Food

As you know, I have been digging and searching and really wrestling with what to put in my and my family's bodies. It is a really hard question to answer these days! Ideally, my husband and I would drop everything and move to a farm to live off of our organic ideals...don't be surprised if we just do this someday, too! But for now, we are smack dab in the middle of a city whose health professionals say, eat meat, don't eat meat, go raw/vegan, raw/vegan is deficient in nutrients, eat organic, conventional is fine and other such paradoxes that make it SO HARD for a mom like me to really understand what to eat.

Here's what I am chewing on for now:

• Whole, fresh foods are ultimately, no doubt the best. There is nothing that comes in a package/box that can truly offer our bodies what it needs. (This also works with my theology! God created this earth with everything in it we need.)
• Sugar is absolutely, no doubt the worst. I call it the White Satan and will one day write a blog post about how truly horrible this stuff is (from its conception in the Caribbean coast that led to the development of the transcontinental human slave trade to its addictive, immune-system depleting status of today). Agave, maple syrup, honey and dates really can replace the white stuff in your life if you're willing to shop smart and bake at home.
• Vegetables will always be the way to go...but meat can play a part, too. I do believe in Proverbs 12:10 (a righteous man has concern for the life of his animal) and in a sustainable method of farming (this is another theological issue for me--we are stewards of the earth and ought to set an example in our care of it) so organic and free range, grass-fed, hormone-free beef and poultry as well as cage-free eggs are always well worth the extra few dollars.

Rory and I never felt (or looked!) better than when we spent two years as raw vegans. We learned a lot during that time (for example, a healthy growing man CAN survive and even thrive off of green leafy vegetables--we stopped referring to lettuce/kale/chard-based meals as salads and coined the phrase "entree of greens" for a more manly twist) and my goal now is to incorporate that knowledge into our meat-friendly diet. My plan and prayer is to be green vegetable-focused using meat to garnish once or twice a week. Main sources of protein will be eggs, beans/legumes balanced with grains and nuts and seeds. We are still learning and still searching, but summer is a great time to focus on fresh foods and salads. With a lot of grace, I think we can do it.

So, the last time we were at Whole Foods I picked up several young thai coconuts (here is a great video showing how to open one at home or feel free to ask a grocer to open them for you--they have always been willing and friendly about this in my experience) and a 5-pound bag of organic carrots. I was craving a Bugs Bunny:

Bugs Bunny

1 coconut, water set aside in a glass and meat scraped out and put in the blender
Juice from 3-5 carrots, washed and trimmed of any yucky parts

Blend all the ingredients together for a delicious, super hydrating beverage and pick-me-up ideal for mornings, evenings and any time! (I have an Omega Juicer that I love but you can spend a little more for something fancier or a little less for something equally juicable.)

(And yes, that is my daughter eating strawberries off of the floor. While we might be picky about WHAT we eat, apparently, we are far less concerned with where we eat it!)

Toys

My mom is a toy-lover. She loves fun and loves toys. And since I believe less is more, she has been encouraging me to supply DD with a healthy dose of fun-inducing toys. But nothing we have purchased (and it hasn't been much, really) thrills Dia as much as

The fridge--especially when I put peaches at finger-grabbing level! (This is her, "It's ok, Mom. I have it all under control" face. :) Just kidding--she's actually waving and dancing but I couldn't capture it very well with the camera.)

The magnetic clip that holds papers on the fridge. She is an equal-item eater and enjoys eating both the clip AND the papers equally well.

Her comb! Tastes great and slides well on tile floors.

The ever fascinating dishwasher. Dia is already great at dishes--she regularly unloads the silverware tray onto the floor for me (sans knives, of course). She literally huffs and puffs and puts her crawl on turbo speed when she hears me open the dishwasher, the fridge or the pantry (where the dog's bowls are kept)!

Large melons and other objects not normally found on living room floors...

ROCKS. Enough said.

And while we have yet to master going down, she could (and does with her Oma's help) climb up stairs all day long.

Basically, she is finding the joy in everyday items and learning her place with them. It's the regular stuff of the day that thrills the most. And I am thrilled just to watch!

And then one day...

Her little blonde strands grew long enough for a barrette!

And blowing in the wind, lol!

These days are going quickly....too quickly. But what a joy to watch her grow right before me.
My greatest blessing and greatest happiness.

What I'm Eating Now

It's delicious. If there is one thing just about everyone can agree on when it comes to a raw food diet, it's that the desserts cannot be beat. And with the summer heat upon us, what could be better than no-cook pie? Make that a chocolate no-cook pie! I do so love chocolate.

This is amazingly made of avocados, dates, agave and some coconut and nuts. Simple, simple, simple and actually nutritious.

I am still finding my balance between raw foods, veganism, locavorism and the high protein diet I enjoyed during pregnancy. I'll keep you posted if I learn anything new or make any new decisions.

Here's a recipe for one like mine--I use and recommend half cacao and half carob instead of the chocolate she uses and I just use a plain pie dish, nothing fancy for me-- (she goes a bit slowly but explains everything really thoroughly if you're new to raw foods):



Make sure you watch Part 1 and Part 2.


Enjoy!

Margaretha Irene Bergler

I don't know if it's just the wonder of California or a magical spell cast over those of us heat-drenched Zonies, but it is always hard to leave California. This last trip was especially difficult. As we usually pull away from the curb on Hillward Street in West Covina, Oma and Opa (Rory's Grandma and Grandpa) stand and wave us down the street until we can see each other no longer. As they say, "it's tradition." (The movie Ever After copied it from us, I promise.)

If you have never had the privilege of your own personal Oma, well, my sincerest apologies. You have plum missed out. Omas aren't like regular grandmas. Especially Rory's dearest Oma Bergler. This Oma was born in Indonesia to a wealthy family (they were the first to bring automobiles to the island) and loved to play piano. She endured horror and pain at the hands of the Suharto Regime that shook up the entire nation, but she and her husband eventually made it to Holland with their four children (the ardous boat voyage was personally relayed to me once by Oma herself and it sounded, well, horrible) and then onto America (by now with SIX little ones) where a family of, I believe, five children sponsored them and let them stay in their home with them. As I recall, there were eleven children, two husband and two wives sharing a four-bedroom home.

That was back when American living was a privilege and Oma and Opa lived out the dream and the sacrifice. The two of them set an example we still admire and model ourselves after in so many ways. This is no small task for two foreigners raising six children in the sixties and seventies.

Sixteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren later, Oma somehow became old. She could never know how well she really wore "old," though, in our eyes. Oma brought joy without fail, though she warned all of us to never get old. I don't think we'll ever know all that she saw, experienced, lived through. But I do know that we all should be so lucky to have an Oma like our Oma.

Thankfully, I don't think any of us took her for granted while she lived among us. But still, now that she is gone, there is so much we miss--such as her small frame standing next to Opa as we start our drive back to Arizona. This last week, it was Dia's Oma (Rory's mom, Sonja) standing there next to Opa (her dad) waving us down Hillward towards our drive home. And tears flowed, I imagine, as heavily for the one taking Oma's place as they did for those of us leaning out the car window.

We love you, Oma. We'll be seeing you soon....although, some of us may be old by the time we get there--despite our best efforts, I assure you.

Ornithology 101

We have a new favorite pastime in the Starks household. It often begins with fingers pointing wildly and a steady, constant "Buh-buh-buh! Buh! Buh! Buh!" In other words, "There are birds!!!!!"

It's a very exciting time to be alive, my friends.



And in case you can't see it at the end, she reaches over to put her arm around me so that we can both see the same thing. Love has arrived....it's spelled I-n-d-i-a.

Love That Grows

Some people have children as a surprise.

Some get pregnant to feel special.

A fair amount hope a baby will save a marriage.

Others do so to fit in with the crowd.

By the grace of the Lord, my husband and I were so full of love for each other that it couldn't help but replicate itself. I recommend this option. I highly highly highly recommend it.

We didn't get there by ourselves, though. If you've been following me for long, you know the journey has been and continues to be long, rough and extremely worthwhile. To learn more....

Rejoice!

I found myself in bed this morning pondering my day. June begins tomorrow and I get positively giddy over sitting down at our family calendar and planning out our month ahead. This morning, I was mentally re-running through our weekly menu.

I enjoy keeping a menu for meal planning. I do not, however, shop according to the menu. I shop according to what's in season (this is best done at the local farmer's market if you don't have your own garden) and then come home and pray for inspiration! Our menu revolves around our shopping. I know this sounds a bit backward, but it works.

Seasonal shopping keeps things interesting (I don't like serving or making the same old dishes year-round) and keeps me learning. I often turn to the cookbook mid-week when we only have a few random pieces of food stragglers left in the fridge/pantry and flip back to the index to look up their suggestions for cauliflower, let's say. And I inevitably find a new way to prepare a familiar food. I have to be flexible (I may not be able to add sundried tomatoes or maybe it will have to be cashews instead of almonds), but if you don't mind the adventure (and potential call to the local pizza delivery in case you completely ruin everything--which has yet to happen, I am happy to report!) this is a great way to eat/cook in season without getting bored. In fact, Rory and I have found some of our favorite meals with index cooking! One of my favorite and most-used indexes is found in this cookbook.

And this morning, as I reminded myself that it would be broccoli and pasta tomorrow followed by ceasar salad, then BLT's (turkey bacon on spelt toast, fyi) and then a date night for Friday, it occurred to me that this is rejoicing in the day the Lord has made. Rejoicing in the day just might include the chores of the day. Rejoice in the diapers that will be changed, rejoice in the food you will prepare, rejoice in the clothes you will wash! And again I will say, Rejoice!

Recommendation

Take a beautiful photo of your child/children.

Have said photo enlarged, framed, etc.

Hang photo on wall in visible family space.

Watch as little eyes light up and tiny fingers point at the glory that is themselves on display for all to see. Hug child and point and exclaim, "Who's that?! That's my beautiful BABY!" with true and genuine glee.

This will thrill for days, weeks, months on end. As well as show our children, not just tell, that they are beautiful and loved.

Photo credit: http://www.simplysmittenphotography.com/

And the Younger Will Teach the Older...

The other day Jessica (my younger sister) was watching DD while I was having my hair done. These two usually walk around the shops and get coffee (well, Dia gets a straw to chew on) and come in and see me for the hour or so it takes to tame my mane, but as it was a bit warm, I suggested they turn the air on in the car and play with our bag of car toys.

(FYI--greatest idea ever! Buy a large canvas bag from one of the grocery stores and fill it with random toys reserved solely for the car. Place the bag behind the driver's seat for easy reach and grab while on the road and makes for super easy toy toting to play dates and park time! Since we aren't in the car that often, these toys end up being "special" for Dia and last a long time without boring her.)

When Dia's diaper needed changing, however, Jess let her play with the spray bottle we use for wetting our cloth wipes while she did the dirty deed. Dia loves water right now, so the spray bottle ended up fascinating our Bugs for quite a while!

Here's the great part: When Jess told me about the spray bottle fun, she said, "I hope that was okay. I didn't know what was in there for sure, but I tasted it and it tasted like water. Plus I knew the Holy Spirit would warn me if it was anything but water and He didn't, so I figured it was okay."

The only thing my little sister needed was an A-Okay from the Holy Spirit. If that isn't a living faith, I don't know what is.

I most certainly can learn a thing or two from my Jessi.

Six Years Later...

Yesterday marked the sixth May 15th since 2004. 2004 being
the simple four numbers that represent
the year Rory and I wed.

And I guess at some point, the date May 15, 2004 has become more than a date.
It's starting to feel like
a marking in history,
a specific and fixed representation of the alignment of the sun, moon and stars
on one particular 24-hour light and dark cycle.
And since 2004,
that alignment of planets and positioning of the sun (i.e., that day)
has become ours.
We own it.
Every kiss, every fight, every discussion and resolution has cemented our ownership.

It's our day and the last six summers,
autumns, winters
and springs with its
warmth
and cold,
light
and dark cycles

prove, to me, that we have earned it.

Yesterday was our holiday to stop, kiss, share and talk as we lived and loved during yet another celebration of the 365-day spin and cycle of the earth that brought us to our sixth year.

Our marriage for me, at six years, is really and truly becoming fact. It's like breath. It just is. To live is to breathe, to exist is to be with Rory. Though I feel it taking more of me and more of him and slowly rubbing down the edges and delineations between our persons and our spirits and leaving an us.

Six years later, there is us.

Prepositions

I noticed today that we have entered what I am coining "The Preposition Phase." When I was in school (aka home with my mom), I learned my prepositions by drawing a big action scene with items and characters all in preposition form ,e.g., the bird "on" the rock, the pirate "aboard" the ship, etc. (very creatively, she put the random ones like "of" and "about" on a banner pulled by an airplane "in" the sky). Well, I am proud to announce that the prepositions still live and Dia is now currently studying them from a physical perspective (she's a genius, I know!):



"Under"--nothing is as fun as scooting underneath the kitchen chairs.


Except, that is, climbing "over" the chairs!


"Through"-- Mmm...doesn't that doggy door look inviting? Don't worry--she hasn't actually made it "through" yet....but I know my days are numbered!


"Among"--Dia can often and regularly be found among her best friends: Depot and Roxy. Surprisingly, Depot (our younger and more rambunctious pup) is dearest to DD's heart and they play amazingly well together.


"On"--She loves climbing on Depot! And he is so good to let her do that.


And everything ends up "in" her mouth!

It's probably because of these two new beauties:

The Monday after she crawled, she broke her first tooth, said "Papa" for the first time ("Mama" and "Mom-mom-mom" were her chosen first words earlier in the month--I've had to ask family and friends to confirm this because my heart literally stops beating each time I hear it!) and started clapping all at once! It's been like skiing downhill--on the most beautiful path in the world with the nicest pair of skis money can buy! I feel like the baby I once had is now well on her way to toddler-hood and beyond.

And then of course, there is all the fun that Papa brings. We'll just call this her exploration of gravity and balance--actually, I think she has balance pretty well covered!
(CAUTION: Do not view if you are faint of heart....)

The Stink Factor and Other Reasons to Use Cloth

I've been waiting on two things to happen before posting about using cloth diapers: mobility and solid food. Well, folks, the results are in!

First, let me say that the only reason that a lot of our lifestyle choices align with the "green," "hippie," "granola" movement is pure coincidence. We actually make most of those choices because research shows that they are truly better for us and our health--call us self-centered hippies. It just so happens that most of the choices that are better for our human health just happen to also be better for animals and land. Now I am not saying that maybe God had a plan in His design so that we could all live harmoniously while progressing, but...well, maybe He did!

Ok, so this brings us to cloth. While we were really turned off to the idea of disposable diapers sitting in a landfill for literally over one hundred years, to be honest, it's not like we ever see the landfill so we didn't think that much about it. (See? Self-centered hippies. I told you.)

But cloth kept nagging at me. And then I found this. Actually, the article I found was different but told the same story. "The new polyacrylate gel (found in disposable diapers) has been linked to some side effects, including allergic reactions such as skin irritations, and to toxic shock syndrome. In addition, the dyes in the diapers have been linked to damage of the central nervous system, and disposable diapers may contain low concentrations of dioxin, a by-product of the bleaching process used in the production of the paper pulp found in the absorbent layer. Dioxin has been linked to liver damage and immune system suppression."

According to the World Health Organization:

"Short-term exposure of humans to high levels of dioxins may result in skin lesions, such as chloracne and patchy darkening of the skin, and altered liver function. Long-term exposure is linked to impairment of the immune system, the developing nervous system, the endocrine system and reproductive functions. Chronic exposure of animals to dioxins has resulted in several types of cancer. TCDD was evaluated by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 1997. Based on animal data and on human epidemiology data, TCDD was classified by IARC as a "known human carcinogen”.

WHAT?! Ok, first of all, Toxic Shock Syndrome has been like a monster hiding under my bed since the first time I used a tampon in junior high. But in a diaper? Is that even legal to expose babies, the most vulnerable of us all, to such a risk? Not only is it legal, it is the accepted NORM.

You can find "green" disposables, but according to my (limited) research, while they don't contain dioxin because they aren't bleached, they do use polymers to absorb the moisture. Not to mention that the super-absorbent diapers, while a seemingly smart solution for the diaper-changers, leaves baby feeling dry and yet sitting in their own uric acid for far too long.

In this issue of Mothering Magazine (one of the reasons I love the U.S. Postal Service--they hand-deliver this gem to me every other month), there is a huge spread on diapers and one writer explains that upon calling Proctor and Gamble (the makers of Pampers and Luvs), she was not able to get a list of the ingredients used in diapers. Apparently, this information is "sensitive and proprietary" and not all of the ingredients can "be disclosed." (Mothering Magzine, "The Diaper Dilemma," p. 58)

Suffice to say, after discovering all of this, we felt "disposables be darned!" We were gonna use cloth if it killed us.



Turns out, we love it.

So does it stink? Does it leak out of the side when she crawls?

No sir!

And here's why if you are trying to avoid stink, cloth diapers are actually the better choice: the Bum Genius Diaper Sprayer. I have baby-sat, nannied, lived with two younger sisters who were once babies and had many a friend who used disposables. And while not one of them went to the outside trash every single time they changed a diaper, many had diaper genies and other such products to eliminate stinky diapers, but they still stunk! The waste just sits on the diaper in the trash in your house and, well, putrifies everything! With cloth, you get a little poo, you use a little spray and then voila! Poo flushes down the toilet like all human waste should (that's right--throwing human waste "away" aka sending your poo-filled disposables to sit in a landfill for literally one-hundred years until they begin to decompose is disgusting and yes, this is where I get all "Sierra Club" on you, seeps into our land and waterways).

So while the solid food certainly has added an "air" of awareness to Dia's diaper situation, after cleaning her off, I simply take the diaper to the toilet, shake it into the toilet and if need be, reach for the handy sprayer that is attached to the back water pipes and sits nicely on the side of the toilet. It's small, hardly noticeable and super easy to operate. No stink, no stench, no smell, no problem!

As far as mobility, we did have a hard time at one point with "leaking," but went to Wildflower Diapers here in town and they showed me that I wasn't fastening the diaper tight enough. A couple of re-tries and now we are old pros. That isn't to say that a blow-out couldn't one day catch us off-guard, but I'll never forget holding my infant-charge while nannying and feeling that warm gooey sensation run down my leg as his disposable diaper got a little too full (I hate to think it may have been from my inadequate changing!).

But so far, it's been a blast--oops, bad lingo. I mean, it's been great.

Plus, she only just got her first diaper rash when we started solids--thinking maybe from the acid change in her diet/waste. Plus plus, these diapers are CUTE! Have you seen all the super adorable designs? Animal print, bright colors, pastels, you name it.


We use the wool covers which aren't quite as fashion-forward, but you have to admit that bottom is cute in purple!

As far as laundry, I do about a load every three days or so. And the cost? Well, put it this way--we went to the cloth diaper store once and got everything we will ever need for Dia AND every child to come after. We didn't spend much because Grandma and Oma helped out and that was one of their big gifts for their granddaughter. You can also get pre-loved diapers at great discounts, not to mention that once you're done with the baby years, you can actually sell your used diapers and make some extra cash yourself!

The big sell for me: no late night diaper runs to the store. Just think, husbands--your wife will never turn to you at 4am with the plea of desperation, "Honey....? We're out of diapers....." I don't like shopping and really dislike being dependent on stores for survival and let's face it, diapers are a survival item!

I know that cloth is not for everyone, but there is a very reasonable, rational, health-conscious reason we use it and if it just so happens that it's better for the earth our daughter will soon inherit, then so be it.

Do You Grocery?

In case you haven't noticed, I am passionate about food. Organic, locally grown, nutrient-rich and color-loaded nourishment. Obviously the best place to get such deliciousness is from your own garden/farm. Second choice: the farmer's market. My third choice has always been Whole Foods, but a few weeks back, my sister changed my mind.

Ever been to the Phoenix Public Market? It's like farmer's market...but in an air-conditioned building with a deli and wine bar! And from our first little visit, well, let's just say I spent a lot of money and they were very, very nice to us. :)

It's a cozy little place with a coffee bar just outside the doorway and all of the food and other products (you can get Tom's products and Braggs and other necessities) are either locally produced/grown, organic or both. And the best part? You don't have to get there at the crack of dawn for the best produce! That's right--strawberries will still be there even at noon!

Not to mention that the extremely helpful staff (they actually hand-carry by many, many bags out to the car for me!!! Should I repeat that? Hand-carry--and I never even asked!) is all local (obviously...) and make a point to get to know you and build relationships with you.

We used to spend our weekend going to the many various stores/farmer's markets around town to get all the good stuff we like, but now (besides a few necessities) we can get just about everything at one great store! And actually support farmers/growers/businesses right here in town. You can get milk (soy or dairy), meat (AZ raised and grass-fed), chicken, eggs, yogurt, cheese (so far only dairy and alternative, no goat yet), pasta, cereal, baby food, deodorant, floss, olive oil (from Queen Creek), produce (they carry a lot of Maya's Farm which is primo quality in my book) and more. Plus, they only offer in-season produce (that which the AZ land can produce at the moment), so it's significantly more trust-worthy than Whole Foods who import a lot from Chile and other cities/states/countries.

Basically, we're in love. If you're in the downtown area (we make the drive about once a week and find it completely worthwhile), stop in for lunch, wine, coffee, or your entire grocery list! It's a fun place to visit and extremely valuable endeavor to support.

(Photo credit: http://www.phoenixpublicmarket.com/)

Reading List

Truth be told, by the time I was ready to deliver Dia I thought I had read it all.

Don't get me wrong--I read A LOT! Especially when you're planning a home-birth, I think it's just a natural preparation tool to read as much as you can possibly get your hands on.

So I've been compiling my Must-Have Mommy Reading List for new mommies, mommies to be and anyone who loves children and family. One of my dearest friends is newly pregnant and I'm hoping Rory will get a second job so I can not only buy them all of these books (there really aren't that many), but I can also buy them my other mommy must-haves: the BOB stroller and a good mei tei wrap. I think he'll go for it...

Let me preface this list with the fact that it is based on my Judeo-Christian, whole-hearted belief in the inerrant Bible (old and new testament). It is also based on my strong belief that children are never accidents, mistakes or burdens on the life and well-being of either and both mother and father. Let me also preface this with the fact that I am a well-experienced mother of exactly seven months now, so I reserve the right to change my mind at any time. :)

• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth-- This book was/is critical for me in providing a positive, empowering birth experience. The first half is solely real-life birth stories in the mother's own words and I was inspired to tears many times as I read and re-read for my marathon miracle.
• A Mother's Heart-- This one is new to us and we are taking it chapter by chapter. The topics aren't exactly ground-breaking, but she is able to articulate and help us define what motherhood means. She even includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter to really help you understand your role as mom.
• For the Family's Sake-- This one is also new and I already know that I will be re-reading and re-reading it. Rory asked me about it and I struggled for quite a while to define it, finally ending with a silly, "It's about home-making." To which he replied, "Oh, like how to do dishes and stuff?" I laughed outloud! If you have ever struggled with the idea of home-making, either believing it too old-fashioned, too boring, too stagnant or too oppressive, then you are in for a treat! I am still in awe of her beautiful, intellectual approach to this most sacred role.
• Gymboree Play and Learn: 1001 Fun Activities For Your Baby and Child-- No mom should be without this one. Dia and I jumped right in with their suggestion of (gently) playing tug and war and she was in giggles in seconds! Each page is chock-full of excellent, creative ideas and it's color-coded, broken down by age so it couldn't be easier to use. A definite must-have.
• The Dr. Sears library of books-- I love how Dr. Sears and his wife Martha marvel at how they have had to coin the phrase, "attachment parenting." They say it used to just be called loving your kids! They are honest, down to earth parents and grandparents who have compiled all their knowledge--medical and otherwise--into a handy reference guide for just about anything you need. They also offer a great book on becoming a dad, something rarely on bookshelves.

And of course, none of these would be anything without the basis for all truth, the Holy Spirit-inspired Bible. I keep that one handy at all times.

The list is growing and I have many more titles to recommend, but these are my must-haves for now. I so appreciate the honesty and wisdom of those who have gone before!

Dia and Dax

It would be wrong to go on and on about my social butterfly without introducing you all to Dia's first little friend: Dax!

Aren't they adorable?! (You can see my shy child attempt to steal Dax's treat!)

We met Dax and his mom, Chrissy, a few weeks back at a La Leche League meeting we attended. There were actually a lot of great moms with babies right around Dia's age there so we've been planning playgroups and finding lots of fun ways to socialize--both for their sake and ours! If I haven't already encouraged you to attend a LLL meeting, let me just say that as a breastfeeding mom these days I can't tell you how wonderfully supportive it is to be in an entire community of like-minded moms.

So for now, DD and Dax are enjoying growing their friendship by poking at each other's face, stealing each other's toy/treat and more or less, just being babies. And I think one of the major pushes to Dia crawling came from watching this "older boy."

It's also given me added insight to my daughter's make-up: A few days ago, Dax was crying and I wish I could have caught Dia's reaction on film. She instantly dropped what she was doing, got over to him asap with a huge smile on her face and literally tried to make him happy! I couldn't believe what I was seeing, but other moms noticed it, too and even commented on how she was trying to make him "better." Seeing DD in company like this is a whole new window into seeing who she is--and she's simply wonderful.

Last time we met up at the park I finally had my camera out. You'll have to forgive the poor camera work, but here is Dia's newest friend Dax:




Aren't they cute?!

Big News, People! I'm Talking BIG

So....it officially happened. As my mom would say, it's a "red letter day." Big things are a moving and a shaking in the Starks household. Well, to be more accurate, a sweet little someone is moving and shaking:

Dis crawled!

She has been mobile for a while now, but mostly by scooting or lifting her knees and then kind of lunging forward. We've been waiting for the criss-cross crawl of the arms and legs, though, since it's supposed to be a pretty major brain function. And while my mom and sister claimed she did this two days ago while I was off in the kitchen, we all know that nothing is ever truly official until mom and dad see it. So I'm marking yesterday, April 23, as the it day.

And it's probably hard to tell from this blog, but we're awfully proud of her. I was blessed to get it on film, but as she is fairly nakey, I'll just post pics--after we diapered her. :)


Her main motivation in crawling across Grandma's tile floor--a big metal basket. She loves the texture and it's light enough to submit to her will. :)


Grandma got these great little balls that are fun to chase after


And she will do anything for Auntie Jessa--and I think vice versa :)


Mobile baby in action!

Lately

We have been up to tons of fun lately and I just had to post a few recent pics. DD will be seven months old tomorrow, if you can believe it, and there is much to document.


First, it should be noted that Daddy is way fun. Typically he is busy doing crazy things that thrill her, but here they are simply being in love. So sweet and precious--Dia is teaching Daddy to be gentle. :)


Two of her favorite things--bottle tops and painted toe nails! (Don't worry--this is a ROOT beer bottle!) She is in love with bottle tops (great on the gums) and thankfully Rory drinks a lot of bottled beverages (Oogave and Izze, anyone?). And I can't even make the girly stuff up--she just loves all things girl. Just wish my feet didn't get so dirty...she really wants to play with my toes!


Again, no need for alarm! The car is, obviously, not on. But if we are out, I tend to nurse her in the car--front seat, of course. Which is how she found the steering wheel...watch out, world! She'll also try to poke every last button and gadget. I'll often have to try to figure out how to turn things off once the car starts! Lol.


In other big news, Dia went to her first pool party! The kids were a bit older (around 3 years) so they weren't too into a baby, but Dia loved loved loved watching them play. Plus it was a great chance to show off her summer figure!


The real joy, though, came when we got this big blow-up crayon as a party favor. It is still one of her favorite toys!


And, that's right, folks! We're eating now! Granted, it's just a few bites here and there, but she really likes eating. She not only loves the spoons, bowls, sitting in her very own high chair and all the fun talk and singing, but she actually enjoys the food. You have to keep that food coming, which is why we usually use at least two spoons.


Did I mention that she likes to have fun? :)


And the other great things about baby food...it lends itself very easily to the artistic ones. :)


I believe I am mandated by law to post at least one "Aw" picture of Dia sleeping with daddy. This one is pretty sweet.


And here is just one of Daddy's aforementioned "crazy things." This box usually sits on her shelf holding toys, but Rory put her in it with her giraffe Gerard and they rode all over the house like this! She was pretty thrilled at first, but after a bit, just sat back and took in the sights. :)

I know they say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in this case, no camera, not even in the hands of a professional photographer, comes close to capturing even a bit of how great India has made our life. She is an absolute delight who changes and grows and even teaches me and Rory everyday. I made a conscious choice a few years back that my chosen career path and confirmed best path to the change I want to see in the world meant, for me, becoming a mom. I am only seven months into it and had no idea how truly right I was. This is the best choice I have ever made. Hands down!

Better Than a Bunny

Easter was indeed true to form: holidays are just plain tons more fun with a baby!

And it's also fun coming up with creative twists on what are usually high-sugar, high secular celebrations. Easter was kind of a no-brainer for me: skip the candy and hunt for Resurrection Eggs. My mother-in-law stopped in at a local Christian store and the guys hid them around my parents' backyard. Great idea and tons of fun.

But then, my always outside-of-the-box mom came up with an idea that Rory and I instantly took on as our newest family tradition: a book hunt! We both loved it the minute we heard it. My mom and mother-in-law bought all the books (big, colorful board books) at Half-Priced Bookstore (a great place to buy books for all ages, especially little ones because they are so affordable to replace) and then Rory took Dia around to collect them. My mom even gave her this great basket big enough to hold all her new goodies. She found some great titles for Easter--one was a kid's New Testament and a Max Lucado bead book about John 3:16. And several weeks later, we are still enjoying those books! Don't you just love creative moms?

It was a great holiday--beautiful AZ weather, too--and now we have a great, educational, new tradition. Unfortunately, I left my camera sitting in its case the whole time. I was too busy enjoying myself! But my sister Jessica took some great pics that you can see on Facebook.