Monday, April 30, 2012

Meal Plan Monday: April 30th, 2012

Indian Fry Bread Tacos

Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad

Pizza Bar

Spring Rolls

Riesling Chicken

Falafel Gyros

Salmon with Lemon Risotto

Grown-Up Grilled Cheese and Gourmet Spaghetti-o's

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Meal Plan Monday April 23rd, 2012

Twice Baked Potato Casserole 

Stir Fry

Creamy Chicken & Mushrooms (Dairy-Free and Delicious says Kristen from Intrepid Murmurings!)

Baked Ziti


Turkey Burgers


Breakfast for Dinner

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Wordless Wednesday April 11th, 2012


Sweetest little jellybean.

EC: All or Nothing?

Welcome to the April 2012 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Kids and Personal Care
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have shared stories, tips, and struggles relating to their children's personal care choices.
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EC= Elimination Communication

Definition= Using timing, signals, cues, and intuition to address an infant's need to eliminate waste.

What it means for our family: Children happier when not made to pee or poop on themselves.

Daddy uses a prefold to "protect her bum from the cold seat!"


We aren't potty training. We aren't using any kind of shaming or rewarding beyond "Yay! Doesn't it feel good to not sit in that mess?" This isn't about teaching my children anything. If anything: we are the ones being taught.

Babies do know when they need to eliminate (pee or poo). They may not have the control adults do, but when their body needs to go, they may cue. Stiffen, eyes glaze a bit, squirm and fuss. People around the world do it. But, when anyone in our culture catches wind of it, the responses vary from disbelief to anger at "just another trend expecting parents to drop everything for their children." It doesn't have to be that way. You can EC full time, day time, night time, part time, occasionally, or even whenever.

When I started, I was not about to devote my life looking for the signs my child needed to go. But, my children demanded it. Rashes, screaming, fussy, waiting until the diaper was off anyways babies. Don't they know I am too busy, and sometimes too lazy to get them to the potty every time they have to go? I have two boys running around too! Other terms for it are Infant Hygiene and Diaper Free Baby. How am I supposed to manage that? Be so on the ball I don't need those 6-9 (for my baby) diapers a day? That was such a daunting idea, I wondered if I want to try this at all. Maybe my children could just learn to deal with going in a diaper. But then, I would have to UN-teach them that later... Besides, I am already watching to meet their other needs to eat, sleep, play, and love. This was just one more part of their personality.

So, here's how we do it.

First: I have a 3 miss limit. I refuse to change my clothes, clean the floor, or any other non-diaper messes more than 3 times a day. This allows me to let go of any guilt about not being connected enough. I just can't make my life any harder!

Second: I am not excellent at reading cues. As adorable as she is: I can't keep her with me, staring into her big brown eyes all day. So, I keep it simple and offer the potty upon waking, if she seems fussy for no reason, or if we can get to a potty after car rides. Occasionally I just put a potty under her while breastfeeding because that seems to be the time when she will poo. I have come to realize that with all the extra "folds" on a baby girl, that poo gets up into everything if done in the diaper. This is much easier to clean!

Third: Using cue sounds and signs in hopes they eventually start using them. L2 only used the sign a handful of times. Maybe it is just a way to make small talk while they do their business. I know if someone just stared at me I would have a hard time. But distracted talking: ok, we're cool.

Fourth: This is not a big deal. I will not be upset about misses. If I have a day it is easier to just stick with the cloth diapers, I will. If I run short and use my emergency disposables, so be it. I can not promise that I won't make a big deal out of it when we have a good day. Really, it is freaking awesome to have one few diaper, and I feel like a rockstar for meeting my child's needs.

When we used EC like this for L2 he chose to start using the potty full time (aside from a recent regression, likely due to new baby) at 18 months. I am hoping L3 might decide the same. Not holding my breath though!

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Carnival of Natural Parenting -- Hobo Mama and Code Name: MamaVisit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:
(This list will be live and updated by afternoon April 10 with all the carnival links.)

Monday, April 9, 2012

Meal Plan Monday: April 9th, 2012

Lentil Helper


Stir Fry

Chicken Cesar Salad

Salmon Burgers

Cinnamon Roll Waffles
These are an amazingly easy treat of a meal. Pop n' fresh cinnamon rolls, pressed in a waffle iron. They were simple and delicious. Not the normal, more rounded meals I try to serve, but nothing wrong with a treat once in a while! Then I just mix up some GF waffle batter for myself, and drizzle a cinnamon sugar glaze into it. Tasty!