HEALTHY COCONUT BALLS.

These coconut balls are incredibly delicious and surprisingly healthy. They are gluten-free, dairy free, sugar free, egg free, and completely raw! Yum!
Everyone who tries them ends up asking for the recipe. So here's the recipe, even though you didn't ask. You'll thank me later…

HEALTHY COCONUT BALLS

2 cups raw cashews

1 cup gluten-free oats

10 pitted medjool dates

1 1/2 TB coconut oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup maple syrup

Combine all the ingredients except the maple syrup in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped and mixed together. Turn the processor on low and pour in the maple syrup. The consistency should be a little sticky. If it appears too dry, add more maple syrup as needed. Once the maple syrup is added, let the processor run on a medium speed for about a minute, until the mixture is thoroughly combined. Scoop out and roll into balls. 

Variation: Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup cocoa powder for a delicious chocolate version!

Five Things on a Monday.

 1. We have all been so sick. So sick. After two weeks, I still feel awful. Rosemary is still coughing and not sleeping. Tim took over at 2AM last night, to get her back to sleep (for the third time that night). I woke up at 3:30AM and noticed Tim wasn't in bed, and I couldn't hear the baby crying. I tiptoed into the nursery to find the two of them snuggled on a blanket together… on the floor. After considering the situation, I decided to go back to bed, and the next thing I knew, it was 7AM. I'm pretty sure I made a good decision.

1. I'm eating chicken now. I feel like, in reality, this makes me an ex-vegan. But I like to think of myself as a vegan who eats chicken on a semi-regular basis.

2. "Doodle-loodle-loodle-loo" is Rosemary's new little saying. She says it when she is happy, she says it when she is crying, and (my favorite) she whispers it as she is falling asleep. 

3. I just bought myself a "swim dress" online. This makes me sound like an old lady, but I think it's surprisingly cute and appropriately modest.

4. Timmy and I don't really celebrate Lent, but we do love the idea of fasting for a long stretch of days once a year. We typically do it at the same time as Lent, because that makes it easy to remember. This year, we decided to do it earlier. So our 40-day fast starts tomorrow. I'm giving up gluten, all refined sugar, and Netflix. Timmy is giving up coffee! Rosemary is giving up Baby Einstein. It should be a fun filled 40 days…

5. But at the end of the 40 days – and we timed this perfectly on purpose – we have Hawaii.

A CONVERSATION: ABOUT THE TIME.

*after being awakened by Rosemary crying at some wee hour of the night*

Me: Uhgggggggg. What time is it?

Timmy: … I don't know… Don't be mad at me.

Me: Huh? What TIME is it?

Timmy: Don't be mad.

Me: I asked you what TIME IT IS?

Timmy: I'm sorry. I'm trying so hard…

Me: …

I think it's obvious that a clock on my side of the bed is a good idea.

NATURAL REMEDY: FOR A COUGH

It's been a sad week at our house. Rosemary caught the flu, which then turned into the croup. Her coughing, coughing, coughing was unbearable. I held her for hours in the middle of the night, listening to her shuddering breaths and counting the minutes between another gasping, coughing attack. There was usually only about two to five minutes of rest before another one hit. She was awake, literally, for days on end because she could not fall asleep. My poor, poor baby.

Of course, after being coughed on for days and days, Timmy and I caught the same flu. So we have all been coughing ourselves silly. Not much can truly help an awful cough. But we did find something soothing, and I'm sharing it with you - in case you find yourself awake at midnight in a similarly unfortunate situation. 

 
Bring a large saucepan of water to boil. Once boiling, add one generous tablespoon of oregano, thyme, and sage. Stir in and let steep for 2-3 minutes. Remove pan from heat.

FOR ADULTS:

Pour the hot liquid into a large bowl. Put a towel over your head and the bowl and inhale deeply. Try to keep it up for about ten minutes.

FOR BABIES:

This requires two adults. Pour the hot liquid into a large bowl. Put the bowl on the floor. Have one adult hold the baby in their lap, being very (VERY!) careful not to let the baby touch the boiling hot water. Have the other adult hold a large blanket over their heads and the bowl, making a "tent". All the steam will stay under the blanket. The baby will probably cry (mine sure did) but that's actually good because that makes them inhale more deeply. Try to keep them under for about ten minutes. The longer the better.

These herbs are antibacterial and antiviral and will immediately start working to clear up the cold in your throat and lungs. Cold viruses are sensitive to heat and the warm air will help to loosen congestion. We did this every night and saw a definite difference.

WILD ONES.

 When I met Timmy, he was wild. Marvelously so. He dreamed of climbing mountains and jumping off cliffs. He was loud and intense and passionate and unstoppable. I said "Oh no! Please don't climb that!" and I said "That's dangerous!" and I said "You're going to hurt yourself!" many, many times. 

When I look into my daughter's eyes, I see Timmy. She is wild. Beautifully so. She dreams of climbing the piano and jumping off chairs. She is loud and dramatic and passionate and stubborn. I say "Don't climb that!" and I say "That's danger!" and I say "You're going to get hurt." many, many times.

They still climb. And when one obstacle is conquered, they look ever higher to the next. And the next. When they are together all I hear is squeals and screams and giggling. 

And tears, of course, because I'm usually right with my admonitions.

But even still, I'm glad that our daughter was born with the heart of her father. She is brave and she is sweet and she is mine.

TODDLER BEACH FASHION

 

Hawaii is two months away, but I'm already planning and packing. Partly because being organized is the only thing that makes sense when you're embarking on a long journey with a toddler. And partly because it's just really very fun.

So here is what Rosemary will be wearing on the sunny beaches of Hawaii.

ONE: Swim Cap

I shudder to think of how unhappy a baby with a sunburned scalp would be.
A sweet and snugly fitting swim cap is the perfect answer. 

TWO: Cute Suit

A super cute – but ladylike – swimsuit. Perfect.

THREE: Cool Shades

Baby aviators? Not much could be cuter – or cooler.

FOUR: Itty Bitty Water Shoes

There will be plenty of beach walking and beach running,
so very small water shoes are a very good idea.

 

THE PROGRESSION OF A SMILE.

What makes Rosemary smile?

Daddy.

This song.

Bathtime.

Puppies.

Books.

Tickles.

Movies of herself.

Mirrors.

Coconut milk.

A CONVERSATION: ABOUT METEORS

 

*While discussing the pros and cons of a potential road trip.*

 

Me: I don't know babe. Maybe we shouldn't go. 

We could get in a car accident and die.

Timmy: Yes. But what if we do go and our house gets hit 

by a meteor while we're gone?? We'll be so glad we went!

MEANWHILE.

In the meanwhile

and in the betweens, 

we've lost count of smiles

and fallen into a very beautiful

place.

In the meanwhile,

and in the paused spaces,

we've caught our breath

and found ourselves to be

happy.

In the meanwhile,

and in the unsaid phrases,

we've whispered with our eyes

and deeper still we've fallen

in love.

ROSEMARY: 16 MONTHS

weight // 20 pounds

height // 29.5 inches

wearing // 12 month size clothes

saying // mama, dada, guh (grandpa), uh-oh, dut (duck)

she can also roar like a lion, moo like a cow, woof like a puppy, and scrunch her nose like a bunny. Tim plans to teach her to "scream like an eagle" next…

 tricks // she knows where her nose, eyes, ears, tongue and belly button are. she also dances, waves, and blows kisses. she will pretty much mimic anything we say or do.

eating // her favorite foods are applesauce and sweet potatoes, we are also still nursing several times a day 

sleeping // rose takes one daytime nap from 11-2 every day. her bedtime is at 8. she will typically sleep until 6 or 7 the next morning, but does wake up a couple times in between. when she does wake up, a good back scratch is all she needs to fall back asleep.

playing // she loves books, tents, stuffed animals, and boxes. she screams with sheer joy whenever we go outside, and her absolute favorite activity is to dance around the living room naked. she likes to play peek-a-boo in the living room curtains. she LOVES to put on my shoes and shuffle around the house in them.

teething // she has ten teeth and is currently getting three molars and an eye tooth. which means we are currently getting not much sleep.


potty training // we are working on potty training and hope to have her completely trained by 18 months. 

This girl. She makes every day an adventure.

BEST OF 2012

 ONE. Rosemary

This little flower had just turned four months old at the beginning of 2012, and by the end of it she was nearly sixteen months - with a lot of growing done in between. She got her first tooth in April, she started crawling on Mother's Day, she took her first steps just a couple weeks later, and she's been running ever since. Her first word was "mama" but her favorite word is "daDA". She is adorable, hilarious, and contagiously happy. When she smiles she crinkles her nose. She is perfectly ours and the very best of the best. 

 TWO. Hawaii

 In March we took a family trip to Hawaii with Mom and Dad. In case you were wondering if my complete obsession with this island paradise has dimmed in the past year - rest assured that I love it more than ever. Hawaii has my perfect combination of sunlight, beauty, and an overwhelming aura of relaxation. Bliss. We had a blast, and we're planning a second trip for this coming March…

THREE. Painting

This summer I painted the oak cabinets in my kitchen white. And then I started painting ALL the trim in my house white. And all the doors. If I had realized what a big project this would turn out to be, I may not have started it. And once you start this sort of thing, you simply can not stop. But it's amazing how much lighter and brighter our home feels with all the white white white, so continue on I shall. 

 FOUR. California

In November the three of us took a little vacation to sunny Newport Beach, California. We visited several dear friends and spent a lot of time chasing seagulls, which was Rosemary's favorite part. 

FIVE. Rosemary's First Birthday

 She turned one year old in September. Time flies when you're having fun, and we were having a lot of fun. So her birthday just kind of whizzed up on us, arrived with a burst of PINK, and disappeared into a beautiful and mysterious realm called "toddlerhood". We did manage to have a really great celebration in honor of our quickly blossoming Rose, and it was a very festive occasion. 

SIX. Marriage Conference

 Timmy and I attended a marriage conference in Indianapolis with our favorite little Rynn and Caleb. It was part of the Real Marriage tour done by Mark Driscoll, and it was amazing. Mark Driscoll is even cooler in person, and it was an all-around happy happening.

 

 SEVEN. Family Time

When I asked Timmy what his favorite part of 2012 was, "family time" was his answer. We really learned how to be a family this last year, and our life is so much sweeter as three.

  EIGHT. My Birthday Celebration

I turned 26 on the 26th of November and Timmy took me to Chicago to celebrate my long-awaited Golden Birthday. (My parents watched Rosemary and she had a great time with them!) We went to IKEA, ate yummy food, and stayed in a luxurious hotel. 

  NINE. New Camera
Timmy bought me a new camera for Rosemary's birthday. I can't quite explain how that makes sense, so I'll quote him saying it was "for keeping Rose alive for a whole year!" I'd say, when you look at it that way, my new camera was well-deserved. I love it.

(photo credit: Laura Zastrow Photography, www.laurazastrow.com)
  
TEN. God

The best part of anything is always God, and this past year He has really shown himself to be faithful, loving, and very patient.

TEN MONTHS AGO…

I needed a break and I took one.

Our family slid inward, and our focus was simply trying to figure out how to be the best of parents. Distractions needed to disappear in order for priorities to be in the right places. I had to focus on what God had placed before me.

These past ten months have been sweet ones. We cried and laughed and learned and stretched and grew. New accomplishments, new trials, new adventures, and the same old everyday occurrences slipped by.

And now, I am longing to write again and my fingers are itching to type out all the whispers and songs and shouts housed within my heart. I'm ready to peep my head out of our snug little nest and to return to my very small space. This new year will bring…

more words,
more stories,
more blogging.

And here is a small taste of what we've been up to since I last posted: