Red Skies at Night Oatmeal Cookies

I called this combination “Red Skies At Night” Oatmeal cookies because if you lined up the additions (**) carefully the colours would be reminiscent of … you guessed it… a red sky at night. Also, they would only add to the beauty of that spectacular sunset. You could eat them and dream about what you were going to do the next perfect sunshiny Fall day while you sit in your rocking chair gazing out into the rosy distant future. Sounds good, eh?

Red Skies at Night Oatmeal Cookies

• 8 tbsp (1 stick) softened butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups of rolled oats
• pinch of salt
• 2 tsp of baking powder
• 1/2 tsp of ginger **
• 1/2 tsp of cloves
• 1/2 cup of rice milk (or cow milk if you are not lactose intolerant)
• 1/2 tsp of rose extract **
• 1/2 tsp zest from an orange **
• 1/2 cup of mandarin orange slices **

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. (My oven runs hot so I reduce it to 350 and under cook them by 1 minute.)
2. Cream together the butter and sugar
3. Beat one egg one at a time in a separate bowl then add one at a time to butter/sugar mixture
4. Add the orange zest to the butter/sugar/egg mixture.
5. Combine the flour, oats, spices, salt and baking powder into a bowl
6. Alternating with the rice milk, add dry ingredients a little at a time to the batter and mix by hand.
7. Stir in the rose extract and the mandarin orange slices
8. Drop by tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake until lightly browned. Approximately 12-15 minutes – like I said, my oven is an overachiever and likes to bake at warp speed so I take mine out sooner on a lower temperature.
9. Cool for about 2 minutes on the sheet and then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
10. Store in a covered container in a fridge for no more than a day or two. (You could warm them up in the microwave for a few seconds to take the chill off if you wanted.)
11. Enjoy!

The mask of night is upon my face…

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” – Oscar Wilde

“A mask tells us more than a face.” – Oscar Wilde

It is true. We all wear masks. Some of us are the most honest when we do.

Some of our masks are representations of the ugly side hidden in the darkest depths of our unfathomable imagination, a place where dementia lurks in every inky crevice. A place that we tap into and wear on our face to frighten away others,  to have nightmares invading their sleep forevermore…

The again, some of our masks are the luminous silver lining of our hopes & fantasies, displayed in the most pleasing manner possible. It  is intended to lure others towards us, fooling them into believing our true self is as beautiful as our gilded exterior. But can a mask be our true self? Or is it only a figment?

I have collected some masks through Etsy for you to decide if it could represent your true self. Or something else entirely…..

Ever changing faces of All Hallow’s Eve

Feeling Owlish

Every year with leaves starting to fall, I feel the dark of the night looming and the scent of Autumn rises up from the forest floor. The rustle of the wind whistling through the ever more barren branches of the forest is made even more eerie by the soft call of the OWL and the occasional sudden screech of prey fallen victim to the consummate night  stalker.

Feeling Owlish

Lexi Letter Volume 2 issue 1

Lexi Letter Volume 2 issue 1

Volume Two! Amazing how fast time flies when you have a little person in your life! It seems I only blinked and almost 10 months have passed since I wrote a Lexi Letter. Not only do I apologize to all of you that like to read them, I most importantly apologize to Lexi. That was time that unfortunately has flowed away, lost somewhere in the swirling fog of my elusive memory. Luckily I took lots of photos (until we had an incident with a broken LCD screen on the camera) over the months so we have visual proof of some of the things we were up to.

Age: 15 months,  15 days

Length/Height: 31 inches -when standing comes to my upper thigh

Weight: 21.5 lbs – willowy yet glowing with health

Hair: Ash blonde with curls beginning to form in the back, still rocking the faux hawk up top.

Eyes: a piercing, inquisitive silver blue

Teeth: 6 (top front 4 and bottom two front) plus one molar in the way back is coming in and taking it’s sweet time about it!

Mode of Transportation: launches along the floor while traveling  on her bum , uses one arm to propel herself forward – basically a very sophisticated ‘scoot’ if you will.  She can carry items in her free hand, tucked under her arm or dragged behind her if it is large. If she is “running”, her bum actually catches air! People are constantly asking me why at 15 months is she not walking – that is until they see her in action. Why walk when there is the possibility of falling and her mode of transportation is so efficient? Why indeed! We have documented this with video on our camera for posterity.

Language:

• “Hi-eeee” = Greetings and Salutations! or Hey you!
• “Buh byeee” = Begone with you! or See you soon!
• “Muhma” = Yours truly
• “Dada” =Daddy
• “Up”
• “Dow” = down
• “Schoooooze” = Shoes
• “Da” = Hat
• “Dah dah” = Quack Quack/Duck
• “Baaa” = Bath – always accompanied by entire body nodding furiously
• “Ba” = Blankie
• “Doh doh” = Dodo aka her pacifier
• “Bapple” = apple slices
• “Scheeeeeze” = Cheese
• “Schjoooze” = aka Juice
• “BahNana” = Banana

Sign Language:

• both hands opening and closing = Milk or Water – ask her which one and she will nod her choice
• both hands closed and fingers tapping against each other = More
• hand patting head = Bumped self/head

Some of the foods that Lexi likes (this week any way):

• Broccoli, cooked al dente
• “Bapple” = apple slices
• “Scheeeeeze” = Cheese
• Corn niblets but NOT baby corn.
• Ham, Roast beef, homemade chicken nuggets and bacon – truly takes after her daddy.
• Olives – I am completely baffled by this one but the girl likes savoury!
• Orange slices -first had them thanks to a bartender at a local pub when the Grandfolks were in town. Not only kept her busy but happy too.
• Strawberry – eats it like you would an apple. Just don’t mention the word if she still has dinner on her plate or it’s gameover!
• “Schjoooze” = aka Juice or Water with a touch of lime in it.

Foods that all of a sudden are on the “Yuck List”:

• “BahNana” = Banana -  had one too many and is taking a break?
• Cooked carrot – I sneak it into things by grating it
• Chicken (except Muhma’s homemade nuggets)
• Peas of any sort

Talents:

• Mode of transportation is unique and very efficient
• stands whilst holding something like a wall or piece of furniture
• walks whilst holding something like a wall or piece of furniture
• likes to hula hoop with two hoops at a time (see photo)
• can play a mean egg shaker in time, one in each hand
• just this week “snaps” her fingers when she likes the music and does a little shoulder dance to go with it while she sings along. Not sure where she picked that up but it’s pretty amazing!
• Can eat a live snail out of its shell and not even gag. I know, gross but it’s still considered a talent…. c’mon not ONE gag!
• If you ask her where something is, she will go look for it and bring it to you. Example: “Lexi, where is your teapot? May I have a cup of tea?” She will bring you the teapot, then go back and bring you a cup.
• If you ask her a question, she will nod at the choice she wants. Example: “Lexi, would you like some milk or water? Milk? {wait for nod} Water? {nod}” OR If you ask her a question like “Do you need your diaper changed?” she will nod emphatically if she does.
• Fixated on Bath Time. Don’t mention the word unless you are going to follow through because she will stand at the tub repeating “Baaa?” “Baaa?” indefinitely.
• Singing. All the time -especially loud and joyous when in the wagon as Lyla, Lexi and I are out and about.

I will leave you now with a pic I took earlier this week.

Hope all your days are filled with hula hoops and sunshine!

xo

Kristi and Lexi

Ridiculously good homemade Pizza

Ridiculously good Home made Pizza, dough ‘n’ all

Dough:

1 tsp instant yeast

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsps salt

1.25 cups + 2 tbsps of warm water

OPTIONAL: salad spice is really really good. So is garlic powder. Awwww yeah. Add about 2 tbsps max of whatever you want to add. I don’t recommend chocolate chips. That’s just weird, yo.

Combine 1/2 the flour with the yeast & salt -stir to blend. Add 1 cup + 2 tbsps of the warm water (to get the yeast doing its thang) and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. (Or other some such strong stirring handheld device.) Keep adding small amounts of the flour to the dough a bit at a time, continuing to stir until you can’t no more Cap’n.  Start kneading with your hands, adding the rest of the flour and whatever water you have left that you need without making the dough an irreversible sticky mess.  (If it does, reverse it by adding more flour, you ninny.) Knead until smooth approx 10 minutes. Oil the bowl and plop the dough ball inside. Place a tea towel over top and put the bowl in a warm place like a sunbeam or if you plan on using the dough right away – on top of the stove. The oven should be set as high as possible (commercial ovens go up to 700 degrees to cook their pizzas so the sky is the limit with your own oven.) Check on the dough in about an hour, it should have doubled in size.

Roll out on an oiled pizza tray or cookie sheet. I like to use a cookie sheet because I get a rectangular shape that is dead easy to cut into even slices. Less punching involved later for the biggest piece.

This is the fun part (if you weren’t already giggling with glee).

Toppings Galore:

First spread pizza sauce all over the dough. Evenly or you’ll hear about your skimpiness later.

Roasted veggies – while the oven is heating up to a heat that hell could appreciate, place some veggies in said oven to roast. Why not? What else were you planning on doing for that hour? Besides peeking under that tea towel…. Don’t tell me. I don’t need to know what you do when you have an hour to yourself.

1. Pour a thin coating of veggie oil in a tin pie plate or whatever baking plate you have kicking around.
   1. For roasted red pepper, cut out the seeds by cutting straight down into the pepper from the top. Lift out the ‘lid’, if you cut wide enough you will get all the seeds in one shot. Knock out any stubborn seeds and turn the pepper upside down on top of the oil in the tin plate. Drizzle a little more veggie oil on top so it doesn’t just scorch like a red head at the beach.
   2. For roasted garlic, take the whole bulb and slough off any loose paper skin on the outside. Drizzle some oil over top and plop into the pie plate.
   3. For any other roasted veggies, I am sure the same principle applies. Cut out any offending bits then plunk it into the pie plate and drizzle with oil. Easy, right?

Roast in oven for approximately 5 minutes or so. I’d check on it just in case your oven is hotter than my oven. Hey. This isn’t about looks, people. I mean temperature. Sheesh.

Take out your roasted deliciousness and cut up into bite-sized chunks. I guess that means gauging how big your guests mouths are. I’m not sure if that means how much they talk or what. At any rate that is probably not a subject we want to veer into when we are trying to eat ridiculously good pizza. Add the roasted loveliness to your pizza, delicately on top of the sauce. We like a saucy pizza.

So now you perhaps have roasted red pepper on it,  you better have roasted garlic on it if you know what’s good for you (it is actually good for you.) So now you can go two directions.

Vegetarian or Omnivore.

Vegetarian:

1. You can keep adding roasted veggies to your heart’s content.
2. Artichoke is really tasty and seems gourmet. Do it up the same way as the other veggies.
3. Carmelized onions are fantastic – just fry up some thinly sliced onions in a whack load of butter until they go soft and brown and sweet. MmmmmMmm. Lift out of the butter and let it drip off before adding to the pizza. A titch too greasy for pizza, my friend. Do you want your arteries hardening? Your doctor won’t let you try this pizza again if you act like that!
4. Spinach. Frozen cooked spinach is easiest. Cook then drain then dot it around the pizza. Even meat eaters won’t mind it. Great way to add some nutrition without anyone noticing.

Omnivore:

1. Roasted chicken breasts. Why not throw some breasts in the oven while your dough is rising? You got the time! Cut into bite-sized chunks when cooled off.
2. Smoked salmon
3. Bacon. Cut it up into small chunks then fry it up.
4. Pancetta instead of bacon.
5. Sausage – spicy or mild. Whichever direction you feel you need to go.

Then add cheese. I like a blend of cheeses. Feta and then old cheddar is excellent. Mozzarella makes for a beautiful tasty strings of cheese hanging from your mouth. Boccocini sliced in half are nice little surprises strewn throughout the pizza. Really it’s whatever you like. You’re the chef here but I think marscapone, brie or cream cheese might be kind of weird but it’s your tastebuds not mine.

Put in the oven for 5 minutes and be sure to check on it after the first 5 as you did just subject it to Satan’s wrath. I like to put on the timer since my attention span is so short I can’t wait five minutes before I’ve wandered off. It took my oven 7 minutes to cook mine to perfection. Remember that if you keep the pizza on the original cookie sheet it will continue to cook the bottom even after you’ve taken it out of the oven. This could mean a burned crust if you are not careful. If my pizza dough is perfect when it comes out, I transfer it to a clean cookie sheet. If it’s a little under cooked, I let it continue to do its thing on the hot sheet.

Let cool for about 5-10 minutes and then cut with a pizza cutter ideally or a sharp knife will do. Eat however many pieces you like. You made it.

Lexi Letter Volume 1 Issue 8

Lexi Letter Volume 1 issue 8

August 20th 2009

Happy 6 month Un-Birthday Lexi! It’s been a wild wonderful trip so far! Here’s to many more adventures for the next 6 months! I never thought time would move so quickly and be filled with so many important life-altering moments. I am so glad I started writing these letters so I could document at least one tiny drop of all the juicy goodness!

Date: August 5th/2009 (Approximate age 5 months 2 weeks)
Length/Height: 70 cm = 27.5 inches (I am 165 cm if that gives you any idea how tall she is!)
Weight: 14 lbs 14 oz
Translation: Tall and slender

Hair: Hazy blonde/brunette/undetermined

Eyes: An intense silver blue with a thick navy blue rim around the iris

Contributions to Landfill to date:

3 pkg newborn -size 1, 5 pkg -size 2 (a lot more travel in July), 4 containers of Formula, one pkg of Anbesol for teething (1/8th used), one bottle of gripewater (2 teaspoons used). Way to go Lexi!

Now using something called a Snappi – it’s a rubber plastic Y shape with grippy teeth that grabs onto the cloth diaper to keep it closed shut. Absolute genius from Africa, I tell you! No more pinning poor Lexi to her own diaper!!

August 2nd – first rollover by self onto tummy and then a wild flip onto back again. Scared self at first, cried a little then cracked a little smile once Mummy reassured her again with tickles and smiles.

August 5th – made first joke while in the Jolly Jumper. She made a sound to have a drink of water so I went to give it to her. She was so excited that she started to jump which meant I couldn’t get it anywhere near her mouth. I laughed which made her laugh. We tried to take a sip of water again. Again she jumped, this time laughing very cheekily. This went on for about 20 minutes of sheer glee. Both our cheeks and tummies were aching by the end of it! What a scamp!

August 12th – Daddy’s birthday and first picnic trip to Toronto Island. Spent a gorgeous day out there. Afterwards Lexi spent her first time being babysat by our neighbour extraordinaire, Monica, while Daddy and I went out for a birthday dinner to Tucker’s Marketplace. Monica is a vivacious Chilean, a fabulous gardener, sweet person, a mother of 4 and a grandmother of two. Lexi loves her smile and the funny noises that Monica makes. They played piano together, maracas and banged on a drum. I think once Lexi noticed that Mummy was gone though is when Monica’s patience was put to the test. Even though Monica insisted Lexi was good as gold, Lexi’s voice was hoarse when she came home. Monica offered to sit Lexi any time so obviously her patience is still intact!

August 20th – First attempts at a sippy cup. Biting down rather than sucking most of the time. First Beech Nut rice cereal mixed with Mummy’s milk while sitting in cousin Shaun’s old high chair. Mummy made sure it was mostly liquid so it was easier to digest. Rice cereal everywhere and a bath was required afterwards and much appreciated.

Lexi’s Accomplishments this month:
1. Recognizes name
2. Able to hold onto items with both hands and individually
3. Able to throw things (really far)
4. Makes jokes and enjoys jokes
5. Roars like a dinosaur/monster/lion when feeling happy and excited. Especially likes to do it when there are lots of people around being quiet, like in a library or on a subway car. Always gets people smiling or laughing.
6. Consuming something besides breast milk, formula or water!

Still working on:

1. Teeth – The drool continues, though sometimes I swear there’s something in the bottom right corner but it comes and goes. She really enjoys her frozen clothsicles and makes mmMmmMmmMmmmmm sounds while she sucks on them.

2. Sitting up – pushes too hard with her legs because she wants to stand all the time and knocks herself over. Practicing it alternately throughout the day while holding my fingers so she learns to balance her own weight.

3. Standing by self – hasn’t quite got how to balance her own weight or find her centre of gravity. Loves to stand at all times though and now pushes off everything thanks to the Jolly Jumper. Most of the time that’s a good thing but not during attempts to burp her. It’s become a sport to burp her because not only does she try to stand up (and she’s taller than me when she’s standing on my lap), she arches her back and waves her arms. Impossible! If Daddy is home, I get him to try to burp her as it is almost like professional wrestling.

Lexi began music classes at a KinderMusik class each Thursday with 3 other babies. Every Wednesday night I gather up all our necessities (i.e. duck puppet, book, ball, diaper bag); pack Matt’s food for work and put out our clothes for the next morning. I get up early Thursday morning, express milk, eat breakfast, shower, then wake up the wee one. A quick
diaper change and costume change then dependent on time, her bottle. If we are running a bit late due to unforeseen circumstances, then we have the bottle en route via bus. We’ve now been to 3 classes and 2 of the 3, Lexi has been the only baby. Apparently this happens often with baby classes as all sorts of things just happen ike a sleepless night, a severe case of the runs, scheduling conflict.. the list goes on. Luckily not the Wilsons though! We are right into the egg-shaking and dancing. Lexi’s left foot bounces to the music each time we get up to dance together. She tends to pay more attention to her teacher, Elizabeth,
rather than me during Peekaboo games but it’s good that she is attentive when we do them at home. She’s not a big fan of the quiet time part near the end of the class where we lie down together and learn how to relax. She wants to keep going, dagnabbit! Relaxation is a learned thing that is a very important tool in everyone’s life. I still need to work on it for myself! I want to be sure that Lexi has relaxation techniques to
help her in times of stress down the road.

I was inspired by the KinderMusik class and considered for a few days on whether I could teach it myself at home. They offer teacher’s education courses, class programs and materials both for the teacher and students. I would have Lexi and Lyla here already and
then add a couple more kids each week for an hour long class. I decided against it. I would leave the music classes to the professional, Matt, who has all the education for it. The owner of Kidzland where we take the KinderMusik classes offered me a position to teach puppetmaking classes. I am thinking about it and whether that is a viable option or not. She already has the clientele and the space. I just need to come up with a type of puppet that the kids are able to make within one hour.

This made me think further. Now I am considering a puppet storytime or art class. That is something that I have the skills that apply and would be fun for the kids. Kids love my voice and love puppets even more! And not only is it something unique that is not being offered, I can do it from home!

For my ideal version of Storytime, I would need:
1. lots of pillows for little bums to sit on for inside, big blanket for outside.
2. handmade puppet for each child to keep that is included in the cost of Storytime.
3. professionally printed book illustrated by yours truly to keep also included in the cost.
4. kids to attend.

For the basic version of Storytime, I would need:
1. blanket and pillows (already have lots)
2. dollar store puppets for kids to keep
3. bargain book for kids to keep
4. kids to attend.

This could be done either at our house in the dining room (which is basically empty) during inclimate weather, in our backyard on a nice day, or at a park.

For classes, I would need supplies to make each specific type of puppet. I.e. paper puppet, paper bag puppet, sock puppet, etc. Of course the cost of the class would go up the more advanced the puppet becomes.

This could be something that both Lexi and I love!

I leave you now with some pictures from over this last month.
Big sloppy mush kisses,
Kristi and Lexi

Lexi Letter Volume 1 issue 7 supplemental

Lexi Letter Volume 1 issue 7 supplemental photos
July 31/2009

Had to include these photos as some of them are absolutely priceless.

(And I was so late with the letter.)

Nyah. So there.

Lexi and Daddy testing out the very first (of many I am certain) shoulder rides – does Daddy realize what he’s in for?

Lexi with her close friends. Pressly her Lion (King of the Jungle, don’t you know. Only good friends get to just call’m “Press”); Hippo the steadfast teething ring and constant companion; and the ever popular frozen “clothsicle.”

Having a good giggle on the sofa

Lexi enjoying her first ride in her cousin Shaun’s old tree swing.

Lexi in her rocking chair – curious as to why Mummy is chattering on about “cheese”.

Lexi in her sleep sack this evening. Proof that angels do sleep.

Enjoy!
xo
Kristi, Lexi and Matthew

Lexi Letter Volume 1 issue 7

Lexi Letter Volume 1 issue 7
July31/09
Alas this letter is a few weeks over due. I meant to send one out every 2 weeks (not unreasonable really) but it just didn’t happen this month. Blame it on summer, blame it on the rain, blame it on the boogie… just don’t blame it on Lexi! As Lexi becomes more aware, I am finding more time is spent away from the computer and keeping the wee one amused. She has lots to discover and learn, you know! ‘Course it’s nice to record all our goings on for posterity and to keep everyone in the loop since this loop moves faster than my hula hoop!

The last few weeks were all about the many meanings of the word ‘move’. Lexi has been exploring the word ‘move’ as in mobility. How to jump in the Jolly Jumper, pushing upwards with her legs, pushing herself along in her crib or on the floor. I have been exploring the other meaning of ‘move’ and I am a raw nerve of emotion – a twinge away from tears or immense laughter at any moment. I am ‘moved’ beyond imagination with the wonder that is motherhood.

Mid June found Lexi teething up a storm, random sitting up without help and a brand new sense of humour. It also found me having crazy bad dreams of Lexi dying, a fear of sleep and a belated brand new sense of overwhelming responsibility. I tried to rationalize (believe me, it’s a stretch for me at the best of times…). I went over all the facts in order to not feel like I’d fallen off the deep end.
1. a major life change
2. the birth was pretty insane
3. the responsibility of taking care of such a precious fragile little life.

It all started to add up to one big fat sleepless blur. The weird part was that I’ve never been happier yet I could see Matt and Lexi as though they were at the other end of a dark freaky tunnel or I was at the bottom of a well. I was wildly content one moment then territorial, terrified and/or tired the next.
I was so happy when Lexi was awake and cooing away but then nervously pacing while she napped. I would feel the intense need to occasionally check in on her, needing to put one hand on her tummy to see if she was still breathing since she sleeps so absolutely still. I have since gone to see our doctor, the infallible Dr. Davis, and feel a kazillion times better. Against my inital reaction, she prescribed a half dose of some pills that help me sleep a dreamless sleep. It’s amazing how sleep deprivation can change your world into a chaotic miserable mess so quickly. A few good nights of sleep and I feel myself again. Dr. Davis also is referring me to a mom’s group for post-partum so I have someone to talk to that also has been/is going through it. 1 in 2 women suffer from post-partum and that’s the ones that actually mention something to a professional. Imagine if they all didn’t suffer from guilt for feeling that way and were able to bring themselves to talk about it. I think that the doctors would find that 100% of women suffer from post-partum in some varying degree.

Beginning of July began a funny phase of making strange with any one not Mummy, making baby “Pterodactyl” noises and chewing on anything that came within arms reach. We had lots of trips stuffed into one very busy month!

First trip, Lexi and I visited London to see the ‘fambly’ and celebrate my uncle Vince’s birthday on Canada Day. It was fantastic to see my Aunt Moira and Uncle Vince – they both look so happy and healthy. It was also a nice rare treat to see my cousin Greg, his wife Laura and my cousin Heather with their
respective kids. It’s quite a tribe they’ve got! Energetic, loving and full of fun. It was also a great chance to hang with my brother Brian, his amazing wife Veronica and my clever nephew Shaun. (My favourite little guy!) We went to Port Stanley to the family cottage despite reports of impending rainstorms.
The high energy and excitement level must’ve heated up the atmosphere and melted the rain clouds because we managed to make it all the way from kite flying to dinner to fireworks on the beach. A feat in itself in a summer that’s had more rain than ever recorded!

We took another small overnight trip to Niagara region with Matt, Uncle Ben and Auntie Nat to see Grammy and Grandad in their gigantic motorhome. We had a singalong by the fire with the other RV’rs (?? Is that what they are?) Lexi had a good ole jolly jump off the back of the bus much to the delight of onlookers. And we had a gorgeous drive using a half-hearted hunt for local produce as our excuse. Niagara truly is a blessed place in its natural gifts.

The next week Lexi’s Bestefar finally made it out to Ontario for his first visit with his grand-daughter! Auntie Veronica and cousin Shaun graciously drove Bestefar up to Toronto to pick the two of us up and away we went on down the highway! I think part of Bestefar’s heart melted a little when he first laid eyes
on Lexi’s sweet little face and her startling silvery blue eyes looked into his. He was pleased by how strong her little legs were and told me of how he used to balance me in one of his hands. Lexi also balanced on both little feet in one of Bestefar’s hands (with a guiding hand for support around her middle). I can say without hesitation that I was extremely nervous even though I know my Dad would never drop her. Just being a worry wart mom! We went on a family outing and Lexi got to see horses, donkeys and peacocks for the first time down at the horse farm in Ingersoll. It was a relaxing visit and Lexi’s
new sleep schedule was able to stay intact. She’s now sleeping 10 hours at night with two 2 hour naps  in the daytime. She’s such a happy baby when she’s had enough sleep! (Like mother like daughter!!)

On the teething front, Lexi is still going full steam ahead. No sign of teeth yet, there is a white shadow on the bottom gums that is an indication that all this drool has a purpose. The girl gnaws on anything in reach, her fingers, her Hippo, the corner of a frozen cloth (clothsicle). The one that makes
me laugh every time is her big toe. She laughs when I laugh so we always have a good giggle about that one!

Good news for the future:
A friend of mine, Carly, had a baby girl January 7th named Lyla. Carly and I have been spending time together every so often so the girls have some one to play with down the road. Plus it’s a chance for us to socialize and get out of the house. Carly asked me what I was doing when Maternity leave ended.
I told her I was staying at home and would she like me to take care of Lyla too? I think Carly almost jumped through the phone for joy when I said that. Apparently they were looking into daycare and the cost is far too high. Carly was hoping to share a nanny or something but this is the best scenario for all of us! I get a little income, Lexi and Lyla have a playmate and Carly can go back to work. Carly and her husband Jason will buy us a double stroller so I can take the girls out. They are also going to buy a portable playpen so Lyla has a place to sleep when she takes her naps. They will also provide
Lyla’s food and diapering supplies. If there are any classes that I want to take the girls to, they will pay for Lyla’s cost. All in all, I am very happy with the plan. It should make for some interesting stories!!

I will leave you for now with a promise to try (I say try) to go back to the biweekly updates and a few pictures of the last month.

Much love hugs and gummy grins,

Kristi, Lexi and Matthew

Lexi Letter Volume 1 issue 6

Lexi Letter Volume 1 issue 6

Lexi is rocking a very complicated hairstyle this month – one that she created herself! It’s a “natural faux-hawk with a reverse tonsure and assymetrical fringe”. The girl likes to be different, just like her Mummy!

We have established in the last three months a rating system of cloth diaper. It gives us a way to communicate what has occurred without discussing the grim details.

1. Happening – it happened, it is easily remedied with a warm wet cloth and some vaseline.
2. Situation. The happening has left the diaper and is more than likely on the diaper cover and clothing. Costume change required. Situations happen occasionally if you are not vigilant to the sounds and faces that Lexi makes to let you know a happening occurred.
3. Incident. This is the highest level of diaper and has (so far) only happened once. This is when the situation has left the clothing and perhaps even the room! That last incident got all over Lexi, her clothing, the changepad, my robe, the bed, the sheepskin rug, the chair behind me, the floor, my hair,
the list goes on. Matt came on the second set of squawks when the situation changed to an incident. It actually probably required a team of adults to clean up the incident but we weren’t so lucky and did not have grandparents on the scene that day.

Lexi is trying to be like her parents. I know this phase won’t last…. She wants to stand before she can even hold her head up whilst lying on her tummy. She doesn’t see Mummy or Daddy faffing about with such silly activities. No! She wants to pull herself up (with helpful parental pinky fingers) in a sitting position like the big people do. She wants to stand up on those pudgy gams of her and bounce to the music! I look around our house and see potential baby hazards everywhere. Time to put it up high or secure it in place!

That will have to wait as I have been feeling under the weather with what turns out to be a blocked duct: rest, hot compresses and a hot water bottle has helped but I still have a blockage. It’s been coming and going the last few weeks so I finally went to see Dr. Davis. She says I have an abscess and has me on medication now to get rid of the hard painful lump, dizziness, and occasional stars. Breastfeeding is SO much harder than I expected it to be. It’s so tricky for something that is supposed to happen freely in nature. I wonder how women from “back in the day” managed?  Did they give up when they couldn’t produce any more due to letdown or blocked ducts? I’m sure there were natural remedies that were passed down from mother to daughter. I’d love to know some! I think I left this too long not realizing how serious it can
get so unfortunately I am past the natural remedy stage.  Apparently this happened from not expressing all the milk each time but it is difficult with such an overactive letdown. Lexi’s gas issue is now non-existent thanks to not having her lie down to feed directly from me. We have a low-flow colic nipple
on a bottle that we use now which makes it much easier for anyone else to feed her. I am still expressing milk like crazy though so she doesn’t have formula very often. Only if I am too busy or tired to express it for her meal. It takes 45 minutes to an hour to empty the right side (blockage) and only 10 minutes for the other! Even with a blocked duct I produce one full bottle of milk. 1.5 to 2 bottles from the healthy side. Again I say ‘moo’. MooOOoooOoooOOooooo!

On the up side I have taken up hula hooping as a quick fun & creative form of exercise. It’s something that is quiet, ridiculously charming and a great way to fit cardio into my day between all of Lexi’s goings on. My friend Allison (http://www.positivespinhoops.com) is a certified HoopGirl which means she
teaches hoopdance from beginners right up to the more advanced moves which you can see here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L06iMAceqXM
She also made a lovely little hoop-spirational video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIESafujigw&feature=channel
Allison actually made my hoop which is a sprightly white and black spiral with black mirror tape for that bit of sparkle that makes adult hoops magic. Adult hoops are considerably heavier, much larger and made of stronger tubing. They can also bruise your body as you learn more tricks due to the weight and repetitive nature. But the thing with hooping is, you don’t give a fluff! They are badges of honour! I hope to get past waist hooping one day and be able to do some tricks.

Last few weeks were very busy (as usual!). I spent some of it staining the new hexagonal picnic table Salamander green – then unfortunately Mother Nature poured rain down on us for a few days so we had to take a break in the major project department. I primed Lexi’s room during some sunny days, keeping a fan going and the window open. She is still sleeping at night in her crib in our room so it didn’t disturb her in any way. I am not going to paint it until she can choose a colour herself in a couple years. I just wanted to get all the holes filled from the last few room-mates and clean it up a bit. Her bunk bed from
Granddad and Grammy Wilson has arrived. It needed a clear coat of the unfinished pine. I have completed the last piece and will get Matt to help me assemble it perhaps tomorrow. Back in February, my Mum paid for
most of the accessories in Lexi’s room from IKEA – bedding, a toybox, some toys and some fantastical giant poppy stickers. I put the stickers on the mirrored closet doors which looks quite dramatic. Once all is done, I think perhaps we will move Lexi’s crib into her room and see how that goes.

This move, of course, is dependent on how her teething is going.

Yes, that’s right. TEETHING.

She is only 3 months and 3 weeks old and she’s taken upon herself to start teething. I told you before, she likes to be ahead of the game! If only she’d taken a few months to enjoy growing and taking in the sights around her. But no, she’s right into drooling and chomping down on Hippo, her red teething ring. I put a couple of cloths in the freezer for her with a damp corner for a nice frozen treat to bite down on when her tolerance is low. Daddy even bought grape Anbesol for her if it gets really rough. She’s determined to do what the “big kids” are doing, even if the teething rings are all too big for her tiny hands and mouth. I spend part of the day trying to teach her how to hold on to Hippo and then bring it to her mouth to bite down on it to help relieve pressure. She’s doing quite well at it now though she occasionally misses and whacks herself in the throat or the forehead. Oops! At least Hippo has a soft
head and legs to prevent any serious damage. We picked up a foot shaped teether with special gel inside to help keep it frozen longer without it being too cold to hang on to. It was the smallest teether but is still a bit big and heavy for her tiny mouth and hands. Despite the awkwardness, she’s giving it a go!

Lexi is also practicing to show off those future teeth with an amazing gummy smile mixed with a very cheeky laugh. It’s full-bodied, requires a head tilt and double eye sparkle to pull it off. It has only surfaced 4 times now to date, each time on the change table after a diaper/costume change and a tickle
under one of her chins. (She currently has 2 and is considering a third for baby fashion’s sake.) It cascades with a rumbly guffaw beginning leading into a rolling giggle then tapering to a cheeky chuckle. When the LAUGH happens (and yes, it requires capital letters it’s so historic), it is infectious and loud
enough that it can be heard throughout our tiny house. It subsides after 5 minutes, both of our cheeks hurting from the wide grins, our tummies tight and our hearts full. Grammy Wilson got to hear a small sample via phone and it brought tears to her eyes. Not Lexi’s intention Grammy! You are supposed to laugh!

Lexi likes to talk when all the big people do, hands clasped like an Opera Diva, serious face on with a hint of smile on her lips. She usually will start talking during someone else’s conversation but she quickly commands every one’s attention for herself. We must work on that lack of manners. You should wait
your turn, Lexi, or no one can fully listen to what you were saying! I can tell she is about to talk because her top lip thins a touch and then becomes more pointy. (For a visual of this refer to Lexi Letter Volume 1 issue 5, picture of Lexi in her pink hooded cardigan.) She also tells me now that her diaper is
wet by a repetitive “hoo-hooing” sound which starts out quietly and gets steadily more insistent. If you ignore this polite notification, it will turn into an angry red-faced inconsolable cry. After all, she did ask you, then tell you for the last few minutes! The trick is to realize the difference between
this special talking and her conversational talking.

She has discovered her hands thanks to some very cute bug wrist rattles from our neighbours Jamie and Leslie. (I would say more Leslie as she’s the one that is into babies.) Daddy asked her one day if she named her bugs. The answer was Krrrrrr and Tlock! Krrrrrr is the one with crinkly sounding wings if she introduces you to them. Thanks to the bugs she can claps her hands together, bring a pudgy fist to her mouth and chew on it, hang on and wave Hippo in the air and also hang on to big people’s fingers (for chewing or comfort purposes.) She also likes to pull herself up or forward, rose-bud lips clamped together in concentration mode . She’s also figured out that if she goes stiff and straight like a board over and over again, she can move herself out of her chair. NOT good. I have to be sure now that she’s either
buckled in which she hates or facing away from the edge of the sofa so she doesn’t shoot herself off!

We are moments away from rolling over, crawling, walking… running… I can feel it! The next letter should be action-packed!

Much love, hugs and drooly gum-filled smiles

Kristi, Lexi and Matthew.

Michelle’s Twisty What-nots recipe

Courtesy of Michelle, from my Power Pod of small business gals, enjoy!

Twisty Whatnots

• 1 10×10″ sheet of frozen all-butter puff pastry (one box of frozen puff pastry usually has 2 sheets. I like the PC brand, because it is already rolled out for you!)
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
• 1/2 – 3/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2-3 Tbsp sesame seeds, lightly toasted
• 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Thaw puff pastry according to package directions. Puff pastry should still be pretty cold. Mix cheese, pepper, seeds and salt together in a small bowl. Paint puff pastry sheet with some of the egg and then sprinkle with cheese mixture Cut 10 x 10 square in half and then cut each half into little matchsticks. The original recipe suggests 1/2 inch slices…those are dainty aren’t they? I get impatient and end up cutting them bigger for more “robust” whatnots. Twist each strip into a spiral and transfer to a parchment-lined or greased baking sheet . Use your thumb to press the ends down so they don’t unravel. Transfer sheets to freezer and chill until firm again, aprox 20 mins. Don’t skip this step. Learn from my flabby whatnot mistakes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees while whatnots are chilling. Bake until golden…dainty whatnots will probably take 8-10 mins, robust ones 10-12 mins.

fin.