Shopping Season is coming!

When Xander was little, we decided that we would not allow plastic or electronic toys in our home. We also decided that we would not allow ourselves to be overrun with so many toys he would never play with any because the choice was too overwhelmings.

Only one of those decisions stuck, and that was the electronics. (And even then, his grandmother has since bought him his own video game system, so maybe that didn't stick quite as we intended it, either).

With the addition of a new little one, we are renewing our ideals. Sure, plastic toys are cheaper. Not everybody is made of money. (We certainly aren't!) And cheaper means you can get more toys, right? Except...hey, that takes care of *2* of our issues at once! If we buy higher quality toys, we won't be overrun with toys because we can't afford to be! (As a side note, here is an awesome article about the social/environmental issues surrounding such toys).

So what alternatives does that leave? Sadly, not everybody likes to buy things on the internet. (Personally, I LOVE it! I love that what I'm looking for is not limited by what local store owners THINK I need. I love the chance to support a small business, maybe a mom working out of her home trying to help out with the bills and stay at home with her family. Plus I love getting packages in the mail!). There are a few local businesses that sell higher quality toys. Places like Toys That Teach sell some great toys. Even bigger chains like Toys R us are starting to offer some better choices (although you do lose the side of buying from small businesses and fair labor practices if you buy from a big chain store). The Rainbow Room is the Richmond Waldorf School store and has lots of natural toys available in-line with the Waldorf philosophy. They are located at 1000 Westover Hills Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23225. You can call 855-4046 for hours to to set up an appointment to come by.

But for those of you who don't mind shopping on the internet, your options are limitless! I'm including a few of my favorites (that even includes a local mom or 2 that I know personally!)

Etsy.com is a great resource! 100% small businesses, probably 90% or more are moms. There are some FANTASTIC hand-made toys there!

UnderTheOldOakTree.etsy.com - this is a local mama that makes some GORGEOUS felted wool toys and things. I LOVE the cars and the balls! I'm sure both my boys would enjoy them as well!

toyworx.etsy.com - has some gorgeous wooden trains! They even have a set that's cheaper because it's made from some recycled wood that would've gone to waste!

womanwoodworker.etsy.com - has more gorgeous wooden toys. Has toys appropriate for babies/young toddlers like rattles, teething pieces, ect.

http://www.threesisterstoys.com/ - has tons of natural toys and often lots on sale, including a whole section on toys under $10! They have a section of wooden animals that Xander would love.

http://www.novanatural.com - has a huge selection of all kinds of toys!

http://www.thewoodenwagon.com/ - lots of great choices of toys from all over the world!

Of course there are always books. Art supplies are great gifts, too, and since they're consumables, you can never have too many! And there are things like passes to museums, play areas (like The Inflatable Palace in Mechanicsville, or Romp n Roll with many locations), music (classical is great, as well as adapted music like http://www.rockabyebabymusic.com/), and of course, clothes!

And of course, don't forget money! It may seem impersonal, but it doesn't overwhelm them, clutter up a room, or go out of style! Both of my children have savings accounts that they will be very excited to know exists once they are older, and while contributing to that may not be instant gratification, I think we live in a society too obsessed with instant gratification, anyway. :)

Of little mice and returning to school

Yes. I'm horrible at updating this thing. I am aware.

My littest monster is about to be 9 months old on Tuesday. And I caught him trying to take his first steps today. Insanity, I tell you! Nothing this active should come in such a small package! It's like trying to catch a mouse, whereas by the time Xander was walking, it was like trying to keep up with a puppy. Still hard, but not as impossible as a mouse.

I also start school on Tuesday. I have this wonderful, eloquent entry I'd love to write about that, but since I have a life that tends to get in the way (remember that mouse I'm chasing?), you'll have to settle with some mashed together thoughts instead. :) I do not live on the college bandwagon. Not only do I not believe that everyone should go to college, but I think college is detrimental to many, many people. It is not so much a place to continue education (which, by the way, you can do at home), but a place for partying, for learning selfishness (serving yourself instead of others), and for patterns of modern dating/sex that hurt everyone. Not to mention, it's just not necessary sometimes! Don't get me wrong - if my children decide on life paths that require higher education (doctor, nurse, rocket scientist, ect), then I will fully support them in attaining those goals. However, I will not EXPECT them to go to college at 18. I will not expect them to put themselves (or their parents) into debt with no idea what they want to be, or worse, if they want to be something that does NOT require college, simply because it's what "good" kids do.

Entrepreneurs, farmers, home builders - these people frame what America SHOULD be about. These are things I desire for my children. To spend more time with their families than in an office. To be connected to the world around them instead of completely removed from where their food comes from, where their home comes from - the realities of life.

So why am I going to school then? Because it is not a stumbling block for me. I am married. I have children to take care of. I cannot/will not fall into the trap of selfishness. Of Godlessness, sex, drinking, and the pursuit of a degree because it's what is expected. I took many years off of school so that I could evaluate why I was going. It's not because I "need" it. I have my job - mother, wife, cook, maid, childcare worker - none of these titles require a degree by my name, and they definitely don't require a debt owed to the government. But when I am going for ME - that is a different story. I am going to study something I love - religion. Not because I need it as a job. But because I have a passion for it, and a passion to learn from those who have spent their lives learning about it. And I refuse to put my family into debt to do so. I am going when I can, and only with the money that the government is giving me to use. It's slow. But it's the best way.

I could write a complete entry on debt, but let's just suffice to say that I think it's very sad that we set our children up for financial ruin from the get-go. By the time they finish college and "settle down", both partners are bringing 5-6 figure debts into the marriage for college alone. That's not including any car they decided to buy or any credit cards they got. The statistics say that a very high percentage of marriages fail because of financial issues. Does anybody wonder why?

In The News

Anybody pick up a Richmond Times Dispatch today?


HORRIBLE picture, but pretty cool. :) My thoughts on being back at college later.

Birthday

My birthday is Thursday. I will be 24 years old. Crazy. Most days I still think of myself as being 18/19. I often think of people around that age as being "my age". In reality I'm 6 years old than 18 year olds. It's a very weird thing to me. Thursday also marks 6 years since I made one of the best decisions of my life and moved in with my husband. (Not too proud about the fact that I moved in with him before we were married, but we all make mistakes).

Anyway, I decided to revive my wish list entry from a few months ago and update it. :)

- Lid for our new 12" cast iron pan
- 10 1/4" cast iron pan (w/lid)
- Cast Iron Grill Pan (like this)
- Glass tupperware with lids (all sizes)
- Wheat grinder (MIL was supposed to get me one for Christmas last year and it never happened)
-Attachments for my new pasta maker (angel hair and lasagna)
- Ravioli roller
- Cape dress pattern
- Woman's Panel Dress

I'm very excited about my new pasta maker (a gift to myself for my birthday, lol). It should be here tomorrow. We eat a TON of pasta here, and of course in the interest of health we've been transferring to only eating spouted or soaked wheat products. I could not BELIEVE the price of a thing of sprouted spaghetti WHEN I can find it. Makes much more sense to do it myself, especially since the maker was only $22. I should easily make my money back. I also bought a pasta book to go with it so I can learn to make things like spinach pasta (which goes GREAT with alfredo sauce) and other ways to use vegetables and add healthy things to our pasta. :)

Again, I probably won't get any of that, but a girl can wish, right?

7 months

My baby turned 7 months old the other day! He now prefers to stand if at all possible and regularly cruises from one side of the couch to the other. He crawls like lightening if he really wants something - it's insane! He's munching on more foods now. Just today he had some dried blueberries and dried peas and loved them. He eats my homemade bread that I sit out to go stale instead of those junky teething biscuits you buy from the store. He's still very small, which is a bit of a change from Xander, who was TINY at birth but fairly chunky by this point. The difference is made even more amusing by his 8lb 14oz start at life vs. Xander's 5lb 8oz.

He is so brilliant it amazes me. He'll get the biggest grin on his face if I sign "more" and he's still hungry, where he'll respond with this blank look if he's done. Daddy has finally seen him sign that he wants to nurse several times. I have to laugh when I get the monthly emails on what he "should" be doing at this age as they're typically things he was doing MONTHS ago. He's also very interested in cups - I think we're go tonight and pick up a sippy cup for him. He tries to drink out of his brother's all the time.

His sleep is still awesome compared to what Xander's was. Most nights I feel like I got a full night's sleep even though it's only about 1/2 true. He easily sleeps 3 hours or so in his crib at night, then comes in to nurse and either stays in with me or lets me put him back in his crib for another small stretch. Either way after years of nursing I've pretty much become a master of the "latch and sleep", so it doesn't bother me much. Some nights I don't even remember reaching over to bring him into bed. Nice to feel refreshed even with an infant. :)

We finally have a pretty solid eye color and it looks like he's following after Mommy with brown eyes instead of Daddy's baby blues like his brother. I just can't believe that God has blessed us with such a wonderful, peaceful, loving child. I am so thankful for my wonderful family. I truly couldn't ask for more. (At least, not yet. hehe)

It's been such a long time

Sorry I haven't gotten to update much. I found out a little while ago that I have menengitus and it is kicking the everloving crap out of me. It's been a little over 2 weeks already and I'm still having bad days.

Anyway, Jaime turned 6 months not too long ago. He's not particularly interested in solids so far with the exception of banana bread which he LOVES. He does crawl 100% now as opposed to the "scooting" thing he's been doing since 4 1/2 months. He pulls himself to standing at least 3 or 4 times every single day. I will be shocked if he makes it to 8 months without taking his first steps. I just cannot get over how intelligent and determined he is! Although I guess it's a good thing since we want he and #3 to be closer in age than he and Xander are. He signs "nummies" (our word for nursing) at least once or twice a day, yet nobody else has managed to see it except me. lol He still sleeps a good 4-5 hours in his crib attached to our bed at night, and then sometimes after he nurses he'll let me put him back in the crib for another 3 hours or so. He still has no teeth but that doesn't stop him from biting me!

Ok, he's sleepy so I'll have to come back to this later.

Breakfast-in-a-cup

Has been moved to my diet blog...