in and out

Up here in the Northwest, we've been lucky to have some very beautiful days this month.  Sit-outside-and-just-bask-in-the-warmth type of days.  When you live somewhere that can be rather dreary and wet, you really take advantage of the nice weather. Suddenly there are bright flowers poking up in every yard and trees leafing out overnight.  Although for every colorful tulip there are 2 million little shot-weed plants to contend with, the lushness seems worth the weeding. 

Jonas has been a great help in the yard and garden -- although not quite adept at pulling weeds. He will pull the flowers off of dandilions, but will also behead some of my more beautiful flowers.  Mostly, he entertains himself for a long time by going up a down the steps, tossing rocks and throwing dirt.  Each day we try to spend a little time outdoors and the yard isn't looking too shabby.  Jonas understands most of what we tell him and he definitely knows the word outside. 

We've also taken a few family bike rides around the city and Jonas is usually content to watch the scenery fly by.  He's not as thrilled with putting the helmet on, but will forget about it once we're moving.  A favorite trip is biking towards the University of Washington to the farmer's market.  We get a glass of fabulous ginger beer and see what is new in the Spring bounty. 

For every lovely day we get, we also usually get a handful of pretty rainy days too.  That's just part of life here and it keeps you from having to put much effort into keeping your garden going.  So when we find ourselves inside on a wet day, we have to make our own fun.  Jonas is still not quite walking.  Physically he could if he was ready.  Sometimes all he needs is his little hand wrapped around your finger as a safety net.  On his own, he can also walk the length of the hall upstairs where it is nice and carpeted.  If he's not practicing walking, he still is interested in fitting himself into tight spaces.

He also likes to follow the cats around and can say "Daisy".  Here is a rare moment captured of Arnie being within arms reach (not for much longer, as you can tell by her expression).

This phase of Jonas' development has been pretty great.  He's big enough to get around on his own and entertain himself, but not quite old enough for serious temper tantrums or willfulness.  Every day there seems to be something new to explore and discover, indoors and out. 

kid in a basket

Jonas wants to be the king of new spaces. If he's not trying to climb in the drawer with the pots and pans, he's cramming himself into his basket of musical toys. If the above picture isn't cute enough, imagine in the next moment that he reaches down and pulls up a shaker with bells on it.  He was pretty proud of the entire situation, only to be eclipsed by the next feat.

Standing!!

Jonas has been tenatively taking more steps now, but will rarely just stand up on his own without something solid to hold on to.  Today, he seemed just that much closer to walking on his own. He's been so cautious about learning to walk, very different from many of the other toddlers we know.  Jonas knows that learning to walk means falling, that falling hurts and seems happy to stick to walking on his knees for the time being.  He's probably like his mom, in that regard, who never skis anything harder than a blue run for fear of taking a tumble. Good thing he has his dad to push him a little. 

Today was the first really nice sunny day of the month and we spent a lot of the day outside: biking, people-watching at the farmer's market, gardening.  When the yard was covered in shade and the chill came in, we had some good play time inside.  Jonas has been more independent with his play lately and it is amusing to sit and watch him explore while babbling to himself.  However, all of this play will grind to a halt when he spies the container of bubbles, especially the bubble wand that was a spring-time present from Grann. 

He loves to shake the wand (even making some bubbles happen on his own) and then try to get it back in the narrow tube of bubble juice.  Jonas has definitely started to develop the defiant, opinionated part of his personality, which was evident when Dad tried to put the bubbles away.

And then so happy when bubbles are once again his.

Despite the sunniness of the day, we've decided to get out of town for a small trip to Utah in the next few weeks.  We're hoping for some big, blue skies, red rocks and a little guy that will be practicing his walking through the sights of Arches and Canyonland National Parks. 

hardly begun

We have celebrated and Jonas is now one.  To say that time flies only puts it mildly.  Time, when you have a child, is a whole new beast. It is slow and fast, all at once and moments slip through your fingers so easily.  I've been trying to catch these moments the past year--write them down, photograph them--and take everything in. 

Sometimes I feel like I'm not getting enough down or really soaking in every day.  I've been trying to step back more and appreciate small moments of our days together: holding my sleepy baby a few more moments before putting him down for the night, trying to get a laugh (or at least a smile) during a diaper change, admiring his intensity in examining a leaf before telling him "not in the mouth" and seeing him fascinated with the flame of the birthday candle before his cousin blew it out for him.

Those were carrot cake cupcakes with requisite cream cheese frosting, by the way, and they were delicious.  Jonas enjoyed his cake, but not with the smashing glee of some children.  He was a bit overwhelmed by our small crowd standing over him and waiting for him to devour his sugary treat.  Soon the tears were rolling and he needed out of the chair and a little loving.  His first bite of cake was in my arms and I have a smear of orange frosting on my shirt to show for it.  He ate a few more bites and then was done.  Like I said, he was way more interested in playing with the candle. 

He started to get the spirit of opening presents and had fun slowly tearing off the paper. Nick was very methodical as a child (and adult) and I think his son takes after him in that way.  Every present was a winner and we have some fun new playthings to enjoy. 

What I hope will be a more profound present are the letters and stories I asked his grandparents and great-grandma to write.  Some were shared at the party and others will stay sealed in the envelope until Jonas can understand them and we will read them together.  This was my way of trying to keep things from slipping away too fast.  To have impressions of his first year of life that we can remember for many more years. 

Before the party started, I ran to the store to get some last minute items and his birthday balloon.  He is always excited to see the mylar balloons at the grocery store and I knew it would be a nice treat.  I came home to find him in just his shirt and diaper, eating grapes and bites of grilled cheese off of a tray on the floor in our kitchen.  To me in that moment he seemed like such a big kid, enjoying a little snack on the move. 

There is a poem by A.A. Milne called "Now We Are Six."  The first line goes:

When I was one I had just begun

As much as he seems like a big kid now, I know he has just begun and I get a little giddy thinking of how he will be at future birthdays.  So I take down what I can and know that it is enough.

diapering: 1 year out

A friend's sister is having a baby and asked for some information on cloth diapering.  Thought I would share my tips after using cloth for a year with anyone else who stumbles accross this page. 

Cloth Diapering Tips

Yay for cloth diapers!  We have really loved using cloth on our baby, and while it is a commitment to extra laundry, I think it is certainly worth it.  Hope this information is helpful in getting you started.

Types of diapers

• There are 2 main types of “cloth” diapers on the market: pre-folds and pocket diapers.  
  • “Pre-folds”
    • Pre-folds are the type of diapers that come from a diaper service and are a large rectangle of layered cloth. You can also buy pre-folds and wash     them yourself (which is what we’ve been doing)  
    • Pre-folds are very absorbent and good for newborn babies.  They come in sizes (newborn, small, etc) and need to be used with a polyurethane cover (PUL).   Covers don’t necessarily need to  washed with every change.
    • You don’t need to use pins with pre-folds, there is a y-shaped elastic closure with teeth that does a great job of keeping the diaper on.  It’s called a “Snappi” and they are sold 2 to a pack (which is plenty).  
    • We tend to use the pre-fold style the most and I have 2 dozen diapers on hand.  I’ve had 3 sizes so far (newborn, small and medium).  I buy organic since they’re not too much extra.  I have 8 covers to go with these diapers.
    • As the baby gets older and you aren’t changing diapers all night, you can get “doubler” pads to add to the diaper to make it more absorbent for overnight use.  
    • I’ve bought all my pre-folds and accessories from this company, which is also a great resource:
      • www.greenmountaindiapers.com
  • Pocket diapers, or All-in-Ones
    • These style of diapers are made from synthetic fleece type material and have snaps or velcro closures.  They have a pocket that is stuffed with an absorbent, washable pad.  Most diapers can be stuffed with one or 2 pads. When the diaper is dirty, the pads are taken out and then the whole diaper is washed.  
    • Sold either in sizes or a “one-size” that can be adjusted to fit any size baby (by tightening elastic or adjusting snaps).  
    • Tend to work better on older babies with chubby legs (in my experience -- they did not work well for my newborn with his skinny little legs)
    • Easy to snap on, great for caregivers that don’t diaper the baby all the time
    • I have FuzziBunz All-in-Ones.  I bought 12 to start and that has been more than enough.  I use them more on the go now since they are simpler to deal with (don’t need the diaper + Snappi + cover, etc.)
    • BumGenius is also a well-regarded brand and I have friends who really like those.  

Washing

• Believe it or not, washing cloth diapers isn’t too bad.  When your newborn is just eating breastmilk, there is no need to rinse the diapers at all.  Just throw soiled diapers into a dry bag and wash diapers every other day.  
• Use a gentle detergent to avoid buildup that makes the diapers less absorbent.  I’ve used Seventh Generation detergent and that has worked fine.  Most diaper sellers have lists of what detergents will work.
  
• When babies start solids and the poops get, well, more solid, then a diaper sprayer can be handy.  We have one that attaches to our toilet.  It leaks some and that is annoying.  Lately, most of baby’s poops can just plop out into the toilet and we don’t need the sprayer every time.  

Tips

• Don’t overbuy before the baby arrives.  Some diapers don’t work as well with certain baby shapes and you don’t want to get stuck with a bunch of diapers you hate.  
• Start with a diaper service for a month to get used to cloth diapers before having to deal with the extra wash (we didn’t go this route, but know people who have).  
• Do a hybrid of disposable and cloth the first few weeks to feel less overwhelmed.  But definitely get going on the cloth right from the beginning.  I know people who put it off and then months later they are too hooked on disposables to switch back.  

Getting started (what I would buy for myself if I did it over again):

• 1-2 dozen organic pre-fold diapers in newborn size
• 4 Bummis covers (the best cover I’ve used by far) 2 newborn size, 2 small
• 6-8 pocket diapers (FuzziBunz has a new one-size diaper out!)
• 2-pack set of Snappi’s fasteners
• 1 hanging dry bag
• 1 small dry bag for the diaper bag
• 20 cloth wipes by BabyKicks (I’ve loved these)
• Cloth Diaper detergent

Items I think are extraneous:

• Wipes warmer (if a baby is used to a cool wipe, your life will be easier)
• Wipe “juice” -- basically scented potion to make your baby’s bottom smell better
• Diaper pail
• Disposable liners for the cloth diaper (i.e. bio liners)

cider walnut bread

Wasn't this a blog about food and crafts once upon a time?  Even though the cooking and crafting still transpires (perhaps not at the some rate or with the same vigor), I can't seem to find time to share any of it.  It probably doesn't help that Jonas is way more photogenic than a loaf of crusty, wholesome bread. 

I spied this recipe in my Macrina Bakery and Cafe Cookbook and have made it twice since.  I cannot pass up a good walnut bread recipe and the addition of cracked wheat and apple cider was appealing.  The result was quite impressive and enjoyed by all. 

I formed my loaf in a banneton, which is completely optional, but makes for a very handsome loaf.  The original recipe called for using a loaf pan, but this was a massive amount of dough to fit in a standard loaf pan in my opinion.  I also like the rustic quality of a boule.  I think rolls would be another easy way to shape the dough (just adjust the cooking time to 15 or 20 minutes). 

Cracked Wheat Walnut Cider Loaf 
adapted from Macrina Bakery & Cafe Cookbook

3/4 cup cracked wheat (bulgur)
1 c boiling water
1 & 1/2 cups walnuts
1 & 1/4 cups apple cider
1 & 1/2 tsp yeast
2 T honey
1 cup + 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
2 & 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp kosher salt ( or 1 tsp table salt)
1/2 cup canola oil

Place cracked wheat in bowl and add boiling water.  Sit uncovered for 10 minutes to let water absorb.

Toast walnuts in a 350 degree oven. Careful not to burn the nuts -- start with 5 minutes and cook until fragrant. Chop medium, and set aside.

Warm cider on the stovetop, then add to mixing bowl.  Sprinkle yeast on top and add honey.  Let sit for 5 minutes until beginning to foam. Add the cracked wheat, 1 cup of the whole wheat flour, the all purpose flour, salt and oil.  Using dough hook on a stand mixer, mix for 10 minutes on medium speed. (If you prefer to do things the manual way with a wooden spoon, mix dough until it comes together and then knead for 10 minutes).  Once dough has formed a loose ball in the mixing bowl, add in walnuts. Continue to mix until walnuts are distributed.

Give dough a first rise for 2 hours (or until doubled) in an oiled bowl covered with plastic.

Deflate dough and shape into a loaf or round. Place formed bread into a greased loaf pan, floured banneton or on a baking sheet dusted with flour.  Cover and let rise for another hour.

Heat oven to 385 degrees. Dust proofed loaf with the extra whole wheat flour and bake for 50 minutes.  Loaf will be a light brown and sound hollow when thumped.  Let loaf cool well before slicing.