in other words, it's not really chai. but it sure is tasty.
2 quarts black tea
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup sugar
mix ingredients together while the tea is still hot. for a cup of chai, add 1/3 cup of tea to 1 cup of milk - drink it hot or cold. john and i also love chai with soy milk, or if you want to be naughty, drink with half milk, half cream. or, you could always go starbucks style and add a bit of espresso.
10.25.2009
10.17.2009
funny how the little things
today was one of those days that just made me so thankful for the life i have right now, the blessings god has given, and the smooth ride it's been. i'm sort of a pessimistic person and most of the time expect the worse, but things have been so good. my anxiety that a doctor told me is the reason for the heart palpitations i've had since i was seventeen went away when i was pregnant. i didn't worry about tomorrow. i think it had to do with just succumbing to what was happening to my body, knowing there was nothing i could do about it, and trying not to give my ailments the time of day. [i'm talking about the physical changes my body went through, like morning sickness, not the growing river inside me - that, i didn't mind at all, of course.] since river was born, however, i feel my anxiety slowly creeping up at times. i try to catch it before it does any real damage. i have to constantly remind myself of the verse that says "for who by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (luke 12:25 NIV) and "are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? yet not one of them is forgotten by god." (luke 12:6)
[oh, i just love the thought of god loving and looking after a tiny sparrow, and knowing each one that falls to the ground.]
there wasn't anything particularly special about today. i got to spend the whole day with john, which i love doing - he is my {{best}} friend. we went around town shooting places in san antonio for a website, and at the end of the day, stopped to get a hot drink and listened to a bit of live acoustic music for about thirty minutes. river was so sick of being in his carseat all day, and was content to be held for a good while before he decided he was hungry. i still have not gotten comfortable nursing in public, but i sucked it up and nursed him there, outside, while listening to the music and sipping coffee. it was such a nice feeling, knowing that i could calm my little boy in such a way, that he was warm and comfortable and full in my arms. the air was cool and there was a nice breeze and the music, the cinnamon coffee, my baby, his cute little striped sweater, the damien rice cover, the autumn air appropriately placed in the middle of an october (good job, south texas. you did it.), my husband sitting across from me - just made me feel blessed.
10.11.2009
green is the color of the day
i finally made us some green smoothies! i have never before been more excited to go to HEB and buy two big cartons of spinach. it was delish - i wasn't afraid of it until i was actually making it, and then i thought, um... can i really down this? but we could hardly taste the spinach at all. tomorrow john wants one that has honey and yogurt, so we'll give that a try.
...took some pictures of my sweet boy, on the quilt i started months ago for him, before he was born, and finally finished. it's about time it became an actual quilt. (i am always so happy to finish one project, and then i just want to start on another. i really, really want to make some baby booties and pants for river out of an old sweater. sweater baby clothes are the cutest.)
...found an online store that sells sling rings! oh, i am SO excited. i made myself a pouch sling that isn't adjustable, and i have been wanting a ring sling for so long, but they are so expensive. so i bought two pairs of rings, and now i just have to find some pretty fabric to make myself a sling. i can't wait to get started.
...and shot a wedding in seguin! the bride was beautifu, the people were so friendly, and the food ranked number three on our best wedding food list. this picture has nothing to do with the wedding, really, but john shot it and i just love it.
...took some pictures of my sweet boy, on the quilt i started months ago for him, before he was born, and finally finished. it's about time it became an actual quilt. (i am always so happy to finish one project, and then i just want to start on another. i really, really want to make some baby booties and pants for river out of an old sweater. sweater baby clothes are the cutest.)
...found an online store that sells sling rings! oh, i am SO excited. i made myself a pouch sling that isn't adjustable, and i have been wanting a ring sling for so long, but they are so expensive. so i bought two pairs of rings, and now i just have to find some pretty fabric to make myself a sling. i can't wait to get started.
...and shot a wedding in seguin! the bride was beautifu, the people were so friendly, and the food ranked number three on our best wedding food list. this picture has nothing to do with the wedding, really, but john shot it and i just love it.
10.06.2009
days of smoothies
i am so excited about green smoothies! i just missed sara jansenn's 30-day green smoothie challenge, as river's birth happened right in the middle of it, but i now plan on doing my own (however many) days of smoothies. i have started out just doing fruit smoothies, since we don't have any greens in the house right now. as soon as we go grocery shopping, i am going to go crazy buying all sorts of veggies to put in my smoothies - spinach, carrots, tomatoes, avacado. it seems like such a simple step to getting healthier. i've heard some good things - people's skin clearing up, weight lost, more energy, cravings for junk foods going away, and just an overall healthier feeling. and that's why i am so excited.
10.03.2009
fall, river, crafty things
ahh, october! i am thrilled for fall this season. i think it's because i have a new man in my life that i share everything with. his first fall - his first halloween - his first pumpkin patch - his first costume... not that he cares about any of it, but i do! and the camera does! today, while he was fussing/grunting/crying, i thought of a great costume idea for him - a lion. i think it will be pretty easy to make, and his voice is so low and his cry is so throaty, it made me think of a little roaring lion. ha! i think he'll make a cute little lion cub.
we are spending halloween in pennsylvania with my family. i am so excited - i haven't had a seasonal halloween in years. here in san antonio, it just gets cloudy, chilly, and humid. in pennsylvania, it gets cold, crisp, and colorful. how wonderful. unfortunately, daddy won't be able to be with us for river's first halloween, but we are definitely doing autumn-type things with him before we go to pittsburgh (or at least, when we come back).
river has been changing so much. it's been tons of fun watching him go from a quiet, sleepy newborn to a rambunctious, active 2-month-old. he is definitely out of the newborn stage! i know he's still tiny, but he is one lively baby. sociable and smiley, and very, very active. he has been more content with being put down (but of course, still prefers to be held) and is starting to enjoy looking at his toys hanging down and trying to bat them with his little fists. i love watching him discover his world. he knows mama and daddy's voices, that's for sure. and he stops fussing when i come near him - he knows he's going to be rescued! i can't wait for the day those little arms reach for me.
the things river loves:
- standing (whenever someone is holding him, all he wants to do is use those little leg muscles. i love his wrinkly knees and dimply thighs.)
- bouncing (stepping reflex! sometimes he gets so excited when he bounces that he smiles and squeaks and seems like he just wants to laugh out loud.)
- outside (he becomes strangely content outside. the world is so much bigger and brighter outdoors.)
- his lights and music toy (given by wanda longoria. he just stares at it. it's his diaper-changing toy.)
- his swing (the one place where he is almost always content to be.)
- baths (they're like a drug!)
- being carried (of course. but don't you dare try to cuddle him. he's too cool for cuddling.)
- nursing (he is still nursing very frequently, and just as sporadically. two hour gap here, thirty minute gap there, and snack here, a meal there. he would eat all day if i let him.)
- car rides (he hates being buckled in his carseat, but once the car's moving, he is as happy as can be.)
- walks (i love how he looks around, like he's trying to take in everything, while we are on walks.)
- cooing (his first word was "gluh." his favorite word is "ah-guh." yeah, he has a pretty sophisticated vocabulary.)
- staring at lights (he's like a racoon. give him anything shiny.)
- lauryn hill (he quiets for the song zion. it's our favorite to dance to.)
- copeland (puts him to sleep and keeps him asleep.)
we are still working on baby-wearing. i haven't gotten too many chances to try it out, but i'm starting to take walks again and he loves being outdoors, so it's a good excuse to try it out. john and i photographed a wedding last weekend, and he hung out in the sling for a good two hours - sleeping the entire time. i made a pouch type sling, but i want to make an adjustable ring sling. i just have to go looking for the rings.
the pattern is one i got online, so i think i after i make a few more (just for the heck of it) i'm going to make the design my own and try my hand at selling them on etsy. i have this dream in the back of my head that i will be a successful etsy-seller. we will see. i just recently purchased this book off of amazon.com, and i can't wait for it to arrive:
i love it. cute, cute designs and ideas, and it would easy to make them your own. (what also makes me excited is that her childrens' names are ezra and adelaide. can you say adorable? you can always judge a person by their shoes, and the names of their children. we have friends that had a baby a week after river, and his name is ezra. it's my new favorite.)
we are spending halloween in pennsylvania with my family. i am so excited - i haven't had a seasonal halloween in years. here in san antonio, it just gets cloudy, chilly, and humid. in pennsylvania, it gets cold, crisp, and colorful. how wonderful. unfortunately, daddy won't be able to be with us for river's first halloween, but we are definitely doing autumn-type things with him before we go to pittsburgh (or at least, when we come back).
river has been changing so much. it's been tons of fun watching him go from a quiet, sleepy newborn to a rambunctious, active 2-month-old. he is definitely out of the newborn stage! i know he's still tiny, but he is one lively baby. sociable and smiley, and very, very active. he has been more content with being put down (but of course, still prefers to be held) and is starting to enjoy looking at his toys hanging down and trying to bat them with his little fists. i love watching him discover his world. he knows mama and daddy's voices, that's for sure. and he stops fussing when i come near him - he knows he's going to be rescued! i can't wait for the day those little arms reach for me.
the things river loves:
- standing (whenever someone is holding him, all he wants to do is use those little leg muscles. i love his wrinkly knees and dimply thighs.)
- bouncing (stepping reflex! sometimes he gets so excited when he bounces that he smiles and squeaks and seems like he just wants to laugh out loud.)
- outside (he becomes strangely content outside. the world is so much bigger and brighter outdoors.)
- his lights and music toy (given by wanda longoria. he just stares at it. it's his diaper-changing toy.)
- his swing (the one place where he is almost always content to be.)
- baths (they're like a drug!)
- being carried (of course. but don't you dare try to cuddle him. he's too cool for cuddling.)
- nursing (he is still nursing very frequently, and just as sporadically. two hour gap here, thirty minute gap there, and snack here, a meal there. he would eat all day if i let him.)
- car rides (he hates being buckled in his carseat, but once the car's moving, he is as happy as can be.)
- walks (i love how he looks around, like he's trying to take in everything, while we are on walks.)
- cooing (his first word was "gluh." his favorite word is "ah-guh." yeah, he has a pretty sophisticated vocabulary.)
- staring at lights (he's like a racoon. give him anything shiny.)
- lauryn hill (he quiets for the song zion. it's our favorite to dance to.)
- copeland (puts him to sleep and keeps him asleep.)
we are still working on baby-wearing. i haven't gotten too many chances to try it out, but i'm starting to take walks again and he loves being outdoors, so it's a good excuse to try it out. john and i photographed a wedding last weekend, and he hung out in the sling for a good two hours - sleeping the entire time. i made a pouch type sling, but i want to make an adjustable ring sling. i just have to go looking for the rings.
the pattern is one i got online, so i think i after i make a few more (just for the heck of it) i'm going to make the design my own and try my hand at selling them on etsy. i have this dream in the back of my head that i will be a successful etsy-seller. we will see. i just recently purchased this book off of amazon.com, and i can't wait for it to arrive:
i love it. cute, cute designs and ideas, and it would easy to make them your own. (what also makes me excited is that her childrens' names are ezra and adelaide. can you say adorable? you can always judge a person by their shoes, and the names of their children. we have friends that had a baby a week after river, and his name is ezra. it's my new favorite.)
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