Wordless Wednesday (rainy day edition)

Toxic Nation

I’ve just finished reading Slow Death By Rubber Duck. Now, I thought I was pretty well informed about all of the bad stuff that we breath, absorb, and ingest. This book made me feel like I know nothing about the ways in which we come in contact with them, and what these things do in our bodies. And it’s all much worse than I thought. I do as much as I can to protect my body, and my kids from harmful chemicals. I feed them organic food as much as I can, we use natural cleaners in our home, don’t use smelly SLS filled shampoos and soaps. I buy second-hand a lot – I figure by the time we get things the chemical residue has been washed off, and (in the case of furniture) the worst of the off-gassing is over. This book has made me realize it’s much worse than I thought, and I feel kinda helpless.

I’m not going to change the things that I already do- I have to keep believing that every little bit helps. But we can’t for example, not ingest chemicals in our water. We can’t avoid BPA- even if we rid all plastics from our home. One source is public drinking water. Another- receipts. All those shiny paper receipts transfer BPA to your skin and is absorbed easily. I just bought a large box of recycled printer paper, thinking I was doing something good. Apparently recycled paper is really high in BPA because it’s largely made from newspaper---- newspaper ink is high in- yah, BPA.

It really gets me that I’ve been avoiding fleece PJ’s for my kids- except for Carters. Carter’s pj’s are not treated with fire-retardant chemicals. Yay! Right? Well…… they fail to explain that fleece is polyester and polyester is a sythetic material that has the chemicals bonded right into it. So no need for additional treatment! I like the "polyester is naturally flame resistant" part of their explanation (click here for the whole thing). There is nothing "natural" about polyester. I’m going to make an effort from here on out to only buy natural fiber clothing and bedding.

I could really go on and on and give an entire book synopsis. If you’re interested, read the book yourself. It’s very interesting material and the authors have a great sense of humour. But if you’re like me and try to do everything you can to protect yourself from the bad stuff- you might end up a bit depressed. They end the book by saying we have to make changes on a large scale- doing your personal bit by protecting yourself and your family just isn’t enough. That bit wasn’t exactly inspiring (I don’t have a whole lotta faith in humanity) but it made me feel better. We’re all in this together, on this planet, and everyone is responsible for making things better, doing things right. Rates of disease, especially cancer is just going to keep increasing until we make big changes. We’ll all realize that eventually, won’t we?

Baby Sign Language

Toby signed his first word!

I started signing milk, more, and sister just less than 2 weeks ago. I made up a version of sister that is specific for Willow. Your hand looks like a "W" and you drag your thumb down your jawline. I do it when I say either sister or Willow to Toby. I've been most consistent with Milk- it's the easiest to remember to do when it's just us as he nurses.

The last few days I've noticed him really looking at his hands. He moves them around and wiggles his fingers, very interested. I didn't think too much of it, thinking it was too early to expect him to be trying to sign.

So this morning I was a bit late getting him to nap and he was cranky. I laid him down to change his diaper and he did it. Open, close, open, close the fist. Thought, "did I just see milk? No, couldn't have been!". Changed the diaper, brought him to my bed where he naps. Laid him down and again, "milk". It's awesome! I never expected it after just 2 weeks. I'm as thrilled as if he just said his first word!

I decided to start signing to Toby when I started noticing the toddler boys at playgroup. There are 2 that are almost 2 and aren't vocal. I see them get upset when they want something, as their mom tries to decipher the whines and grunts. I hope Toby won't be a late talker, but if he is I hope he can use signs to tell me what he needs.

I guess this means I should get on doing some more signing. I know a few more but I'd better brush up and learn some new words. The dictionary I'm using is here.

Wordless Wednesday (fun on the deck edition)

Dear Willow & Toby (Early Risers)

Dear Willow & Toby,

You both slept through the night last night! First time ever! What a great Father's Day gift. Now, could we work on the 5 am wake-up time? Six or 7 o'clock would be magical.

Kisses,
Mama

When the wind blows

I named my blog 'When the wind blows' because Willow loves Rock-a-bye Baby. At the time I first started the blog, she was asking me to sing it every night. Sometimes twice. And then she just stopped. The first few nights I'd ask "Do you want me to sing Rock-a-bye Baby?". She'd say, "No mom, Daddy now". And that was that. Willow is such a girl of routine it surprises me every time she changes something. It happens more and more now that she's 2, asserting her independence and finding out who she is.

Every day I think about how quickly these little beings change. Toby's physical changes are more obvious right now; going from sitting to on all fours, rocking back and forth. Pulling himself up on toys and then falling down. He's going to be such a little boy, full of energy and into everything. Already, he sees something and lunges for it not caring if he's going to fall on his face in his attempt.

Willow is really unpredictable in her moods. For awhile she was in the "terrible two's" and having multiple tantrums daily. They slowed as I found ways of talking her through them, and distracting her. She's been very pleasant and talking up a storm until yesterday when she got a cold. She is really starting to play by herself (for at least a few minutes of the day...) and make believe play with her dolls. She was talking to me tonight and then all of a sudden said "uh oh, Iggy's crying", and went out on the deck where her doll Lily was. She picked her up and rocked her, "awwww, it's ok Iggy". In the last week Lily's name has changed to Iggy. Willow had no trouble saying Lily before. I tried to call her Iggy, and Willow got upset. "NO Mom, Iggy".

My goal this week is to take some video. As our camera collects dust, my babies are growing up!

What they're saying

Willow, 26 months: "Willow wants some water please mum." She often uses incorrect pronouns. "Willow" instead of I. Also "you" instead of me, "my" instead of I.

She's copying what we say, trying to figure out how to use words. I try really hard now to use proper speech- no more baby talk. She speaks very well for her age I think, expressing wants and needs and actions as well as complex ideas like dreams and imaginative things. Lately she just chatters constantly, being silly and laughing at herself, and telling Toby what she is doing. In the car, she chatters away. She'll see cows and say "Hi Cows. Look Toby, cows! There is a baby one, and a mommy one, and a daddy one...." Today she was telling me she was looking for sheep so we could stop and pet them because she wants to feel how soft they are. We have never, by the way, seen sheep in our area! I don't think she's seen a sheep in real life.

She is now calling Toby, Toby. When he was born it was Obe, that became Tobe, and finally Toby.

She has several books of opposites, and loves them all. She is pretty good at identifying opposites- hot/cold, winter/summer, big/small, wet/dry. I don't know if she is just copying what's in the books or if she really understands the concept.

When she sees something that matches or is the same colour/shape etc., she gets excited. "I have same!" she'll say, holding both items. "Willow have same!" I'll have to record more willowspeak as I think of it- I just adore it!


Toby, 7 months: yahyahyahayh. rhahrhahrhah. dadadada. mamamamama.

Wordless Wednesday (zoo edition)

Dear Toby (Hairpuller)

Dear Toby,

Please stop pulling my hair. It hurts. While you're at it, don't pull your sister's either. Even though it is cute- in a stereotypical little brother sort of way.

Love,
Mama

The weeks fly by!

No post for a week! It's been a busy week. Visit with the aunts and cousins on Monday, doctor & chiropractor appointments on Tuesday, shopping on Wednesday, playgroup on Thursday and some photos on Friday (today). And lots of naps in there too. I need to thank the universe that naps haven't been a struggle lately- and I've gotten a few in myself! That, and Toby is sleeping through the night again. It's like a switch flipped and we're back to where we were in February. It's so strange, I wonder what caused his 3.5 month sleep nightmare. Reflux? Teething? Hunger? (in the last 2 months he gained 4.5 lbs and only .5") Whatever it was I hope it is over forever.

Toby is 20.9 lbs now and just about 28". At the same age (minus 3 days) Willow was 20.75 lbs and half and inch shorter. I compare them alot, but just for interest's sake. They are such different kids it amazes me. Willow was much quicker to roll over and sit up, but Toby was smiling and babbling first. Willow first commando crawled at 6 months- but it was another 2 months before she crawled on her knees. Toby is up on his knees already, not moving but rocking back and forth. Hates being on his tummy so I can't see him ever commando crawling. I look at Willow's baby book and I can see what is to come- crawling, pulling up, standing without support, walking.... I can't believe it goes so quickly. They are also different in their sleeping, eating, and nursing habits. Toby is very sociable and laughs and smiles all the time. Willow was always pretty shy and wouldn't interact too much with other people. Here are some of the photos from today. I was photographing my nephew Tyler (2 months) so we played around a bit before they arrived. They love each other so much- I think it's evident in these pictures.

Toby on his best behavior

I get this face often

Tyler and Toby in matching outfits. Ty is just over 2 months old, Toby is 6.5 months. These two are going to be trouble!