I gave Giovanni his favorite snack today, some of what he likes to call "Yoke" but what the rest of us know as yogurt. I gave him a few spoonfuls and then he demanded to feed himself shouting, "Turn! Turn!" After a moment of chowing down he looked up at me a yelled "Amen! Amen! Amen!" It took me a few amens to realize that he was praying.
"Oh. Prayer?" I asked him. And he squinted his brown eyes tightly shut for a second or two before belting out another "Amen!" It was so cute.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Owl Hat
Inspired by Amy's adorable owl hats and Amberly's plush little owl babies on Knot Your Grandma's Guild, I made Giovanni an owl hat. Although it takes some convincing to get him to wear it, it's the cutest thing ever! I am hoping he will wear it for Halloween and dress up as a little Guardian owl from the new movie Legend of the Guardians.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Biggy in Guatemala
I booked Biggy's flight home and I can't wait to see him. I made arrangements for him to fly home on Monday along with with Justin. I can hardly believe it's been over a week since he's been gone.
My entrepreneur of a husband decided to drive a few vehicles all the way to Guatemala to sell. He got wind that they go for a fetching price and decided to make the trek. He enlisted his friend Bronson, who has nothing better to do and no one here to stay for and his other friend Justin, nick-named Eagle for his beautifully bald head who had spent a couple years in Guatemala on a mission to be their translator and guide. Despite all the worrying and bad press my mother tried to instill in me about the dangers of driving through Mexico they made it to Guatemala alive.
We've been missing him but the first couple of nights since he left were the worst. He's been gone since early Thursday morning, August 26.
I can never sleep when Biggy is away, it was always like this when he was trucking. I would stay up until my ached for sleep sometimes until 1 or 2 in the morning. Not very wise if I want to keep up with my wildly rambunctious toddler.
I had decided that I would keep an early bedtime while Biggy was gone this time. Then Friday night 12:30 rolls around and I decided that is was time to make an attempt at sleep, so I closed my laptop and closed my eyes. A few minutes later I heard knocking. I assumed that I was delirious from being so tired and didn't move but listened hard just to make sure I wasn't hearing things. Knock knock knock. There it was again, a little louder this time. I wasn't sure what to do but I decided I better get dressed. Then, BAM BAM BAM. Terrified Giovanni would wake up from the ruckus I slipped out of the bedroom as quietly and as quickly as I could to see what was going on.
I could see stripes of bright light peaking in from the shutters and thought that's odd, I know I didn't leave the porch light on. Without thinking I began unlocking and undead-bolting the door at nearly 1 in the morning. I opened the door and saw a spotlight beaming at me from a police car on the street and there were two skinny police officers in front of me, one I recognized. After the initial surprise I was immediately embarrassed, I had forgotten the dried clay mask spots on my face, treating a few unsightly pimples.
"Sorry to bother you, Michaela. It's me, Travis Willinger, is Biggy home?" Travis is Kellie's best cousin's husband.
"Uh, no. He's in Mexico." My hand shot up to my face at an attempt to hide the green mud spots.
Then Travis asked me if I had heard about the deputy that had been murdered in Fredonia while the other officer pointed his flash light behind me into the house. I never keep up with the news but not wanting to look ignorant I lied and said yes. Travis said that within the perimeter that the police had sealed off in Fredonia, a red 1987 Suzuki Samari appeared a few hours ago and it's registered to John Massaro at this address. Since he knows Biggy, Travis volunteered to come by. I didn't recognize the vehicle he was talking about but it wasn't uncommon for me to never see a vehicle Biggy sold. Unless I drove it, I didn't really have anything to do with it.
I was absolutely terrified. How did this look? A car register to my husband appeared on the scene where the police were searching for a murderer and my husband crossed the Mexican border. At this point I was nervously picking the mud off my face as I began rambling about how I had no idea about this vehicle and tried to explain why Biggy crossed the border in an effort to assure them that he has not fled the country. Even though Biggy couldn't be reached, I gave Travis his cell number and Travis gave me his to give to Biggy when he called.
A few moments after I closed the door and headed for bed, there was another knock. Travis wanted my number too. Too put it lightly I was a little on the frazzled side and very shaken up after the whole thing. The first thing I did was look up the story about the murder. A police officer was shot after pursuing a robber into the desert. The robber got away and was hidden somewhere in the desert.
I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep easy so I drank down a bitter concoction labeled "Calm" and sent Biggy a pleading email to call me ASAP! My nerves still rattled, I began to read until my eyes were too heavy to hold open.
My entrepreneur of a husband decided to drive a few vehicles all the way to Guatemala to sell. He got wind that they go for a fetching price and decided to make the trek. He enlisted his friend Bronson, who has nothing better to do and no one here to stay for and his other friend Justin, nick-named Eagle for his beautifully bald head who had spent a couple years in Guatemala on a mission to be their translator and guide. Despite all the worrying and bad press my mother tried to instill in me about the dangers of driving through Mexico they made it to Guatemala alive.
We've been missing him but the first couple of nights since he left were the worst. He's been gone since early Thursday morning, August 26.
I can never sleep when Biggy is away, it was always like this when he was trucking. I would stay up until my ached for sleep sometimes until 1 or 2 in the morning. Not very wise if I want to keep up with my wildly rambunctious toddler.
I had decided that I would keep an early bedtime while Biggy was gone this time. Then Friday night 12:30 rolls around and I decided that is was time to make an attempt at sleep, so I closed my laptop and closed my eyes. A few minutes later I heard knocking. I assumed that I was delirious from being so tired and didn't move but listened hard just to make sure I wasn't hearing things. Knock knock knock. There it was again, a little louder this time. I wasn't sure what to do but I decided I better get dressed. Then, BAM BAM BAM. Terrified Giovanni would wake up from the ruckus I slipped out of the bedroom as quietly and as quickly as I could to see what was going on.
I could see stripes of bright light peaking in from the shutters and thought that's odd, I know I didn't leave the porch light on. Without thinking I began unlocking and undead-bolting the door at nearly 1 in the morning. I opened the door and saw a spotlight beaming at me from a police car on the street and there were two skinny police officers in front of me, one I recognized. After the initial surprise I was immediately embarrassed, I had forgotten the dried clay mask spots on my face, treating a few unsightly pimples.
"Sorry to bother you, Michaela. It's me, Travis Willinger, is Biggy home?" Travis is Kellie's best cousin's husband.
"Uh, no. He's in Mexico." My hand shot up to my face at an attempt to hide the green mud spots.
Then Travis asked me if I had heard about the deputy that had been murdered in Fredonia while the other officer pointed his flash light behind me into the house. I never keep up with the news but not wanting to look ignorant I lied and said yes. Travis said that within the perimeter that the police had sealed off in Fredonia, a red 1987 Suzuki Samari appeared a few hours ago and it's registered to John Massaro at this address. Since he knows Biggy, Travis volunteered to come by. I didn't recognize the vehicle he was talking about but it wasn't uncommon for me to never see a vehicle Biggy sold. Unless I drove it, I didn't really have anything to do with it.
I was absolutely terrified. How did this look? A car register to my husband appeared on the scene where the police were searching for a murderer and my husband crossed the Mexican border. At this point I was nervously picking the mud off my face as I began rambling about how I had no idea about this vehicle and tried to explain why Biggy crossed the border in an effort to assure them that he has not fled the country. Even though Biggy couldn't be reached, I gave Travis his cell number and Travis gave me his to give to Biggy when he called.
A few moments after I closed the door and headed for bed, there was another knock. Travis wanted my number too. Too put it lightly I was a little on the frazzled side and very shaken up after the whole thing. The first thing I did was look up the story about the murder. A police officer was shot after pursuing a robber into the desert. The robber got away and was hidden somewhere in the desert.
I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep easy so I drank down a bitter concoction labeled "Calm" and sent Biggy a pleading email to call me ASAP! My nerves still rattled, I began to read until my eyes were too heavy to hold open.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sleep Fighting
Giovanni did not want to go to bed tonight, he kept whimpering for his daddy so I finally went and got Biggy and just as soon as Giovanni laid his sweet little head down on his daddy chest he was asleep. It was so sweet.
Biggy has always voiced concern that I coddle our son too much to the point where he fears the poor boy won't ever be able to get to sleep without the help of his mommy. We co-sleep with our son, much to Biggy's chagrin but I love being close to Giovanni, I sleep easier. I feel like he's a part of me.
When Giovanni was a newborn I would just peek over his bassinet and watch him sleep. I was so worried about not being able to be there for him if he needed me. He eventually outgrew his bassinet and moved into our bed even though we had a crib right up against the bed.
As he grows, I see Giovanni becoming more of his own person and less dependent on me. It's exciting to see his personality take shape and I got some satisfaction out of Biggy indulging Giovanni the way he always gets after me for.
Last night Giovanni decided he didn't want me to put him to bed either and he curled up on the floor with his pillow and blanket and fell asleep while his daddy and I watched a boring romantic comedy. I wonder if he will be ready for his own bed soon.
Friday, August 6, 2010
I Just Paid $5 for Half of a Pound of Butter!
I'm reading this really great book by Dr. Weston A. Price written in the 1930s, it's called Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. It's about how poor nutrition is taking a terrible toll on our bodies, specifically our teeth. Dr. Price traveled the world to some of the most remote places where he could study people living on their primitive diets (the control group) and areas nearby where they had been recently modernized and introduced to white flour, marmalade, and tinned vegetables (the test group). No matter where he went, and he went all over, he always found the same shocking pattern. Where the people lived on their traditional primitive diet they have absolutely beautiful teeth, perfect dental arches, very straight, symmetrical teeth with very few cavities usually below 1% of all teeth studied.
Where the people were newly modernized tooth decay was rampant and the incidence for tuberculosis was much higher. The photos below are typical of what he found and these are remote places where they don't have access to dentists.
The second generation of these people after they adopted the "civilized" diet their children had terribly crooked teeth among many other health problems.
My whole life, I have always believed that crooked teeth are hereditary and there is nothing you can do about it, but these children were coming from parents who had incredibly straight smiles and a long line of straight teeth the only difference was the diet.
It is shocking to me how much of an impact our diet has on our lives. Our diet today is so far removed from the way our ancestors ate. I was watching Food, Inc. the other day, which I highly recommend, and in the intro it said "The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000."
So now I am feeling like I need to change my diet again, last July I went vegan after reading The China Study. I was never a strict vegan, I ate fish and eggs on occasion and sometimes butter too but very rarely and mostly because someone else prepared the food and I didn't want to be rude. I didn't eat a lot of processed food either, but still I got cavities worse than I had since I was a kid.
Last March I stopped eating dairy products when Giovanni had a severely clogged tear duct. He was almost 3 months old and no amount of droplets of breast milk in his eye and gentle massaging would make it go away but as soon as I stopped eating dairy products his eye cleared up so giving up meat a few months later was easy. And I truely believed that these foods were bad.
With undeniable reservation I'm bringing meat and cheese back, but "old school" style. I'll take my butter yellow, please. The richer the color the more fat-soluble vitamins and I'll be eating organs and bones too instead of steak. Hopefully I can get my hands on some grass-fed animal protein sources.
My goal is to heal some cavities that have been causing me some problems and improve my overall health and feed a growing boy the most nutritious foods possible.
I had heard that you can heal tooth decay naturally so I decided to google it and came across Weston Price's book and another book I have yet to start by Ramiel Nagel called Cure Tooth Decay. It's basically based on Dr. Prices findings. I'm excited to try this new diet... I just need to find some affordable sources. I spent $4.83 on half of a pound of butter today! That's almost $10.00 a pound! But look how yellow it is compared to what I already had in the fridge. :)
Where the people were newly modernized tooth decay was rampant and the incidence for tuberculosis was much higher. The photos below are typical of what he found and these are remote places where they don't have access to dentists.
The second generation of these people after they adopted the "civilized" diet their children had terribly crooked teeth among many other health problems.
My whole life, I have always believed that crooked teeth are hereditary and there is nothing you can do about it, but these children were coming from parents who had incredibly straight smiles and a long line of straight teeth the only difference was the diet.
It is shocking to me how much of an impact our diet has on our lives. Our diet today is so far removed from the way our ancestors ate. I was watching Food, Inc. the other day, which I highly recommend, and in the intro it said "The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000."
So now I am feeling like I need to change my diet again, last July I went vegan after reading The China Study. I was never a strict vegan, I ate fish and eggs on occasion and sometimes butter too but very rarely and mostly because someone else prepared the food and I didn't want to be rude. I didn't eat a lot of processed food either, but still I got cavities worse than I had since I was a kid.
Last March I stopped eating dairy products when Giovanni had a severely clogged tear duct. He was almost 3 months old and no amount of droplets of breast milk in his eye and gentle massaging would make it go away but as soon as I stopped eating dairy products his eye cleared up so giving up meat a few months later was easy. And I truely believed that these foods were bad.
With undeniable reservation I'm bringing meat and cheese back, but "old school" style. I'll take my butter yellow, please. The richer the color the more fat-soluble vitamins and I'll be eating organs and bones too instead of steak. Hopefully I can get my hands on some grass-fed animal protein sources.
My goal is to heal some cavities that have been causing me some problems and improve my overall health and feed a growing boy the most nutritious foods possible.
I had heard that you can heal tooth decay naturally so I decided to google it and came across Weston Price's book and another book I have yet to start by Ramiel Nagel called Cure Tooth Decay. It's basically based on Dr. Prices findings. I'm excited to try this new diet... I just need to find some affordable sources. I spent $4.83 on half of a pound of butter today! That's almost $10.00 a pound! But look how yellow it is compared to what I already had in the fridge. :)
Dorian Timi Munk
After I went up to Cedar City to see my friend Ada and her newborn baby, I came home with a little ache in my heart. Her baby is so small and so precious and my baby is so... big! It was nice to be able to help her out a little. Ada is a dear friend of mine and our husbands have been good friends since they were kids and it's so fun to see them with a child of their own. Dorian is absolutely adorable, he looks so much like his dad but I see a little of Ada there too. He's a good mix.
Monday, August 2, 2010
This is my first time blogging and I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but for some reason the thought of putting my words on the Internet absolutely petrifies me. I'm such a private person even Edward couldn't read my thoughts.Joking aside, I have wanted to start a blog for a really long time. In fact I set up my blog site shortly after Giovanni was born with all sorts of good intentions of journaling online, but every time I opened it up I would just become overwhelmed at the thought of writing something someone else might read. Well it's been about a year and half (Giovanni is 18 months old) and I haven't gotten over my fears but my curiosity to blog has only gotten stronger, and I've been wanting blog a funny story on Giovanni for over a month!
On the way up to Salt Lake City to spend 4th of July weekend with Thann's family, Giovanni was looking at a picture book of animals and I was showing him some of the ASL signs for the animals that I knew and making animals noises. We saw a spider and I signed and said spider and he pointed to it and said "Bug!" Then I pointed to a lime green python all coiled up and signed a slithering snake as I said "Ssssssnake," and tickled him with the fangs of the snake, he giggled so I did it again and again. When we came to the cat page I started meowing and pulling at invisible whiskers on my cheek and Giovanni just stared at the page. There were many different kinds of cats pictured, including one of those "hairless" Sphinx cats. Giovanni stared at the strange looking cat for a long time then pointed to it and said "Dis?" Meaning, "What's this?" I told him that it was a cat and he looked at it again and then he looked at the other furry cats pictured around it, then he pointed to the naked, alien looking cat again and with a very concerned look on his face said, "Uh-Oh."
I laughed so hard, Biggy turned around and wanted to know what was so funny. We all had a good laugh about it and told Biggy's family later. Giovanni's so much fun, everything he does just tickles me to death. And so as I start to blog, he will be all I can talk about, and that's something I don't mind sharing. :)
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