kim through
   the looking glass

I realize it’s been a LONG time since I’ve written anything substantial in this space, and even though I want to write, and I’ve brought myself here, I still feel unable to get my thoughts down.

The past months have been busy. Good, for the most part, but still busy. I never knew how busy it would be caring for two little people every day, but when they go down for their naps or to sleep at night, I hardly feel like thinking! Most often, lately, I’ve been connecting with friends or reading books. QUIET activities to balance out the constant sound that most often punctuates my days.

Gwen turned three a few weeks ago and I’m feeling a bit guilty that I haven’t yet posted pictures of how her special day went - especially for my sisters who live far away and were unable to come. It’s on my mind, I promise!

Maybe it’s that most of my thoughts don’t get a chance to become finished inside my head and therefore, they feel incomplete when I write them down … I used to think up blog posts while washing dishes, going for walks, making dinner, etc. But I seem unable to do that at this particular point in time.

And you know what? It’s okay. I love having this space available for when I feel ready to talk again. Brad and I have been dealing with a lot this past while and I haven’t felt okay about posting about it in such a public forum.

So, in that regard, please forgive me for both not writing and not explaining that I was going to be taking a break. If it makes it better, even I didn’t know!

Oh my goodness, I am totally loving the giveaway for a custom-made Sunshine Bunting Oast Waldorf-Inspired Doll. It is so stinkin’ sweet! Go check it out!

… because Bellies & Babies, a blog I adore, is hosting a Conscious Families month - with guest bloggers and lots of giveaways!

Check out the newest giveaway for a beautiful Family Tree Mama Sculpture quite similar to this one.

Oooh - it’s just so beautiful!

Head on over to Bellies and Babies and check out her awesome giveaway!! But, ya know, don’t enter too many times because I want to win

Last week, I had one of my dreams come true.

Through a random series of events, a good friend of mine contacted me last-minute with an extra ticket to go see Ina May Gaskin, an amazing American midwife and activist, speak at a conference in Toronto - potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Brad was kind enough to help me figure out how I could work it out (I had to leave at 4:30 and wouldn’t be home until 10:30, the longest I’ve ever been away from Gil, not to mention that Brad had already made some fairly firm plans for that evening).

Honestly, the thought of seeing her and potentially meeting her had my heart beating faster than is normal ALL. DAY. LONG. I was so excited! We worked it out, and I headed out to see one of my sages. If you’ve read this blog for a while, you’ll know that both Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth AND Spiritual Midwifery are both on my list of essential childbirth preparation books. These books were tantamount in my ability to trust my body and choose a homebirth for both of my kids.

The event began at 7PM and she spoke until 9PM, with a short intermission in which she did a book signing. It was an incredible evening full of inspirational talk - from everyone except me. Read the rest of this entry »

My sweet William,

Today, you turn one year old. It’s a bit surreal. I remember your birth like it was just yesterday - a short, intense labour brought you into the world in our living room. Weighing 6lbs 12oz, you were bigger than Gwen, but still tiny.

What you lacked in weight at birth, you made up for in breastfeeding, gaining around 3.5oz per day for the first several weeks and doubling your birth weight by two months! When we were at the doctor last week, he gave you a quick weigh - 20 lbs! You still love to nurse … but I have no idea how frequently you do so - about every 2 hours, day and night, I think … sometimes more, sometimes less. You have started to really enjoy eating solids and will gobble up pretty much anything that I’ll offer you. It’s wonderful to have a non-picky eater! You do surprisingly well considering you barely have teeth. Your first tooth - the bottom left - appeared through your gums a few weeks ago, but you still can’t even see it when you smile! Read the rest of this entry »

I whipped this up tonight for dinner - it was delicious and it made a LOT of food - could have easily fed 4-6 adults. I’ll be making this one again for sure!

Ingredients:

• 8 cups chicken broth
• 3-4 cups diced tomato (I used a 1L jar of home-canned)
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 2 cups chickpeas, cooked
• 1 cup cooked chicken, cut into little pieces
• 1 cup rice, uncooked
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Throw everything in a large pot or crockpot.
2. Simmer for a few hours.
3. Eat it. It’s yummy!

I was looking through my archives and noticed that I’ve only been blogging once, maybe twice per month recently. Well, I suppose ‘recently’ is a misnomer … it’s been a while, hasn’t it?

Ah well, I’m not going apologize. Know why? Because I’m not sorry. I haven’t felt like it, and that’s okay!

But I am going to write about something dear to my heart today.

The needs of children.

I was thinking the other day about what it is that really bothers me about ‘training’ children - whether we’re talking about sleep training, ‘discipline’, whatever. It hit me: what really bothers me is the belief that the parents’ needs supersede those of the child.

I’m learning never to see any issue with my kids this way. Both of our needs are valid. Is there any way that we can compromise or meet both of our needs without someone needing to lose? After all, that’s how I would hope to approach it with an adult: brainstorm possible solutions to the problem and choose one that’s acceptable to everyone, hopefully meaning no winners, no losers.

Let’s co-operate and look for creative solutions, shall we?

Is now home to TWO crazy kids. Gil has been playing around with it for a few months now and figured out how to actually get on it today and rock. And off. Safely!

He’s not yet one!

Well, I guess I had to have ONE climber, huh?

In which I spill some of the lovely things about my kids

• Gwen to Brad: “That’s my mommy! She loves me.”
• When Gil is on my hip but I’m engaged in something else, he’ll tilt his head and smile at me, grabbing my attention and helping us connect. It’s very sweet
• Tonight on the couch, Gil & Gwen hugged. And it was a real hug on both sides!
• Gwen to anyone who says Gil’s name: “MY brother!”
• Gwen to us when we pick Gil up to protect him (from her): “I need my brother back!”
• Gil is now saying “Haaaaa” for “hi” and waving goodbye when we leave places. He’s also in that stage where he puts every item to his ear like a phone. Change purse? Phone. Remote control? Phone. Piece of paper? Phone. LOVE IT!