Happy Thanksgiving!

This year I am thankful for my baby girl more than anything else! I used to be uncomfortable "going around the table and saying what we're thankful for." I'm not sure why. Maybe because I couldn't think of anything I wanted to share with a group of people, maybe I just didn't have much of an attitude of gratitude. I don't know. But now I know I am thankful for many things, and Hannah tops that list!

You make bath time so much fun!

I just took a bath and got a shower, too! Hannah was playing next to the tub, and she seemed pretty interested in the water and the suds, so I stripped off her clothes and socks and she came in the tub with me! I've had her in with me before, mostly at times when I didn't want to get out but she needed my attention. This time it seemed like she wanted in, and she had a lot of fun! She splashed and splashed! (Hence the shower!) I got some extra soaking time, too, and it was nice for both of us!

She leaned forward a little too far and got some water in her face and mouth. She started crying. My first thought was to get out of the tub immediately, but I was thinking about what I've been reading in "Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves" where she talks about babies and children needing to feel their emotions and reactions. I was thinking if we got out of the tub, it might distract her, and she was probably a little scared from getting her face wet and just needed to cry about that for a bit. So I just held her while she cried and she cried for about 45 seconds, then went back to splashing! That seems better than rushing out of the tub with an upset (and slippery) baby. I'm learning a lot along the way, hopefully the mistakes I make won't be too catastrophic or tramautic for my little love!

Hannah does have quite the rubber duckie collection, but today we bathed duckless. All the duckies were in her bathroom! We still had lots of fun!

Organically grown carrots taste better

They just do!!

Why am I starting a new business? How did I choose this one?

I am about ready to place my first order for sox! Yippeee!!! Why am I starting this business? There are two ways of looking at it, I am moving toward something, and I am moving away from something. I am moving toward something that is becoming increasingly important to me, clothing made from good quality natural fibers, organically grown, and made in the U.S. or as part of a fair trade agreement. Why is this becoming important to me? I think it has to do with becoming a mother, and really thinking about these kinds of things! My perspective on so much changed when I became a mom. I began to understand why a group of women would form to make the group "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" for example. I understand why people would think it's important not to cloud our water sources with pesticides and other nasty chemicals. I also understand why it's important to make conscious choices when making a purchase, and to buy used and recycled as much as possible. I think socks are a good choice for me for a business, because I don't feel like I would be selling someone something they don't need. I am moving towards something that is becoming a passion.

I'm also moving away from a career that I no longer have a passion for. I think audiology is a fine profession, and I am still an audiologist, and still practicing, for that matter. I look at others in my profession, though, and I can honestly say that I do not have the passion I see in them. With Hannah, too, it is so difficult to see people by appointment, and it's frustrating dealing with insurance companies and other contracting groups. Seriously, I just want to sell socks!

I have always struggled with mixing business and health care. It's a tough mix, really. It takes forever to get paid and so many people expect me to take care of them for free. I have always loved volunteer work, I was brought up that way, but the fact is, audiology is what I do for a living, not as a volunteer. Yes, it is wonderful to help people hear better, to help relationships be healed and restored because one aspect of a communication problem is resolved. It's great! Still, at the end of the day, my heart is not in it. It hasn't been for a couple of years, as anyone who's worked with me probably has noticed. Now that Hannah is here, I am inspired to do something I love.

This sock subscription idea has been brewing for awhile. My friend Katie mentioned it to me about 7 or 8 years ago, that she thought it would be a neat idea. Even back then, I started thinking how I could do it. The internet was a totally different story "back in those days." (!!!) Now, it seems like something that will work.

When I first started thinking of how I would put this together, I was just thinking socks. Fun colors, neat patterns, a new pair of nice thick yummy socks each month. Once I started looking at socks, I realized that they were going to have to be organic cotton and other natural fibers, or recycled fibers, for me to put my heart into this business. Finding vendors has not been easy, with the exception of Maggies organics. They are awesome and responsive and I am really looking forward to working with them!

I have a few more details to take care of, and then I am going to make my first order! I'm going to start with the organic cotton and maybe wool, and I would love to add things as we go along.

All of a sudden I have hope and passion and excitement with regards to how I am going to make a living! What a wonderful change for me!

Maggie's Soap Nuts

I can't remember when I started using Maggie's Soap Nuts for my laundry, I think it was a little over a year ago. I was maybe 2 months pregnant with Hannah. I do remember giving Poppy a bath with them when she first came to me, so it was sometime in the Fall of last year. Anyway, they are awesome! They are the berry from a certain tree. They are a little sticky, and that sticky I guess is what turns soapy in water. It's a completely natural cleaning product, yippee!! My clothes look nicer after each wash! I just started using them to wash dishes (a lot of times I just rinse dishes if no soap is needed) and everything, especially glassware, comes out so nice! I love them! For laundry I usually just use 5 of the soap berries in the little bag, and for dishes I use the liquid that I made from boiling the soap berries.

I want to keep learning ways to use them!

I wanted to post a link but I haven't figured that out yet. You can google soap berries for more info!

Book- Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves

I just started reading this book. I love the quote at the beginning! It's what I was thinking when I was writing my previous post. Here it is:

"Nothing you become will disappoint me; I have no preconception that I'd like to see you be or do. I have no desire to forsee you, only to discover you. You cannot disappoint me."
-Mary Haskell

That is beautiful! I like the "only to discover you." Sometimes I think of Hannah as a flower that is blooming and unfolding. It's neat!

Hannah might read this some day

It just occurred to me (well, earlier today it occurred to me) that Hannah might read this blog someday. I'm sure she'll know her way around a computer soon enough! Maybe when she's four I can ask her what tags and labels are all about, if I haven't figured it out by then. (She loves tags, the real kind that stick out of towels and blankets and pillows!)

So, Hannah, when you read this, I hope you know how much your mom loves you! Right now as I type this you are asleep in the carrier, in front of me, and I can kiss the top of your head any time I want. (Which is often!) When you're awake in the carrier I like to kiss the side of your head. Sometimes I wonder what you're going to like- are you going to like dancing, drawing, singing, reading, running, swimming? Maybe cooking? My hope for you is that you just be the person you're supposed to be and that you have the chance to explore the things you want to explore. I will do my best to give you these opportunities!

Lately you've been trying to stand up. You're very strong! I will not be surprised at all to see you walking around! You have some teeth coming in, so you've been a little cranky lately, but I try to help you get comfortable. We do a LOT of walking around the neighborhood with you in the carrier, it helps you get settled and you usally take a little snooze. Sometimes we walk around six times a day!

Will you remember the time you spent close to my chest as I carried you around? Will you remember snuggling in the middle of the night, and waking to nurse? Will you remember me singing you the ch-ch song so you would smile? I guess these are just special memories for me! In Luke I think it is, it says that Mary treasured the early days with the baby Jesus in her heart. Now I know what that means! You are a wonderful, beautiful baby! I have lots to treasure in my heart right now!

My first post

It's late in the evening and Hannah is asleep. I decided to finally start a blog! I have been spending more time online since Hannah was born. I have enjoyed reading others' blogs, getting to know new people, and re-connecting with old friends.

Everything has changed since Hannah was born! Some things are much harder, everything is much more wonderful! Today she spent some time screaming, presumably because she is teething (still) but the second half of the day was pleasant and fun. She's even smiling again!! Her smile melts my heart and makes everything worthwhile. She has inspired me to be the best I can be! I have learned a lot about healthy eating and healthy living since I first became pregnant in the summer of 2007. She turned 7 months old at the beginning of the month.

Right now I'm on a quest to learn all I can about organic cotton socks, hemp socks, bamboo socks, and socks made from recycled materials. Do you notice a theme here?

I need to learn about blogs and the features, for example, labels. What is a label for and how do I decide which labels to associate with a post?