ghasp...

This is not a post about pregnancy.

I made nut butter today!  So easy!

1. Get some nuts.  Whatever nuts you like.  Almonds, cashews, hazelnuts...use one type or use them all.  Use seeds, like pumpkin or sunflower.  I choose to use raw, because according to Oprah, and well, actual experts, when you roast nuts you change the really GOOD fat into TRANS fat *buh buh buh*.
2. Put them in a food processor.  A little less than the height shaft of the blade bit.  I added, like a half tsp. of salt.  I think it might be too much...but then, I always get unsalted peanut butter.
3. Stick the lid on, and buzz away.  It will crumble, then turn kinda dough like.  Keep and eye on it and scrape down the sides.  Keep buzzing til it's how you like it.  10 or so minutes?  I forget to time it...another tutorial said 15...but there is no way it took that long.
4. Stick it on a jar, or tupperware or make a sandwich.
5. The oils will naturally separate, just give it a stir before you use it if it does.  Oh and keep it in the fridge so it won't go rancid as fast.

oh, SURE

so NOW I get 'morning' sickness.  I stopped taking my vitamins because they where making me ill.  Rizo got the filoc acid he needed (according to several sources), I'm waiting for some $ so I can get a different, better brand so I can keep nourishing both of us.  Now a week later, I've been feeling ill every time I eat.  harumph.  And I'm constipated.  Oh the joys the joys.  Sorry if you have NO desire to hear about this lol.

Some changes in the past week or so:
I'm not quite as tired as I have been.  I'm still tired, but I don't fall asleep if I sit down.
I've got the pregnancy thirst now.  My naturopath gave me a recipe for an electrolyte drink so I keep properly hydrated.
There is a lot of pressure/discomfort in my abdomen.  Some of it might be the constipation, but some of it is the uterus growing.
My breasts aren't so sore, and they have stopped growing (for now...)


I went to see a naturopath the other day.  My diet is pretty good.  He wants me to eat more protein in the mornings, and to make sure I'm eating fat and protein when I eat carbs (like fruit and cheese or nuts...)
I got a b12 shot.  He's hoping it will help with my anxiety and energy levels.  So far it hasn't helped with the energy part.  He said it might not happen after the first one.

Still waiting on a midwife call.  I'll call Monday if I don't hear from them.

Spoons, and how to use them wisely

So, I am TIRED.

I have taken to using the term 'spoons' for how much energy I have to do things.  The idea comes from this article.

Calculating how many spoons you have is a hard task.  I'm looking forward to 2nd trimester when I get my spoons back!

I missed Lunacy Cabaret last night because I used all my spoons helping friends with a move yesterday.  I'm glad I did, they needed help, and I had the day off.  But I have to know now that I need to count my spoons more closely.  I need to rest today to make sure I have energy for work tomorrow.

I'm having a really good pregnancy, and I'm not sure *why* anyone does this more than once!  ha ha.

a little note

to say:

eeeeeeeeeee!!

It looks like we have a midwife! I still need a call back finding out who, but boy am I relieved.

I had called 5 clinics about 2 weeks ago.  2 called saying I was on the wait list.  I called one today and told they where still figuring out who was going to be accepted, and then I called Seventh Generation.  Because Jason has aboriginal background (Metis) we got in right away!  I'm looking forward to having some aboriginal influence to the birth.

Protect IP (eeeeeeeee!)

Hey, so there is something about blacking out your web site in protest today...I don't have the skillz but I can direct you a few places...
The movement is in protest of internet censorship, here are a couple videos that might help educate.  I'm not sure what to do about it...but the more we know the better right?

http://vimeo.com/31100268

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zCNa1XSwdw&feature=youtu.be


*edit*

I'm logging off the internet for the day.  I hope you can pass this message along and do the same.

tai chi and the art of letting go to be powerful

I've started taking tai chi.  My mom took it at the community centre when I was younger.  and I took a couple classes around 16 or so.  I had been available Tuesday and Thursday mornings when the classes at the Y where on, so I went for it. 

I told my instructors I am pregnant, and they where both kinda bemused as to why I was telling them.  I think mostly because tai chi is so low impact they didn't see why it would matter.  I didn't think it would really, but I just wanted to be sure.  There seems to be some energy work, and I didn't want to work the wrong energy.

It turns out, tai chi is going to be SO GOOD.  I'm learning to balance my pelvis better.  I'm learning to breath.  first step, breath with your movements.  Second step, have your breath move you!  once you know the moves (for example, in out warm up sequence) you can move your hands with your breath, rather than move your hand with your intent.  (is that too weird?  does that make any sense to anyone *not* taking tai chi?)  I talk a lot about mindfulness.  This is a way to be mindful and right now.  It's easy to get caught up in thinking when doing a movement, but when you can allow your breath to take over you can really feel.  I have a feeling I'm going to be doing several types of tai chi walking while in labour.

We also talked about yin and yang.  Yin is soft,Yang is hard. Yin is stillness,Yang is movement. The sun is yang, the moon is yin. Female is Yin, Man is Yang. Yin is Intuitive,Yang is Logical. YET, you absolutely can not have one with out the other.  There is always a flow.  Like the breath.  You (I hope) never stop breathing.  You don't stop at the top of your breath, you just breath out.  The instructor was saying that Yin is impermanence, and Yang is permanence.  Weak and strong.  but what happens to a tree when it stays 'strong', hard, 'manly'?  it breaks, the types of trees that survive longer are the ones that flow, and bend and submit.  I was thinking about labour, and how the force of labour is like Yang, hard, movement, sort of seeming permanent, in the strength of it (does that make *any* sense?), but I need to allow myself to be Yin, I need to be soft, still and intuitive...female, and know that it's not permanent.  Power is not always the hard moving, brightly shining logical man.  Isn't there truth in "behind every great man is a great woman"?  lol.  wait...how did this become about feminism?!  ha ha.

anywhozzles.  I'm really excited to continue with the tai chi. 
I'm the youngest there by oh...30 years or so.  I'll have a lot of excited Tai Chi ladies rooting me on once I begin to show!  I also wonder about wearing Rizo once he/she is born to tai chi...

feelin' groovy

#1-God help me, I'm on pinterest.  I've already got a whole lot in the Rizo board.  I have a photography, food and crafty board too.  Meanwhile I need to re-organize our bedroom to get it Rizo ready...but who needs to *clean* when a baby is on it's way?  pffttt.  I'm thinking this is a good way to show people the kind of toys/clothes/items we are interested in for Rizo.  um...ie.  there is NO PLASTIC!  YAY!

#2-somehow Simon and Garfunkle's "Feelin' Groovy" got on my i-pod.  I'm so glad it did.  It's our first real snow of the season...this one will hole...at least until it' gets to + 10 again next week.  ANYWAY.  I have a mental list of songs that I want/have learned to play on the guitar for my future babies.  This is now on the list and I've spent the last hour learning and playing Feelin' Groovy.  Some other songs on the list are:

Three Little Birds - Bob Marley
Good Day Sunshine- The Beatles (HEY!  spell check knows who The Beatles are!  COOL...and Bob Marley)
Good Morning Starshine - Hair (even though I dislike the musical, I love Serina Ryder's version of it.)

any other 'adult' songs you like to sing to your children?