Southeast Asia

This morning the girls and I put Jonathan on a plane to Southeast Asia. Well technically not true. This morning we went to Dunkin Donuts drive-thru on the way to Denny's parking lot where J got in a car to ride to the airport with the other people going on the trip. The point is we sent him off. You know its a long trip when you board the plane on Thursday and you deplane on Saturday.

We are thrilled that God put together such a cool intersection of Jonathan's passions: basketball, Jesus and Asia (not necessarily in that order). But we are also amazed at the way He provided the money for this trip.

We were talking about sending support letters to some close friends and family. While I don't have anything against support letters, I just wasn't at peace sending them out this time. I kept stalling Jonathan and finally I proofed a support letter. That very night we found out we were going to receive an unexpected amount of money. More than enough to pay for the trip. So we nixed the letter and wrote the check. Thank you Lord.

When you are brushing your teeth or commuting to work, would you take a moment to pray for J's trip?
Pray for:

• safety in travel and in Asia
• unity of purpose among the 6 who went
  
• opportunities to share the Good News- the Word that lives forever
• open hearts in the Southeast Asians
• surrender to the Father whatever that looks like
  
• open doors to return at a later date

Thank you! I'm hoping J will guest post about his trip after he returns.

Cleaning Up

3:15pm Wednesday

Kiran: "What are you doing, Mommy?"

Mommy: "Cleaning up."

Kiran: "Daddy coming home?"

Mommy: "No, not yet."

Kiran: "Friends coming over?"

Mommy : "No, not today."

Kiran looks at me quizzically, "You just...cleaning up?"

Imagine that.

Making Baby Food

Most of you know that I make the majority of baby food for my babies. And if you didn't, well, I make most of the baby food for my babies. I admit that its easier and quicker to buy already-made baby food but I want to prepose that making baby food doesn't not require that much skill or time.

Here are a few ways to ease the work of making baby food.

1. Move to a third-world country and hire a house helper who will make all the baby food for you. No? Ok next...

2. Make sure your baby has reflux and all kinds of intolerances/allergies so that introducing new foods is a long and drawn out process. You'll won't have to make as many different foods during the baby food phase thus saving you time.

3. Delay starting solids until at least 6 months. There is some research out there somewhere that proves that there is no nutritional reason to start solids before 6 months old (unless advised by your ped for reflux, weight issues, etc). Starting early just prolongs the baby food phase. Breastfed babies do need extra iron in their diets starting around 6 months so its a good idea to introduced an iron-fortified baby cereal at that time (which of course is not homemade because I don't know how to fotify something with iron).

4. Get your sister to have a baby within a few weeks of you. Then every time one of you makes baby food, make a double batch and share with your sister. Twice the food for (almost) the same amount of work.

I hope those have helped you simplify the process of making your own baby food!

NCAAs

Its March Madness.

The Fitz Fam held our annual drawing of the teams Sunday night immediately following the Selection Show.

I drew:

California
Dayton
N Dakota St
Maryland
Memphis
E Tenn St
Texas
Gonzaga

I'm down to Memphis, Gonzaga and Dayton with Memphis and Gonzaga claiming their Sweet 16 spots and Dayton playing tomorrow. That's not too bad considering my dad was almost eliminated in the first round. Thankfully he had Wisc (12) and Cleveland St (13) to save him. Jonathan racked up UNC, Duke and UConn.

I didn't fill out a whole bracket this year. I just waited too late. How are you doing with your bracket?

Jonathan's Late Night Debut

Two posts in one day. Call me crazy.

But we just saw Jonathan is going to be featured on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. And by featured, I mean you can see him in the background of Jimmy's tribute to John Shulman.






Best Line: "Don Juan of the SoCon"

Question?

What do

• 4 hours in the car
• a stomach virus
• organic carrots
  
• a trip to urgent care
• bagpipes
• Iron Chef America marathon
  
• Sienna screaming half the night
• the most delicious pound cake
• Army honor guard
• Fitzgerald Annual Selection Sunday Drawing
  
• saying final goodbye to Jonathan's grandfather

all have in common?

Answer: our [exhausting] weekend

Potty Training

I dreaded potty training. I was imagining puddles, racing to the toilet, pulling over on the side of the road, gobs of laundry. Not my idea of a good time.

I finally realized that I needed to get on my game because my daughter was ready. I had heard good things about 3 Day Potty Training so I bought the ebook and took the plunge.

I don't think I'm Supermom and I realize that this method will almost definitely not work for any of my other children but it worked so well for Kiran. She had already gone on the potty both ways so this method trained her to recognize her body's signs. The bulk of the work was done in one morning.

I would recommend actually buying the ebook for a few reasons. I thought I knew what it would say, and I did know most of it, but there were a few key ideas that I think really mattered. For example, you never ask the child if they need to go potty but instead you remind them to tell you when they need to go. It puts the responsibility on them to learn when they need to go. It also gave me the confidence to try to go without diapers at naps and nighttime even though Kiran had not been waking dry. Kiran started off beautifully at nights and naptimes. We've had a few setbacks but she's bounced back. When she was fighting off an illness a few weeks ago (remember when she was taking those long naps?) she was waking up wet every morning, even when I took her potty right before I went to bed. I *almost* put her back in diapers for nighttime. I really wondered if I had pushed too hard or was expecting too much. I contacted the ebook's author and she gave me a few tips to try plus the encouragement that illness really can cause a setback and sure enough Kiran went right back to staying dry. That's the biggest reason I suggest buying the ebook- you get access to the author. I contacted her twice with two different problems. I received timely advice that worked both times.

Kiran has done really well lately with few accidents but TODAY was a big milestone. This morning around 5 am, Kiran got up and went to the potty on her own before she wet the bed! Normally she sleeps all night and wakes up dry but today was the first time she went to the bathroom in the middle of the night. She sat on the toilet and yelled until I came but she avoided an accident. I'm so incredibly proud of her.

There's our potty training story. I'll be glad to answer any questions you have about our experience. I just wanted to throw out another method of potty training that worked for us.

The Flip Side

So the flip side of my Linger post is that on Friday we met up with my MOPS group at the science center (That is where Kiran held a snake) and then had a picnic at the park next door with Melanie, Elijah and Jacob. Elijah is 5 weeks older than Kiran, and Jacob is 7 weeks older than Sienna. The whole time we were out no one needed to take a nap. No one needed to nurse. I don't think either of us changed a diaper. It was so... nice. It wasn't a ton of work. Melanie and I actually got to talk while the big kids played with the ball and the babies played with their socks on the blanket.

So there is definitely a positive spin to Sienna getting older (and Kiran too for that matter). In fact, I've noticed a definite shift lately- a shift towards easier. Sienna is taking longer naps and she can finally stay up for longer between them. Her new reflux medicine seems to be working awesome and she's having happy times all day. Kiran is able to do so much on her own now and wants to help me do everything she can't quite manage independently yet. She goes to the potty by herself and can dress herself except for the sock on the right foot. She can get the left but not the right. The girls are starting to actually play and interact with each other! I'm really, really looking forward to this summer. I think it will be busy but so much fun.

So as much as I want to hold on to that baby phase, I'm definitely enjoying the freedom and ease that comes with growing up.

Since Daddy's Been Gone...

Jonathan comes home tonight after a week away. Since he's been gone....

• Sienna's reflux meds stopped working and we had to switch her to a new prescription- one that takes up to 2 weeks to start working
• Kiran held a snake!
• Sienna's temperature spiked to 103.2
• Sienna learned how to sit up from laying down so she does that now instead of going to sleep in her crib
• We lost an hour

We are ready for Daddy to be home!

Kiran's Snow Day

Linger

My sweet Sienna-

All of the sudden it hit me this week that you won't be a baby much longer. I kept thinking of your toddler year as being far away but in just four short months you will be 1! We are 2/3 of the way through your baby year, closer to the end than the beginning of it, and I'm kinda emotional about it. I feel like I never get enough of you. I never get enough smiles through your crib rails when I come to get you from napping. I never get enough squeals of laughter when I blow on your tummy. I never catch enough moments of your face lighting up when we are playing peek-a-boo. I want to grab these fleeting moments and hide them somewhere sacred and safe so that when you grow up I can pull them back out, inhaling your babyness, embracing your innocence.

I remember being surprised when you were born that I didn't know you. I had forgotten the get-to-you process that we needed to undertake. I had grown you and felt your kicks, punches and hiccups but I didn't know how you liked to be held or when you liked to go to sleep. But now, oh I know you so well. I know that you did not want to suck on a pacifier but will gladly chew on one now. I know that you will giggle when I bend down to tickle you. I am coming to terms with the fact that you are an introvert and sometimes prefer to be alone. But I also know there is no one who compares to Mommy in your eyes.

Your first year has not been easy with all your intolerances and refluxes yet when you are not screaming, you are so joyful. I think you are going to be our drama queen, our passionate one. I think you will only know how to live 100% and will never understand those who live life cautiously. You are my delight and I do treasure my time with just you. Last night your big sister spent the night with her grandparents and you and I wandered into the library as we do about once a week. I plopped you up on the counter so I could ask for the books they had pulled for me and they flocked to you. Every one of the ladies behind the counter was enamored with you. (I think it helped you were wearing the purple footed outfit with the ruffles on the back- its one of my favorites.) The ladies kept telling me that I had to bring you back and I just wanted to exclaim that you had come before. You are usually overshadowed by your enchanting, charming, verbal old sister. But not for long. You will hold your own in the personality department; I am sure of that.

You are changing before my eyes. Every day you impress with a new skill you have learned: shaking your head no, waving your arm, making your way to the books your sister has stratigically placed far away from you. I think that's part of the emotion welling in me- I see you changing. Leaving baby behind- embracing the future and the freedom it offers. Oh my precious- linger a while longer.

Lord willing I'll hold more babies, nursing them, rocking them but they won't be you. It won't be your baby smell, your toothless smile, your tiny toes and fingers. It won't be you I have to restrain from leaping in the bathtub fully clothed every time I turn the water on. So let's linger... just you and me...we'll linger together as long as possible, drawing out these baby days till we cannot postpone the inevitible any longer.

I love you my baby girl.

Sienna's Snow Day (aka Daddy's Birthday)

You can click on the collages to make them bigger.

Oat & Almond Breakfast Bars

I am on a quest to [slowly] become healthier! Since giving up my cereal and milk for breakfast (b/c of Sienna's dairy intolerance), I've been eating a bagel every morning. I knew it wasn't the healthiest (and when I say healthiest- that's what I mean- not less calories but more nutritious) option so when I came across these breakfast bars I had to try them.

I realized in making these bars that I have moved a little away from normal people because it called for wheat germ and I already had some in my cabinet.

I actually prayed that the Lord would help me learn to love these bars and He has! I didn't love them at first but I look forward to them in the morning now. I honestly think my energy level is better after eating these instead of bagels or toast in the a.m.

Even though I didn't love them, other people geraldsusankiranjonathan ate them up! I only ate 5 of the first 20! Don't worry I made more! Will trade babysitting services for breakfast bars!

Oat & Almond Breakfast Bars
Makes 24 bars

1/2 c vegetable oil
1/2 c honey
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 lg egg
2 c old-fashioned oats, uncooked
3/4 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c packed light brown sugar
1/2 c sliced almonds
1/2 c toasted wheat germ
1/2 c raisins
3/4 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 13" by 9" metal baking pan with nonstick foil (If not using nonstick, lightly grease foil).
2. In 2-cup liquid measuring cup, stir oil, honey, vanilla, and egg until mixed. In large bowl, with fork, mix oats, flour, sugar, almonds, wheat germ, raisins, and salt until combined. With rubber spatula, stir honey mixture into oat mixture until blended; scrape into prepared pan. With wet hand, pat oat mixture evenly into pan.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until pale golden around edges. Cool completely in pan on wire rack, about 1 hour.
4. When cool, transfer using foil to cutting board. Cut lengthwise into 4 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 6 pieces. Store in tightly sealed container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

My Eye Doctors

On Wednesday I had my follow-up visit with the eye doctor. I was assured that it would only take 10-15 minutes max and that I could certainly bring my girls with me.

Right.

So I packed up my two-year-old, my seven-month-old, the Legos, the scarf that S loves, the markers that only color on the special coloring book, the coloring book that said markers color on, a few more things for S to put in her mouth, S's blanket, my contacts, and me. We arrived and plopped down in the waiting area. About two minutes later, or just enough time for the girls to unpack everything, the nice girl calls us back. We go to the back waiting room and she watches us unpack all our stuff on the floor and then asks me two questions. Then asks us to move into the exam room. Really? You couldn't have asked me those two questions in there?

So we pick up everything and move into the exam room. The girl smiles and asks me, "How old is your baby?" I tell her 7 months and she smiles shyly. She tells me she just found out she and her husband are going to have a baby. Like yesterday found out. Oh, I see legos and potties and slobbery kisses in your future. Its quite a ride.

The eye doctor comes in and says, "So did the contacts not work for you?"

What gave it away? The fact I was wearing my glasses?

"What was the main problem?" he inquired.

"They made me want to rip my eyes out."

So now I'm trying a pair of contacts that are comfortable yet not my right prescription. And this week I'll pick up other ones that are my right prescription but perhaps not as comfortable. I'm very tempted to just get a new pair of glasses for crying out loud.

(Did I mention that we were in there an hour? And- can I brag a bit?- the girls were wonderful. Like much better than they are at home. I'm thinking of becoming a stay-at-the-eye-doctor's-mom.)

And the next morning when I was putting my contacts in, Kiran said, "Mommy you have your eye doctors in your eyes?"

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This afternoon we kept checking outside to see if the rain had turned to snow. Once it finally did, Kiran disappeared for a few quiet minutes. When she returned, she announced she was ready to go out in the snow!


By our last official check (which is taking the ruler out to measure the snow on the deck rails), we have 4.25 inches and its still coming down hard! Snow day tomorrow. Which of course is the same as every other day... just with snow.