Tuesday, November 3, 2009

A Month of Firsts

October was a big month for Miss Sadie Caroline....lots of firsts.

Sadie's first high chair! 

We'd been putting off this purchase, and now we're wondering why we didn't get one sooner.  This high chair has made a big difference in our lives.  Meals are much more functional for us now that Sadie can sit contentedly in her own chair, play with her food, make a mess, and let mom and dad eat their meal together....at the same time!!!  What a novel idea!  One of my favorite times of day is early in the morning when Sadie and I get up together.  I'll wear her in one of her carriers while I get coffee and breakfast made for myself, and then she'll sit quietly in her highchair while we enjoy a peaceful breakfast together.  I'll read the paper and share parts of it that I think she might be interested in.  What a nice way to start off the day...

Sadie's first trip to the circus! 


My friend Danielle and I took our little girls to the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus on its last day in Denver.  Going to the circus was one of my favorite things in the whole world when I was younger.  I went every year, right up through high school when my cross-country team would go to the circus every fall.  Even though Sadie is a little young to really know what was going on, I think she enjoyed all the people, bright colors, and flashing lights.  And she loved seeing her friend Marisol!

Sadie's first pumpkin patch outing! 
Another Ingersoll family tradition that we're so excited to be sharing with the next generation! 

And of course the day wouldn't be complete without a big plate of homemade spaghetti at the Blue Parrot. Sadie was in meltdown mode when we pulled up to the restaurant (as were her tired parents), and we couldn't help thinking that stopping for lunch wasn't the best idea we'd ever had. But I figured we'd give it a shot. And all it took was some plain noodles to keep her happy for the entire meal! I don't think she ate many of them, but she sure had fun playing with them!



Sadie's first Halloween! 


Granted, she was asleep by 6 p.m. when all the trick-or-treaters came knocking.  But she was so happy to spend the afternoon with her Aunt Suzie and Uncle Jeff. 

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY (October 21, 2009)

Outside my window...a peaceful snowstorm
I am thinking...about if and how to carve my pumpkin
I am thankful for...my mother.
From the kitchen...tonight....brown rice and a big wok full of veggies: bell peppers, broccoli, crimini mushrooms, carrots, and edamame
I am wearing...felted handknit slippers from my mom
I am creating...really beautiful socks...but suffering from single-sock-syndrome
I am reading...Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, a bit behind the group for last month's bookclub selection, but thoroughly enjoying it!
I am hoping...for a peaceful night...won't even allow myself to wish for Sadie to sleep all night...but hoping for peace, whatever that may mean for us tonight. 
I am hearing...the Food Network, late night TV indulgence

Around the house...lots to read...books, magazines, newspapers
One of my favorite things...those pumpkin scented candles that I can get away with burning this time of year.
A few plans for the weekend: relaxing Friday night with the family, date night on Saturday night (dinner in downtown Denver and Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers at the Paramount Theater), and movies with my brother and Mari on Sunday (we're revisiting our two favorite movies from when we were kids and Mari's making her specialty hot beef sandwiches!)  Yeah!!
Here is picture thought I am sharing...


Monday, September 28, 2009

A Season of Reflection

Oh my goodness, how did it get to be the end of September? How did my baby get to be 7 1/2 months old? How did I end up "well into my 30's" (as my husband would say about being 31)? Time is flying by so quickly that it's making me a bit uneasy. Sometimes I feel like I want to just run outside and shout at the top of my lungs....
STOP!!
LET'S ALL JUST SLOW DOWN A MINUTE SO I CAN CATCH UP AND ENJOY ALL THESE AMAZING, MIRACULOUS, BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS BEFORE THEY DISAPPEAR!!!!

But, alas, screaming at the sky won't slow things down a bit. Time will just keep passing more and more quickly every day. So I'm left with doing my best to take a deep breath, enjoy every moment, and make time for the important stuff. And wow, is that tough. Some days I'm not sure I'm doing so well with that. But....I'm trying. My mantra for this fall season is

BALANCE


Now that the "newness" of being back at work has worn off, I'll admit that I'm struggling with being a working mom. I've always been a great multi-tasker, which has allowed me to keep a handle on this busy life of mine. I've somehow always managed to kick ass at my job; stay involved in lots of extracurricular activities; grocery shop and cook most of our meals; be a voracious reader of magazines, books, and a couple newspapers; knit as often as I felt the urge; listen to, watch, and make music; watch TV and movies; sometimes practice my mandolin; keep a very clean house; spend time outdoors; keep up with my blog; stay in frequent touch and spend lots of time with my friends and family; spend quality time with my husband; and more. And I somehow did it all without feeling overly stressed out or exhausted (at least not all the time).

Well...these days, I feel as if I'm not doing so well at even one of those things, much less all of them. And it's unsettling to me. My priority is my family. Sadie and Brian are number one and I will sacrifice all of the other stuff in order to spend quality time with them. But, it's not quite that straightforward, is it?

To me, part of providing for my family is feeding them healthy, homemade meals. And that takes a lot of time. To me, part of providing for my family is to have a clean, uncluttered home where my family and friends can gather. And that takes a lot of time. To me, part of being a good mother is making conscious choices for (and with) my family about the food we eat, the products we use, the consumer goods we buy and accept as gifts, the chemicals we put in our bodies, and the impact we have on our environment. And that takes a lot of time (and research). To me, part of being a good wife and mother is taking care of myself by doing the things that are important to me. And that takes time too....

So, what do I do about all this? I prioritize. I make a schedule. And I take lots of deep breaths.


Some quotes I've been collecting as inspiration...

“What we are teaches the child far more than what we say, so we must be what we want our children to become.” —Joseph Chilton Pearce


"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves." — (Holy Bible: The King James Bible)


"To lose balance sometimes for love is part of living a balanced life." — Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia)


"Remember that life's a great balancing act..." — Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)


"If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?" — Milton Berle


It's so easy to love the easy, happy moments. How about loving all of it? Say to yourself a thousand times a day nothing else matters but this right here. (http://naturalparentingcenter.typepad.com/)

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Big Changes!

Well, there have been some big changes around here! Sadie has two bottom teeth...and she's been handling it very well. She has some days where we can tell that she's uncomfortable, but for the most part, she's just as happy and cheerful as ever.

And the most exciting thing happening with Sadie is that she's mobile!! Here's a video I took a couple weeks ago.
video

Saturday, August 22, 2009

My New Toy

Well, I finally took the plunge and bought myself a new mandolin. It's a Weber Bitterroot F-Style mandolin and I bought it at the Denver Folklore Center...my favorite acoustic instrument shop, and a Denver institution since 1962.

In 1998, when I moved to Alaska, I recognized the need for some new hobbies to keep me busy during the long, dark Alaskan winters. I started knitting, and, inspired by the multitude of bluegrass pickers in Fairbanks, decided that I wanted to start playing an acoustic instrument. I decided that a mandolin was just my size, and nice and portable to match my roving lifestyle at the time.
My dad bought me a great little Epiphone mandolin that I have been very happy with for over ten years. That mandolin served me well....and has been all over the country with me. One of my favorite memories with it was my last night in Alaska, just before crossing the Alaska/Canada border. Rachel, Alan, and I camped out in a beautiful, remote spot. We sat around a campfire in the cool fall air, and I played that mandolin as some of the most amazing northern lights I'd ever seen danced overhead, bidding us goodbye.
My mandolin playing has always been sporadic, at best. The problem for me is that mandolin playing is not the only hobby I love. So, when I have some spare time, it's hard for me to decide between picking, reading, and/or knitting. And I'll be honest, for most of the past decade, reading and knitting usually win.

But lately, things have changed a bit. Brian is a dedicated banjo picker and is always encouraging me to play more often. We've tried off and on to make music together, but until recently we just couldn't make it happen.

And then....we found what we've always needed...a guitar player!!! Right across the street! And we've known him all along, but he just didn't know he was a guitar player until about 9 months ago.

And now...the neighborhood band is in full swing!Since Brian, Ryan and I have started playing together, I've found a renewed sense of excitement about my musical ambitions. I've been having so much fun making music in my living room with our good friends. I love that Sadie is growing up, just like I did, surrounded by live acoustic music in her home.
And then a little voice inside me told me that I might be ready to upgrade my instrument. Well, once that voice spoke up, there was no ignoring it.


Over the past few months, I've visited every acoustic instrument dealer along the Front Range, and one in Durango, CO. I narrowed down the sound I was looking for in a new mandolin. And then I found the one. It all came down to look, and feel, and emotions. As Harry Tuft at the Folklore Center told me...it's usually the one you find yourself thinking about. And boy, have I been thinking about this instrument.
This mandolin was an investment (ie: it wasn't cheap), but it's something I will have for the rest of my life, and will be able to pass down to Sadie. And in my opinion, there aren't many better things in life to spend money on than beautiful, handmade acoustic instruments.
Now I just have to name it....

Your World's About To Change, Sadie