Friday: This Moment

 

This Moment inspired by Soule Mama.

The Month of Letting Go. Riding the Rides.

 

 

 

 

Friday was a first for our family.

It was the first time that our 2 1/2 year old went on some Carnival Rides.

Eight to be exact.

We went to Fort Belvior's Oktoberfest with some friends who have a 3 year old. The weather was 80 degrees and it felt like a perfect Summer night at the Carnival.

After eating and grabbing some pitchers of beer, we followed our kiddos around as they went from ride to ride.  Luckily, in our group, there was the sweetest older girl who gladly held the hands of our munchkins and got on each and every ride with them.

This meant the first time my daughter EVER got on any rides, she did it without either parent. She's fairly tall for her age and just squeaked by the minimum height requirement.

Did I mention that she is fearless child? Did I mentioned I was anxious about letting my baby go hurling through the air in some small open-air contraption?

But, Motherhood is all about letting go.

I just shut my mouth and waved every time she rode by.

After a few different rides, I relaxed and just soaked up all her smiles. Here she is on her first ride. She's in the last car.

 

KIVA Revisited.

Every once in awhile, when I think about it, I go back to "KIVA" and check on my loans and make another micro-loan.

KIVA is one of my absolutely favorite organizations (besides Heifer International).

KIVA is a non-profit committed to fighting poverty through empowering people to start and improve their own businesses through micro-loans.

Each borrower shares a brief bio and photo; there are thousands of stories of courageous people trying to better their lives and the lives of their children. Many of them of are women.

To find a borrower, you can look at specific countries or particular sectors like: Agriculture, Education, Food, etc.... You can even use a filter to search for an attribute like: Fair Trade, Green practices, Underfunded areas or Conflict Zones.

Since it's founding in 2005, KIVA has distributed $480 million throughout 72 countries - many of these loans were lent in just $25 increments. They have a 99.03% repayment rate. Pretty amazing stats, right?

You pay through Paypal. It's super easy process. I've been a lender for several years now and highly recommend it to everyone.

It feels good to know that by taking the $25, I might have spent on a toy for my children or eating out, instead I am making a concrete difference in someone's life. That's something I can truly get behind.

Black Bean and Edamame Salad

 

 

My friend, Erin, rocks! Not only is she the reason that Papa Bear and I met, but she also took the most gorgeous photos of my most recent Birth. She also introduced me to Black Bean and Edamame Salad.

 

It has become one of my go-to meals.

 

It is cheap. It is fast. It is healthy. And, my 2 1/2 year old LOVES to help make (and eat) it.

 

What is not to love?

 

I have made a zillion variations, depending on what I have on hand.

 

 

 

 

Here are some ingredients I have added...

 

• Black Beans
• Edamame
• Avocado
• Tomatoes
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Feta
• Olive Oil
• Sea Salt



Wash, slice, dump, stir and refrigerate. You have a meal in minutes. Doesn't get much easier than that, does it?

Happy 5 Months! Anala.

 

Dearest Bright Eyes,

We are trying to savor this amazing age you are at right now.

Jolly and covered in adorable little rolls, you make us smile every time we look at you. You still have your gummy, toothless smile (even though those first two teeth seem like they will be making an appearance soon). You scoot and roll but aren't terribly deliberate in your movements. But, that is about to change. We are squeezing you tightly every day and enjoying this special time.

You and your Sissy are interacting a bit more together. You adore watching her and she adores hugging and kissing you. A few times a day, she will lay next to you on the floor and the two of you will just stare at each other.

You can sit up by yourself now for 30 seconds to a minute before you do a face-plant. Timberrrrrr!!!

We are all having fun watching your try to crawl.

Oh, the drool! Your teething has stepped into high-gear over the last two weeks. You are just drooling rivers and rivers. And you spend much of your awake time with your fingers jammed deep in your mouth.

You can't stand it when we have to wipe your face (especially your nose). But, beside that you don't seem bothered by much (unless you are tired or hungry). Your even-temperedness helps balance out the rest of the family's fire.

Have I mentioned how much you LOVE chewing on your toes? Who doesn't crack up when seeing a baby chewing on their toes? Irresistible.

You seem very interested in textures right now. You take your nails and scratch different surfaces to hear the different sounds you can make. Does this hint at some musical tendencies? Time will tell...

You eat at least once meal a day of solid food. Boy, do you look forward to that meal! We can never feed you fast enough! Bananas, avocado, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, homemade tomato soup...you have loved it all.

Thanks for sleeping better at night. You are going 5-6 hours between feedings at night (which is a big help). I try and feed you before I go to bed and then you wake up once more in the middle of the night. Sometimes your grunts and groans wake me up, even though you are in the next room with both doors closed. You are the loudest sleeper in the family. But, you know what? You are a keeper - that's for sure.

We are all crazy, madly in love with our Anala-Bala-Bears.

Your devoted family,

Mommy, Daddy and Big Sissher

P.S. If you were interested here is the letter I wrote to your Sissy when she turned 5 months.

P.P.S. Look how much you have grown! One Month, Two Months, Three Months, and Four Months.

Look Who Is 5 Months Old Today!

Friday: This Moment

 

Friday: This Moment inspired by Soule Mama