Tips For Learning Spanish On "The Calle"

So everyone that knows me knows me probably knows me as the the white girl married to the handsome Mexican man, with the cute little chicana baby (I actually don't know who knows me as this, but it's true). They also know that we're trying to teach our baby girl Spanish (which is a work in progress, we'll see what type of Spanglish this more little thing ends up speaking). However, little known fact is that I haven't been speaking Spanish very long. In fact, most of the Spanish I have learned has been learned just by living my life these past 3 years. You can totally tell, because I don't speak very proper Spanish and I could really cuss someone out if I wanted to, but the fact is I've learned, and I've improved a lot (or so I've been told).
So here we are, and I thought I'd pass some tips of to my fellow gueros  (that's white people, but in this case all English speakers) wanting to learn Spanish, just not in the classroom.
I took the required 2 years of Spanish in high school. I even went for another semester. But when I nearly failed my final semester I decided I valued graduating with a GPA that would get me into college than learning Spanish. Though a little tragic for my speaking skills, I learned something about myself, I'm just not a classroom learner when it comes to language (or most things). It's not that I don't like to learn. I do. I really do, but I have to be actively using what I'm learning to actually make it stick. That's what I've been doing since 3 years ago, and I've learned a lot along the way. That's why I want to share some nuggets of knowledge for those who would love to learn some Spanish (or any other language), but like me are a little more tactile.

Lesson 1: Find and Make Opportunities
Obviously, I live with my best opportunity to learn Spanish. I'm married to a Mexican man and we have a little baby. But it wasn't always like that (and I'm not advocating to find some random spanish speaker and get hitched) however, to learn Spanish on the street (that's what the called means) you're going to need to build some relationships with actual spanish speakers. For me, that was going Salsa dancing, making friends, and swapping a few numbers (those numbers may or may not lead somewhere else, so be careful). You could also try attending a Spanish-speaking church, go to the get togethers, hang out, attend service, make friends. If you have kids, go to Spanish story time at the library (don't do this if you don't have kids, you'll just come off creepy). And here's the thing, the beauty of learning on the street in the U.S. is that most Spanish speakers also speak some English. So be brave, be bold, and go make some friends. It might be slow going, but with time and patience it will happen.

Lesson 2: Remember your basics
When I first went to the Salsa Club, I didn't go empty handed. I knew a handful of phrases that I had to learn to graduate high school, and if you're like me, you probably had to learn a foreign language to graduate too. Reach back into the depths of your memory and pull that out. If you by small chance didn't need a foreign language, or for some unknown reason took Bengali (there's just not a lot of Bengali being thrown around in Minneapolis, I don't even know where you would take that) it may be a good investment to by a Spanish for beginners workbook. I'm sorry, I know I said without the classroom, but on the bright side, you can take this at your own pace. Or you can even download a Spanish for beginners app on your smart phone. There are so many many options now a days. So don't go in empty-handed. Get some basics. Here's a few giveaways just for fun:

Hola:Hello
¿Comó estas?: How are you?
Muy Bien: Very Fine
Gracias: Thank You.

That's enough to get you off the ground with your first conversation, a very short conversation, but a conversation none the less. Good Luck.

Lesson 3: Be Fearless
Apart of learning how to speak on the street is just doing it. You kind of have to decide to throw caution to the wind and just do it. Take what you have, and even what you don't and go for it. You're going to make mistakes, you're going to be speaking more Spanglish than anything, but every good thing has a beginning and this is yours. And if by chance you happen to ask some guys to do some naked rock climbing (not that I would know about this from personal experience...and I don't want to talk about it) pick yourself up, bury your embarassment, and keep going. It's worth it.

Lesson 4: Get Some Media
Books, Music, Movies. Read, listen, watch. A lot of understanding comes from patiently observing, and being immersed. Since you live in the good ol' USA, that's a little harder to do. However, we do have access to quite a few Spanish resources. Like Pandora, Netflix, and the library. Even if you don't pick up a lot of words from this, you will still get a sense for rhythm and flow of the language, and will really help you stop sounding so white. Haha just kidding, nothings going to really help that, but it will help you feel more comfortable when listening to your Spanish-speaking friends. Here's some options I've  tested and approved:

Music: use pandora, seriously
Prince Royce (Bachata Music)
Marc Anthony (Salsa Music)
Rojo (praise music)
Tercer Cielo (More praise music)
Evan Craft (praise music, but is more similar to a white people style)
Pequeña Fiesta de Alabanza by Yancy (Children's Praise Music) this is also good for adults, as the words in kids music repeat themselves often to help the meaning stick)

Movies: if you have DVDs check the back. There may be a Spanish Audio Option. If so, change it to that and leave all subtitles off. But if you need a little help, turn on the Spanish subtitles. It can help to read and listen at the same time. In addition, there's Netflix:
Instructions Not Included
Paraiso (warning small amount of nudity)
No Filter (again a second of Nudity warning)
Canela (cute to watch with kids)
Pulling Strings
The Little Prince (Change audio to spanish)
PlimPlim (kid's show)
Cantiflus(Story of a Mexican Comedic Legend)
Ala Mala
Mi Mejor Regalo
Frida (Change audio to Spanish, small amount of nudity, teaches about Frida Khalo)
Galinha Pintadinha  (Kids show)

Books: Go to your local library! This may be harder in areas that don't have a large Latino population, but we live in an area with a number of Latinos and has a Spanish section. Also, start easy and work your way up.

Baby Don Quixote (teaches Spanish words to babies and beginners)
Loiteria (another baby board books)
La Llorona (Baby board book)
Buenos Noches Monstruos  (harder board book)
Eres Tu Mi Mama by P.D. Eastman
Get a Spanish/English Bible and read in both languages
Jesus Te Llama (Jesus Calling in Spanish)
Soy Miembro de la Iglesia by Rainer
The Harry Potter Series (Ideal for moderate advanced who already know the story. As the writing in Harry Potter grows in difficulty as the series progresses, mainly because the audience grows up. Also your Spanish should grow up as you continue to read the books)

Lesson 5: Practice, Practice, Practice
Talk to your friends, talk to your dog, talk to your self (make sure what you're saying is correct if you talk to your dog or yourself, otherwise you'll be in a world of bad habits formed). Write your grocery list in Spanish, write your Facebook posts in Spanish. Whatever you do don't give up. It will pay off. Eventually the man at the pananderia won't just give you a blank stare, you're waiter will give you tamales instead of a torta  (I still don't know how that happened), and you'll finally understand the joke about the "cuchara que no escuchara." It's will happen. Just have patience and practice. Good luck in all your Spanish Speaking endeavors!

Like A Tree

I think that anyone that I stay connected with, or probably mostly just follows my blog to see what's going on in my life probably notices that I end up on this page a lot. It seems to be at least once a year (sometimes multiple times a year) I end up meditating on the tree. And I notice this in myself. It used to bug me. I used to feel ashamed and insecure, until one day I heard a sermon at North Central (and I'm ashamed to admit that her name escapes me and I went to track down her name, but she no longer works at NCU) and the sermon was all about how often the Lord takes us to the same place over and over again. As we enter new stages in life we often have to venture through the same lessons, because we have to learn them in a new way.
T.S. Elliot once wrote "We must not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know it for the first time." Life is cyclical, continuing to rebirth us from on state of understanding, wisdom, and knowledge into the next. We are continually be called into the adventure of the unknown and yet being rebirthed into the same lessons we once learned, just learning them in a new way. I think that's what Paul meant when he said,
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV). With each veil that is removed from our eyes, we discover a new depth and greatness to the Lord, and learn how to trust him in new ways. But the way we learn in each phase of glory tends to bring us to the same lessons. It may present itself differently, but the core is the same and used to strengthen us.
So what does this have to do with trees? Well, I was watching "Bones" on Netflix the other day (actually I watch this show a lot. Sometimes you just need a break during nap time). And they find this dead guy that has been wrapped inside the roots of this tree. Anyway, they go to cut down the tree to determine cause of death. And why do they do this? Because the rings on the tree will be darkest on the year it is greatly nourished (in other words, find the darkest ring, you find the year the dead guy died). Dr. Hodgens also educates the audience that the rings show you when it was a hard year. When their was a storm. (And who said TV is uneducational and will rot your brains) Yet with every year a new ring is formed, the tree is stronger, and better equipped to withstand the next season.
Like trees, with go through seasons over and over again, yet with each time a lesson is confronted, we have another ring to help us withstand. The struggle may look and feel the same, yet the truth is we are stronger and better equipped to stand during the storm.
So if you're like me and find yourself in the same place over and over, have faith, don't beat yourself up. More than likely you haven't  fallen, if you're truly seeking the Lord and your desire is to follow him, you've probably just cycled and are on your way to greater depths.

Embracing The Most Important Work

C.S. Lewis once said, "Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work." And I have loved this quote for a long time. It's easy to love this quote until you find it applies to you. Just as it was easy to love my stretch marks before I had them, so it was easy to see the work of motherhood as the greatest gift to humanity until it was my gift to give.
And now I'm here.
As I've stepped into the role of stay at home mom. It doesn't seem so glamorous, not so important. When most of my day is spent sitting feeding a baby or rocking a baby. In a culture focused on works, it's easy to find my identity in nap time. The ultimate show of my worth being what I did during that time. Did I do the laundry, the dishes, did I get a shower in? Sometimes it's the simple task. But as most life transitions, this one again has forced me to reevaluate, where is my worth found. It always seems that this is where I struggle when the season changes. I find myself stripped bare of everything I thought made me, well...Me. And then go about the work of being busy. Trying to fill my life with tasks until I break, and I'm tired, and have nothing left to give, but harsh words and stress.
That's when I have to let go and realize, I yet again have to be rebuilt
Renewed.
Fixing my foundation so that I once again come to the realization that who I am is not dependent on what I do, but whose I am.
Trees grow, not when it is summer and when their leaves are green in all their glory. But they grow when they have been stripped of their leaves and the winter storms come. That is when another ring forms around their trunk and their roots deepen.
The change of seasons grows the trees and so it is with me.
And as my season changes, so I must choose to be like a tree. To let another ring grow around my trunk and sink my roots, so that even more I will find my identity in Him and less in me.
Then I can trust that summer will come again, and somehow the lessons I learn in this time of Momhood will become a gift.
For now I'm going to have to embrace my season of autumn. Where the greatest gift I have is this baby that cuddles on my lap just to hear my heart beat. In the same way I'm going to choose to sit on my heavenly Papa's lap and listen to his heart, remembering where I come from. The laundry may get done. The bathroom may get cleaned, but in the end my most important is to sit with my Father who has called me to sit with this baby. So we're together just gonna sit tight and see where this season takes us.

The Best and Worst of Natural Diapers

As should probably be expected with my history of loving to test natural products, when our bundle of joy came into the picture, I was more than thrilled to explore all the naturals available in baby products. Our family has been using Seventh Generation since the day baby girl was born, and have been really pleased with the product. Substantially absorbent, FSC Certified (meaning it only uses ingredients that are sourced from forests that put more trees back into the environment than they take away), and they have cute little woodland animals printed on the outside. What is not to love? We decided on the brand after looking at a report done by Baby Gear Lab. Though they didn'the get an outstanding review from them, I also had a friend who is also into things that are "green" recommend them to me. She said that since she switched to Seventh Generation with her last daughter, she had not had to fight with diaper rash even once. Now that's something I'm into. 

However, when my Aunt asked me if I'd be interested in trying a Sample pack of natural diapers on from Amazon.com, I  leaped at the opportunity. I knew there were more options for natural diaperselection out there, but with my limited exposure, I really hadn'the had the opportunity to try anything else. So of course I said "YES!"
And not only did I sample the diapers, I decided to hold a little science experiment and post the findings for my other Green friends.

The diapers we tested were: Seventh Generation, Earth's Best, Babyganics, Andy Pandy, Bambo Nature, and Naty.

Here's the basics of our search for the best natural diaper:
- The sample pack came with three of each diaper. So we had Baby Girl wear one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one through the night.

And these were the categories we used to judge which diaper was the best:

1. Cute Factor: Although not a super important quality, a diaper will appeal to me a lot more if they have some sort of cute print, rather than being just white. 

2. Absorbency and Leak Protection: Environmental Friendliness is great, but if it doesn'the actually do its job, it'seems just not a good diaper.

3. Environmental Friendliness: I scoured the websites to find ingredients and certifications that would make each diaper low impact on the environment.

4. Availability: Yes, a diaper may be great, but if the only way I can get it is by ordering it from Sweden, it's probably just not practical.

5. Price per diaper: In general, young families are on a budget, so honestly, it'seems a little hard for me to rationalize paying more than 25 cents/diaper. Therefore, I'm really not going to pay $1/ diaper.

Ingredients: This was more surfing the websites and learning about what is actually in the diapers or not in the diapers.

Feel: Finally, what is the texture of the diaper. Soft? Coarse? My baby girl's little butto is going to be sitting in this, so I rather have her be comfortable. 

And these were the results:

Seventh Generation 

These diapers are adorable and covered with woodland animals. The didn'the used to be, and the Amazon subscriptions haven't caught up yet, but if you are shopping at Target, they have all the prints. Also, these are FSC Certified (which I mentioned earlier, but if you follow the link you can learn more about what that means). Baby Gear lab says that "They're not that eco-friendly," and in comparison to what the other brands offer, not they're not the most eco-friendly. However, after reading the FSC guidelines and looking at the price of 23 cents/diaper, I'd say they're a good bargain for the product. They're unbleached, and don't use fragrances or lotion, making them super for sensitive behinds. Also, they work! Also long as they're positioned correctly on the baby's behind, their is great leak protection and terrific absorbency. They even work overnight. I'd say this is a great bang-for-your-buck option.

Earth's Best

These diapers, although not the cutest option, work wonders. With being only 26 cents/per diaper, I was surprised with how well they worked.  They are super soft and super absorbent. These are also a brand that is available at Target, but, again the cuteness factor had swayed me in the past. Still, these provedette to be an excellent choice. They are chlorine free, latex free, dye and perfume free, breathable, and have a moisture barrier. Plus, these diapers are unique, because, unlike the other brands, they are made with corn and wheat , not trees. This means they are more eco-friendly, because they use an annually renewable resource, not a renewable resource that will take hundreds of years to fully renew itself. In addition, after doing some digging around the Internet, I learned that Earth's Best is owned by a parent organization called Hain Celestials. Hain Celestials is also a parent to notable brands like Alba Botanically, Avalon Organics, and Jasons. This kind of puts the organization in the "Big Business" sector, which I'mentioned normally not a fan of, but in this case, the organization provides accountability for the organizations it parents to be Green. It ensures that processing, transportaction, and packaging of all products is done in the most sustainable way possible. I will say this is definitely another great bargain brand for the Green-seekers on a budget. It'seems available at Amazon, Target, and Walmart claims to carry the brand on their website. However, I have never seen it in the store. 

Babyganics

I really wanted to love this brand, and when I say really, I mean really wanted to. It'seems super-duper cute, with brightly colored jungle animal print. It's widely available on Amazon, at Target, and at Toys R Us. 49 cents/diaper makes it a little more expensive than the ones that were just discussed, but that should mean that is all the more to love, right? Wrong! This brand is free of chlorine, latex, and petroleum-based lotions or fragrances. However, there product information on the website leads to wondwrite what is actually in their products. They seem very proud of using a 100% Natural Neonourish Seed Oil, but have no information on what that really is, or what seeds are used. This information could be useful when trying to avoid potential allergens. Also, there is no mention on their website of any certifications. Certifications are something most "Green" products love to brag about, because it shows they have accountability for what they are claiming is green. With out the certification,  it's hard to know if the product really is green or just trying to brand itself to make a bigger buck. The one thing this diaper did have going for it was a wetness indicator, a line down the front that fades when wet. However, they really could have gone without this, as they are tragically unabsorbent. It's kind of an issue when your diapers blow-out at the Mall of America. They also leaked while we were at home, no blow-out. 

Andy Pandy

Do not buy these diapers. Again, I repeat, do NOT buy these diapers. Again, a brand that I really wanted to love, because they are made from bamboo (which is so cool). Their website that bamboo renews itself fast, has no need for fertilizers or pesticides (so naturally organic), hypoallergenic, and antibacterial. This diaper was super soft, almost cloth like, and had a wetness seal indicator. However, this is yet anot her brand that definitely did not need a wetness indicator. The pee literally soaked right through. Yes, I mean soaked, not leaked, soaked. The outside of the diaper was wet. It may be because they are 100% biodegradable, but when this was the result in all three diapers, I think the product needs to be altered a bit. I think my expectations were set to high for brand that is 53 cents per diaper and only available at Amazon. They offer a free sample on their website, but honestly, I wouldn't bother unless you'really really curious and like to make your own mistakes. 

Bambo Nature

These were by far my favorite. They have cute jungle animals on the waistband. They are super soft and feel almost like cloth. They also were super absorbent, this was by far the most absorbent. Best of all, they are free of all toxins and have multiple certifications, including the United Nations Global Compact Certification and the Nordic Swan Eco Label. They are made from wood pulp from forests that us sustainable practice. They are even available through Amazon, Toys R Us, and Sears. The one drawback is they are 40 cents per diaper. If you are on a budget these may not be a great fit.

Naty

Finally we have Naty. If Ikea sold diapers these would be it, which make sense, because they are manufactured in Sweden. They even call them Nappies (haha). They are all white with simple,blue suns printed on the diaper. Very Ikea-esky. They also are super absorbent (stopped a blow-out while out at a festival) and their softness was comparable to that of Seventh Generation. In addition, they are free of chlorine, fragrance, latex, and TBT. They are also hypoallergenic.  Plus they are certified by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association, FSC Certified, and Certified Compostable. These are a greaton, moderately priced diaper, at 34 cents. However, it would seem they are only available at Amazon, though I did spot them at a Marshall's once. If you are so intrigued though, they do offer a free sample on their website. 

Summary

The best of the best was definitely Bambo Nature. If these were cheaper, I would snag them up in a heartbeat. However, if you're on a budget, the best options are probably Earth's Best or Seventh Generation. The big difference in the two is Seventh Generation is so cute with their woodland animals print, but Earth's Best has a more plushy feel, so it depends what you value. However, I would steer clear of Babyganics and run (yes, run far away) from Andy Pandy, unless you want more problems than just a dirty diaper. Hope you find this helpful, and as always, please share your opinions of your green diaper experience. 

Yancy, Not Nancy "Pequeña Fiesta de Alabanza"

Anyone that knows my family knows that we are a multicultural home. My husband is Mexican, I'm white, and our baby girl is inevitably Chicana. With that being said, it'seems our desire that our baby girl grow up to be bilingual.  There are somethings in Spanish that can only be expressed in Spanish and some things in English that can only be expressed in English. There are no words to translate, and that is the heart of the language. It's our desire that baby girl can communicate in both her mama and papí's heart languages. Since she lives in the U.S. it'seems pretty inevitable that she'said gping to pick up English, so we'really focusing on introducing her to as much Spanish as possible in our home. That includes media (i.e. Spanish Elmo, latino music, etc.) And this is where I have to share this awesome CD I've found.
Any church parent knows the struggle of finding decent Christian kid's music. I'v taught Sunday School and Children's Church for years, and the shortage of Children's music that doesn't make you want to rip your ears off is astronomical, and that's just English children'should music. Now try to imagine my struggle to find a decent children's Spanish worship CD.
Well, I found one and, because the struggle is real, I couldn't help but share. 
Yancy Ministries was started by a woman named Yancy who saw the gap between kids worship and adult worship in her churxh. She wanted to close the gap, so she created kids music and made a CD called "Little Praise Party."
 Then guess what! She's got her friends Jaci Velasquez (all my 90's church girls know this name) and Nic Gonzalez to turn it into Spanish! (Check out the videos above)

I kid you not, I scoured the Internet for weeks to find a decent Spanish kids CD, and this is as good as it comes. It's a little too soon to say what baby girl thinks of it yet. But, let's just say, after a couple of rounds of listening to this in the car, my Spanish kid's song game is strong. Seriously, check this out. The songs are easy to learn and repetitive, which is good for your Spanish skills (if Spanish is your second language) and good for baby (because it makes it easier for them to remember and hold on to the truth in the songs). Buy it here:
 Pequeña Fiesta de Alabanza on Amazon.
Then let me know what you think.

Blueberry Banana Bread

I absolutely love banana bread, and a couple years ago I started making a fool-proof recipe (seriously, has never failed once). Fabian is also a huge fan, and seriously, sometimes we just let the bananas go bad so we have an excuse to make some banana bread. Yesterday it was cool enough to actually turn the oven on, and since I had eaten the last of the cereal (oops) we were in need of some breakfast food (which in our house, banana bread turns into breakfast, snacks, and dessert. Hence, half the loaf is already gone in the picture). We also had some fresh blueberries on hand, so we had a little science project in the kitchen and it ended terrific. This bread is super moist, with just the right amount of sweetness. Seriously scrumptious, and, obviously, almost gone. 

Blueberry Banana Bread

3 overripe  (black) Bananas

1/3 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup sugar

2 Eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350°F and grease loaf pan. Melt oil and mix with Bananas, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and baking soda. Add in flour and stir until all ingredients are wet. Fold in blueberries. Pour batter into prepared loafpan and bake for 1 hour, or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 15minutes, then turnout onto cooling rack or cutting board. Serve warmed or cooled, with coffee or milk, or however you like it. Enjoy!

6 Things Noone Told Me About Postpartum (and I really wish they had...)

Yesterday baby girl and I had our follow-up appointment with the birthcenter. The way they do it at the Minnesota Birth Center is a little different than the hospital. It's more of a group aftercare. Think 2016 Call the Midwife style. Women are encouraged to come between 1-2 weeks postpartum. There a midwife meets with the new mom, 1-on-1 to discuss any personal postpartum concerns. In addition they weigh baby, check mom's blood pressure, and follow up with any concerns that we're raised during birth or at the 24-hour home visit.
Afterwards they have a group discussion. During the group, one of the moms said, "they have so many childbirth classes, but no one prepares you for postpartum." This lead me to here where I'm about to put my two-cents on what I wish I would have known about postpartum. Mind you, I can only speak from my own experience, which was an all-natural, meds-free, back-home-4-hours-later birth. I also knew I would bleed afterwards, had my freezer stocked with padcicles (menstrual pads soaked in witch hazel, aloe vera, and lavender; then frozen), and I expected to be tired. So no here are the things I didn't know, and really wish I had.

1. Breastfeeding Hurts
I had no idea that the first week would hurt...and that's normal. Chapped nipples. Blistering....all normal...why does not one tell you this is normal? (Probs because they don't want to scare more new moms into using formula, but still). Every blog and class I went to talked about how if it's painful, you're doing it wrong. They also talked about the horrors of mastitis, clogged milk ducts, poor latch, etc, etc. So new mom with chapped nipples, maybe one has a blister? Yeah I freaked out a little bit and maybe went a little into crisis mode. I called my WIC Lactation coach (they didn't get back to me), I called LA Leche League (again was told my baby probably had poor latch), and finally I called my mom. I've said it once, I'll say it again, seriously, Mom knows everything. (More on that later...) When I called her up and explained the situation, she calmly said "this is normal." What?! Why had no one ever told me? She then explained what is not normal is if sore chapped nipples last more than a week, and if it looks like your baby is literally eating off your nipple (a little graphic, but it help makes a point). I grabbed my nipples balm and decided to wait it out. Sure enough, baby and I have this breastfeeding thing figured out.....now if I could just figure out away to get her to sleep more than two hours without needing to eat....

2. Mom May Just Be Your Best Source of Advice
I know that not everyone has a great relationship, if any relationship, with their mom. However, if you at least have an OK relationship with your mom, I'd say this totally applies. Put down the What To Expect The First Year and sign-off that parenting forum page, because the closest your going to get to knowing how to raise your baby, maybe from raising you as a baby. Think about it. This little bundle of love has your genes in its little body, which means it's probably a lot like you, and if not, it's probably a lot like your partner. So give your mom and/or suegra  (Spanish for Mother-in-law) a call. So far my mom has been right on from breastfeeding, to the baby cues. And if that's not the case for you, at least you've probably made her day. After all, she was in your shoes with you however-many years ago. Appreciation is the least you can give her now. So give mom a call.

3. Stitches Itch
In my case, during delivery, I had a little bit of tearing in my lady bits. It wasn't severe, actually pretty mild.  All the same, they needed stiches. No one told me how bad they would itch. I talked to the midwife at our follow-up appointment, and she said "that's normal and good, but there's nothing you can really do about it." So if you have any damage down under, don't expect a smooth ride. They will itch like someone let a hill of ants loose down there and there's nothing you can do about it. Don't touch, don't scratch. Just take a warm bath and sit on ice packs. That's what I've been told. Neither fully resolves the issue, but the bath helps with healing and the ice numbs it for a bit. So good luck with those stiches. Soooooo sorry if we're in the same boat.

4. You'll be exhausted for weeks
I don't know why I needed this explained to me, but now I know the necessity of maternity leave. Also, why hasn't the US switched over to mandatory paid maternity leave? Now that I'm here, I think that's a joke. Postpartum is exhausting. And yes, sure, I thought I'd be down for a couple days. But a couple weeks? No way! Call me silly, but I figured, since I had a non-medicated, natural birth, recovery would be like when you catch the flu. You drink your orange juice, sleep it off, and in about a week you're as good as new. Nope. Not the same. Here I am: 1 week, 6 days postpartum and I think someone should bake me a cake and throw a party everytime I make it out of the house. Congrats to me for making it to a doctor appointment, but don't expect me to wear much more than sweatpants. If you see me in a long skirt, remember it feels like I'm wearing NO pants. Despite the look of extra effort; rest assured, on those days, I'm feeling extra lazy.

5. You don't eat for 2 during pregnancy, you eat for 2 while breastfeeding

I kid you not, every thought of dieting postpartum has vanished. Reasoning? I am hungry all the time. They say that you're eating for 2 while pregnant? That's a lie. You eat for 2 while breastfeeding. And from what I've learned through classes and books, science seems to back this up. During the Healthy Pregnancy class my husband and I took through Everyday Miracles, the teacher explained to us that "during pregnancy the baby kind of knows what it needs, and will take from the mother's body what it needs." In other words, eat plenty so that you don't get malnourished, because baby will take in what it needs and you get the leftovers. However, in breastfeeding, you actually get to see how this tiny human is living off of you. In my case, they're eating every 2 hours round the clock, and that milk is coming from me. She's growing quick (she gained about 1 pound in a week). All of those nutrients are coming from my body, and the bigger she gets, the more nutrients she needs. So I'm trying to eat healthy for her and for me, but let's face it, regardless of what I eat, I am hungry all the time. For example, this last week my husband and I took my parents on an outing to Rodizios. For those of you not familiar with Rodizios, it is a meat feast. My husband and I only eat there on special occasions (in this case we were celebrating Father's Day).
We also only eat small snacks all day, because we are really saving ourselves for the meat. So we ate light all day. We went to Rodizios, and we ate nothing, but meat for about an hour. Steak. Chicken. Picanha. Mmmm. Needless to say, I was full by the time we left. In fact, a safer term may be engorged. I was so full that I looked like I was pregnant again and waddled out of the restaurant. That's what happens when you eat at Rodizios. What happens when you eat at Rodizios while breastfeeding? You drive home, feed the baby, and within half-an-hour you're hungry again. I'm glad I have a husband that humors me, and buys me icecream on these occasions (admittedly not the healthiest choice, but what's a nursing girl to do?).

6. You'll Be Afraid To Poop
I know, this seems a little off color, but it's true, and I wanted to prepare others for the worst. It's terrifying, mentally and physically. But here's the thing, you're body has been traumatized. I know, I know, it just gave life to the most beautiful  little thing you've ever laid eyes on. Also, your body is made to do this.  But, let's also be real: it's the biggest thing you've ever pushed out of your body. And it's the last thing your body told you to push out. It's ok that your body (and mind)  is a little freaking out about pushing anything else out of any where. However, it's got to come out sometime. So eat some humble pie, and grab the stool softener. Especially if you hemorrhaged and are on an iron supplement postpartum, grab the stool softener. You can do this!

Granted it's only been about 2 weeks, and I'm sure there are more surprises to come. Everyday baby girl is full of more fun and personality than I ever imagined. Though postpartum recovery has had its hiccups and surprises, she's totally worth it. Hope this is helpful to all my readers, whether for a laugh or to prep for what's to come. Would love to see some comments on what things were unexpected from your postpartum journey.
Q

Our Birth Story

Most birth stories start the day that labor kicks into gear. How the contractions started. The rush to the hospital. Maybe a blizzard or rush hour traffick that ensued. Or the many methods attempted to induce labor, resulting in a  final water break. Our story does not start like that. Instead it starts nearly a month earlier at childbirth class.

We had been taking childbirth classes through a nonprofit in the cities for the past 7 weeks. The classes were once-a-week for 8 weeks, discussing all topics from how to have a healthy pregnancy to what post partum should look like. They were set up on a rotation, and you could join any time.  This was our last class: The Nuts and Bolts of Labor. This class was  supposed to tell us everything we could expect when the big day arrived. We sat, patiently waiting with 3 other couples and a handful of nursing students. The class was supposed to start at 6pm and it was already 6:15. The teacher was yet to arrive. So we all sat there, discussing how long we should wait before we decide she's probably not coming. The classes run for 2 hours. So we decided to give her an hour.
6:30...6:45...7. Still, no maestra. One at a time we all gathered up our purses and waddled (because that's what pregnant women do) out to the parking lot, into our cars, and drove home.

The next day we recieved an e-mail from the organization saying how profusely sorry they were for the mistake, how they were handling the situation, and how they hoped to see us at the next class. All this was great. Except it was 3 weeks until our guess date and the next time the class would be offered was 8 weeks away. I was definitely having this baby before I'd have a chance to take this class again. I emailed the organization back, explaining the situation, and asking if I could get the class notes or if they had any other resources available. No reply. So that left me to the Internet, more specifically, You Tube. And everyone knows how clear and accurate the Internet is.

3 weeks later and 3 days, I was 3 days overdue. So armed with my You Tube knowledge of labor and delivery, I decided to go walk the mall. We live about 5 minutes from the Mall of America, and they have mile markers, letting mall walkers know how many miles they've gone. I read (again on the Internet) that 6 miles was the magic number to kick-start labor. So I walked....and I walked...and I walked...and I walked, until I had reached 6 miles, and after that I had errands to run. So all in all I probably walked about 8 miles, all with no signs of labor. One of my errands was an appointment at the Birth Center where the midwife let me know it was normal for first-timers to be about a week and a half late. Once optimistic to not be a statistic, I was now losing hope.

I went home, ready to embrace another week of pregnancy. However, the next day I woke up to "period cramps" and blood in the toilet. My first thoughts? "Dear God, all that walking hurt my baby!"
So I called the midwife on call, terrified that something was wrong. I explained the situation and they reassured me, that I'd simply lost my "mucus plug," (if you don't know what that is, don't Google it. Just don't).  They also advised that I should go to work, because labor could still be 2 weeks away. I drove to work, again embracing another week of labor.

5:45 am the next morning, I woke with unfamiliar cramps in my back and pelvis. Exhausted, but figuring I just needed to pee, I got up, used the bathroom and went back to bed, but the cramps persisted. As 7 am rolled around, the thought finally occurred to me, "are these real contractions?" The cramps came and went. How close were they together?
5-1-1. Every 5 minutes-1 minute long -for 1 hour. This was the real deal!...or so I assumed.

We weren't supposed to actually head towards the birth center until contractions were 3-1-1, but I was told to call and give the midwife a heads up.
I dialed the number, waited, and finally the phone picked up "Hello," our midwife's voice chimed. I explained to her about the contractuons, and as expected, she recommended to relax, take a bath, and try to sleep. If it was real labor I'd need my energy, if not the contractions would subside in a few hours of R&R (rest and relaxation).

So I did just that, a little hopefule, but not too optimistic. After all, if these weren't real contractions, labor could still be about a week away. I had accepted this. However, thr contractions persisted.  I texted our doula and she let me know to call her when I needed her. This may be just the beginning, but she'd be there when I needed.

Now let me tell you a little bit about our doula. And for those of you, who are not familiar with that term, a doula is basically a birth advocate. They're a person who's there for you throughout the birth, speaking up for your birth plan, and making sure your voice is heard throughout contractions. As any woman whose had a natural birth knows, when you have a strong contraction, you literally don't have a voice, and a doula can be a tool of success. Our doula was very special and exactly who we needed. I truly believe the Lord sent her to us. She is a tall, blonde, military-trained woman who loves Jesus. When you you get into the natural health realm that can be a little difficult to find. Someone who loves Jesus, that tis. With a lot of natural health coming from Eastern Philosophy, there tends to be a crossing into the Eastern Spirituality, just because of the nature of Eastern Cultures. In the West we really like to segregate our spiritual life from our physical life. In Eastern philosophy it's intertwined, which I love, and it's why I love natural medicine. However, I also chose to be mindful of where that Spirituality is rooted (for me, it all has to be founded in Jesus). So when I met our doula, and not only learned that she loved Jesus, was going on a missions trip to Latin America just weeks after our guess date, and felt the Lord had called her to be a doula, I knew that the Lord had placed her in our lives. And she was really there for us, especially when contractions began to pick-up their pace. 

Contractions didn't pick up until the minute Fabian walked through the door. And that's when things really began to take off.

4-1-1.I called my mom and asked if she could order us some Chinese take-out, so at least Fabian would have something to eat. More than happily, she did, she even ordered us cheesecake for dessert. The food arrived, and I could barely eat. Which meant Fabian couldn't eat, because he was by my side every minute. Every four minutes I would drop to the floor, hands and knees, trying to remember what they said about breathing. I couldn't think, but new it was time to call our doula. I called and she was there in minutes, hair in a long braid, dinosaur shirt to lighten the mood, and ready for anything. I really don't think I would have survived without her. She was also the one who suggested we head to the birthcenter.

3-1-1. We called the midwife-on-call, to let her know we were on our way. She said there was another birth taking place, so when we got there we may have to wait for someone to come to the door. At this point, I didn't care. I just needed to leave the house. I also thought I had another 12-18 hours to go. Remember, I was armed with Internet knowledge, so the best I knew was that active labor didn't start until you reached the birth center. Little did I know, I had probably been in active labor most of the day (our doula would clue me into that after the fact).
Quickly, or as quick as we could when you have a charlie horse in your uterus every 3 minutes, we grabbed our labor bag and headed to the car.
5 contractions and a not-so-scrupulous car

ride later, we were pulling into the only open parking spot. Thank God it was right by the front door. Also, the nurse was ready to let us in as soon as we rang the door bell. We walked in the room, put all our bags down, and the nurse encouraged us to relax and get comfortable. Plan A was to have a waterbirth. So at this point I could have got in the labor tub. Plan B...well, we didn't really have a Plan B until this point where I realized I was too exhausted to do anything, but curl up on the bed and sleep between contractions. Needless to say, we used plan B.  All the while, our awesome doula prayed through every contraction (which was such a soothing sound and incredible blessing) and Fabian curled up on the bed next to me.

Sleeping, crying, and being coached on how to breathe. Suddenly the contractions changed.  A shudder went through my body. What was that? The next contraction hit... the same different. I told our doula, and she asked me what I meant. Suddenly, the realization hit me "I think I need to push." All the nurses and the midwife  were in the other room, assisting the other mama bring life into the world.
"OK, just stay calm," our doula coached, and started explaining what the next faze may look like. More contractions came, still feeling the sensation. Suddenly little baby cries erupted from the other room. And they must have been cutting the umbilcal cord as our baby girl was getting ready to crown.
Our doula went to grab the birth team.
As they came in, they seemed amazed. My water still hadn't broke, but was being born along with our baby.
The midwife described "it kind of looks like a water balloon." She paused. "Do you want to touch it?"
Are you kidding me? As calm as could be "Just get it out."
Baby's head began to crown.
Pop.
Water broke. 
Baby being born.
2 steps forward. 1 step back.
Final push.
Cries erupted in our room as a tiny wet baby girl was placed on my belly. Her head snuggle against my chest and crying ceased as my heart beat entered her tiny ears once again. "Hola," I whispered.
Her big black eyes popped open wide to greet me, and I knew I had never loved anything or anyone more in my entire life. My heart was full as Papí (as Fabian was now officially a Papí) cut the umbilical cord. Big black eyes, curly dark hair, a little wet mess. Our baby girl was finally here, born perfect.

5 Lessons You Learn In the First 5 Days of Parenting

5:45 am this past Thursday I woke up with cramps. Kind of like period cramps, but harder. I mean it was to be expected I was 9 months pregnant and a few days. About an hour later it hit me that I was having contractions. Like real contractions, not the little Braxton Hicks twinges I got trying to induce labor by walking the mall. But the real deal. 16 hours later we were were on the way to the birth center, sure I was going to die (not really, but from all the shady information the Internet throws out I was sure I had at least another 12-18 hours to go, and no way was I prepared for that). Fortunately, within 3 1/2 hours of being at the birth center  (The  Minnesota Birth Center ) I had the most beautiful baby I had ever seen laying in my arms.

June 3rd, 2016.
3:07 am.
7lbs 10 oz. 20.25 inches long.

Before we knew what hit us, El Esposo and I were thrust into the throws of parenthood and all that comes with it. If I could I would share every single moment with you. It's like Mary, "she treasured up all these things in her heart." I now am of the opinion that it is impossible to truly understand the depth of the this verse until you have your own someone and their moments to treasure.
These are the simple times. The times that will slip away without warning, but never be forgotten. Where taking hour long skin-to-skin naps in the early afternoon is the number one priority. Where new eyes are full of wonder and awe. Time stands still and is meant to be treasured. And I treasure and would share all these treasures if I could, but though it's only been 5 days, I think this post would go on for 5 days, so instead I'm going to share the highlights. 5 Lessons learned within the first 5 days of Parenthood:

1. You may be a parent if your first response is "I love you so much" when a tiny human projects nearly every bodily fluid on you in the span of 5 minutes.

I was feeding baby girl when all of a sudden I hear a loud "plphtth" sound coming from her drawers. I keep nursing. Maybe it's just gas. But then I hear it again , and shrimp pulls away, grimacing and squirming. No, this is the real deal. I'm still learning how babies work, so now I'm faced with the decision of whether I should change her or burp her first. Thinking of the greenish pool her buns are inarguably sitting in, I go with change her.  Carefully, carefully El Esposo takes her out of my arms and I pull myself off the bed. On the changing table, she continues to grimace. I think I would grimace too if my butt was drowning in a pool of sludge. Gingerly, we pull the tabs off her diaper and open it up. She wasn't done. We wait a few seconds, letting her finish her business. Then carefully pull the diaper out from under her. Oh, but wait, she still isn't done. Greenish-black goop comes running down my hand. I want to smack my forehead, but am aware this would only make the situation worst. Instead, I'm  proactive and pushed the fresh diaper underneath. I, again, wait for her to finish, while I grab a wipe to clean off my hand. Now she has to be done. I open a fresh diaper, and because I'm smart, and learn from my mistakes, i put the fresh diaper underneath her before I remove the dirty one. Little legs hoisted, butt in the air...but guess what! She's still not done. This time a stream of yellow fluid comes right at me, landing on my shirt, flowing down her back, staining her cute little dress. I thought only little boys were supposed to pee on you. Ok, this is enough. I start wiping of all the gunk from her rear and pull the dress off of her, careful for the umbilical cord stump. Thank goodness for that pinterest hack in saw about how to get a baby out of a poop-soaked onesie. Baby finally clean, I pick her up, remove the dirty changing table cover, throw the dressy at El Esposo, hoping he can rinse it with water so it won't be ruined. Finally she has a clean diaper. I pick her up to take her back to the bed. Mind you, I hadn't yet burped her. Upon picking her up, she spits up all down my shirt  and proceeds to sneeze in my face. I pull her back to see her face. Her eyes are wide. And at this point all I can do is laugh. "I love you so much," I whisper and kiss her on the cheek. 5 minutes is all it takes for a tiny human to make a mess.

2. Despite what you thought in high school, your mom really does know everything.

Everyday of this adventure I'm realizing how little I know about anything that has to do with anything when it comes to babies. And you know that fear that every mom has "I sound like my mother." Well it turns out I wish in some way I could sound like my mother, because then that would me a might know a thing or too. From boppy pillows to sleep schedules, I'm so happy I have someone that ran through a lot of trial and error before me and is willing to share that knowledge. Love you mom. Congrats on your promotion to grandma.

3. Babies look nothing like you think they will, but they come out absolutely perfect.

Throughout the whole pregnancy, El Esposo and would talk about how we thought our little bundle of love would look. And let me tell you, she looks nothing like anything we ever thought about. But I wouldn't want her any other way. Big black eyes, dark hair, prieta skin. She's a little chicana if ever laid my eyes on one. And she has the cutest little birthmark on her cheek that I just love. Poor baby, I know she's going to hate it when she gets older, and I'm going to love her all the more for it. To me it's absolute perfection. She's absolute perfection, because she's mine.

4. You know you've crossed over into parenthood when the thought races through your mind "it's 4 o'clock! We got to sleep in!"

It's no news that babies keep you up at night. They wake up and want to eat every 2-4 hours round the clock. That means if you go to bed at 10 pm, you could possibly be waking at midnight...2am... 4am...6am... and by 8 am you might as well give up, because who can get into a REM cycle on that schedule? And of course, if your baby is like our baby, she doesn't want to go back to sleep after eating at night. Nights the time to play! Back in the womb, 3 am was when she'd host her own little dance party, so why should outside the womb be any different? Of course during the day, she'll wake up, eat, get changed, and go right back to sleep, no assistance needed. But at night it's a different story. From adjusting to sleeping outside the womb, to the night she was super gassy and uncomfortable, baby girl is a night owl. El Esposo and I have been putting our heads together though. We're inging on to all the wisdom of Mom  (I kid you not, she really does know everything) and trying to think back to all the advise we recieved back before we knew what sleep deprivation really met. Finally we've figured out a system that worked (or at least it worked for one night so far) and baby girl only woke up once last night. She slept from midnight to 4am and 4 am to 8 am. 2 am came around, my body jumped awake, knowing she'd want to eat soon. But there was nothing. I put my hand down in to the bassinette to touch her belly. I could feel her breathing, still wrapped tightly in her swaddle. I let her sleep. I slept. Finally at 4 am I was startled awake by little lips smacking. I turned on the side table light and looked at my phone. 4 o'clock? That couldn't be right? Had she slept that long? I kid you not, the thought popped into my head, "were slept in." Then the reality of my thoughts really hit me. Parenthood does not mean know sleeping in. Sleeping in just means something a little different.

5. You believe in love at first sight.
After 22 hours of labor I was done. With a final push there was another person in the world, and in a matter of seconds she was resting on my chest. Though she didn't look like anything I had imagined, and she was covered in pregnancy slime, my heart was undeniably stolen. Before I gave birth, I read several blogs where new moms would talk about how they didn't "love" their baby at first. Of course they loved their baby, but the uncontrollable feelings associated with that just weren't there. So when they placed that slime, warm little mess on my chest the feelings that washed over me were almost unexpected. And I knew I had never loved anything or anyone so much in my entire life.

In the end I am learning mother's are their children's treasure chests, where every moment of their lives is stored and cared for in a way that only a mother could know. Every day is bringing new moments, from keeping her eyes open when there's light out, to losing her umbilical cord stub. And every moment keeps me in the tension where I am simultanrously praying for her future and gently whispering "please stay small" as I treasure up all of her moments in my heart.

Everyday Coconut

So what can I say, I've had a lot of thoughts lately, so excuse me if I have a writing binge and blog everyday for a while. And don't mind me if I just happen to introduce you to this amazing brand.

This is Everyday Coconut. Coconut oil is the new craze in skin care and this beautiful, natural line of skin care products has all organic, fair trade coconut oil as the main ingredient in all of it's products. Everyday Coconut is apart of Alaffia which is a women's empowerment organization, working to improve the lives of women in West Africa through helping improve maternal care, building schools and providing educational materials, and providing bikes for transportation. In addition, they are working to provide vision to visually impaired, eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and have reforestration projects.

Not only is a great product, doing good, it's also really generously priced. I bought a 32 oz bottle of the Purely Coconut Body Lotion for $10 at The Wedge Coop in Minneapolis. I use it everyday and we are on year 3 together. A couple weeks go I bought the Purely Coconut Conditioner for $10 and I really couldn't be more pleased. It's given me all the advantages of a coconut oil hair mask with only an apply and rinse conditioner. Don't worry though, this isn't merely a hipster co-op brand.They also have a small collection of it at Target and a larger collection at Whole Foods.  Next in line I'm planning on trying their coconut face scrub, so look out for a review of that. Oh, and they also have a baby line. You better believe I snagged some Coconut-Strawberry Scented baby wash for Vale. Oh, and it has a baby giraffe on the bottle, so it's super cute as well.   All in all, if you're wanting to do your body, your wallet, and the world some good, you'd be crazy not to check out this brand.

Spring Cleaning

To every one that has noticed that I haven't posted anything in a while (and I know there's a few, because they've told me), so sorry. But here I am now. Better late than never. Just been a little preoccupied with the Chicana I have growing in my belly.

However, cutting to the chase. It's spring cleaning time. You know, the time of year when you realize how suffocated you feel with all the things (*ahem* junk) you've accumulated through the winter and it's time to kick it out. Throw it out. Host a garage sale if you have ambition enough, or just throw it in the garbage where it belongs.

Yes, it's that's time of year, and with my parents adamant that this is the year that they are going to move, I not only had to spring clean the things in my house, but my things that are in their house. When we were at my parents for Easter, my mom pulled out three big boxes of stuff, and said "I don't care what you do with it, but it can't stay here," (paraphrased for dramatic effect).

Hence commenced the rummaging through memory lane.

I found my very first journal, from Kindergarten. That was precious, and trust me those scribbles in the pages were masterpieces. I found trophies, not only from high school contests, but that time I won the state Science Fair (Nerd Alert). Oh and everything from Missionettes (for everyone who did not grow up A/G, Christian Girl Scouts). I found scrap books and pictures, derby cars and awards. I even found my collection of Precious Moments Dolls from around the world. And that dress that I wore everyday from 6 months to 6 years.

And going through the piles I had had some memories.  Good memories, hard memories, and awkward memories. But as I shuffled through the stuff I realized that it was time to let go.

We hold on to things like trophies and cards, wanting to carry them with us, because you never know. We may need them someday. And each thing becomes a token of that moment in our lives. A moment we think will serve us in the future. Not all the moments we hang on to have a totem we carry. All the same, we cling to the memories and moments. Then we hit a crossroads.

Going through my boxes, I realized that I had to choose what was really worth carrying with me? We kept all the pictures, because Valentina (that's the Chicana we're expecting in the near future) may have a good laugh someday. However, that very first journal had to go... Actually all the journals went, along with the trophies. We kept the Precious Moments collection, because I want Valentina to have some toys that reflect that beauty comes from every part of the world in every skin tone. Still, everything, whether we kept it or not, we had to take an inventory of and ask, "What is this doing for me?" And it didn't stop with the things I could see, but continued with the things I carry in my heart. Hurts, insecurities, as well as prides and ambitions.

I think we all have to find ourselves in a place where we ask ourselves, "What is this doing for me?" And if we can't find an answer that doesn't sound more like a rationalization, it's probably time to let go.

It may be petty, like a preference for how the dishes are done. Or it may be the anger found in a memory of Suzy Q who did or did not know she hurt you. It may be that time you hurt Suzy Q. Everyone has been the hero and also the villain. No one gets to be one in life without at some point being the other. It may be letting go of a friendship, or a great success that happened in high school, or it may be that dream of travelling the world.

Whatever it is, it's keeping you where you are. It's keeping you from moving forward to who you're really supposed to become. Me? I'm becoming a mom. I feel super old and a little in shock every time I have that realization, but that is a big reality of who I'm becoming and a part of what's shaping my decision on what I'm taking with me. So, I'm spring cleaning, and I'm encouraging others to do the same. Don't just clean out your house or apartment. Clean out your life, so you can really enjoy the journey in this next season.