Little Girls

Today, Evelyn sat on the bathroom counter as I applied make-up. For the first time, I allowed her to go through my rather sizable make-up bag. She pulled out the blush brush and pretended to put it on her cheeks. She held the eyelash curler up to (but several inches away from) her eyes. How on earth did she know what to do with each of these tools?

Our cars (seven) outnumber our baby dolls (two), we play with balls and blocks and books. We never wanted Evie to feel as though her actions needed to be boxed into a pink category of appropriate play. Of course she enjoys pushing a little baby stroller, but so do the little boys we play with-- it is fun to push something that is your size. And yet, the gender stereotype stronghold in our home has always been the bathroom mirror. From birth, Evie has been aware of my morning routine. That means she has always known that I use a hair dryer and flat iron or curling iron each morning and then I open a pretty bag and extract magical brushes and mascara wands. She watches as I paint my face, cover the parts I deem imperfect, as I "enhance" each part of my face. Every day. At first, I was adamant that Evie not watch. I didn't want to her to grow up thinking that she, too, would need to cover up and curl and spray in order to face the day. But at some point, maybe when she could crawl (about six months), she insisted on staying nearby. Babies like to know where their mothers are. She'd play with toys on the floor while I completed my daily ritual.

In all honesty, I haven't left the house without make-up since I first discovered mascara in middle school. My eyelashes are very light and I always felt more confident with a little definition. Now, aside from aesthetics, the thing I love most about this ritual of "remaking" myself, is the mindless rhythm. I know exactly what to do, I know the order. I don't have to think about household worries. I can let my mind wander; I daydream. It's my time. And so, I don't have any plans to drastically alter this morning routine. But, in the interest of the self-esteem of my daughter, I think I will spend more time letting her catch me with a book or with my journal, and perhaps a little less time in front of the mirror.

Snapshot: Seattle skyline and scuba divers

Snapshot: Daddy's Girl

My Daily Bread

No, I'm not writing about Jesus, I am writing about warm, straight from the oven whole wheat bread. (And, as it happens, I am also referring to these forbidden fruits: gluten in all forms, rye, spelt, egg yolks and whites, baker's yeast, asparagus, and-- let's not forget-- oysters.) Grains are an important part of the USDA's food pyramid and they have always been a staple in my diet until very recently. And, judging by the increasing allergen disclaimers in grocery stores proclaiming certain shelves "gluten-free," I am not alone in excluding certain foods. Why does it seem like more people are talking about going gluten-free and avoiding dairy or soy? I think there are two major reasons for this "increase" in food allergies and intolerance: 1) awareness that food affects some people adversely as opposed to just living with an upset stomach and 2) an increase in soy lecithin, corn, and gluten in every imaginable processed food item. We are being completely over-exposed to these ingredients and, for some, there is a real downside. I have had a "sensitive stomach" as long as I can remember. At different times, I have blamed this sensitivity on caffeine (which is something I have not consumed since my junior year of college because it did actually make things worse), chocolate, and dairy. Not once did I question bread.

In the past, I often considered a whole wheat bagel or a piece of dry toast as safe items to eat in the event of intestinal upset. I'm sure that my living across the street from a glorious bakery for one year in college played a role in making 2004 the year I finally saw a doctor about my symptoms. He ordered a lactose intolerance test, which came back "normal" and then he declared that I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Anxiety. (And honestly, I knew lots of folks who dealt with anxiety in college and none of them seemed to be skipping out on social events due to awful stomach aches.) Unfortunately, he did not propose any ideas for treatment other than to avoid foods that seemed to make the pain worse and take up a stress-relieving activity like yoga. Plank pose is fun, but nothing improved and I was never really able to link a specific food to irritation because, as I have now learned, food intolerance might actually have a delayed onset. This means that something I ate two days ago could be responsible for the pain and discomfort I feel today.

Fast forward to 2009 and I now know the culprits behind all of this discomfort. Avoiding these foods, however, is proving to be extremely difficult. Unless I cook every meal from scratch, some ingredients like gluten or yeast seem to be lurking in every bite. Add to this the fact that this month has included a lovely anniversary dinner at an Italian restaurant, a birthday cake, and some bagels my husband brought home from Costco (way too many bagels for one person, really), and I feel like I am back at square one. This time it actually feels worse. I think my body was finally settling into a normal state and then, bam! Here I am again. It is time to get serious about the elimination diet, and this time, I am not making any exceptions (I'm looking at you, beautiful artisan bread at Whole Foods!).

Snapshot: This Sippy cup makes a fabulous teether!

Up, up, and away!

This morning, at an hour so early the sun had not yet risen into our slice of sky, Evie decided that it was time to get out of bed. Usually, we can snuggle with her and keep her in bed for at least twenty minutes after she wakes for the day. Not today. So, sleepy and stumbling in the darkness, we all got out of bed. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before Evelyn went to the sliding door that leads to the deck and asked to go outside. Have I mentioned how much she loves being outside, in her very own yard?

Although today will be hot, the early morning was quite cool and there was still dew on the grass, so we found socks, shoes, and a sweatshirt before heading outside. Mr. Soleil graced us with his magnificent presence and we kicked the soccer ball around a bit. Then, the morning took a magical turn as Evelyn discovered something in the sky she had never seen before. A colorful, enormous balloon! She could not believe it.

Snapshot: Laptop time

Going Home: Part Two

After a lovely visit with family and a beautiful (and fun!) wedding, we loaded our rental car* and set out for the New York State Thruway. Thankfully we had great weather and a we were traveling with a, by then, seasoned traveler. Evelyn surpassed all of our expectations in the travel department. We had a four-and-a-half hour flight, an hour layover, and an almost two-hour flight on a small plane.

In the interest of disclosure, here is a list of items we brought on the plane and in the car:

1. Car Seat. We bought Evie her own seat for all three of our flights. I think it was money very well spent. She had her own (familiar) space and although she did spend at least half of our in-flight time on either my or husband's lap, it was great to have the use of my arms for much of the time. I also know that the car seat is by far the safest place for a little one to be in the event of turbulence.

2. Magna-Doodle. Evie had never seen one before our trip and she absolutely loved drawing with the "pen." This bought us at least an hour on our first flight and an hour (total time, not sixty minutes straight) on our road trip.

3. Hand puppet/ finger puppet. Before our trip, I brought Evie to a toy store and let her choose a new soft lovey for the plane. She selected a kangaroo puppet with a joey finger puppet in her pouch.

4. Pony. We brought one of Evie's favorite soft toys along for the trip. Pony is such a good sport. That horse will drink whatever Evie offers her and she always seems to be hungry! "Feeding Pony" is one of our favorite games.

5. Five of Evie's favorite books. (But Not the Hippopatomus, The Foot Book, Mama Hugs, Fruit, and Goodnight Seattle)

6. Lunchbox filled with favorites: quinoa, steamed broccoli, grapes cut into quarters, and O cereal.

7. My digital camera. Evie is distracted by the pictures and videos in a pinch.

I'm sure I am forgetting a few things, but this was our main list, alongside obvious items like extra clothing, diapers, wipes, cups for water, and my own personal items. My husband and I took turns sitting next to Evie, who had the window seat-- also a great distraction!-- and she nursed as often as she liked just as she does at home. In the airport, we carried her in the Ergo so we were able to avoid the hassle of a stroller. The Ergo weighs next to nothing and fit easily in our carry-on bag. Evelyn did not cry once until the flight home when she was startled out of a sound sleep by an intercom announcement. It was an evening flight (six hours) and she did sleep for about half of it. Not too shabby!

Still to come:

Part 3: Our time in Massachusetts!

*Hyundai Sonata- we were so pleasantly surprised by the smooth ride and the roomy interior, highly recommend if you're on the prowl for a comfortable but cost-effective sedan.

Snapshot: Big Girls Play with Dollhouses

Going Home: Part One

After almost two years away from my hometown, I've learned that it isn't as static as I once imagined. The town has changed right along with me. While we certainly recognized each other, there were some surprises. New shopping centers have claimed land that once rolled into the horizon, supporting old farmhouses. The change is not necessarily negative, it has drawn more business into the area, but it has also irreversibly altered both the physical landscape and the local market.

People, of course, have grown and changed in all sorts of ways and my family is no exception. My youngest sibling now a man, my younger sister a stunning bride, my youngest sister a hard-working mother with a new internship. But in all of the ways that matter, we are the same. The playful teasing and the easy conversation. All of the women in my family, when we are together, fall into an excited and animated talk. Our words and laughter tangle together until we are finishing the sentences and thoughts of one another.

One of the most lovely sights has been my daughter and my mother, giggling and playing easily. Evelyn loved her grandmother instantly. I think she just knew. In fact, Evie has slipped quite comfortably into relationships with family members she'd never before seen, taking my grandfather by the hand and offering pebbles and rocks. She hugged all of her aunts and uncles and cousins. I am so proud of her and I can't wait to begin the next leg of our trip so that the rest of our family can experience the joy that Evelyn seems to spread everywhere she goes. Evie as a one -year-old has a contagious, even palpable happiness and it must be shared!