The Organic Rabbit Hole

Having a baby has changed the way I look at the world. If I’m being honest, before becoming a mom, I never gave serious thought to terms like: organic, biodegradable, and high fructose corn syrup. Now I haven’t fallen completely down the rabbit hole, because once you start digging, not only would you never leave your house, but you would discover things like chicken abuse and that Johnson and Johnson’s shampoo contains formaldehyde. Sometimes you learn something you wish you hadn’t. For instance, on the list of loves of my life are: my husband, my baby, and my Keurig, I have come to find out that Keurig capsules are not biodegradable and.... the inventor himself regrets ever having come up with the idea. Now I can’t stop picturing my daughter one day building her dream home on a huge pile of used K-cups because the Earth itself has suddenly become Garbage Island. Do yourself a favor and do not Google Garbage Island. 

Outside the birth of my daughter and my wonderful eco- friendly sister in-law (hi Michele!), my organic introduction came via The Honest Company. I literally thank my sister and her husband every day for giving us a two year supply of diapers as well as a host of other organic products from The Honest Company like laundry detergent and shampoo (that don't contain the same ingredients they use to preserve dead frogs for science experiments). Thanks to these stepping stones, my eyes have been opened to organic baby food pouches and companies like Farm Fresh to You. Also, after successfully breastfeeding Charlotte for a year (air high five!) we've now moved onto cow’s milk and I've discovered the wonderment that is organic milk. Growing up we bought so much milk each week the checker literally asked if we bathed in it. Indeed, my 6’0 tall family is a walking advertisement for the milk slogan “does a body good”. I cannot believe it took me 30 years to realize what real milk should taste like. Despite the minor dent in our savings account (don’t ever go to Whole Foods on an empty stomach) I have only encountered positive changes in our lives since I started to pay attention. In my free time you will not find me hugging a tree or posing nude for PETA’s “I’d rather go naked" campaign but I have evolved into a somewhat “crunchy” mother and it’s downright delicious. 

Honestly, how cute are these diapers?

Oh, Mr. Sun

I had no idea how much I missed the sun. These past two weeks in Northern California have been glorious. I may have gotten over excited because last week I purchased a splash table for Charlotte. I am aware it’s February and while I had to Google the first official day of spring (which is March 20th by the way) we are going to spend every day out on our patio that we can. If it helps I also purchased 100 phthalate free plastic balls so when it’s not being used outside it can be used in our playroom (those marketing directors at Amazon are geniuses, customers who bought blank also bought blank, it gets me every time!). Being cooped up in your house and going stir crazy has a whole new meaning when you have a toddler. The reason why they have so many Pamper commercials with baby’s thunder thighs jiggling in the golden sun while running up a hill is because kids are meant to roam!

Another thing I love about warm weather is the clothing. The only thing more fun than pulling out my maxi dresses this season is sorting and color coordinating my daughter’s very own version of 27 dresses, which are currently taunting me in her closet. I am not sure there is anything more adorable than a toddler in matching sun dress and hat, maybe attempting to pick up a puppy, but now I’m just writing the Gerber commercial for them and I’m still miffed that Charlotte wasn’t chosen as the next Gerber spokesbaby. Have you seen the baby they chose? Blonde, blue eyed one dimple little 7 month old named Grace for crying out loud. But we’re not bitter; oh we’ll have our day in the sun. 

Of Course

Remember the epidemic of pregnant women I told you about? Well the babies are arriving! Curiously, no storks delivered them and their super moms had to do all the grunt work. I took Charlotte to visit my newborn nephew, Colton, yesterday. I went over with: a meal, snacks, a card and my fully walking toddler. It didn’t take a minute upon arrival for Charlotte to discover her cousin in the baby cradle. Charlotte is a very cautious girl and actually understands the term “gentle” but that didn’t stop her from attempting to touch his face, a moment I wish I could have captured on camera but my hands were busy keeping her hands from poking his newborn eye. The Aunt part of me just wanted to hold him and kiss his little face, while the Mommy part of me had to pull Colton’s hospital hat from Charlotte’s mouth. To give her credit though Charlotte didn’t screech or break anything, which sure made this mommy proud.

Charlotte meeting her cousin for the first time.

We tried our luck again today by visiting 1 month old baby Shane. Again I had to run interference. This taught me a valuable lesson: always bring a baby wrangler along so I can cuddle the newborn. On the drive home while we were singing a killer rendition of The Wheels on the Bus I got to thinking. You know when you see a couple together that simply fit; when you see new parents with their infant, all you can think is, of course. When I first held Charlotte, my heart knew her instantly. Watching her personality develop, while it always amazes me, has yet to surprise me because it is somehow familiar. Of course this is their baby and of course this is my baby. These tiny humans are right where they should be. All I can think is how in the world did we ever exist without them?