I sent this letter tonight to my area Congressional leaders, as well as to the Senate majority leader, asking them to make sure that the Safer Chemicals Act gets a fair hearing in Congress. Toxic chemicals are pervasive in our environment, our products, our food, our homes... our bodies. The most recent regulatory legislation was from the 1970s. It has been too long, and the controls are too loose. Chemical companies have little accountability for contributing to health and environmental problems. Please learn more and consider how to get involved.
Dear Senator _______,
Our family is very concerned about the proliferation of toxic chemicals in our products, homes, and even food. As you must be aware, the thousands of new chemicals that are added to the marketplace every year are not required to be safety-tested before we and our children are all exposed. Too often, problematic chemicals--like poly-brominated fire retardants, BPA in food and baby products, and parabens in personal care products--are only found out to be toxic to us after 20 or more years of exposure when we can recognize all the damage already done. That is not an acceptable method of testing for us as people or for our environment.
Please help to remedy this problem by making sure that the Safe Chemicals Act reaches the Senate floor and is able to receive a fair and unbiased hearing. I know that the chemical lobbies have money to try to convince everyone that too many restrictions will damage business. But families who are enduring unnecessary illnesses and even deaths need you to represent us: too many unsafe chemicals will damage our lives. Our safety ought to be more important than a chemical company's bottom line.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Respectfully and with concern,
Susan and James Benton
parents of 2 young children
East Palo Alto, CA
For more information about the Act and how to get involved yourself, see http://blog.saferchemicals.org/2012/08/we-did-it-so-now-what-.html
Is there a chemical that you've recently learned about that concerns you? I'd love to learn from you...
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Santay sana squashed banana
Bananas. Super smoothie ingredient. Early baby food. Monkey fodder.
Also involved in the poisoning of communities and harvesters. Sadly.
It's the first thing I committed to buying organic. And it wasn't for my health. When it comes to protecting the fruit itself, the peel is pretty amazing for blocking out the pesticides that are used to spray the banana plants. But I read about how many of the banana farm workers won't even eat the fruit because they see how heavily they are sprayed. And even with that, the workers are still exposed, all day long.
The past month or so my husband and I--and several close friends--have been having a lot of conversations about money, and what we're doing with what we've got in our household. My hubby pointed out that we spend a fairly large amount on our food bill now; and it's about double what it used to be before we went organic. (This was also before we had a two-year-old boy with a voracious appetite, but he hasn't doubled our purchasing! Not yet...) 3 years ago, I just thought organic foods were a luxury item for people who are really picky or nervous about what they eat. I only bought them if the item I needed was only available as an organic. I've gone through a bit of a revolution in my thinking. I'd say we're about 90 or 95% organic now in our house. I've read a lot of articles, research, and data points about how people have lower pesticide levels in their bodies and receive higher nutrient content from organic foods. And honestly, we cannot comfortably afford it. We manage it, but it isn't actually easy for us--and probably a little harder every day that our 2 year old's appetite grows more (seriously, where do they put it?!!)
Not too long ago a friend was pointing out that you don't have to buy all organics, because some of the vegetables with thick peels are pretty low in residues anyway. And that's true. On top of that, the Clean 15 list from Environmental Working Group helps people to sort out which conventional vegetables are low in pesticides.
But I'm also thinking about the farm workers who don't get to pick what is sprayed or not sprayed on the fields; they just need a reliable job.
And I'm thinking about the soil and the waterways that are soaking up everything that is dumped onto them, year after year.
There are other things we could do with the money. Sometimes I wish we were doing other things with the money it costs us. But then I think--maybe I'm paying for these foods what they ought to cost. What they ought to cost me, who benefits from them. Not the farm worker just doing his job. Not the deteriorated, polluted soil; not the chemical water that somebody somewhere will end up drinking because they have nothing cleaner. Maybe I could save the money and buy something else for myself or my kids--or save for their future; fix up broken things in my house; even give it to charity. There are a lot of good things I could do. But I also have the chance to invest in a more conscientious way of farming, and feeding animals for meat, by buying organic foods. It isn't charity; I benefit as much as anybody else. But I think it is also more generous to the people who live in farming communities and who make their wages working farm fields.
And maybe my banana is still a Dole banana-it's not like it came from an independent cooperative of banana farmers. But if my choice helped to force Dole to convert one or two of its banana fields from a pesticide-ridden hazard to a more humane, careful organic farm, I think I can be satisfied with the improvement.
Also involved in the poisoning of communities and harvesters. Sadly.
It's the first thing I committed to buying organic. And it wasn't for my health. When it comes to protecting the fruit itself, the peel is pretty amazing for blocking out the pesticides that are used to spray the banana plants. But I read about how many of the banana farm workers won't even eat the fruit because they see how heavily they are sprayed. And even with that, the workers are still exposed, all day long.
The past month or so my husband and I--and several close friends--have been having a lot of conversations about money, and what we're doing with what we've got in our household. My hubby pointed out that we spend a fairly large amount on our food bill now; and it's about double what it used to be before we went organic. (This was also before we had a two-year-old boy with a voracious appetite, but he hasn't doubled our purchasing! Not yet...) 3 years ago, I just thought organic foods were a luxury item for people who are really picky or nervous about what they eat. I only bought them if the item I needed was only available as an organic. I've gone through a bit of a revolution in my thinking. I'd say we're about 90 or 95% organic now in our house. I've read a lot of articles, research, and data points about how people have lower pesticide levels in their bodies and receive higher nutrient content from organic foods. And honestly, we cannot comfortably afford it. We manage it, but it isn't actually easy for us--and probably a little harder every day that our 2 year old's appetite grows more (seriously, where do they put it?!!)
Not too long ago a friend was pointing out that you don't have to buy all organics, because some of the vegetables with thick peels are pretty low in residues anyway. And that's true. On top of that, the Clean 15 list from Environmental Working Group helps people to sort out which conventional vegetables are low in pesticides.
But I'm also thinking about the farm workers who don't get to pick what is sprayed or not sprayed on the fields; they just need a reliable job.
And I'm thinking about the soil and the waterways that are soaking up everything that is dumped onto them, year after year.
There are other things we could do with the money. Sometimes I wish we were doing other things with the money it costs us. But then I think--maybe I'm paying for these foods what they ought to cost. What they ought to cost me, who benefits from them. Not the farm worker just doing his job. Not the deteriorated, polluted soil; not the chemical water that somebody somewhere will end up drinking because they have nothing cleaner. Maybe I could save the money and buy something else for myself or my kids--or save for their future; fix up broken things in my house; even give it to charity. There are a lot of good things I could do. But I also have the chance to invest in a more conscientious way of farming, and feeding animals for meat, by buying organic foods. It isn't charity; I benefit as much as anybody else. But I think it is also more generous to the people who live in farming communities and who make their wages working farm fields.
And maybe my banana is still a Dole banana-it's not like it came from an independent cooperative of banana farmers. But if my choice helped to force Dole to convert one or two of its banana fields from a pesticide-ridden hazard to a more humane, careful organic farm, I think I can be satisfied with the improvement.
Monday, July 16, 2012
A natural crib mattress? Greenwashing
I've been looking for a natural crib mattress for our second-born. On our limited budget, we can't afford to replace all of our mattresses with natural ones, but I hope that whatever new ones we purchase in the future will be natural, so that we can avoid air contamination from flame retardants in mattresses. Though the mattress industry says that flame retardants pose no danger for babies or adults, I am more inclined to listen to the skeptics and doctors who argue that the addition of so many flame retardants to mattresses may be contributing to a variety of health problems, even SIDS.
Last week I thought my search had ended, with an affordable, "green" mattress that I found at Costco, made by Simmons Kids. The package claimed chemical-free flame resistance, soy foam, organic cotton cover (that nonetheless was waterproof?), GreenGuard tested for emissions, and more. Still, I know Simmons Kids is a major retailer of standard mattresses, so I was hesitant. I kept the packaging intact and did some research. Fortunately, I found a post by Eco-Novice that linked "The Mattress Matters", a recent publication about the chemical content of crib mattresses. It's a great report on in-depth research on many crib mattresses, with a chart at the end that indicates what chemicals of concern may be present in each part of the mattresses' composition. It also indicates where the companies were unwilling to disclose what additives were used in the mattresses. It turned out that the one I had bought was probably a pretty good example of "greenwashing," where a product is made to look more eco-friendly than it actually is. Hey, it's a big marketplace, so companies will do what they can to get a slice of an ever-growing pie as parents and families go greener. In short, the mattress I had waiting probably has vinyl (as the second layer of the organic cotton cover--thus the waterproof claim), chemical flame retardants (who knows which ones), and its "soy-based foam" is probably still between 80% and 95% polyurethane foam. The company did not disclose most of the specifics. I don't trust that. Sigh. Back it went to Costco (thank goodness for a GREAT return policy!) The search is still on. I'm starting to consider getting a prescription for a chemical-free mattress... Has anyone done this?
Last week I thought my search had ended, with an affordable, "green" mattress that I found at Costco, made by Simmons Kids. The package claimed chemical-free flame resistance, soy foam, organic cotton cover (that nonetheless was waterproof?), GreenGuard tested for emissions, and more. Still, I know Simmons Kids is a major retailer of standard mattresses, so I was hesitant. I kept the packaging intact and did some research. Fortunately, I found a post by Eco-Novice that linked "The Mattress Matters", a recent publication about the chemical content of crib mattresses. It's a great report on in-depth research on many crib mattresses, with a chart at the end that indicates what chemicals of concern may be present in each part of the mattresses' composition. It also indicates where the companies were unwilling to disclose what additives were used in the mattresses. It turned out that the one I had bought was probably a pretty good example of "greenwashing," where a product is made to look more eco-friendly than it actually is. Hey, it's a big marketplace, so companies will do what they can to get a slice of an ever-growing pie as parents and families go greener. In short, the mattress I had waiting probably has vinyl (as the second layer of the organic cotton cover--thus the waterproof claim), chemical flame retardants (who knows which ones), and its "soy-based foam" is probably still between 80% and 95% polyurethane foam. The company did not disclose most of the specifics. I don't trust that. Sigh. Back it went to Costco (thank goodness for a GREAT return policy!) The search is still on. I'm starting to consider getting a prescription for a chemical-free mattress... Has anyone done this?
Sunday, June 24, 2012
How to give more and make less
Some good friends and James and I were talking last 2 weeks ago about giving, and about how God's call to be generous givers plays out in our daily lives, budgeting plans, etc.
I was inspired by a video story of Alan Barnhart that our friend Brian sent out for all of us to view in advance. I've heard of the idea of a salary cap, or a "finish line," as Alan Barnhart calls it. I think I remember reading about it in a book by Ron Sider in college; if I recall, a salary cap was one of Sider's suggested strategies for making giving a way of life. That is, for sure, what Barnhart's story demonstrates is possible.
As I watched the video, I was really struck by Barnhart's example, and by how much he and his family have been able to give and accomplish. I also found myself thinking--wow--I wish I made your salary cap! Just being honest... Maybe it's being a church worker, maybe it's living in California where the cost of living is so high that the same amount gets you half the distance. (I know, we live in a paradise, but still, it does have its challenges.)
But as I tried to think about how we would practically put that in place even in our salary ranges, should we decide to, I got a little stymied. How would we decide how much we would need? How would we adjust for any future kids we might have? How/should we plan to adjust for inflation? Where do savings, retirement, and college funds fit in?
I did really like Barnhart's observation that they were able to prevent their children from experiencing the hardships of growing up rich. I really appreciated that way of thinking about it. Jesus did say it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to put their stock first in the kingdom of heaven...
I'm curious if anybody out there has any specific tools or worksheets to suggest how to work though these questions?
And at the same time, I already find myself bumping up against my own internal resistance. I grew up feeling like I couldn't ask my parents for new clothes even though mine didn't fit right. I always tried to order the cheapest item on the menu at restaurants so that I wouldn't place stress on my parents' pocketbooks. I grew up feeling like we weren't really poor, but we weren't really comfortable, either. My parents helped to pay for college when I was in it, but I had no college fund. I always thought things would be different once I got older, and I don't like the idea of feeling financially strapped. I want to have margins. I want a buffer between me and inability to provide for our kids. Right now we don't have a very big one, and it already makes me nervous sometimes. At the same time, I also don't feel the need to work full time while the kids are little or decide not to have any more kids simply because we might be a little less comfortable in the process of providing. Hmm. Even using that word makes me think--do I really believe that God is the one providing for me, and for the kids?
I feel challenged about this. I'm glad this group of friends is going to be continuing this conversation through the summer months. My prayer today is that I will care more about being financially obedient to God and compassionate toward others than about being financially comfortable. I'm not there yet. But I pray that it can become my internal posture.
I was inspired by a video story of Alan Barnhart that our friend Brian sent out for all of us to view in advance. I've heard of the idea of a salary cap, or a "finish line," as Alan Barnhart calls it. I think I remember reading about it in a book by Ron Sider in college; if I recall, a salary cap was one of Sider's suggested strategies for making giving a way of life. That is, for sure, what Barnhart's story demonstrates is possible.
As I watched the video, I was really struck by Barnhart's example, and by how much he and his family have been able to give and accomplish. I also found myself thinking--wow--I wish I made your salary cap! Just being honest... Maybe it's being a church worker, maybe it's living in California where the cost of living is so high that the same amount gets you half the distance. (I know, we live in a paradise, but still, it does have its challenges.)
But as I tried to think about how we would practically put that in place even in our salary ranges, should we decide to, I got a little stymied. How would we decide how much we would need? How would we adjust for any future kids we might have? How/should we plan to adjust for inflation? Where do savings, retirement, and college funds fit in?
I did really like Barnhart's observation that they were able to prevent their children from experiencing the hardships of growing up rich. I really appreciated that way of thinking about it. Jesus did say it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to put their stock first in the kingdom of heaven...
I'm curious if anybody out there has any specific tools or worksheets to suggest how to work though these questions?
And at the same time, I already find myself bumping up against my own internal resistance. I grew up feeling like I couldn't ask my parents for new clothes even though mine didn't fit right. I always tried to order the cheapest item on the menu at restaurants so that I wouldn't place stress on my parents' pocketbooks. I grew up feeling like we weren't really poor, but we weren't really comfortable, either. My parents helped to pay for college when I was in it, but I had no college fund. I always thought things would be different once I got older, and I don't like the idea of feeling financially strapped. I want to have margins. I want a buffer between me and inability to provide for our kids. Right now we don't have a very big one, and it already makes me nervous sometimes. At the same time, I also don't feel the need to work full time while the kids are little or decide not to have any more kids simply because we might be a little less comfortable in the process of providing. Hmm. Even using that word makes me think--do I really believe that God is the one providing for me, and for the kids?
I feel challenged about this. I'm glad this group of friends is going to be continuing this conversation through the summer months. My prayer today is that I will care more about being financially obedient to God and compassionate toward others than about being financially comfortable. I'm not there yet. But I pray that it can become my internal posture.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Reading while nursing... and other motherhood joys
My second son is now 3 months old, and I can't believe the time has flown the way it has! First off, I'll say that people weren't kidding about things being more than 2x harder with two kids than with one. It's not that I actually know how to factor and compare the challenges... but I'm definitely more tired, and feel like I'm learning a complicated dance between two very different developmental stages. All this, and my two-year old feels like he's had a partial personality transplant. Sometimes it feels temporary, and I chalk it up to adjustment. But sometimes I wonder if I'll ever see that little boy again! I am hopeful, though, that his joys with having a brother with whom to grow up and share his life experiences will more than compensate. I know my joys at having both my little boys help me to accept the inevitable changes.
One of the things that I had forgotten from my first's infancy is how much time I end up spending sitting, with a nursing baby on me. At times he alternates sleeping with nursing--at times he is only sleeping because he's nuzzled up next to me! But in any case, I have some more time to either catch up on television watching (hello, Downton Abbey and Revenge, nice to make your acquaintance) or read. Little A's first three months have been opportunities to read some light fiction--Sarah Addison Allen novels, The Hunger Games trilogy--and some parenting and marriage books.
I have made two amazingly helpful "discoveries." The first is the series of Positive Discipline books, which are extremely helpful for developing a long view of parenting in the middle of the daily grind of raising small children. Astoundingly enough, I often found my reading of Positive Discipline for 1-3 Year Olds to be as enjoyable as the novels I was reading. The stories of the families and the illustrations from lives of other toddlers have been inspiring as I try to cope with my darling 2 year old's first forays into highly frustrating behavior. And I found myself experimenting with some of the techniques and ideas right away. Now, if only one of the suggestions had been about how to deal with your toddler screaming at meals and other times just to bug you and stop conversation...
The second has been the book "How We Love" and its partner, "How We Love Our Kids."Okay, I haven't really started reading the second, but just reading the first has been helping me think more clearly about how I love my kids. How We Love is a marriage book based on 5 different attachment styles. The goal of the book is to help people of each attachment style to move closer to a secure attachment styles and maximize the intimacy in one's marriage. It's been rather eye-opening for me, as it's given me a way to explain to my husband some of the reasons why I feel how I feel about us fighting, or him disconnecting. Overall, it's given us both really helpful ways to work on some of the troubles that ail our relationship. I'm so glad for each of them.
One of the things that I had forgotten from my first's infancy is how much time I end up spending sitting, with a nursing baby on me. At times he alternates sleeping with nursing--at times he is only sleeping because he's nuzzled up next to me! But in any case, I have some more time to either catch up on television watching (hello, Downton Abbey and Revenge, nice to make your acquaintance) or read. Little A's first three months have been opportunities to read some light fiction--Sarah Addison Allen novels, The Hunger Games trilogy--and some parenting and marriage books.
I have made two amazingly helpful "discoveries." The first is the series of Positive Discipline books, which are extremely helpful for developing a long view of parenting in the middle of the daily grind of raising small children. Astoundingly enough, I often found my reading of Positive Discipline for 1-3 Year Olds to be as enjoyable as the novels I was reading. The stories of the families and the illustrations from lives of other toddlers have been inspiring as I try to cope with my darling 2 year old's first forays into highly frustrating behavior. And I found myself experimenting with some of the techniques and ideas right away. Now, if only one of the suggestions had been about how to deal with your toddler screaming at meals and other times just to bug you and stop conversation...
The second has been the book "How We Love" and its partner, "How We Love Our Kids."Okay, I haven't really started reading the second, but just reading the first has been helping me think more clearly about how I love my kids. How We Love is a marriage book based on 5 different attachment styles. The goal of the book is to help people of each attachment style to move closer to a secure attachment styles and maximize the intimacy in one's marriage. It's been rather eye-opening for me, as it's given me a way to explain to my husband some of the reasons why I feel how I feel about us fighting, or him disconnecting. Overall, it's given us both really helpful ways to work on some of the troubles that ail our relationship. I'm so glad for each of them.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Resisting the Urge...
This season, I find myself needing to exercise a little extra self-control on many fronts.
I need to eat a little less of these sweets that are ubiquitous and that my pregnant body seems to be craving. Maybe if I go for a few more vegetables, I will already be full...
I need to pass up the fast food places that seem so convenient and easy and untiring when I'm feeling busy and a little extra tired.
I need to stop myself from buying one more gift for little B, or new little baby--who's not even here--even though I saw the cutest little thing and he would love it and I would smile to watch and look it's even made with untreated natural wood...
I need to be realistic with how many homemade gifts I plan to make, and its list of recipients. I feel my ambition and crafty nesting hormones leading me astray. Homemade caramel syrup for B's church nursery leaders, raw sugar body scrub for friends, cloth books for niece and nephew, some cloth diaper bag nametags for friends, a knitted scarf for someone I haven't decided. Tomorrow I may think of more. Then when it comes time to execute, I'm more tired than I expected and begin the inevitable delaying that will kill my plans, or leave me up late at night in the days before I plan to give the gifts.
I need to refrain from mentally (or even verbally) criticizing others for how they approach the holidays and all of its consumer temptations. Maybe this is the hardest one, because it feels so subtle to switch from thinking about what I really value more than all the stuff to then thinking not-so-kindly about how others might seem to be emphasizing stuff. But honestly, it is because it is so hard for me to keep my mind on what it most important that I find it hard to be gentle and compassionate with how all the sales and temptations are tripping others up. I find myself wanting to update my own "Christmas list" far too often, even though I know that I will only get a few gifts, and that is how I've set it up purposely! I think about how I'm only going to get a few gifts, so I want them to be the things that I really need or want rather than random. Yet really, that is not what I want my Christmas season to center around.
I need my heart set on things above.
I need to daily remember Jesus, and the fact that Christmas proclaims that he came and stayed and is here with us.
I need carry his presence with me in such a way that I can gently and humbly invite others to experience his presence and life among us. That I can not be a further cause of stress and hurry and anxious expectations.
I need gratitude for the beauty that already is present without me or anyone else having to work to produce it.
I need to eat a little less of these sweets that are ubiquitous and that my pregnant body seems to be craving. Maybe if I go for a few more vegetables, I will already be full...
I need to pass up the fast food places that seem so convenient and easy and untiring when I'm feeling busy and a little extra tired.
I need to stop myself from buying one more gift for little B, or new little baby--who's not even here--even though I saw the cutest little thing and he would love it and I would smile to watch and look it's even made with untreated natural wood...
I need to be realistic with how many homemade gifts I plan to make, and its list of recipients. I feel my ambition and crafty nesting hormones leading me astray. Homemade caramel syrup for B's church nursery leaders, raw sugar body scrub for friends, cloth books for niece and nephew, some cloth diaper bag nametags for friends, a knitted scarf for someone I haven't decided. Tomorrow I may think of more. Then when it comes time to execute, I'm more tired than I expected and begin the inevitable delaying that will kill my plans, or leave me up late at night in the days before I plan to give the gifts.
I need to refrain from mentally (or even verbally) criticizing others for how they approach the holidays and all of its consumer temptations. Maybe this is the hardest one, because it feels so subtle to switch from thinking about what I really value more than all the stuff to then thinking not-so-kindly about how others might seem to be emphasizing stuff. But honestly, it is because it is so hard for me to keep my mind on what it most important that I find it hard to be gentle and compassionate with how all the sales and temptations are tripping others up. I find myself wanting to update my own "Christmas list" far too often, even though I know that I will only get a few gifts, and that is how I've set it up purposely! I think about how I'm only going to get a few gifts, so I want them to be the things that I really need or want rather than random. Yet really, that is not what I want my Christmas season to center around.
I need my heart set on things above.
I need to daily remember Jesus, and the fact that Christmas proclaims that he came and stayed and is here with us.
I need carry his presence with me in such a way that I can gently and humbly invite others to experience his presence and life among us. That I can not be a further cause of stress and hurry and anxious expectations.
I need gratitude for the beauty that already is present without me or anyone else having to work to produce it.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Some Little Things
I've been saving up ideas... little things I'm trying to do to conserve, or be conscientious with resources, or rely more on natural items.
And tonight I am SO EXCITED!
it is a small thing to be so excited about. But BAKING SODA WORKS! So well! I used it tonight to scrub my bathroom sink, which was sadly neglected with layers of soap scum other things I don't want to think about. And the drain was a little slow to drain. Since we don't have draino, and I didn't really want to go to the effort of snaking the thing, I decided to try a little trick I read about somewhere. Apparently, if you transfer the elementary-school volcano experiment with baking soda and vinegar into your drain, it can help to clear out gunky slowdowns. I got everything together, then figured I might as well scrub my sink bowl while I was at it. IT WAS SO EASY. I've been pretty skeptical with all the suggestions I've read that baking soda paste would be able to clean my sink as easily as my Soft Scrub, or even the old Comet I used to use. I was pretty hesitant to even think of giving SS up. And now, I'm over it! Not only was it just as quick to clean--maybe even a little quicker--but I could do it with my bare hands and not be anxious about anything getting on my clothes, or any residue that might find its way somewhere undesirable (like brown towels, etc.) Baking soda is my new best scrubbing friend!! And then I dumped the rest of my little ramekin-full down my drain, and followed it up with some vinegar, and left it for about 10 minutes. (In that time, I actually went and Soft-Scrubbed my sink, just to compare, and it really took a little more scrubbing with the bleachy stuff...in my rubber gloves, with a burning sensation where a little got on my arm anyway.) Another little shot of vinegar, and then some hot water down the drain... it's going much better. Now mind you, I don't think it has dissolved whatever strands of hair might be caught in there--let's be realistic--but it has helped with whatever else was slowing it down.
That was what I just had to share tonight. Baking soda is the best!
Another small thing I thought about was how to minimize my Amazon boxes. I love Amazon. I can order things that I can't find in stores near me, and I can get stuff we need while Beckett is sleeping. I don't know how moms were moms before it. No, I do. I remember my mom having midnight shopping trips to Safeway with a huge list. That's how. I'm grateful for another way. But I don't have a good reuse for all the boxes, and I'm not satisfied with just tossing them in the recycling (though paper recycling seems to be some of the best that we have, in terms of recycling.) I have, however, figured out that if I just check one little box, I can often eliminate one or more extra boxes. It's the box that says "Group my items in as few shipments as possible" as opposed to the automatic "Ship my items as soon as possible." And really, since I have free Prime thru Amazon Mom (again, how amazing is this website?!), I don't have to worry about things taking too forever to get here.
Also, just bought some beeswax crayons for Beckett to start playing with drawing. There are apparently not that many natural crayon companies out there, and the ones that are can be hard to find. Even the little Palo Alto toystore that I like to go to for safer toy items had nothing other than Crayola. Seriously, who has a monopoly? But anyway, I found some recommendations online, and then found that Amazon had Stockmar crayon blocks. We just got them today. I'm eager to have him try them... I'll try to follow up about how they work. Apparently they are supposed to be a little like watercolors, where they can be layered in a way that regular wax crayons can't be. Hmm.
All right, I think that's all for tonight. I know it's been a while. Is anyone still reading anyway?
And tonight I am SO EXCITED!
it is a small thing to be so excited about. But BAKING SODA WORKS! So well! I used it tonight to scrub my bathroom sink, which was sadly neglected with layers of soap scum other things I don't want to think about. And the drain was a little slow to drain. Since we don't have draino, and I didn't really want to go to the effort of snaking the thing, I decided to try a little trick I read about somewhere. Apparently, if you transfer the elementary-school volcano experiment with baking soda and vinegar into your drain, it can help to clear out gunky slowdowns. I got everything together, then figured I might as well scrub my sink bowl while I was at it. IT WAS SO EASY. I've been pretty skeptical with all the suggestions I've read that baking soda paste would be able to clean my sink as easily as my Soft Scrub, or even the old Comet I used to use. I was pretty hesitant to even think of giving SS up. And now, I'm over it! Not only was it just as quick to clean--maybe even a little quicker--but I could do it with my bare hands and not be anxious about anything getting on my clothes, or any residue that might find its way somewhere undesirable (like brown towels, etc.) Baking soda is my new best scrubbing friend!! And then I dumped the rest of my little ramekin-full down my drain, and followed it up with some vinegar, and left it for about 10 minutes. (In that time, I actually went and Soft-Scrubbed my sink, just to compare, and it really took a little more scrubbing with the bleachy stuff...in my rubber gloves, with a burning sensation where a little got on my arm anyway.) Another little shot of vinegar, and then some hot water down the drain... it's going much better. Now mind you, I don't think it has dissolved whatever strands of hair might be caught in there--let's be realistic--but it has helped with whatever else was slowing it down.
That was what I just had to share tonight. Baking soda is the best!
Another small thing I thought about was how to minimize my Amazon boxes. I love Amazon. I can order things that I can't find in stores near me, and I can get stuff we need while Beckett is sleeping. I don't know how moms were moms before it. No, I do. I remember my mom having midnight shopping trips to Safeway with a huge list. That's how. I'm grateful for another way. But I don't have a good reuse for all the boxes, and I'm not satisfied with just tossing them in the recycling (though paper recycling seems to be some of the best that we have, in terms of recycling.) I have, however, figured out that if I just check one little box, I can often eliminate one or more extra boxes. It's the box that says "Group my items in as few shipments as possible" as opposed to the automatic "Ship my items as soon as possible." And really, since I have free Prime thru Amazon Mom (again, how amazing is this website?!), I don't have to worry about things taking too forever to get here.
Also, just bought some beeswax crayons for Beckett to start playing with drawing. There are apparently not that many natural crayon companies out there, and the ones that are can be hard to find. Even the little Palo Alto toystore that I like to go to for safer toy items had nothing other than Crayola. Seriously, who has a monopoly? But anyway, I found some recommendations online, and then found that Amazon had Stockmar crayon blocks. We just got them today. I'm eager to have him try them... I'll try to follow up about how they work. Apparently they are supposed to be a little like watercolors, where they can be layered in a way that regular wax crayons can't be. Hmm.
All right, I think that's all for tonight. I know it's been a while. Is anyone still reading anyway?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Clean Smelling Paint
James is so good at reminding me of things. Some time ago he told me I should really write about our interior house paint, suggesting that it may have really been the first instance for my interest in health and ecology making a significant change in something that we bought. He's probably right.
We moved into our house about two years ago now. When we moved in, everything was painted the same light cream color, almost white but not quite. And I am a lover of color in my home. So I quickly went to work picking out swatches of color and posing them next to our furniture, artwork, and curtains to see if it would complement them. But I also looked a little into what type of paint that we should buy. I had heard or read recently about how the inside air of homes is often much more polluted than outside air, between 2 and 5 times more. Funnily enough, my memory was saying that it was nearer ten or fifteen times--what does this say about my home's stuffy air?! Glad I looked that up. Among the major contributors to indoor air pollution: paint.
Thus, before I bought gallons of stuff to slather all over our walls, I checked our options. Sadly, of course, the cheapest paints were high polluters. They not only contribute to poor air quality, but they also are more toxic for the environment in their production and when they have to be thrown away. Yet there were a number of companies that had begun to sell more lung-friendly options for just a little higher than their traditional lines. Home Depot has Freshaire paint, which has mostly soft toned colors. Kelly Moore had Enviro Cote (which I think I read was often used for hospitals--that means awesome colors, baby!). Then there's Mystic Paint, which I have only seen online.
In the end, we opted for Benjamin Moore Natura paint, which is a no-VOC paint that comes in most colors that the company offers. I loved that I was able to choose colors just as vibrant and rich (not an option with all the lines), but healthier for us. It was a bit more than BM's regular paints, but cheaper than their AURA paint, which I remember reading was the one that Obama used to paint a government building.
The amazing thing was that when we had a painting party and rolled it rapidly onto our walls, our house was not filled with fumes. Nobody got a paint headache, and in fact, we almost forgot that we were using a product that is typically odorous. Naturally we could smell something, but it just smelled clean. People commented on it.
Two years later, I'm so glad we did it. We spent more money, but it is not a frequent purchase, so I think that the long-term gain of healthier home air is completely worth it. Touch-up painting is not a big deal smell-wise; it doesn't make me feel the need to air out the house for a week. I feel confident that the paint on our walls, at least, is not putting toxic substances into our lungs. I'm hoping to redo our baseboard and window trim painting this year, and I'm planning to buy the same kind.
We also tried one Freshaire paint for our master bath, which we planned in a more sedate color palette We have liked it, too, though I think it required more coats to look as complete.
At some point we'll have to repaint our exterior... I wonder how the more environmentally friendly exterior paints stack up?
We moved into our house about two years ago now. When we moved in, everything was painted the same light cream color, almost white but not quite. And I am a lover of color in my home. So I quickly went to work picking out swatches of color and posing them next to our furniture, artwork, and curtains to see if it would complement them. But I also looked a little into what type of paint that we should buy. I had heard or read recently about how the inside air of homes is often much more polluted than outside air, between 2 and 5 times more. Funnily enough, my memory was saying that it was nearer ten or fifteen times--what does this say about my home's stuffy air?! Glad I looked that up. Among the major contributors to indoor air pollution: paint.
Thus, before I bought gallons of stuff to slather all over our walls, I checked our options. Sadly, of course, the cheapest paints were high polluters. They not only contribute to poor air quality, but they also are more toxic for the environment in their production and when they have to be thrown away. Yet there were a number of companies that had begun to sell more lung-friendly options for just a little higher than their traditional lines. Home Depot has Freshaire paint, which has mostly soft toned colors. Kelly Moore had Enviro Cote (which I think I read was often used for hospitals--that means awesome colors, baby!). Then there's Mystic Paint, which I have only seen online.
In the end, we opted for Benjamin Moore Natura paint, which is a no-VOC paint that comes in most colors that the company offers. I loved that I was able to choose colors just as vibrant and rich (not an option with all the lines), but healthier for us. It was a bit more than BM's regular paints, but cheaper than their AURA paint, which I remember reading was the one that Obama used to paint a government building.
Two years later, I'm so glad we did it. We spent more money, but it is not a frequent purchase, so I think that the long-term gain of healthier home air is completely worth it. Touch-up painting is not a big deal smell-wise; it doesn't make me feel the need to air out the house for a week. I feel confident that the paint on our walls, at least, is not putting toxic substances into our lungs. I'm hoping to redo our baseboard and window trim painting this year, and I'm planning to buy the same kind.
We also tried one Freshaire paint for our master bath, which we planned in a more sedate color palette We have liked it, too, though I think it required more coats to look as complete.
At some point we'll have to repaint our exterior... I wonder how the more environmentally friendly exterior paints stack up?
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Gardening and creating beauty: theological reflections
Lately I've been spending a lot of time in the garden. I mean, a LOT. While B's napping, when James is home on the weekends, when there is something I can do with B strapped in the Ergo on my back... It has been a lot of hard work, a good chunk of solitude, and some food for thought. I've been trying to remember to pray more, and one day I found myself praying for the plants I was planting. At first I felt a bit silly. I mean seriously, God has plenty of very important things to work on and many more significant, life-altering prayer requests at any given moment. I almost apologized. But then I felt as if God reminded me... No... I am in the business of creating beauty. So this ragged edge of my yard that I was weeding and shoveling and amending and planting and mulching--this is God's kind of thing. So I started to pray for my plants a little differently. That they would be a source of hope and joy because their beauty would lift our souls. That they would not be a way that I would try to impress others or mundanely improve the value of my house, but that I would increasingly see my work in my own soil to be a way to join Jesus in his work of redeeming the weed patches of the world and making them fruitful gardens.
Now, this is not to say that I think that this will be the majority of my contribution to the world. But it's a small way that I can serve my family, and the people we invite into our home, because I am working to create more beauty to fill their lives. And my own.
This morning I was reminded of all this by an excerpt I read:
"As each one of us enters into the deeper places through contemplation, we come to see ourselves in our truest being, at the Source of our being in God. We come to see ourselves each moment coming forth from our Source, and not only ourselves but all others with us. By the intuition of the Spirit we come to know our solidarity with all being. This cannot but lead to compassion--compassion for our fellow humans who are one with us in our Source.... Moreover, we will know that oneness and compassion with the rest of creation that is the source of good stewardship and a true ecology." From M. Basil Pennington in Living with Apocalypse ed. by Tilden H. Edwards, in A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God.
The quote was only secondarily about stewardship and ecology, (caring for people comes first!), but it resonated with me and reminded me of my blog. I think the best ecological action is founded on love of the God who made the world and desire to take care of things as he does. Otherwise it is so easy to fall into fear-based thinking about what our unsound ecology will do to the future, or to let being "greener" simply be another way of trying to outdo our neighbors with our self-regarding virtue. Neither of those is enough. I don't think they can or ought to sustain themselves for very long. They have no real life in them, and end when my fear shifts to something else or when I am not as impressively green as someone else. But if I find my life in Christ, and then can promote the life and well-being of others and of the creation, then I see no dead-ends. I think God will keep giving me energy and joy to care.
Now, this is not to say that I think that this will be the majority of my contribution to the world. But it's a small way that I can serve my family, and the people we invite into our home, because I am working to create more beauty to fill their lives. And my own.
This morning I was reminded of all this by an excerpt I read:
"As each one of us enters into the deeper places through contemplation, we come to see ourselves in our truest being, at the Source of our being in God. We come to see ourselves each moment coming forth from our Source, and not only ourselves but all others with us. By the intuition of the Spirit we come to know our solidarity with all being. This cannot but lead to compassion--compassion for our fellow humans who are one with us in our Source.... Moreover, we will know that oneness and compassion with the rest of creation that is the source of good stewardship and a true ecology." From M. Basil Pennington in Living with Apocalypse ed. by Tilden H. Edwards, in A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God.
The quote was only secondarily about stewardship and ecology, (caring for people comes first!), but it resonated with me and reminded me of my blog. I think the best ecological action is founded on love of the God who made the world and desire to take care of things as he does. Otherwise it is so easy to fall into fear-based thinking about what our unsound ecology will do to the future, or to let being "greener" simply be another way of trying to outdo our neighbors with our self-regarding virtue. Neither of those is enough. I don't think they can or ought to sustain themselves for very long. They have no real life in them, and end when my fear shifts to something else or when I am not as impressively green as someone else. But if I find my life in Christ, and then can promote the life and well-being of others and of the creation, then I see no dead-ends. I think God will keep giving me energy and joy to care.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
New Year, new car...
I haven't had as much time for blogging as I would have wished recently. Instead, I've been spending a lot of time online gathering information and ideas for getting a new (to us) car. Our New Year's Day was a little more exciting, though a little less fun, than we had hoped. We were in a car accident. We are all okay. In fact, Beckett came out with not even a bruise. I had and still have some lingering whiplash--not in my neck, but in my upper back. James has a sore shoulder. It was kind of crazy, and only about a mile from our house, on a surface street. A lady was coming around a curve... and she didn't turn. She ploughed into us. Our car was totaled. We made a visit to the ER.But I'm getting off my real subject. We're all okay. But we need a car now, and I'm even more committed to having something safe for us. We're looking at a few different options, with the help of a few of my favorite online resources... Edmunds for car reviews. I especially like the true cost to own feature, which estimates the cost of gas, depreciation, maintenance, etc. for the first five years. Kelley Blue book for checking the prices that people are asking for private sales of used cars. Carfax for getting the history of a specific vehicle and recommendations for how close that vehicle should be to the blue book price. Oh, and I almost forgot: Safercar to look up the government five star safety ratings on any given vehicle. I just wish they had a search feature where you could search by number of stars--I had to put together my own list of all the used car models that are five stars for front and side impacts. I wish they could have done it for me. (The new 2011 rating system is different, with an overall rating now, also. But even then, I don't think there is a way to search for only the five star, or five and four star vehicles.) And even after all these resources, it's still a crazy decision, with so many variables, at least for people who don't just have 20,000 to drop here and there. :)
So wish me luck!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Getting ready for a First Christmas
It's an odd thing, but I usually feel inspired to write when I am otherwise also busy. I get into my hyper-production mode, and it becomes another thing I want to do. This week, I'm getting ready for Christmas: Baby's first, and my second one as the host for my family's side of the festivities. I have a few guiding principles: keep it fun (not all fancy and stressful), keep it simple (in terms of gifts, especially for the kids, but also for the adults, who have most of what we need or want), eat well (a good time to pull out favorites), and don't forget the God who's behind it all.
To keep it fun, we potluck. This year, my mother-in-law is even doing the main dish, which leaves me sooo much more freedom to work around the baby and still get sleep. I'm doing several different items, and each other family member is bringing (or has brought, in the case of my mom and her MANY beverage options!) a contribution to the menu. This year we went with a French theme, but I'm veering toward the simple items for my stuff. We're having a provencal soup (can we say I love my crockpot?), and simple salad (seriously, I think it has 4 items), and a mousse for dessert (I can make it the day before). For appetizers, I'm setting out crudites (which are essentially overnight marinated cold veggies), some baked brie with apples and bread, and chocolate truffles my mom brought already. I love it already, and I can't wait to taste it all. And fortunately, my hubbie will be my sous chef, as he is expert in all things chopping and prepping. Now...what to serve my little one?
To keep it simple, we're continuing our new tradition of an adult secret Santa. Everyone buys one gift for one other adult... And even then, it can be so hard to figure out what to get! We are blessed with such abundance... and we really don't need to go overboard getting more things. I even like that this curbs my own greed. When I start to think of a list of all sorts of unnecessaries that I would like, I remember that even with James' gifts (we do a little nuclear family exchange separately) and my in-laws family Christmas, I'm not getting much. And that's good! If I really need it, I will buy it, or save for it. Or I'll remember that the things that matter most aren't bought to begin with.
Eating well... kind of covered in the one earlier. Just because I'm not gonna kill myself over the food doesn't mean it won't taste good. :)
As for remembering God... we don't have many established corporate traditions. That's kind of funny to me. J and I have usually gone to our church's Christmas Eve service (sometimes on Christmas Eve's eve!) And I usually read some of the Scriptures about Christ's birth for myself, and sometimes with James. But I've been thinking more about how I want this to be an intentional part of our celebration, too. That especially comes into focus when I contemplate how the patterns we set now will be how B will experience Christmas as he grows up. This is only his first Christmas, and he probably won't remember it except through pictures. But I hope that when he looks back in his twenties, he'll remember that our family celebrated Jesus at Christmas, not just presents or even family. So, I think it would work to have one of the family read the Christmas story just before dinner, when everyone is seated together. Now I'm wondering if I'll use a kids' book to make it simpler for them, or if we'll go with the regular Bible story. But altogether, I'm hoping for something that allows us all to go a bit deeper together into the way the real First Christmas changed the world.
Does anyone else have good spiritual traditions their family shares for Christmas?
But I have to end with a funny anecdote I heard at work... A woman was telling her son, now about 2 and 1/2, about Jesus' birth, and he listened through the whole thing as she explained that all of the Christmas celebrations developed to celebrate his birth. Once she was done, she asked if he understood a little more about Christmas, and he said, really thoughtfully, "I think so. So.... I'm Jesus?"
To keep it fun, we potluck. This year, my mother-in-law is even doing the main dish, which leaves me sooo much more freedom to work around the baby and still get sleep. I'm doing several different items, and each other family member is bringing (or has brought, in the case of my mom and her MANY beverage options!) a contribution to the menu. This year we went with a French theme, but I'm veering toward the simple items for my stuff. We're having a provencal soup (can we say I love my crockpot?), and simple salad (seriously, I think it has 4 items), and a mousse for dessert (I can make it the day before). For appetizers, I'm setting out crudites (which are essentially overnight marinated cold veggies), some baked brie with apples and bread, and chocolate truffles my mom brought already. I love it already, and I can't wait to taste it all. And fortunately, my hubbie will be my sous chef, as he is expert in all things chopping and prepping. Now...what to serve my little one?
To keep it simple, we're continuing our new tradition of an adult secret Santa. Everyone buys one gift for one other adult... And even then, it can be so hard to figure out what to get! We are blessed with such abundance... and we really don't need to go overboard getting more things. I even like that this curbs my own greed. When I start to think of a list of all sorts of unnecessaries that I would like, I remember that even with James' gifts (we do a little nuclear family exchange separately) and my in-laws family Christmas, I'm not getting much. And that's good! If I really need it, I will buy it, or save for it. Or I'll remember that the things that matter most aren't bought to begin with.
Eating well... kind of covered in the one earlier. Just because I'm not gonna kill myself over the food doesn't mean it won't taste good. :)
As for remembering God... we don't have many established corporate traditions. That's kind of funny to me. J and I have usually gone to our church's Christmas Eve service (sometimes on Christmas Eve's eve!) And I usually read some of the Scriptures about Christ's birth for myself, and sometimes with James. But I've been thinking more about how I want this to be an intentional part of our celebration, too. That especially comes into focus when I contemplate how the patterns we set now will be how B will experience Christmas as he grows up. This is only his first Christmas, and he probably won't remember it except through pictures. But I hope that when he looks back in his twenties, he'll remember that our family celebrated Jesus at Christmas, not just presents or even family. So, I think it would work to have one of the family read the Christmas story just before dinner, when everyone is seated together. Now I'm wondering if I'll use a kids' book to make it simpler for them, or if we'll go with the regular Bible story. But altogether, I'm hoping for something that allows us all to go a bit deeper together into the way the real First Christmas changed the world.
Does anyone else have good spiritual traditions their family shares for Christmas?
But I have to end with a funny anecdote I heard at work... A woman was telling her son, now about 2 and 1/2, about Jesus' birth, and he listened through the whole thing as she explained that all of the Christmas celebrations developed to celebrate his birth. Once she was done, she asked if he understood a little more about Christmas, and he said, really thoughtfully, "I think so. So.... I'm Jesus?"
Sunday, November 28, 2010
My current addictions
Trader Joe's pumpkin bread muffins. We just cooked our third box in as many weeks. They are easy, delicious, so cozy for the holidays. Having fresh muffins lying around is wonderful for snacking when I get up with Beckett in the morning, or when the day is busy and I don't have a break yet for a meal. I haven't looked too closely at the nutrition information on it... Not yet.
The Zero Waste Home blog. My sister in law referred me to it in a blog comment, and now I'm hooked! I'm fascinated by how people can change their way of life with dedicated effort and some thoughtfulness. Today I was intrigued to find in a back post that the blogger and her family are churchgoers. I was curious about the role that plays in their eco-consciousness... And I am definitely inspired to think about how I can get beyond thinking that I am caring for the creation when I merely divert my trash to the recycle bin.
Pumpkin pie from scratch. I mean, roasted the pumpkin, rolled and pinched the crust... If I could churn my own butter, that would be the next step closer. :) But the recipe had a variation for honey instead of sugar, and oh my goodness I'm in love. It tastes so much better to me! This recipes a keeper.
Brothers and Sisters in syndication. In spite of the fact that it keeps playing repeat episodes with the wrong titles (can someone not work a DVD player at the station???), I love watching this show and getting the back story from the old episodes. James says its a soap opera at night time, but I don't see him leaving the room. :)
Printing pictures of my cute boy. This is so un-eco friendly of me... Picture paper is not recyclable. And he probably will not want all these shots someday. But I do! I might have to get another job just to finance my picture habit.
Watching Friends at bedtime. In bed. It's a terrible habit. I started it when I was having trouble sleeping when I was pregnant. Beckett is almost 8 months. I won't try to figure out how many times we've watched through all 10 seasons. I keep telling myself that soon I will just read before bed again. New Year's?
Scramble on my phone, or on facebook. It's just such a good game! I can play Boggle all by myself, anytime I have a free minute!
These are my Sunday night confessions.
And now it is time for bed. I'm such a parent. It's 9:30.
The Zero Waste Home blog. My sister in law referred me to it in a blog comment, and now I'm hooked! I'm fascinated by how people can change their way of life with dedicated effort and some thoughtfulness. Today I was intrigued to find in a back post that the blogger and her family are churchgoers. I was curious about the role that plays in their eco-consciousness... And I am definitely inspired to think about how I can get beyond thinking that I am caring for the creation when I merely divert my trash to the recycle bin.
Pumpkin pie from scratch. I mean, roasted the pumpkin, rolled and pinched the crust... If I could churn my own butter, that would be the next step closer. :) But the recipe had a variation for honey instead of sugar, and oh my goodness I'm in love. It tastes so much better to me! This recipes a keeper.
Brothers and Sisters in syndication. In spite of the fact that it keeps playing repeat episodes with the wrong titles (can someone not work a DVD player at the station???), I love watching this show and getting the back story from the old episodes. James says its a soap opera at night time, but I don't see him leaving the room. :)
Printing pictures of my cute boy. This is so un-eco friendly of me... Picture paper is not recyclable. And he probably will not want all these shots someday. But I do! I might have to get another job just to finance my picture habit.
Watching Friends at bedtime. In bed. It's a terrible habit. I started it when I was having trouble sleeping when I was pregnant. Beckett is almost 8 months. I won't try to figure out how many times we've watched through all 10 seasons. I keep telling myself that soon I will just read before bed again. New Year's?
Scramble on my phone, or on facebook. It's just such a good game! I can play Boggle all by myself, anytime I have a free minute!
These are my Sunday night confessions.
And now it is time for bed. I'm such a parent. It's 9:30.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Beckett's first Thanksgiving
Yesterday was Beckett's first Thanksgiving day. By the time he was in bed for the evening, I was feeling the poignancy of the day... Firsts are rather amazing things. They only happen that one time, and the responses that a person has cannot be reproduced. We just have to treasure what we can remember. It is strange to think that for each of us, so many of our firsts are not remembered by us, but by those who love us and watched as we grew.Beckett won't remember that we spent yesterday with my family (in our alternating Thanksgiving Day tradition with James' family) at the house where I lived from 7 years old on. He won't remember that he was a bit overwhelmed by the hubbub produced by two doting grandparents, four aunts and uncles, two parents, three other cousins, between 2 and 6 dogs (depending on how many were currently shut up in a room), many cooking activities, and the parade on TV. He'll have no memory of how he and his cousin Freddy both showed up in striped collared shirts with pullover sweater vests, looking ready for a photo shoot. He won't recall that he ate homemade chicken and apples baby food alongside his multigrain cereal, and that he too had his own version of pumpkin pie made from some of the fresh pureed pumpkin, cinnamon, and a little ginger. B won't relive playing with his cousins on the floor, or how he loved giving a few baby kisses to his oldest cousin, Jade. He will not be able to think back fondly of how my dad, his grandpa, was eager to hold him and give him "horsey rides" on his knee.
But all these sweet and funny moments will be filed in a little corner of my mind. My favorite part was seeing him sitting for his first meal at my mom and dad's table with my side of his extended family. It is rare enough that he gets to eat with both James and I with his early bedtime, so this was an exciting opportunity. He sat between James and I, and we both fed him his food. He was too excited for more than a five minute nap while we were there, and by the end of the day he was tired and needing to stay close to me to be calm. But he was sweet and curious and enjoying our family. And me... these days, with my sweet husband and my darling baby, I felt like the most blessed woman in the world.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
"There's a Beckett on my face"
Kids do the darndest things, an old saying goes. One of Beckett's favorite funny things lately involves applying his mouth to my cheek or my chin or along my jawline. Sometimes he just tongues me a little. Sometimes he bites down with his two little teeth (not the most comfortable feeling...) And sometimes he starts sucking. On my chin. I think it's actually his form of kissing right now. But it has become quite a game for us. It tickles, and my view is of his big eyes and the top of his head is so funny that it makes me laugh a lot. I've taken to doing a fake scream--a rather mild and quiet "Ahhh," and then I say, "There's a Beckett on my face!" And we both laugh. I don't know that this will be a long-lasting game, but he's been doing it for about a month now. We'll see how long I can handle the biting part. :)
It makes me glad I've given extra thought since he was born into what I am willing to put on my skin. I feel pretty good knowing that my bare minerals makeup has a very low number rating on the Environmental Working Group's cosmetics database. The database is one of the favorite new online tools I've found to help me evaluate products that I use every day. It's not infallible: sometimes I have looked up products that should probably have a lower hazard rating because the labels specifically rule out contaminants that the rating system is still including in its factoring. But overall it is extremely helpful, especially when it comes to avoiding a few of the ingredients that seem to be the worst offenders. Like parabens and phthalates, both of which are commonly used in beauty products.
Parabens are apparently used as a sort of antimicrobial ingredient, so that products last longer. Phthalates are used in fragrance cocktails, nail polishes, and a host of other things, and they help to preserve the fragrance. I don't know that I've read what they are meant to do in the other products. But they are also used in some kinds of plastics. Now, there are several different kinds of parabens and phthalates, and they each have varying levels of toxicity. But none are really very good. Some contribute to cancer, some can change hormones, some can damage organ systems. Here's a look at one, for example: dibutyl phthalate. It has the highest toxicity rating on the database. And it's in nail polishes. (Turns out most nail polishes are pretty awful health-wise.) But other types of phthalates are used in lotions, washes, and many other things... without ever appearing on the label because they are part of the fragrance blend that companies can conceal to keep them proprietary. Parabens are a bit more straightforward, and are usually listed among ingredients.
For people concerned about increasing exposure to toxic chemicals, parabens and phthalates are some of the top on the list to avoid. One of my favorite new sites, Healthy Child, Healthy World, lists them among a few other ingredients to avoid in personal care products if you want to minimize your own exposure. Now, it's not as if your one favorite lotion with methylparaben is going to get you in your sleep. But, the problem is a lifetime of exposure to not one but maybe 20 or 30 or 40 products that all have these ingredients. When I looked through my bathroom and shower, I found many. For instance: my body wash... a couple of lotions. My chapstick (which is actually ubiquitous in my house, so that I can use it all the time.)
Fortunately, there are some good products out there that are made paraben free and phthalate free. I found some new soap for the shower, and new lotion. And guess what: they still smell pretty nice, and they still get me clean and soft.
And, what's even better... they will hopefully not interfere with a long and healthy life for either me or my little skin-sucking baby boy. Maybe his whole world won't be safe to put in his mouth, but I'd like it if just my chin could be.
What about you...? Are there any products you've ever been concerned about putting on yourself, or your child coming into contact with?
It makes me glad I've given extra thought since he was born into what I am willing to put on my skin. I feel pretty good knowing that my bare minerals makeup has a very low number rating on the Environmental Working Group's cosmetics database. The database is one of the favorite new online tools I've found to help me evaluate products that I use every day. It's not infallible: sometimes I have looked up products that should probably have a lower hazard rating because the labels specifically rule out contaminants that the rating system is still including in its factoring. But overall it is extremely helpful, especially when it comes to avoiding a few of the ingredients that seem to be the worst offenders. Like parabens and phthalates, both of which are commonly used in beauty products.
Parabens are apparently used as a sort of antimicrobial ingredient, so that products last longer. Phthalates are used in fragrance cocktails, nail polishes, and a host of other things, and they help to preserve the fragrance. I don't know that I've read what they are meant to do in the other products. But they are also used in some kinds of plastics. Now, there are several different kinds of parabens and phthalates, and they each have varying levels of toxicity. But none are really very good. Some contribute to cancer, some can change hormones, some can damage organ systems. Here's a look at one, for example: dibutyl phthalate. It has the highest toxicity rating on the database. And it's in nail polishes. (Turns out most nail polishes are pretty awful health-wise.) But other types of phthalates are used in lotions, washes, and many other things... without ever appearing on the label because they are part of the fragrance blend that companies can conceal to keep them proprietary. Parabens are a bit more straightforward, and are usually listed among ingredients.
For people concerned about increasing exposure to toxic chemicals, parabens and phthalates are some of the top on the list to avoid. One of my favorite new sites, Healthy Child, Healthy World, lists them among a few other ingredients to avoid in personal care products if you want to minimize your own exposure. Now, it's not as if your one favorite lotion with methylparaben is going to get you in your sleep. But, the problem is a lifetime of exposure to not one but maybe 20 or 30 or 40 products that all have these ingredients. When I looked through my bathroom and shower, I found many. For instance: my body wash... a couple of lotions. My chapstick (which is actually ubiquitous in my house, so that I can use it all the time.)
Fortunately, there are some good products out there that are made paraben free and phthalate free. I found some new soap for the shower, and new lotion. And guess what: they still smell pretty nice, and they still get me clean and soft.
What about you...? Are there any products you've ever been concerned about putting on yourself, or your child coming into contact with?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Not a good napper
I haven't blogged much recently, because my little man Beckett has not been giving me much time to myself before evening exhaustion sets in. In other words, he's not a good napper these days. A month ago I was singing a different tune. For an amazing couple of weeks during his two double-hour napping sessions, I installed a drip system in our garden, planted some fall vegetables, mopped our floors (including a thorough scrub of our kitchen floor), blogged... and I can't remember what else. Now I'm lucky if I have an hour and a half to eat, get dinner prep started, and maybe clean a thing or two. In fact, I began this post as Beckett was napping. He has since awakened, and I'm working on it, determined, while he plays on his floor mat.
Beckett's lack of napping has brought on a few different responses in me. Sometimes he goes to sleep fine and just wakes up quickly. Then I feel a little disappointed not to get more done, but happy he's slept, and happy to see him.
Other times, he fights me, screaming and crying and trying to arch his back out of my arms, as I try to put him down for a nap. These times bring out a lot of my frustration, and even anger. It doesn't make any sense to me, as he dozes and rubs his eyes and ears, why he would resist sleeping. Is he in pain? He doesn't seem so... Does he have a wet diaper? I checked... Is he hungry? No, he just ate. Is he stubborn? I have no idea if that's possible in a child his age... I run out of options, and just have to debate between two responses. Do I try to get him to take a nap, or do I just let him go, sleepless, and deal with the craziness that ensues? On days like yesterday, I try to wait him out, bounce him around, and lull him to sleep. I lay down with him, thinking I'd just take a nap with him, since often that will get him to sleep. Nothing worked. After an hour, I gave up in frustration, putting him in his crib with his mobile going for a few minutes. But by then, I was angry. It's not logical, I know. I don't accuse him of ill will or anything. But if you have had any human, even a tiny one, screaming in your face for give or take thirty minutes, you will understand that sometimes the visceral response is difficult to quell. Add a little exhaustion, and for me, it's a recipe for evil things rising up in my throat.
Later, when the storm has passed, I feel ashamed. How could I feel so enraged at my little darling? How could I ever even imagine venting frustration at him, when I wish and pray every day for his protection and good?
And where is God in all this, as I pray for patience and compassion and gentleness with my son? The perfectionist in me (damn it, it's still here after all) wishes that in every instance, Jesus would give me more strength.... so that I don't sound so angry when I tell Beckett, "Stop it," as he kicks and screams and flails his arms. So that I never move him roughly or have to fear that I've held him too tightly as I try to contain his flailing. So that I never have the urge to shake him that makes me have to leave him crying in his crib for a few minutes. So that I never fail to be the mom I wish to be, ever loving and patient. But that isn't what God does every time. Sometimes that is how it is, and Jesus stands in the room with me as my child seems possessed, and gives me soothing words and deep breaths and the ability to wait.
But sometimes, like yesterday, I feel like I'm alone, and I'm too tired, and I don't do what I wish I would do. And last night in a deep conversation with a friend, I think I could see what Jesus is doing then. Maybe he did give me more strength, and I failed anyway. But for sure, afterward, he was giving me grace. Because what does grace mean, if it can't make things right after we have failed in concrete and specific ways? I've believed and heard all my life that God is gracious, and I guess I don't have as much trouble believing in the side of grace that helps us live well and truly and lovingly. But I have a harder time leaning into the side of grace that only shows when I fail utterly, and feel myself to be a sick and selfish creature still. But what is that verse... "He knows that we are but dust..." And so today, each day, is the beginning of a new story for me, and for my little one. Because I have to trust that when I fail Beckett, God's grace will be there for him, too.
Beckett's lack of napping has brought on a few different responses in me. Sometimes he goes to sleep fine and just wakes up quickly. Then I feel a little disappointed not to get more done, but happy he's slept, and happy to see him.
Other times, he fights me, screaming and crying and trying to arch his back out of my arms, as I try to put him down for a nap. These times bring out a lot of my frustration, and even anger. It doesn't make any sense to me, as he dozes and rubs his eyes and ears, why he would resist sleeping. Is he in pain? He doesn't seem so... Does he have a wet diaper? I checked... Is he hungry? No, he just ate. Is he stubborn? I have no idea if that's possible in a child his age... I run out of options, and just have to debate between two responses. Do I try to get him to take a nap, or do I just let him go, sleepless, and deal with the craziness that ensues? On days like yesterday, I try to wait him out, bounce him around, and lull him to sleep. I lay down with him, thinking I'd just take a nap with him, since often that will get him to sleep. Nothing worked. After an hour, I gave up in frustration, putting him in his crib with his mobile going for a few minutes. But by then, I was angry. It's not logical, I know. I don't accuse him of ill will or anything. But if you have had any human, even a tiny one, screaming in your face for give or take thirty minutes, you will understand that sometimes the visceral response is difficult to quell. Add a little exhaustion, and for me, it's a recipe for evil things rising up in my throat.
Later, when the storm has passed, I feel ashamed. How could I feel so enraged at my little darling? How could I ever even imagine venting frustration at him, when I wish and pray every day for his protection and good?
And where is God in all this, as I pray for patience and compassion and gentleness with my son? The perfectionist in me (damn it, it's still here after all) wishes that in every instance, Jesus would give me more strength.... so that I don't sound so angry when I tell Beckett, "Stop it," as he kicks and screams and flails his arms. So that I never move him roughly or have to fear that I've held him too tightly as I try to contain his flailing. So that I never have the urge to shake him that makes me have to leave him crying in his crib for a few minutes. So that I never fail to be the mom I wish to be, ever loving and patient. But that isn't what God does every time. Sometimes that is how it is, and Jesus stands in the room with me as my child seems possessed, and gives me soothing words and deep breaths and the ability to wait.
But sometimes, like yesterday, I feel like I'm alone, and I'm too tired, and I don't do what I wish I would do. And last night in a deep conversation with a friend, I think I could see what Jesus is doing then. Maybe he did give me more strength, and I failed anyway. But for sure, afterward, he was giving me grace. Because what does grace mean, if it can't make things right after we have failed in concrete and specific ways? I've believed and heard all my life that God is gracious, and I guess I don't have as much trouble believing in the side of grace that helps us live well and truly and lovingly. But I have a harder time leaning into the side of grace that only shows when I fail utterly, and feel myself to be a sick and selfish creature still. But what is that verse... "He knows that we are but dust..." And so today, each day, is the beginning of a new story for me, and for my little one. Because I have to trust that when I fail Beckett, God's grace will be there for him, too.
Monday, September 20, 2010
One and a half teeth
Beckett has been teething. Rather sweetly, actually. His first tooth made an appearance on Labor Day with little fanfare. I happened to be brushing his gums, practice for when he would someday have teeth. And all of a sudden it was someday! I looked down at his bottom gum, just to see if I could see a little white somewhere deep in there... and I could see some coming through, instead. He had had a couple of mildly whiny moments that day that I attributed to tiredness. Maybe so, maybe not, but there was a tooth, too. It cut all the way through by the end of that week. Then last week, the corner of a second tooth started showing. It surprised me by being further to the side, instead of the other center tooth. Now, neither of these teeth has gotten all the way in yet, which is perhaps why he started to seem like he was actually teething: having a little trouble sleeping, fussing a bit more, needing more comfort than usual. All the same, I've been pretty pleased by how strong my little boy is in the middle of the teething process.
I also went out pretty soon to buy baby toothpaste. I didn't have any without fluoride, which kids aren't supposed to have until they are old enough to know how not to swallow it.
The bummer part is that though the only baby toothpastes I was able to find were sans fluoride, they did contain parabens. Which I have not yet posted about... But they're not good. I will post about them soon. Maybe when I pick up a good alternative baby toothpaste this week and I can put more before and after pictures.
But this post will just be about little B, my boy who braves 1 and a half teeth with only a little whimpering to welcome them. It's amazing what people are capable of, even when they're just little tiny people still.
I also went out pretty soon to buy baby toothpaste. I didn't have any without fluoride, which kids aren't supposed to have until they are old enough to know how not to swallow it.
The bummer part is that though the only baby toothpastes I was able to find were sans fluoride, they did contain parabens. Which I have not yet posted about... But they're not good. I will post about them soon. Maybe when I pick up a good alternative baby toothpaste this week and I can put more before and after pictures.
But this post will just be about little B, my boy who braves 1 and a half teeth with only a little whimpering to welcome them. It's amazing what people are capable of, even when they're just little tiny people still.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Where it all began...
I have learned a lot recently about toxins, products, and home health. (What I mean by "it" in the blog title...) This emerged as a result of part of my personality that I recently explained to a coworker... I'm a nerd. In my opinion, everything is an opportunity to learn and to study. I don't know where I got this idea, exactly. But what it means, practically, is that anything that I start learning about that seems kind of important becomes something I want to learn everything about. I know, it sounds a little obsessive. It might be. But I haven't studied up on that one, so I don't know if we should really call it that...
My foray into the world of information on toxics today started pretty simply. All my baby supplies say "BPA free." I decided maybe I should know why they felt the need to tell me that. What was BPA, after
all? Turns out, BPA is a synthetic estrogen. It was made in hopes of being used for that, but it wasn't as good as others, so it got shelved... until somebody discovered that it was pretty useful for hardening plastics. I think the assumption must have been that once it was in something solid, it would stay put. Problem is, it doesn't. As we are finding out about so many things in plastics, it leaches out--into whatever it is next to...
Which turns out to be everything.
Okay, maybe not everything.
Just peas and carrots, soup, baby formula, water, fruit cocktail, tuna, beans, leftovers, soda, and pretty much anything in a can, water in old Nalgene-like water bottles (usually coded #7; the new ones use polypropylene instead, so they are safer)... more that I can't remember.
And it's in even more things that come into direct contact with skin. Cash register receipts (carbonless). Plastic flatware. Dental sealants. So it might be absorbed through the skin, or it might get into the system by eating with hands that have touched it.
The problem with it being so pervasive and getting into food and human bodies is that it is extra estrogen that our bodies weren't counting on working with. The Washington Post article above says that the concentration found in most people's bodies might be small, but it's 1,000 times the body's natural level. That doesn't sound so small when you think of the proportion. Based on animal studies, it is believed to contribute to: undescended testes, early puberty, male sexual dysfunction, polycystic ovarian syndrome, miscarriage, thyroid disregulation, diabetes, even ADHD. A new study (out yesterday) confirm it does cause hormone changes in men.
All these things make me extremely grateful that it's no longer in my baby bottles or my plastic water bottle. Yet I am disturbed that it is still in canned foods and plastic flatware, and even used as sealant on the metal lids of glass jars... It's ubiquitous! I've found out that small children and pregnant women are most vulnerable. But I didn't find out until after little Beckett was born, and so I don't even know how many canned foods I ate during my pregnancy with him.
I have decided, however, to minimize his exposure through my milk. I haven't opened a can for our food for weeks now. Our beans now come from a bag, and I soak them and then cook them myself. Soups so far are ones I have made. Sauces come in jars. Fruit for my cottage cheese is in a jar. And tuna... well, I don't know when I'll eat it again.
If you are curious about what it would take to decrease your exposure to BPA, look at the sidebar in a Washington Post article.
I also decided it was time to take some public action to make my voice known. There's a bill before Congress right now about chemicals...
My foray into the world of information on toxics today started pretty simply. All my baby supplies say "BPA free." I decided maybe I should know why they felt the need to tell me that. What was BPA, after
all? Turns out, BPA is a synthetic estrogen. It was made in hopes of being used for that, but it wasn't as good as others, so it got shelved... until somebody discovered that it was pretty useful for hardening plastics. I think the assumption must have been that once it was in something solid, it would stay put. Problem is, it doesn't. As we are finding out about so many things in plastics, it leaches out--into whatever it is next to...
Which turns out to be everything.
Okay, maybe not everything.
Just peas and carrots, soup, baby formula, water, fruit cocktail, tuna, beans, leftovers, soda, and pretty much anything in a can, water in old Nalgene-like water bottles (usually coded #7; the new ones use polypropylene instead, so they are safer)... more that I can't remember.
And it's in even more things that come into direct contact with skin. Cash register receipts (carbonless). Plastic flatware. Dental sealants. So it might be absorbed through the skin, or it might get into the system by eating with hands that have touched it.
The problem with it being so pervasive and getting into food and human bodies is that it is extra estrogen that our bodies weren't counting on working with. The Washington Post article above says that the concentration found in most people's bodies might be small, but it's 1,000 times the body's natural level. That doesn't sound so small when you think of the proportion. Based on animal studies, it is believed to contribute to: undescended testes, early puberty, male sexual dysfunction, polycystic ovarian syndrome, miscarriage, thyroid disregulation, diabetes, even ADHD. A new study (out yesterday) confirm it does cause hormone changes in men.
All these things make me extremely grateful that it's no longer in my baby bottles or my plastic water bottle. Yet I am disturbed that it is still in canned foods and plastic flatware, and even used as sealant on the metal lids of glass jars... It's ubiquitous! I've found out that small children and pregnant women are most vulnerable. But I didn't find out until after little Beckett was born, and so I don't even know how many canned foods I ate during my pregnancy with him.
I have decided, however, to minimize his exposure through my milk. I haven't opened a can for our food for weeks now. Our beans now come from a bag, and I soak them and then cook them myself. Soups so far are ones I have made. Sauces come in jars. Fruit for my cottage cheese is in a jar. And tuna... well, I don't know when I'll eat it again.
If you are curious about what it would take to decrease your exposure to BPA, look at the sidebar in a Washington Post article.
I also decided it was time to take some public action to make my voice known. There's a bill before Congress right now about chemicals...
Thursday, August 19, 2010
My evil toothpaste
I mentioned before that one of the things I'm doing now that I have a son is thinking more about health and safety. And that is true. But I'd also started thinking about health and safety and the environment before now.
It started with theology, I think. I got to really thinking about what it means that I believe that we are stewards of God's earth, and that as stewards we are meant to care for it and tread a little lighter than we are perhaps apt to do in this age... Maybe we are even meant to improve our little corner of earth instead of razing it and its adjacent plots. So, for example, I have thought about my own contribution of waste to landfills, and I work at recycling as much as I can every day. Sometimes I even let things accumulate in my car during the day so that I can bring them home and recycle them when I don't find bins along my way. I've tried worm composting twice (um, my worms keep dying), because I have seen pictures of 30 year old heads of lettuce that fail to biodegrade in mixed landfills.
More and more these days, I am finding that my concern to be a good steward of the earth overlaps with my own interest in being healthy, and now, in keeping my son healthy. I found out recently that a common ingredient in household items--one that I was putting in my mouth twice a day, actually--is not only an environmental contaminant, but also a possible health risk. It's name...duhn duhn duh: triclosan.
You'll find it in any of your hand soaps labeled "Antibacterial." (Yep, that means every soap from the popular Bath 'n' Body Works. Sorry friends.) In socks that are supposed to prevent odor. Ironically, I had done a hard target search (oh, at Target... the unintentional pun that now I have kept and even mentioned!) for hand soap that was non-antibacterial a few years ago in an effort to minimize my own home breeding of super-bacteria by wiping out every little thing on skin. And because all the doctors and research say that what really matters is washing thoroughly with simple soap and water. At that point, there was only ONE option in a whole section of hand soaps. So that's been our home soap for a few years.
It turns out, triclosan is probably worse than I suspected, and it's in more things than I knew! Before you think I'm all conspiracy-theory crazy, please remember that I'm just looking to minimize unnecessary things that I do that can cause harm.
I won't bore you with all the details. But here's my summary. Triclosan persists in groundwater (i.e., doesn't biodegrade.) It also persists in human tissue. Meaning the body can't filter it out as waste very well. And now it is suspected to disrupt human hormones. For these reasons, among others, it is already banned or restricted in parts of Europe.
And I was putting it into my mouth! Ick.
There are other reasons I didn't just choose original colgate (sans triclosan) or something comparable, but we won't get into that now. For now, let's just say I didn't want my toothbrushing to pollute the fresh water I'm lucky to have, deposit a strong chemical into my body, or possibly make me grow chest hair. Okay, so that last part probably wouldn't happen. But it sounds a little wild to let my toothpaste affect my hormones!
And if you're like me, and curious about all the details, read more. Here. And here.
It started with theology, I think. I got to really thinking about what it means that I believe that we are stewards of God's earth, and that as stewards we are meant to care for it and tread a little lighter than we are perhaps apt to do in this age... Maybe we are even meant to improve our little corner of earth instead of razing it and its adjacent plots. So, for example, I have thought about my own contribution of waste to landfills, and I work at recycling as much as I can every day. Sometimes I even let things accumulate in my car during the day so that I can bring them home and recycle them when I don't find bins along my way. I've tried worm composting twice (um, my worms keep dying), because I have seen pictures of 30 year old heads of lettuce that fail to biodegrade in mixed landfills.
More and more these days, I am finding that my concern to be a good steward of the earth overlaps with my own interest in being healthy, and now, in keeping my son healthy. I found out recently that a common ingredient in household items--one that I was putting in my mouth twice a day, actually--is not only an environmental contaminant, but also a possible health risk. It's name...duhn duhn duh: triclosan.
 | |
| Here's what my toothpaste used to be |
It turns out, triclosan is probably worse than I suspected, and it's in more things than I knew! Before you think I'm all conspiracy-theory crazy, please remember that I'm just looking to minimize unnecessary things that I do that can cause harm.
I won't bore you with all the details. But here's my summary. Triclosan persists in groundwater (i.e., doesn't biodegrade.) It also persists in human tissue. Meaning the body can't filter it out as waste very well. And now it is suspected to disrupt human hormones. For these reasons, among others, it is already banned or restricted in parts of Europe.
And I was putting it into my mouth! Ick.
 |
| Here are my toothpastes now (I found the 2nd one cheaper, and with fluoride). |
There are other reasons I didn't just choose original colgate (sans triclosan) or something comparable, but we won't get into that now. For now, let's just say I didn't want my toothbrushing to pollute the fresh water I'm lucky to have, deposit a strong chemical into my body, or possibly make me grow chest hair. Okay, so that last part probably wouldn't happen. But it sounds a little wild to let my toothpaste affect my hormones!
And if you're like me, and curious about all the details, read more. Here. And here.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Everyday routines
I've been thinking about how having a new baby brings many additions to our daily routine. Not that any day is even near the same... But there are some things now that James and I do everyday--that have become normal--that were never a part of our life before Beckett. For instance, I wash soothies (what we call his pacifiers) multiple times a day after they fall to the ground, or get rinsed in spit up, or just start to look blech.
Some are these mundane things. We wash diapers daily (yes, we use cloth: amazing BumGenius diapers, one on Beckett at right.) We pack and unpack a diaper bag with wipes, diapers, burp cloths, extra clothes. I pump milk and then wash all the accompanying parts--okay, maybe not daily, but often, and for a while there it was at least daily.
Other things are more poignant. Every day I feed my sweet boy, and I look at his face as he falls asleep nursing, or peeks up at me with a smile during a break. Every night I wake up multiple times to feed him in the dark, and I check for his breathing when things seem too silent in his bed. Each day I make chomping noises as I kiss his tummy because he laughs out loud each time. I make up songs, often complete with dances that no one will ever see (voluntarily, that is--you have to catch me!) because little B loves a tune and I'm a sucker for his smile. Every day feel at least a little bit tired and understand our parents' failings with more empathy. I thank God for my little boy's life, and pray fervently that it will be long, healthy, and full of joy. Each day I laugh at Beckett's sudden, toucan-like exclamations, or sometimes his more mellow "Waaaaaaaaaa"s that trail off into nothing, because he is more and more verbal these days.
And every day I give a little more thought to stuff I didn't ever pay much attention to before Beckett. Learning about how one chemical, BPA, could affect him if he were overexposed got me thinking and learning about other chemicals. And changing products and habits in our home. Because I'm fully grown and doing fine and it seems like nothing is affecting me. It seems. But he's still developing, and very vulnerable, and so I want to be more conservative about possible dangers with him. And who know? Things might be affecting my body more than I know.
I'm also spending more time at home. It's just easier, with a nursing baby in diapers who needs 2-3 naps a day (and is rather sensitive to light, sound, and other anti-nap agents that abound in the outside world.) Yesterday I stayed out from 11 am until 2:30 pm, and Beckett's naps during that time consisted of falling asleep twice in the car and then waking up when we stopped: 15-20 minutes sleep total. With just that much thwarting of his naps, he was a little fried in the afternoon and wouldn't sleep.
All of these factors have converged, along with the suggestion of my dear friend Sarah, and converted me to blogging. I have lots of thoughts about many things, and only a small little person with coos to tell them to. I am learning lots of useful things that I want to share about products and chemicals and health. And already, in my first blog, I have found out that this is a medium that bears many interruptions. 4 times I have attempted to write this. And now, here it is. My first blog post.
Other things are more poignant. Every day I feed my sweet boy, and I look at his face as he falls asleep nursing, or peeks up at me with a smile during a break. Every night I wake up multiple times to feed him in the dark, and I check for his breathing when things seem too silent in his bed. Each day I make chomping noises as I kiss his tummy because he laughs out loud each time. I make up songs, often complete with dances that no one will ever see (voluntarily, that is--you have to catch me!) because little B loves a tune and I'm a sucker for his smile. Every day feel at least a little bit tired and understand our parents' failings with more empathy. I thank God for my little boy's life, and pray fervently that it will be long, healthy, and full of joy. Each day I laugh at Beckett's sudden, toucan-like exclamations, or sometimes his more mellow "Waaaaaaaaaa"s that trail off into nothing, because he is more and more verbal these days.
And every day I give a little more thought to stuff I didn't ever pay much attention to before Beckett. Learning about how one chemical, BPA, could affect him if he were overexposed got me thinking and learning about other chemicals. And changing products and habits in our home. Because I'm fully grown and doing fine and it seems like nothing is affecting me. It seems. But he's still developing, and very vulnerable, and so I want to be more conservative about possible dangers with him. And who know? Things might be affecting my body more than I know.
I'm also spending more time at home. It's just easier, with a nursing baby in diapers who needs 2-3 naps a day (and is rather sensitive to light, sound, and other anti-nap agents that abound in the outside world.) Yesterday I stayed out from 11 am until 2:30 pm, and Beckett's naps during that time consisted of falling asleep twice in the car and then waking up when we stopped: 15-20 minutes sleep total. With just that much thwarting of his naps, he was a little fried in the afternoon and wouldn't sleep.
All of these factors have converged, along with the suggestion of my dear friend Sarah, and converted me to blogging. I have lots of thoughts about many things, and only a small little person with coos to tell them to. I am learning lots of useful things that I want to share about products and chemicals and health. And already, in my first blog, I have found out that this is a medium that bears many interruptions. 4 times I have attempted to write this. And now, here it is. My first blog post.
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