a new diet

I’m big into food. I am always trying new diets and ideas out on my family. So with that being said Ive been reading this book and have decided that our family is going to do/try a locavore diet for a while (a locavore according to Wikipedia is a person interested in eating food that is locally produced, not moved long distances to market). What that means for us is lots of fresh fruits and veggies, meats, dairy and some grains that are all locally produced.

This time of year it means the veggies (no fruit in the winter except for a few apples and pears) come from Whatcom county farmers growing whatever you can in January and pasta made from Bellingham Pasta Company and dairy from local farmers etc. This has always seemed fairly overwhelming to me since I’m not sure I want to drive all over the place to buy my milk, bread and veggies until I heard about this brilliant invention. I place an order at Acme Farm + Kitchen and they bring me this amazing box of food with a meal plan!

This is what showed up on my front door (yes they deliver to you!):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is what the meal plan looks like (5 dinners all planned out for me and they look amazing):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the food that came out of the box:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So for my meals this week I will be feasting on everything from chicken pot pie with veggies to Moroccan stew. I am super excited and will let you know how it goes.

i should be napping

 

There is something really therapeutic about baking. I really should be napping while the girls are asleep this afternoon but instead I felt the need to create. I also need something to snack on while I drink copios amounts of coffee while being blissfully sleep deprived.

Making Nigel Slater’s Pudding Cake of Honey, Cinnamon, and Plums

found here: http://orangette.blogspot.com/

(I substituted pears for plums…perfect for fall!)

the birth story

Here is the birth story of Julianna Joy:

I feel like I was in labor for weeks with slow moving contractions and pains. Every time I would go in for a checkup with my midwife I would be a few more centimeters dilated then the week before. The night before I went into labor I went to bed early, after aggressively cleaning the house, feeling more agitated then usual and slept deeply most of the night except for a few contractions or pains that would wake me up periodically. As the sun came up I realized that something felt different so I woke up Art and asked him to start timing my contractions. Slowly the contractions started getting more painful but there was no real rhythm to them so decided to have breakfast and wait. After an hour of waiting and pacing around the house I called my mom to come over and help with Lily. We called my midwife who told us to meet her at 8am. We loaded up the car and drove over to the birth center and as we pulled in I began to feel labor really kicking in. My midwife checked me and I was 7-8 centimeters dilated and the pain was beginning to intensify quickly. I paced around the room for a bit and then decided to get into the bathtub. The contractions were getting closer and closer together and more and more painful. I had Art push down on my lower back as he coached me through relaxing my head, neck, shoulders on down to my toes. This gave me something to focus on through the pain. At around 9:45am I decided to get out of the bathtub and lay down sideways on the bed. I could feel her wiggle her way down and then a big contraction would start then she would wiggle down a little bit more and another contraction would start. At this point the contractions were back to back with no or very little time for a rest. After a few more very intense contractions and the urge to push my water broke. From there the baby’s head was crowning and I began pushing and just a few minutes later into the world Julianna Joy Lim was born at 10:26am. She had a beautiful full head of black curly hair and the loudest cry. She cried for a bit and then stared deep into my eyes.

As she lay in my arms we read Psalm 63:3-8 over her:

³ Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
⁵ You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.

⁶ I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
⁷ Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.

Julianna Joy Lim born September 15, 2011 at 10:26 in the morning weighing 8 pounds 11 ounces & 21 inches long.

well…

I thought I should show you a picture of my lovely watermelon belly, in case you thought I was making this whole pregnancy thing up:

Looking forward to the arrival of our sweet daughter, any day now!

 

my girl

I found this scene at Village Book Store:

Its always fun to see where your body can fit. Its also nice when dad lets you climb in and get stuck.

so big

When we first moved into this house we found a small growth chart on a wall where two little boys had been measured many years ago (Chandler and Charlie). I love thinking about these two boys growing up here and what their life must have been like. On a random side note I had a garage sale last year and an old man came to the door an hour before the sale started asking for books. As I tried to hide my annoyance at him being a whole hour early while we were still setting up, he proceeded to tell me that he grew up on our street and played with the boys that lived here. I am guessing that must be around 1930! I love thinking about Chandler, Charlie and any of the other children that have been raised in this old home and now my daughter is one of them. As we mark her growth on these walls it makes me want to stay here forever!

fresh beginnings

Because I love mondays, january firsts and perfectly organized closests I thought I would share this helpful blog post I found:

Create a Working Closet by Kendi Everyday

domestic

 

 

Someone got a new kitchen for Christmas.

a little 2010

I did this last year and thought it would be fun to continue the tradition for 2010…

:: What did you do in 2010 that you have never done before?

I planted a garden this year, painted the outside of our house, I learned to knit, went to my ten year reunion and I started using cloth diapers on my daughter.

:: Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I loved looking over my resolutions from last year and many of them were aimed at lifestyle changes (weight loss, exercise etc.) and after having a baby those were much needed. Im feeling the most healthy and fit Ive ever felt and am looking forward to some diet changes but overall the answer would be yes!

As far as this years resolutions go we are undertaking a major diet change and I would like to be consistently working out.

:: Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yep, lots of babies and more on the way!

:: Did anyone close to you die this year?

No one close to me died this year.

:: What countries did you visit?

I feel lame but none. We went to California, which can sort of feel like its own country but sadly stayed close to home this year.

:: What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

I would like to stay on top of my household responsibilities (aka keep my house clean), learn to say no and playing with my daughter more.

:: What dates from 2010 will be etched in your memory forever?

September 10, 2010 when my husband was told that he regained his eye sight and wouldn’t need cornea surgery.

April 5, 2010 my daughters first birthday.

June 25, 2010 celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary.

:: What was your biggest failure?

I would say my biggest failure last year was missing a few important events in some close friend’s lives. I had a hard time acclimating back to “normal” life after Lily was born. I enjoyed staying home and being with her and found it difficult to add to much more on my plate throughout the year but in the process I missed out on some big stuff and I wish I would have been there.

Also, I started running this year and was training for a half marathon. I got to nine miles when I started having intense hip pain. I spent some time with my doctor who told me that I was going to do permanent damage if I continued on so I decided to give it a break. I was only four miles and one month short of my goal and I was so sad to see all that hard work and mental preparation go down the tubes. If I could go back I would have done some smaller races along the way and worked up to a half over time.

:: Did you suffer illness or injury?

Just the hip injury mentioned above.

:: What was the best thing you bought?

Probably the converted VW bus. I also got a new front loader washer machine that I love!

:: Whose behavior merited celebration?

We are a part of a church plant that started with a small group of friends. I have seen such love, devotion and care for one another that I think it is a beautiful picture of the body of Christ.

:: Where did most of your money go?

House projects. Got to love old houses.

:: What did you get really excited about?

Watching my daughter blossom into a toddler. She is a fun little person to be around and I love seeing her personality emerge daily and I am genuinely excited to see her each morning.

:: What song will always remind you of 2010?

The High Road by Broken Bells

:: Compared to this time last year are you happier or sadder; thinner or fatter; richer or poorer?

Happier, thinner and about the same.

:: What do you wish you would have done more of?

Spent time with the poor, broken and hurting. Sometimes I feel like its easy to get wrapped up in my bubble and I want to be stepping out in love for others.

:: What do you wish you would have done less of?

Thinking that I’m always “right”.

:: How did you spend Christmas?

Spent the day at home with just us. It was just what we wanted.

:: What was your favorite TV program?

Modern Family, House, 30 Rock, Biggest Loser (don’t judge me) and Lie to Me

:: What was the best book you read?

Giants in the Earth by O.E. Rolvaag

:: What was your greatest musical discovery?

Broken Bells or Lady Gaga (I’m seriously behind people!)

:: What did you want and get?

That would have to be the van. I have ALWAYS wanted a VW bus. Yes, I know I’m a hippie mama now!

:: What did you want and not get?

I want an addition onto my house. We need more space (no Im not pregnant!)

:: What was your favorite film of this year?

Away We Go (technically released in 2009 but I saw it 2010) loved it!

:: What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

My 29th birthday was spent in San Diego eating yummy seafood and dreaming about the big party I am going to throw myself to celebrate the big 3-0 (no, I’m not scared)!

:: What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If my family would move to Bellingham.

:: How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

I tried on a pair of skinny jeans this year, moving on up!

:: What kept you sane?

Jesus, coffee, my neighbor Julie, running, friends, laughter and chocolate.

:: What political issue stirred you the most?

The Gulf Oil Disaster, the mid-term elections, unemployment, and the attack on South Korea would be a few that come to mind.

:: Who did you miss?

Not having my family closer.

:: Who was the best new person you met?

I have made some wonderful new friends this year.

:: Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010?

Hold your plans loosely, you never know when they can change in an instant.

:: Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

christmas morning

There is something magical about spending Christmas with a child. We stayed home this year and got the joy of spending a lovely Christmas morning opening gifts, eating homemade cinnamon rolls and lounging in our pjs. Lily LOVED opening her gifts. We caught her under the tree on Christmas Eve trying to sneak a few to unwrap, its so hard to wait! We went to a beautiful church service and enjoyed a nice meal with some friends and then off to bed.

The next morning it was up bright and early and she wasted no time diving in and unwrapping everything. She would play with whatever she got for about 30 seconds and then it was on to the next gift. When she was done with her pile she quickly went for ours. It was such a peaceful morning and a joy spending the day with those I love the most.