The Shed to Studio Project

I didn't think this project (described here and here) would be launched until Spring 2012 at the earliest, but at Marisa's urging, I have undertaken it in the last couple weeks. At about 150 square feet the space will work as a studio space for Marisa and a casual hang out space separate from the house. It will also have a loft bed so it can serve as a mini guest house to visitors. Everyone has made the same joke that I can move in there when Marisa boots me from the house (essentially, it will be the actual dog house when I'm in the figurative dog house). The backup mailman (not the regular guy, but the younger, funnier version) flipped that joke on its head by saying it's where Marisa can go when I kick her out. Hopefully, neither of these jokes will be realized.

Here is what has been accomplished in the last couple weeks:

• Completed deconstruction of the shelving and other old remnants of the shed and disposed of a bunch of junk
• Framed a new subfloor on top of the concrete floor using pressure-treated 2x4's and 3/4" interlocking sheathing
• Removed two old single pane windows and installed two double pane windows in their place
• Trimmed out interior and exterior of the windows as well as the skylights + primed trim
• Ran electrical from the house to the shed underground. Installed two outlets + indoor & outdoor light switches
• Sheetrocked interior of the shed
• Built the loft

Probably spent close to 80 hours so far, but there is still a ways to go. Here is what's left:

• Finish sheetrocking (tape, mud, prime)
• Install other trim details and make the loft look nicer + add ladder
• Install a glass storm door
• Install lighting fixture
• Paint everything
• Install bamboo flooring

After that, it will more or less be complete just in time for the one season it won't really be a fun place to be: winter. I'll write an update soon and include pictures.

FIRSTS

Forest experienced two new things this past weekend. One thing he really liked. He went in a swing all alone. He was giggling and smiling and seemed to really enjoy it. Now we have a new activity we can do together. Yay!



Then his daddy took him down the big boy slide. This he didn't care for that much. I don't know if he even liked it at all--no giggles here. But no crying either.

RESEMBLANCE

I see my face in Forest's face. It's a strange thing when you first realize it. I love his face, to me he is the most beautiful boy (i know i'm biased). But it's been good for me. He's made me feel more beautiful myself. As someone who had very low self esteem growing up and never felt pretty enough or "cool" enough, he has made me love myself more. This was something I wasn't expecting.

I don't know how old I was here, but Forest is 7 months.

20 things about forest

Forest is going to be 8 months old next Thursday, the 20th. Wow! I never did the whole baby book thing. It felt like a chore to me. So I'm sure I'll be one of those people who forgets some of the milestones. But, I thought it would be fun to write a list of some of the things that are going on with him now.

Here it goes:

1. Loves bananas and sweet potatoes, like over the top love. But, does not like any food with a grainy, clumpy texture. This includes peas, carrots that I should have boiled rather than roasted, and avocado that wasn't mashed enough. He insists on being fed very fast. He hits his hand on the high-chair tray when we feed him and sometimes makes a raspberry noise with his lips. It's very cute.

2. Has 2 bottom teeth. These teeth are very sharp. Luckily he doesn't bite while he nurses, yay! He thinks it's hilarious when I nibble on his fingers.

3. Hates when I change his clothing and his face is covered. Changing him in general is starting to be more difficult since he likes to squirm and roll around on his changing table.

4. Is still not crazy about the bath. He hates it at first but then seems to slowly get into it. He discovered how to splash which I think was fun for him and messy for me.

5. Loves to smile and giggle. He has the biggest smile where his whole face lights up. His giggle sometimes turns into a high-screeched wail which in a giggle format is the cutest thing ever.

6. His favorite sounds to make are " da da da da." I've been trying to push for "ma ma ma" with no such luck.

7. Is super tickly especially under his arms, on his belly, his neck, his back, well i guess everywhere!

8. Loves to stand. Will try to stand on anything or anybody.

9. Thinks the kitties are funny. They don't think he's as funny.

10. Likes to watch mommy do a baby dance for him. He thinks this is hilarious.

11. His eyes are more of a blueish, grayish, greenish now. It's almost like the perfect combo of mine and Ethan's.

12. Gets mad at transitions. Hates to be put into his carseat or put down after being held, see #4 again, etc. But then will usually tolerate it.

13. Will not nap in his crib! I can only get him to nap in the car. Sometimes he does after nursing but not that often anymore.

14. Is very determined. If he has his eyes on something and I take him away from it, he will not give up.

15. Gets so happy seeing his daddy come home from work. (the same is true for his mommy).

16. Puts everything in his mouth.

17. Is very interested in my iphone, the remote control, the keyboard, and all electronic devices.

18. Prefers non-baby toys. Like the things listed above.

19. Likes to play outside and to just be outdoors in general. The fresh air is his friend.

20. Loves life and to experience new things. He's so curious and interested in the world. I think he's going to love to travel.


These pics were taken by jodi on our apple picking excursion.



this clearly demonstrates #8 and #16


I'm so crazy for this guy!

FRIENDS

Forest has a friend. Well he's a friend who we're forcing him to have. I know, bad parents! But really he doesn't seem to mind. His name is Theo and he's the son of our friends, Kelsey and Dave. Theo was born just about exactly 4 weeks after Forest. Kelsey and I shared our pregnancies with the backaches and similar cravings and now we have our little boys who are starting to like each other.

For awhile they'd just lay there and be oblivious of the other. But now, I see the fun starting. They look at each other, laugh and smile, grab and pull, and do all of that other funny baby stuff. I am so excited to see this friendship develop. What lucky guys they are!

THOUGHTS ON CHILDBIRTH

This is a post that has been stirring around in my head for quite some time. It will probably take me some time to write. But I feel like I need to express my thoughts about childbirth. More specifically how we as women think and relate to one another on the subject. Maybe some of you will object to my thoughts too and that's okay.

Let me start by saying for those of you that don't know, I had a C-section with Forest, an emergency C-section. I feel even saying it clears the air. Was this what I wanted? No. I feared having one after reading about the physical recovery and the chances that I wouldn't bond as naturally with my baby. I thought our bodies were made to labor a baby and why would we need surgery to birth a baby. But that's what happened during my labor. And I truly believe that I needed one. And now, I am so grateful for the cesarean I had.

When I was pregnant, I watched the documentary, The Business of Being Born, and was shocked at the statistics of cesareans in our country. I watched it and felt empowered as a woman. I felt if any of these women can have a natural birth, so can I. I watched it and thought, I will not give into how our society has told us childbirth should go and what drugs we should take. I watched it and thought, the birth of my son is up to me and no one else.

The reason I've been thinking about this a lot is I feel we put judgement on one another on how we decide we want our labor to go or how it does go. Whether we want a natural birth, an epidural, more drugs, a water birth, elective C-section, etc. I feel so strongly that this is such a personal decision for the mother to make. I don't even think the father should have a say in this. I struggled with this when I was pregnant. I was worried Ethan would push me to have a natural birth and judge me if not since that's what Uly's mother did. But there was a point during my pregnancy after reading so much about childbirth, talking with my midwives and attending a birthing class taught by a doula where I realized this is my decision. No one can tell me what to do. I knew it was going to be hard, it was going to be painful, and I had to trust myself.

So now I'm wondering, as a mother of a healthy 7-month old, what are we trying to prove to each other or to ourselves? When I was in labor, I remember actually apologizing to my midwife when I asked for an epidural. I don't know why I did this, but I felt like I let her down and myself down. It's so silly now when I think back to it. Many women who I've told that I had a C-section give me a look of shock and then pity. I'm one of them. I feel the need to explain why. If I say things were hard in the beginning after Forest was born, I've gotten the reaction that it must have been because of the C-section. I wrote a post about my birth and maybe that's true. Who knows how I would have felt after a natural birth. But somehow I'm different.

Now, I look at my son and see how he's growing, flourishing, full of love and happiness, and I wonder why the hell did I care about the birth so much? I should be feeling so grateful that he's healthy and happy not upset that I had the dreaded C word. We got through it. It was hard and not what I envisioned but it gave him to me. I trusted my midwives call when she said I needed a C-section. I am so grateful for that. Without her, I may not have a healthy thriving baby right now. My scar is still very visible. I've contemplated trying to find ways to make it heal faster but it's the most meaningful mark on my body.

So now shouldn't we be sticking together as mothers? Raising a baby is the really tough part.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOLIDS

We started Forest on solids when he was just about 5 months old. The first thing I tried were sweet potatoes and boy did he love them and still does. I know you can't really tell by this photo but it's true!



This boy is crazy for sweet potatoes and bananas. He went through a short phase where he liked green peas, but then the next time I served them he gave me this face like I was torturing him. How dare I feed him such a thing! He also did the same with green beans, but I mixed in some bananas and he quickly ate it up. I know it sounds strange but it was surprisingly good. That's the thing with baby food, you can make some strange combos since you're preparing them in such a pure state. I just mix water in to thin it out. You can also use breast milk or formula, but I don't feel I need to anymore.

So lately his meals are bananas mixed with some whole-grain rice cereal and water and then sweet potatoes prepared the same way. I need to try more foods! I'm a bit overwhelmed with all of the options. A 7-month old can eat more than I expected. He can even eat yogurt now. I was a bit hesitant about introducing this. It seemed like such a big leap to me, not sure why, maybe because I'm not making it and I was worried about the sugar. But after doing some research it seems okay. I bought the Stonyfield yobaby plain whole-milk yogurt. Apparently the full-fat variety is best for babies. He seems to like it okay.

Ethan hasn't been as interested in preparing his food like I have. So he started buying Earth's Best Organic baby food jars. I was mad. Again, not sure why. Maybe again because I wasn't in control of what he was eating. But, the ingredients are organic, no weird additives or anything. Plus Forest has liked them so far. It is easier especially when it comes to combos. I like that I can give him Pumpkin and Apple without having to prepare both. He loved that by the way. This baby loves orange food.



I'm a bit lost about what he needs in his diet now. I heard he needs more iron. What else? Should I be giving him protein regularly? How do I know what to do? This is very confusing.

Right now I want to get him interested in the greens that his mama loves so much.