Michael and Jaspenelle

Feline Friday: Chillin’ with the Boy

Some of you may have seen this on my facebook the other day but for those who haven’t… This is Aos’ latest sleep spot.

A Year of Love

Happy Birthday Damian!

We love you so much and are so proud of you! You will always be our little superman.

Toddler-Induced Quandary

EXHIBIT A:

Toddler. Bored Toddler. Loki Spawn. Mischievous Toddler.
Resist the cuteness, RESIST!

EXHIBIT B:

Air intake vent for central air. It doesn’t open (the wall is conveniently built over it) and has one inch holes.

Guess where everything Damian could find that is an inch or less in diameter can be found? Art markers, nail clippers, Damian’s toothbrush, two sticks, Cheerios, paper, my brain, three spoons… Obviously the answer to preventing this is to never let anything smaller then an inch touch the floor (haha!) But the question of the hour is how do I get the stuff down there out?

Ideas?

T-15 Days

15 days till my baby turns one! Can I cry now? He is growing up so incredibly fast. Running around, babbling, eating solids, reintroducing me to my inner child. Who knew a little one could be so insightful? I’ll save the deep introspection for his birthday post though. June 6th, oh my goddess has it really been almost a year? I feel Damian has been in my life for the blink of an eye and forever at the same time.

Naturally we are having a birthday party. It is proving a little more stressful then I anticipated. We have requested, as always, no plastic toys. Yes, Damian does have a select few plastic outdoor toys, but just because he has those is not a green light for him to have a ton more. He doesn’t need millions of toys to start with. I have had three people ask me why wood (or other natural materials) over plastic, and I do not mind explaining that. What I do mind is the one who suggest that I was being stupid by putting rules like that on gifts. Well, I’m sorry if it inconveniences you that I feel the need to protect my child’s developing brain and body from harmful chemicals; cadmium (a carcinogenic pigments used in some plastic and paint) and polyvinyl chloride (found in vinyl and pvc and linked to birth defects as well as other things) come to mind. Not the mention plastic toys will pretty much never ever decay, which is kind of funny because they are the first ones to break. And it is not like that are hard to find, Amazon, Babies”R”Us and even Walmart carry a selection of toys made of natural material which are really no more expensive then a sturdy plastic toy.

Hmmm, I didn’t mean to rant. I do understand I cannot protect Damian from ever hazard life throws his way. Nor, I suppose, should I, but I can protect him from what I consider basic dangers and I do not see why that is so hard for some people to respect. Just like people who are suggesting I wean him now. Without going into the proven benefits of extended breastfeeding that is absolutely none of their business anyways.

Gah, okay, no more ranty bitchiness. Moving on…

As long as the weather holds true we will be having a barbeque for his birthday, as well as a small blessing ritual and, of course, a cake (I am thinking a whole-wheat applesauce cake since Damian loves that.) We still have to figure out our gift for him too. I think the first birthday is almost more to celebrate that the parents made it through the first year and to thank all those who helped them through it. Almost. Either way it is good practice for when the day when rampaging minion-filled parties arrive isn’t it? (Ack!) It’s all good though, and honestly I am really looking forward to celebrating such a big milestone in Damian’s life.

And the big question of this post, a candle on the cake or not? Damian doesn’t know how to blow out one and will probably grab at it, and yet a candleless cake just seems so very weird. What do you think?

Feline Friday: Aos and Damian

Beautiful Days

It has been beautiful for several days now, mid 60s, sunny clear blue skies, bird singing (or whatever that ruckus the pine jays make is…) So naturally I have been spending very little time indoors. Damian is like me, he hates being cooped up when the Mother Nature rouses from her winter slumber and calls us out. We have been going on lots of walks since Windigo went missing and they have been wonderful in this weather. I have more or less stopped wearing Damian in a wrap since he has become too active to be tied up like that all the time. He loves riding in his red stroller now though, especially with a sippy full of water. He points it this way and that in a (successful) attempts to direct me. “I’ll drink, you drive!” Seems to be his motto as of late.

Beyond our walks, I have been working in the yard. I finished building the compost bin and the herb bed beside the deck (still have to buy the soil to fill it) and am currently working on raking up all the winter debris from the rest of the yard so that I can build a potager for my summer vegetable garden. I have resisted the urge to plant thus far, mostly. I know there will be another hard frost, no matter how beautiful is right now. I did cave and sow some mesclun mix inside in a cut off milk jug, and a bush variety snap bean in another container (both of which are out on the deck enjoying the warm sunshine today.)

Damian either stays on the deck or in his playpen when I am doing yard work. When his playpen is in the yard though, I am finding I need to put a blanket under it to keep him from eating too much dirt. When he becomes determined though, he can push the whole thing off the blanket (and all around the yard in fact) which while frustrating, is extremely cute. I could stake it down I suppose…

…but I would much rather take frequent breaks and sit in there too with a tall glass of lemonade. He even has a little lemonade from time to time. We discuss politics, religion and the flavors of dirt and weeds from around the yard. You know, the usual.

Speaking of weeds, he adores sautéed dandelion greens, and so do I! We made a potato frittata with some this morning, yummy! I will save edible weeds for another post though, the sun is calling and Damian just woke from his nap.

Will my home ever be clean?

My definition of messy has had to evolve since Damian’s birth, less I go utterly insane. As long as the floors are swept and mopped, the carpets vacuumed and there is nothing smaller then a golf ball within baby reach (Damian has a big mouth. Gee, I wonder where he gets that from?) it is clean. Those pans on the floor there? Totally a decorator feature, Damian using his mad interior design skills.

Seriously though, I need a way to keep that storage drawer shut, it doesn’t matter how much weight I put it in, it slides easily (which I suppose is supposed to be a good thing.) I put a 20 pound rock in front of it and he pushed it out of the way, which is utterly amazing since he weighs as much as the rock. Damian is as stubborn as an ox donchaknow (gee, no clue where that comes from either!) I am thinking of using a wooden door wedge, since playing under the oven isn’t the safest option for my toddling terrorizing ten-month-old.

Also my keys have gone missing. Damian recently learned that he can pull up a few of the central air vents (Windigo is not down them) so I fear the worst. I can reach up to my elbow into them and haven’t felt them, so hopefully they are not keeping the furnace company.

Spring Self-Portrait

If I was keeping up a pattern here I would have a very long relatively informative post about the Vernal Equinox and my beliefs in the place of this photo. Truth is, I haven’t even gotten beyond the outline form in the past few weeks with moving and all. And I don’t have one ounce of shame regarding that fact, it will just have to wait until things settle down (and be posted next year.)

I took this photo of Damian and me in our backyard today. I was taking photos of the yard I can plan gardening work (what better way to celebrate the coming of Spring?) I have started working on two raised beds recently too. I’ll post pictures and descriptions about that later, but right now I need to go weave two loaves of challah bread and finish a curried chicken salad.

By the Lake

Taken while gathering reeds on Oimelc for Brighid’s crosses.

At Subway

That looks like an incredibly tasty veggie sub.
Did you know I like bread?
Or rather, I LOVE bread.
Can I have a piece?
Just a little piece?
It looks yummy, oh so yummy.
Keep looking at my cute face.
Not my hand sliding towards your bread.
Mmmm bread…