the way we always have. He stayed with us until morning and it was just perfect. A perfect blend of togetherness and separateness. Exactly what we needed right now.

I still want to spiffy up his area a bit. I love how Sew Liberated has created artwork at a low level for her babe to enjoy. I would like to do some of the same, after the holidays, of course.

I’m also thinking that a book sling along one side of his bed would be perfect. That way he can wake up and help himself to a good read.

Overall, I think this is good. I think it is positive for all of us. Although, I have to admit that it was a little lonely in bed without him last night. Aaron and I turned on the nightlight a handful of times to look over and watch him, missing him. But once we did finally lay down, we both relished in all.that.space. It’s amazing how much room that little one takes up in bed!

Our Advent

When I was a kid we always had the little cardboard advent calendars that you buy at the grocery store. Each morning I eagerly opened the little perforated door to reveal the daily chocolate piece. Sometime as my sister and I aged, the tradition faded. I went many years without one of those precious little boxes until my first year at university when my parents remembered that tradition and sent another of those calendars my way.

After that first year at university, however, the tradition died altogether. A calendar didn’t get sent to me and I never bought one for myself. Despite the fact that I haven’t counted down advent in that way in many years, more than 10 in fact, I have certainly longed to do so.

That longing persisted and became too strong to resist this year. This first advent with my babe.

Even though I have such positive memories of the advent calendars of my childhood, I couldn’t resist doing something a little more. Especially with all the inspiration around the web.

The first calendar I saw that really stuck with me was a few years ago over at Martha Stewart. (No idea why I was there.) I had every intention of making one just like it for us this year, I even started collecting adorable holiday themed baby socks. But that ended up being the problem. I got three pairs and got stuck. I couldn’t seem to find anymore, before the holidays, at a price I was willing to pay. After the holidays might be a different story.

So I started moving on and looking around for other ideas. I saw one over at Purl Bee. Wisecraft has a gorgeous one, as well. This one is gorgeous too. But I was put off by the sewing, and the embroidering, and the time that I didn’t have, as it was already the end of November, and my opportunities to craft are limited.

I kept looking, finding lots of ideas for why to do advent and what to put inside the calendar, but never finding just the right idea for our family. Until one night, lying in bed of course, I thought about filling the base of our tiny christmas tree with 25 miniature presents.

So, that’s just what we did. I folded 50 boxes using paper scraps I had around. Aaron made the numbered gift tags.

We filled the boxes and now all there is to do is wait, eagerly for each morning when we open the box to reveal what’s inside. (More on that another time!)

The calendar is perfect and even though I know what is inside, I put it there after all, I still feel that same sense of anticipation, excitement and wonder as we open the box at breakfast each morning. Ewan certainly won’t remember this advent but I am hoping that when we repeat the tradition next year he will get a chance to feel the same way I do. We all deserve a little bit of wonder in our lives.