Let Autumn Commence...

Today was Adrian's first time going to a library program, and we went with our friends Missy and Levi. The librarian led the kids from birth  to two years old in song, play, and stories all about Fall on the Farm. There were leaves to play with, songs to dance to, and stories to hear all about animals on the farm. The older kids even got to make a little craft. Adrian had fun watching the other kids and playing with some of the props that were handed out.
What a fun way to start the season!

Furry Little Thing...

So, we got a cat. Pepper is about 2 or 3 years old, and is a beautiful grey colour.  She belonged to some good friends of ours who for various reasons were willing to part ways with her.  

We're happy to welcome her into our home since we have a bit of a mice problem, and she was rumoured to be very good at catching mice.  She's proving that today, since we've only had her for five days and she's already playing with her prey in our sunroom.  It's fascinating to watch a cat play with a mouse, just as it's traumatic to watch the poor mouse shake and quiver in fear, knowing that its escape attempts are in vain.

Some of you may know that I have cat allergies, but I'm pleased to say that they haven't been too bad since she's come.  I try to wash my hands soon after petting her, since touching my face causes me to itch and my nose to run.  Frequent cleaning and quick passes with the vacuum will also decrease the lingering cat dander.  

Jake always said we were 'cat people'.  He definitely is, so he is quite overjoyed to have a cat.  Neither of us grew up with cats, since both of our families prefer dogs, and larger dogs at that.  Our lifestyle right now is perfect for a cat, since they need minimal supervision and maximum independence. 

Pepper has been warming up to us, greeting us in the morning and letting us scratch her head for longer periods.  It will only be a matter of time that she will let us pick her up...maybe.

Love, 
Ashleigh

Loving Him for Him...

I love how much Jake and I learn about each other even after almost four years of marriage, and how often I still have to fight gender role stereotypes.  We have recently had an influx of mice poop in the cupboard under the sink, so yesterday found me buying a few traps at the store.  I've never placed bait on a trap, never set one, and most certainly have never disposed of a freshly dead mouse caught in one.  I [wrongly] assumed Jake had done all of these things [since he is a man], and as I was readying to place a trap in the cupboard last night, I projected my assumptions on to him.  Needless to say, miscommunication ensued and frustrations mounted until finally one of us conceded that we'd gone about things the wrong way. 

Now with the air cleared, I can see that this isn't just a one-time happenstance.  I have often assumed things about what my husband can or cannot do, will or won't do, does and does not think based upon my pre-conceived notions of what husbands or men in general do.  I don't take into account that he is his own person.  I don't take into account that he is not my father, brother, grandfather, etc. I place him into the stereotypical male 'mold' and wonder why he doesn't just 'fit'.  

I love my husband the way he is, and I love discovering new things about him. In the future I want to do better at seeing, understanding, assuming, and accepting him through a Jake lens rather than lumping him in with the general male populace.

Love,

Ashleigh

Radical Thinking...

"Bless those who persecute you - bless and do not curse"

This verse from Romans 12 lay heavy on my heart last night as I was remembering what the Christians in Iraq are faced with daily. They don't have the luxury of meditating on these words. They are living them out, perhaps struggling with the sheer audacity of the God who demands such radical living. No human being who has ever lived would be able to bless their persecutors, unless the Holy Spirit was dwelling within them,  giving the strength to accomplish something so against our natural bent.

May I be so strengthened should a time come for me to stand up against an evil that threatens my physical life and the lives of those I love, because of the name of Christ, my Lord and Saviour.

I am keeping these dear brothers and sisters in Christ in my prayers.

Love,
Ashleigh

Game Face...

Here I am attempting to meal plan once more.  It's been a lot of trial and error since Adrian was born, and now that I'm buying organic veggies from Grand River Organics every week--and watching bunches of basil and swiss chard rot in my refrigerator-- I would really like to get a handle on the situation.  My mind just hasn't been in the game.  I have a panic attack when I think of having people over for dinner.

"Um, Jake! They're coming over in four hours! What should I make?!"

Yeah.  It's that bad.  **Sidenote: My go-to meal for company has been meatball subs, thanks to Jake's wonderful and reassuring suggestion.  I haven't heard a complaint yet!

So please forgive the repetition--we can move past that, yes?--and let's get started.  

To be continued...

Love, Ashleigh

Diaper Changing Shenanigans...

Lately it has become the most difficult thing to change Adrian's diaper.  It's not that he's overly squirmy, he just hates getting his diaper changed, hates anything to do with taking off/putting on clothing, the whole deal.  He cries and squeals in anguish, as if I'm putting him through a most torturous ordeal.  Giving him a toy usually helps distract him, but his legs know what I'm trying to do, so he still stiffens them in the most unhelpful ways.

An analogy came to mind this morning as I was fighting with his little arms to get them through the sleeves.  I usually tell him to 'push push push' as his hands make their way through, and then kiss his little fingers in reward afterwards.  We were performing this ritual this morning, he crying, me cajoling, and then I thought about how perfectly this reflects our lives as Christians.  

So often we fight with God because we feel stuck, we can't see the end of the 'sleeve', if you will, and it's hard.  He's there constantly, helping us push through, telling us to persevere.  Just read this verse from Romans 8:

23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Love, Ashleigh

Beauty is All Around...

Yesterday as we were walking, I noticed some Queen Anne's lace lining the sidewalk.  When I was a child, this particular wildflower was one of my favourites, particularly for the smell.  I picked a small one that didn't have a bug in the middle, and held it up to my nose.  Ah. That smell brings me back.  I held it under Adrian's nose, and it must have tickled his nostrils, for he laughed, then tried to grab it.  He's usually into eating everything so at first I held it while he looked at it, but then withdrew my hand while he inspected it further.  

Imagine seeing a flower for the first time.  Beauty is all around us.  Let's not miss out on the small moments.

Love, Ashleigh

Baby Food Delight...

I've fed all the standard things to Adrian, and he is pretty much up for whatever I give him.  He really enjoys sweet potato, potatoes, carrots, green beans, beets, and avocados.  Yesterday I thought of something a little less boring, using ingredients that I had on hand.  I call it Tropical Mash. 

• 1/2 avocado
• 1 chunk of [frozen] mango
• 1 spoonful brown/green lentils

Mash up avocado and mango, stir in the lentils, and serve to baby.  

This would actually be a lovely spread for a sandwich, or on crackers, for adults as well.  I'm thinking add a little goat cheese, or feta, and you'd be set.  Here's another delicious combination that works for babies and adults:

Mexican Mash

• 1/2 avocado
• 1 spoonful of kidney/black beans

Mash the avocado and the beans together.  Serve to baby, or spread on a cracker and top with a tomato slice and salt and pepper.

Bon appetit!

Love,

Ashleigh

What I'm Into: July Edition...

In the Kitchen

Oh, friends, I wish I could tell you all the amazing things that I've been whipping up lately.  My days get so busy that by 5pm I'm done for the day. I don't know what we've been eating, but it's not as balanced as I'd like.  I did, however, make stir-fried bok choy as a side with fish and potatoes.  I've never cooked with bok choy before, and both Jake and I enjoyed it immensely. You can find the recipe here:

Image source

On my Night table 

Currently Reading: 

Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis: This is one of the four books that Jake challenged me to read this year.  I have heard many good things about it, so I'm looking forward to being challenged.

Katherine Parr: A Guided Tour of the Life and Thought of a Reformation Queen, Brandon G. Withrow: Another one that Jake challenged me to read this year. The first half is a bit of history about Katherine Parr, which was a little dry for my taste.  The second half are prayers that she wrote, and some of them are amazingly relate-able.  

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin: One of those books you see on display at the library which tickles your fancy.  I was curious to see what I would learn from this book, since I've heard much about this famous midwife from the U.S.

No fiction, you gasp! Yes, I need to remedy that as soon as possible!

Read:
The Silkworm, Robert Galbraith: A crime novel written by J.K. Rowling written under her pseudonym.  The murder mystery is a great story, and kept me on my toes.  I can't tell you how much I enjoy her writing.  She's fantastic, and she really knows how to make the characters come alive.  That being said, one of her characters is quite rough around the edges and swears quite a bit.  

Amandine, Marlena de Blasi: Oh my goodness, if you like plots set in World War II and enjoy having a good cry, read this one.  For all the mothers, get ready, it will tug at your heart strings [at least it did for me!].  Set in France, this heart-wrenching story is about, yup, you guessed it, 'Amandine', a little girl who understands the unfairness of life through one tragic scenario after the other.  She is incredibly strong for all she has been dealt, and you will cry and cheer her on as you journey with her to find the one thing her heart desires the most.

Through my headphones

Latley it's been A LOT of Baby Mozart.  It's surprisingly relaxing, and Adrian thinks it's hilarious when we dance to it.  

Readings in my Bible
I've been reading 2 Samuel to Adrian, and have been reading and meditating through Romans, chapter by chapter.  Romans 6 has always been one of those places I go when I need to be reminded that, as Christians, we are free from sin, Christ reigns victorious, and there is no need to wallow in guilt! 

Love, 

Ashleigh

Togetherness...

Are you on maternity leave?

I can't count the number of times I have been asked that question.  I get it, people are curious, they want to know what my plans are for the future.  I wish I had a typical response for them, something like, "Why yes, the day after he turns 1 I'll be returning to my job as {insert occupation here}".  But aren't there any other mothers in my camp?  Are there any moms who didn't really have a full time job before the baby, or who have no job to go back to, moms with the ability and maybe even a little desire to work again after the year is up (to help hubby with income) but can't imagine not spending every day with a face like this? 

So I got my TESOL certification, which means that there are no limits to where I could teach, which also means I could teach from home. OR I could meet students in a coffee shop.  It doesn't matter.  

And yet.

I don't know what I want to do, and it's hard to think about that since a lot of my day is still taken up looking after and spending time with Adrian.  So if you want a tried and true honest-to-goodness answer, here is what you could ask:

What do you and Adrian enjoying doing together?

Having a laugh

We listen/dance to music

We eat food

We go for walks

We [sometimes] nap

We go for rides on the bus

We read books at the library

We spend time with other friends

We plan ways to surprise 'daddy'

We read books

We exercise

We play in the bathtub

We read the Bible and pray 

We laugh

We tickle each other (mostly Mommy tickling

and baby grabbing/biting/kicking)

We play with toys

We sing and talk

We play games 

We wait for 'daddy' to come home and make us laugh

We love being together!

On a walk