Creation & Food

Bryan and I have been thinking and discussing what it means for our family to enjoy food in a wholistic way for the past year. But the past two months we've gotten a jumpstart.

I had borrowed my parent's Vitamix (for months longer than they'd probably intended!) in the late summer to try to get some form of raw (or any, for that matter) vegetables into Camden. That child lives on bread, crackers, and peanut butter. At Christmas my parents gave us our very own, brand-spanking new Vitamix! For the past month we have been enjoying some combination of strawberry, mango, apple, grape, cucumber, orange, blueberry, carrot, spinach, & chia smoothies every morning for breakfast. To clarify, when I say we I'm referring to all members of the family except Camden - he's still holding out.

One of our New Year's "Hopes" is to start a garden, so we can eat more whole, organic foods without paying the retail price AND so that we can afford our new Vitamix habit. (Vitamix as entry drug.) So some of our neighbors are joining with us to start a little community garden. In fact, we're heading out to buy supplies this rainy morning with plans to have a year-round, raised bed, fully organic garden. Could. not. be. more. excited!

And finally we are in a learning community in Jan/Feb/Mar on Creation and Food, discussing the subject both theologically and practically. Our reading list includes Creation Regained and Supper of the Lamb among many articles and essays.

  Last night B & I finally saw Forks Over Knives. Although I don't think I could ever convince my meat-lovin' husband to convert to a full plant-based diet (not to mention cheese-lovin' me!), I think we are definitely on a path to cut out alot of meat and dairy and make the bulk of our diet whole, raw foods.

So, heads up - I may be writing alot about food in the next few weeks.

New blog

I'm not abandoning ship here, but will be spending alot of time over at our new adoption blog, Watts Tribe. Bryan built an amazing site that we are using as a catalyst to spread the word about our adoption process.

Come visit!

(And I'll try to be kind to this old blog and post a little more frequently than I have been!)

I [heart] my gynaecologist.

I know that everyone is going to think I've gone mad, but I miss my frequent visits to the OB/GYN. I had my yearly visit this morning (sorry if that's TMI) and as I was sitting in the waiting room I started thinking about all of the time I'd spend there over the past 3.5 years. Two pregnancies, pretty much back to back with monthly, then bi-weekly, then weekly visits - I mean, it was my second home! I miss Marcie the ultrasound tech who would always sqeeze me in for a quick peek at my babies in utero if nobody else was waiting; Sandy, my doctor's nurse, who is a well-seasoned mother and now a grandmother since I was last there; and my doctor who is so kind and encouraging of our family choices and now about our adoption. I miss watching all of the people in the waiting room, wondering how many days overdue that lady must be, or how many days it had been since that new baby in the baby carrier was born. I think it's just nice to be surounded by so much life.
I just really, really miss it!

Okay, now that you've heard me out - you may commence with the crazy jokes.

Photo Shoot

We had our first ever family photo shoot with the very talented Mekenzie France last weekend. It was so much fun!

Eliza's Cinco de Mayo Party

Eliza's birthday was a big excuse for a neighborhood block party. So that is what we did!

One

Eliza is one today. I am so thankful for her life, especially that she is a girl! It’s so funny to think back to how I assumed that she would be a boy, that I would be a mom to two boys in a row. But I cannot even express how thrilled I am that she is a girl. I am a proud mama to a beautiful, happy, sweet little girl.

Enough about me.

Let’s talk about my little one year old. (Izze is one. I’m two, says Camden.) I remember the moment that Eliza was born, the first thing I said after she cried was – “You are going to have to be louder than that if you want to be heard in our house.” Now I wish I hadn’t verbalized that prophetic utterance. My baby girl uses her lungs! This can be a good thing when her big brother is shoving or “hammering” (hitting) her. But it can also ruin the quiet mood of a coffee shop or make all of the folks in Chick-fil-a wonder what I’ve just done to my kid!

Eliza has the best laugh.



She eats most of what I put in front of her.

















She adores her daddy.

















And her daddy adores her.
























She and her big brother have a special bond.























Oh, how we love her!

sushi

For Valentine's Day, Bryan surprised me with an at-home sushi making date. Loads of fun!