Cow's Milk

I grew up on milk. I usually ate it (and then drank it) with my Chocolate Cocoa Krispies. Then at night, my mom would serve up a tall glass for dinner.

As my consciousness about nutrition has grown over the years (no more fake cereals for me!), I've looked at cow's milk through a more critical lens. I'm extremely wary of the chemicals and the antibiotics that go into raising cows. I now opt for organic, antibiotic-free milk.

However, I've never gone the route of many of my nutritionally-conscious friends. I know lots of people who have given up dairy. I've been reluctant to take this path because, as a vegetarian, I appreciate the protein and calcium that come from milk. "Milk" that comes from non-dairy sources (like soy or rice), always seemed so processed to me.

Now that I'm pregnant and under the care of a midwife, I've been forced to look at my milk consumption again. My midwife advises against drinking milk. She has noticed that milk drinkers tend to have a strange calcification on their placentas, post-delivery. She says she hasn't been able to find any research to support her observations, but she's noticed it so many times that she feels confident advising against it.

Despite her warnings, I've continued drinking milk (again, because it's so easy so get protein and calcium from what feels like a natural source).

However, the other day, we ran out of milk, so I opted for the leftover, plain soy milk we had in our fridge (from the cookies Matt made last week). I realized that I enjoyed it so much more than cow's milk! It felt so much lighter.

I definitely won't switch to soy milk, due to the concerns associated with isolating certain soy compounds, but I think it's time to explore nut milks. When I read about Amy's process of making her own almond milk, I realized that nut milks aren't really that processed at all. She simply soaks almonds.

The one thing I need to look into is the nutritional content. I need to make sure I get enough calcium and protein...

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Conscious Consumption of Technology

I listened to an interesting interview on NPR's "Fresh Air" this weekend. The show's host talked with William Powers, the author of a new book called, Hamlet's Blackberry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age. The author argues that we should embrace new technologies and new ways of connectivity with intention and mindfulness. He explains that inundating ourselves with knowledge, information, and conversation crowds out the time we need to process all the knowledge/information/conversations we're taking in. We don't give ourselves enough space to extract meaning and really take things in. He explains that the more we try to "connect maximally," the less "present" we are and the less we are able to "show up for our lives."

He doesn't take a Luddite perspective at all. Instead, he argues that we need to cultivate balance in our lives. For example, his family has established an "Internet Sabbath" ritual that runs from Friday to Sunday evening. They literally unplug the modem and they don't check their e-mail or go online all weekend long.

The interview got me thinking a lot about the role that technology plays in my life. I want to be a conscious consumer of technology. For example, I haven't lived with a TV for the past seven years. (Matt and I do have a "TV," but it's only set up to play DVDs. I also occasionally use the internet to watch TV shows, but the setup prevents me from mindlessly watching TV--something I did throughout my entire childhood.)

I like the time I spend blogging. For me, blogging is a way to process my thoughts. It's like a journal that helps me build connection with others.

I also don't spend a lot of time "surfing the web." The nature of my job (teaching 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade at a public Montessori school) doesn't allow computer time during the day. Further, I only have about ten blogs that I visit on a daily basis for inspiration.

The rest of my schedule is so packed (pregnancy nap, one-hour walk, blogging, cooking dinner, reading) that I literally don't have a lot of time for mindlessly interacting with technology.

I think the number one area I need to work on is my interaction with my iPhone. Ever since I've gotten an iPhone, I pretty much let e-mail stream into my life constantly. I use my phone to fill the in-between moments in my life, instead of using that rare space to process my life or relax.

I'm going to make a committed effort to limit the number of times I check my e-mail every day. I'll continue to check it four times: before work, during lunch, after school, and before bed. But I won't let myself check it in those small moments (e.g., when I'm waiting for Matt to return from the restroom at a restaurant or when I'm waiting in line). I'm going to make a more concerted effort to make time and space for thinking, relaxing into the moment, reading, or writing in my Writer's Notebook.

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Registration Is Now Open!

I'm very excited to announce that registration is now open for the next Purposeful Conception: Preparing Your Mind, Body, and Life for Pregnancy online course, which begins October 3 and runs through November 5. This course will be the last one of the year.

Here's some of the positive feedback from the last course:

"This was an excellent course and a lot of thought, research, hard work, and love went into it - that is obvious. It was comforting to find a community of others who are really taking the time to plan for conception and parenthood, because I don't find that among my local community. Great job, Sara. Really and truly. This course was a big help to me and I will definitely recommend it to others!"

"I think that this course really shines in the lessons that require self-reflection. You brought up several issues that I hadn't really considered."

"Thanks to all the reflection, guided discussions, and useful advice from this course, [my] worry/fear has pretty much disappeared. My partner and I have figured out what 'ready' means to us, and it's not as hard as we thought it would be to get there. We have a short to-do list with achievable goals. I'm happy to be where I am right now in my life."

"Thanks for taking the time to put all of this information together and for sharing so much of yourself with us. I enjoyed the course."

"After working through the course I feel much more comfortable with the idea of having a child and much more prepared to expand my family."

"I was very ambivalent about having a child before taking this course. I now know that my husband and I are more prepared than I thought we were to have a child. For the areas in which we need some work, I now have concrete action steps to complete...It's wonderful to actually be excited about this next step instead of fearful or unsure."

"I have a long way to go, but I want to work on myself before having a baby. This course has helped me identify concrete areas that need work."

The Nitty, Gritty Details

What:

• An online course and community focused on preparing our minds, bodies, and lives for pregnancy

When:

• October 3-November 5
  

Cost:

• $99 USD

How:

• Visit the Purposeful Conception website for more information or to register

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Here's the more detailed version:

Are you thinking about getting pregnant or are you already actively trying? Welcome to Purposeful Conception! This course is for you.

The idea is simple: bringing a baby into the world is both an overwhelming joy and a life-changing commitment. When we approach conception with intention and purpose, we create a welcoming and prepared space for children in our lives.

This online course will help us position our minds, bodies, and lives for pregnancy. Over the course of five weeks, a new lesson will be uploaded each weekday. The lessons will address a whole host of topics, such as preparing your body through solid nutrition and exercise, finding balance between what you can and cannot control, making space in your life for pregnancy, deciding whether to track your cycle, building a solid partnership as a foundation for your future family, and much, much more. As a participant in the course, you'll receive information, tips, reflection exercises and prompts, access to interviews, and a community of like-minded kindred spirits who are on a journey similar to your own.

Interested in learning more? Visit the Course Overview or About the Author. Already prepared to join the community? Register now! Spaces will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be limited to the first 100 participants. The total cost is $99 USD, and the course will begin on October 3, 2010. Happy Conceiving!

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Please consider spreading the word by sharing this post via the buttons at the bottom of the post or by reposting the information on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Thank you so, so much!

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Purposeful Nurseries: Planning Stage

From Finn's room over at Sew Liberated

Matt and I have started the preliminary planning for converting our office/craft room into a nursery/office/craft room. We've decided that we want to set aside some space for ourselves in the room (for using our laptops, sewing, etc.). We're guessing that we'll spend a lot of time in the first several months hanging out in there for breastfeeding, diaper changing, and tummy time. It also happens to be my favorite room in the house, which is another reason why we'll probably spend so much time in there.

Once little "Coconut" (I have no idea why we've taken to calling the baby by that moniker) is able to move independently around his/her own room (by the way, we're getting our first ultrasound in a few weeks, and we're going to find out the baby's sex), then we might rethink the whole office/craft aspect of having our own stuff in there.

For now, here's what we're thinking we need:

• A dresser (with a changing pad on top--although we fully recognize that we will likely change Coconut throughout the whole house)
• A trash can for storing our dirty cloth diapers before we wash them
  
• An organic mattress to put on the floor (we're following the Montessori approach and not using a crib)
• A pullout couch for anyone who comes to stay
• A sidetable that can function as a "breastfeeding station" (for extra Klean Kanteens filled with lots of water to stay hydrated, books, burp cloths, etc.)
  
• A lamp
• An iPod dock
  

We will not be getting a changing table, a crib, or a glider/rocker (is this a huge mistake?). We'll be consolidating our three crafting/working tables down to one.

I'm excited to be thinking about this stuff!

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Cookie Party

Matt and I attended a fun birthday party this past weekend. The theme was "Cookies and Beer."

As a person who is sixteen weeks pregnant, I am neither partaking in sugar nor beer, but I wanted to go nonetheless. (Did I mention that Matt is also not eating sugar in my presence, out of solidarity?)

I decided that I would make ice-cream cookie sandwiches as my contribution to the party, while Matt took a different route and opted to make cookies without sugar. I was skeptical, but, fortunately, he proved me wrong. He used mashed up bananas, butter, soy milk, dried cherries, oatmeal, sundry spices, and sunflower seeds (following this recipe) to make a pretty decent "cookie." They definitely can't compete with a good ol' sugar-laden cookie, but they were definitely a nice treat nonetheless. The dried cherries made all the difference.

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Wart Removal

I seem to have a wart developing on my hand. It's the first one I've had since sixth grade. I did a quick google search for natural remedies, and I read about using Apple Cider Vinegar. Apparently, you apply it to a cotton ball and attach it to the affected area with a band-aid twice a day.

It's definitely worth giving it a shot. We'll see what happens!

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September: Reflection & Rejuvenation

Image courtesy the Nikki McClure calendar

Phew! I somehow managed to make it through August. Well, it wasn't so bad. It was just a lot of work to make it not bad.

The month started with a trip to Las Vegas for a national conference. I spent a lot of time in July preparing for the conference. We took at side trip to Zion National Park in Utah, and I had to make sure that I didn't overexert my pregnant self while hiking. It was also challenging to continue to eat healthy food and to stay hydrated.

Then I was thrust into getting ready for school. It would have been so easy for me to spend all day and night getting stuff ready because I enjoy doing it, but I had to remind myself to make time for rest and rejuvenation. I also had to make time for exercise (despite the sweltering Houston heat!) and cooking meals and keeping up with my chores (which I neglected to do for three whole weeks!). I've also been trying to make time for naps.

Overall, I've been doing a really good job with balancing everything; it's just taken a lot of metacognition and willpower and coaching and cajoling. I really want to honor the work that my body is doing to create a new life. I also want to make time for the rest of me to come to terms with what it means to be a parent and to fully embrace the ways in which our life is about to change.

Here were the intentions I set out for myself at the beginning of the month:

1. Enjoy a mini-vacation with Matt as we trek to Las Vegas for a conference and spend a few extra days at Zion National Park. Yes!
   
2. Have fun participating in my Purposeful Conception course. Yes!
   
3. Accomplish my massive to-do list before school starts. Get to a place where I can actually sit and meditate in my classroom before school starts. I accomplished many, many, many of the things on my list. And I did have time to sit on the floor and meditate (for about 1 minute) before the kids came in on the first day!
   
4. Prepare to present a workshop at a conference in September. Yes! I have the PowerPoint done and the handout ready. It will require probably another 1-2 hours of tweaking before the conference.
   
5. Organize our office. I did this on the last day of the month! It was a huge undertaking. I went through our craft boxes and files to purge, purge, purge. My plan is to tackle one room a month, leading up to the baby's arrival in February. I scheduled the hardest room first.
   
6. Spanish, Spanish, Spanish. Enough said. No, no, no. Aack!
   
7. Finish learning all I can about pregnancy. I'm getting tired of reading about pregnancy. So much of what I read creates a culture of fear. "This could be happening--look for these symptoms!" I think stress is one of the worst things during pregnancy. I'm trying to stay as relaxed as possible. I've been moving on to books about parenting, instead.
8. Relax and rest! I've been trying my very best...

My intentions for the month of September:

• Work on Halloween costume
• Organize the bedroom
• Learn about taking care of an infant (breastfeeding, sleeping, bathing)
• Attend a conference for public Montessori teachers
• Travel to Indiana for an awesome wedding
  
• Work on birth announcements
  
• Relax and rest

I'm looking forward to it!

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